Pono's Got The Moves

DECEMBER 2007. Pono took a Jazzercise class and loved it. This is his class' performance for parents and families. We were so proud of him, and we've been having fun dancing together at home.

The "Star" of the show.

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Pono and his Jazzercise instructor, who was also his 1st grade teacher.

Raven Learns to Ski

JANUARY. Dad has been teaching Raven to ski. However, this was the day that everything "clicked" in Raven's mind & body. Through Mom's fine teaching skills :), Raven finally understood what to do.

Let It Snow!

JANUARY. Mom & Auntie Wendi took Raven, Giovanni, and Aviana to Piancavallo to enjoy the snow.

Giovanni holding Aviana as Mom transports them around the ski area.

Auntie Wendi and Aviana

Mom and Raven going up the Magic Carpet to the top of the Bunny Hill.

Raven after he "conquered" the Bunny Hill.

Daddy & Daughter

Aviana is 3 weeks old in these pictures. She is growing so quickly. She still sleeps a lot, but she's beginning to be awake for longer periods of time.

Aviana: 3 weeks old

Hiking in Austria

Giovanni


Darrin & the boys


Raven


Pono & Raven



Raven takes Giovanni for a ride.

Austria... The Hills Are Alive

We rode a cable car to the top of the mountain. This is the day before Aviana's birth. Yup, Mom is HUGE!

Papa & Tutu on the cable car.

Tutu "raced" the boys.

View from the top.

We went to Bad KleinKirchheim, Austria. It's a winter ski resort/summer hiking-wellness area. We had a restful, enjoyable time until my water broke and Aviana made it known she was on her way. We packed up and raced straight to the hospital in Italy.

Aviana & Family

Daddy & daughter.

Proud Papa greets Aviana.

Tutu waited outside the surgery room, watching from a window.

Pono, Raven & Giovanni find fun in the hospital room.

Sorry, gang, no pictures of Mommy. I look wasted, bloated, and bloated..... that's all you need to know.

The Princess has arrived!

Aviana Madeleine Skousen

May 27, 2007; 12:51 pm

Italy

7 lb, 11 oz

17.5 inches

(She's 3 days old in this picture.)

Giovanni inspects his little sister.

Pono loves holding Aviana.

"She's so bee-yoo-ti-fuull!" says Raven.

Let's Go Fishing!

Here are some pictures of Darrin and the big boys' fishing day.

Darrin is holding a 27-inch Rainbow Trout caught by Pono.

Raven reeled in a 24-inch Rainbow Trout. "Uncle Dan" brought Darrin and the boys to this fishing spot. Raven gave his fish to Uncle Dan because he NOT want to bring it home to eat.

Big Fishermen with their Big Fish.

A fish print I made with Pono's big catch.

Many have asked for details of the fishing day. Here goes --

DARRIN'S STORY:

We used flies on a fly rod and a jigger on the spin rod. We were only using 4 lb-lines so we had to let the fish run a lot and continuallyfight it back in, but Pono loved that. Pono used the spin rod and wasable to bring his (the biggest one we caught) in by himself.

I caught Raven's on the fly rod and then he reeled it in. I had to help hold the rod because Raven just wasn't quite strong enough to fight the big fishand hold that rod. We all kept laughing and kidding Raven on who was going to get tired first, the fish or Raven. At first he said, "I'm going to get tired," but as the fight went on and the fish was getting closer and closer to the shore after each run, I think he got excited because he started staying "I'm not tired, I'm not tired, the fish is tired."

They are Rainbow Trout, but the color and the taste of the meat was VERY similar to Salmon, maybe not quiet is fishy as Salmon. Pono, Sandi, andI loved eating it and the Fish Head soup Sandi made, Raven was slower at eating it, but did eat the fillet.

