2025 in Revue

 Merry Christmas Karli, xo

December 2025 Holiday Card ...

 I like to put our holiday card here so I can send it to so many of our friends who are out of reach of the ol' fashion mail carrier ...
and for those of you who have eyes that work like mine these days ...

---

Another year's passed in its quick, steady climb,
But KOEm & W savored each moment in time.
We're grateful for sunshine, for laughter, for grace,
And for friends like you who help brighten our space.

Karli's in fourth grade, still leading with heart,
And her wing-foiling summer became a new art.
She stuck with the challenge, found joy in the ride,
And loves it (almost) as much as the guy by her side.

Oliver's a sophomore at Manoa this fall,
Mechanical engineering big dreams, standing tall.
He surfs when he can and found brotherhood too,
Kappa Sigma has given him a strong, steady crew.

Ella's a senior, applications underway,
Her future unfolding in a bright, steady way.
We're thrilled for her path, though our hearts tug a bit
Mock Trial's her realm, and she's perfectly fit.

At eight, Wally's lively with endless good cheer,
He snuggles and fetches his way through the year.
Dad's out adventuring, though he knows he's not twenty
On skis, bikes, and foils - the crashes? there are plenty.

May your season be peaceful, your days merry & bright,
May the coming year greet you with joy in its light.
Sending love from KOEm & W, grateful and true
And hoping that 2026 brings us nearer to you.

---

Karli Wings Sherman!

 

her perseverance has been nothing short of inspirational

December 2024 Holiday Card

In twenty-twenty-four, adventures, they ran high,

For Karli, Oliver, Ella, Wally and some other guy.

Karli explored Costa Rica, bold and free,

Mastered Wing foiling, gliding over the sea.

By day she teaches fourth grade with passion and care,

And finds joy in her book clubs, with stories to share.

Oliver’s cap tossed, his high school days complete,

Off to Wanakita, to lead kayaking without missing a beat.

He now surfs ocean waves, and dives deep to explore,

Studying in Hawaii’s embrace, is certainly no bore.

Ella shines bright, with her sharp Mock Trial flair,

Learned Spanish in Costa Rica with beauty so rare.

Her first job scooping cones brings smiles so wide,

Her diligence, kindness, and joy are beacons of pride.

Wally, everyone’s best friend, now seven and spry,

Chases the birds and his ball with a sparkle in his eye.

I still seek my thrills on waves, skis, and bikes

And try to stay grateful for each step on my hikes

Through adventures and growth, so much we did see,

Our hearts are full of love for friends and family.

With gratitude we end this incredible year,

And wish for joy, health, and peace in the next to appear.

Here’s to twenty-twenty-five, may it brightly shine,

We sure hope to see you - when the stars, they align!

K-s Surprise Party

 

K's 50th

Ye Olde Holiday Card

 

and for those who's eyes are like mine:

This year we're grateful for health the greatest of gifts - so divine.

We’ve cherished each moment, acutely aware of the passing of time.

In the heart of it all, with joy, laughter and glee,

Were the adventures of KOEm & W, in twenty - twenty three.

Karli’s still hiking & dancing out there on the floor

An monday to Friday still teaches grade four

This year Ollie’s a senior -  soon a college town he’ll explore

twenty years ago a promise - so we returned to Ecuador (as four)

In April we returned to where this whole thing began

Adventuring around those island Galapag’an

It was all we could imagine - a trip from dream

The four of us juntos; swimming, diving, and animals a see’in

Ella’s now a sophomore*, she goes to Tam with her bro

Her nights spent in Mock Trial, now she argues like a pro

Wally still fetches and hikes miles upon miles

And when friends arrive he makes all of you smile

I still fall off of bikes and boards on both water and snow

I do my best to remain grateful wherever I go

For life keeps a movin and is never a bore

We hope we will see you in twenty-twenty four

* we don't use freshman, sophomore, etc. ... where I grew up; I misrepresented my daughter's grade ... and yes she noticed - after it was printed.

April Galapagos Trip ...

 

an absolute dream.

a commitment made 22 years

I simply do not have the words to express how incredibly grateful 

I am to have shared this corner of the planet with O and E.

Time Accelerates...

another trip 'round the sun ...

 

ye olde Holiday Card ...