The fish were caught in a stocked canal/stream. It was perfect for kids. The canal was wide and deep enough to allow the fish to run and fight, but shallow enough (most of the time) to be able to see the fish and try to pick the fish you wanted to catch. The problem was getting the big ones they wanted and not some of the smaller ones. There were other sections of the canal broken off where we could catch Brown Trout (they were harder to catch, and we caught one Brown about the size of the smaller Rainbow we had caught. The meat on this fish was the normal white color. We haven't eaten that one yet, it is still in the freezer with the rest of the Rainbow fillets.

The area was a private "Sports Fishing" area where some entrepreneur hold fishing tournaments occasionally and then opens it upto the public. No licenses are needed. You just walk in and fish. When you walk out, your catch is weighed and we pay 6 Euros per kilo. It was kind of nice. Not the most adventurous for the big time fisher, but wonderful for the boys and our dinner table.

SANDI'S STORY

I stayed home with Giovanni, who is now old enough to know when he is being left behind. So, he was furious!

The fishing place is about a 30-minute drive from our house, and it even has a bar on the property. Too bad the U.S. doesn't have set-ups like that. (Bars in Italy are like little deli restaurants -- gelato, pizza, antipasta, pastries.) Upon returning, Pono and Raven were so excited. They were both talking at once and saying stuff like, "For real, for real. Yes, I caught it! I did it by myself! All by myself!"

Yes, I made Fish Head Soup. Darrin, who has lived in the jungles of the Amazon and eats anything, was quite surprised that I wanted the fish head. He said the soup was delicious and ate all of it, but eventually admitted to me that the "Fish Head" floating in the pot was a bit startling. "Doesn't the head have guts?" he asked.

Happy 4th Birthday, Raven

Raven and his "Knight Cake." Yes, he wanted a "Knight Birthday." The castle is all white because the Evil Ice Queen cast an evil spell, turning the castle into cold. The Knight has arrived and will destroy the Evil Ice Queen, then restore the castle to its previous splendor and glory.

Well, that's the story.

The truth is: How the heck am I, with my meager skills, suppose to decorate a castle?!

The solution: Melt the frosting and pour it on!

Abby, Nate, Grant, Raven, and Big Giovanni

Raven was so cute and excited for his birthday party. It was his first birthday party with friends.

Buon Natale! (Merry Christmas)

Thanks to Tutu & Papa Magaoay for the beautiful stockings. Tutu made them. Papa paid for them. We treasure these stockings! I had to give strict rules to the boys: "No, Raven, you cannot wear them on your feet." "Giovanni, don't eat the sequins." "No, Pono, the bears are not stuffed animals. You cannot sleep with it." And, finally, the last rule: "Anybody who plays with them is getting NOTHING for Christmas!!! Now sit there and smile for the camera!"

On Christmas Eve, we went to our friends' house for a "Shepherds' Dinner" and Nativity re-enactment.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Skousen for the priceless gift of Grandma Skousen's life history. Included in the book are the histories of her ancestors. I was thrilled to receive this.

Giovanni got a toy tractor for Christmas. Raven is taking him for a spin in our house, aka "The Funny Farm."

Yippeee! We got "Polar Express" DVD from Grandma & Grandpa Skousen. I really really wanted that movie, so I was very happy! Thank you!

Gardaland

We went to Gardaland during the Christmas break. Gardaland is like a "Disneyland" knock-off. The boys loved it. Raven especially liked "driving" this car through a "farm" with animated animals.

"Prince Pono"

"Big Little Chief Giovanni"

"Wild Raven"

10 Years!

Darrin & I went to Venice to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. Traveling without kids! Wow! We carried only 1 backpack and saw lots of sites. I ate every yummy thing I saw... didn't need to worry about buying for anybody but ME!

We saw San Marco Piazza at night, which was a great experience because the usual throngs of tourists were gone for the day. It was very peaceful and wonderful.

We saw this gondolier with a wedding party. Awwww... it made me remember our wedding day! Yup, back then we were such fools to think life together would be easy. But we also did not know just how beautiful our life together would be. (sigh)

Buon appetit!