It's hard to believe we've made another trip 'round the sun

And somehow we're completing year twenty twenty one 

Adventures, exploring, I'll say it - we're having a blast

But in rare quiet moments - it feels time's moving too fast

Karli still yogas, paints, bikes ... she's always a' mover

And out on the dance floor - she's still the best groover

Ollie's now a sophomore  yup that's year number ten

Waterpolo, surfing, & best of all - he's a really great friend

Ella's in grade eight, at Hamlin - for one final year

She loves to play volleyball and ride her bike - "Guinevere"

I still go to the ocean and use my foil to ride waves

And when there's no wind, my mountain bike - it saves

Wally is still the most popular Picketts - it's clear

He chases frisbees, balls, and whenever possible the deer

We keep moving along, having too much fun I confess

And we're continual grateful for all which we're blessed

We hope the same can be said for you and yours - it's true

And we look forward to our paths crossing in 2022

Summer Road Trip ...

 

Some great times with our new family member: VANIMAL over 5500 miles

Some Spring 2021 Adventures

 Some random adventures in WaterPolo, Volleyball, winging and fun with KOEm & W

Winging Fort Point ...

 So I haven't kited in quite awhile actually ... but I'm on the water a lot. Winging is the new thing and here is a little edit of some of us up @ Fort Point:

the bite mount doesn't do these wave Justice ... but for anyone who knows, well - they know. A super fun wave when it works and on this particular day the wind let us ride them deep without having to swim back out!!

Where did my kids go?

 Its official, we have no more kids that aren't teenagers. This is making me feel ... well, old - which is getting more and more true with each passing moment. Of course, I have nothing but gratitude and love for these two amazing humans ... but enough about that - let's check out how Ella celebrated becoming a teenager:

another trip around the sun ...

 and one unlike any of the fifteen before it ... we continue to be blessed everyday that we get to hang out with this guy.

ye olde holiday card ...

 2020 Edition:

Back:

It is the end of year, this two thousand and twenty

Challenges? - well, this trip ‘round the sun - it had plenty

But good times were not rare, nor was laughter .. or pranks

And as we look back there are so many reasons to give thanks

Sure we’ll remember lockdowns & periods with much solitude

But for the opportunity to hang alone with these four - I feel only gratitude

So give me a moment, get comfy - pull up your stool

and I’ll tell you some adventures of K,O,E, [W] … and some other fool

First there is Karli - mom& teacher; you remember her right?

When we last wrote these lines, she was flying her Kite

She loves to do that but today if you see her with big smiles

You can bet she’s just taken her eBike out -- logging miles

Ollie’s a freshman the newest Tam High Red Tail Hawk

He hasn’t been on campus yet, but the halls he’ll soon walk

He surfs like a champ and on his trumnpet plays Jazz solos

But spends most of his tiime in the pool training for water polo

Ella’s in seventh grade now, never met a book she didn’t like

But one day Ella said, “I’d like to find something I can bump, set, & spke”

She promptly joined the firebolts; a local volleyball crew

When you see her, shes reading, writing, or practicing - its what she loves to do

Wally’s still happy and cute, he stays right by my side

Except for those times when I take my bike for a ride

I still love the ocean and I go to it often -- I’m spoiled

I ride kites, wings, or surf but now always on foils 

So now you’re caught up - your right up to date

We hope you’re happy, healthy and doing just great

We’re grateful, we’re happy, we hope you’re having fun

And we hope we will see you in twenty twenty one

happy mothers' day

we continue to be blessed and grateful for each day. Here are some pictures from a wonderful [socially distant] day together:

Ollie's card for mom:

Ella's gift for mom:

Ella Turns Twelve ...

 So the actual date of this post is 5/13/2021 but ... well ... it's been a year.

Here is Ella ... a year ago:

we love you chica, xo

a full year late ...

 which is a new record (even for me) ... but I am lying and changing the date of this post* 

Happy Birthday Ollie:

so proud of you Ollie - thanks for hanging out with us

*actual post 3/15/2021

ye olde fasioned holiday card ...

front:

back:

~ ~

actually readable text: 

'twas the day after new years, or maybe  - numero dos 

 Mark had to stay & ski powder - our first day of work ... toast

We did make it back; made it in just before lunch

but chasing adventure, would be a theme in 2019 - I just had a hunch

The year saw us canoeing, surfing, and riding trail bikes

Rock climbing with cousins and going on hikes

It was a year for the ages  I have to confess

What seems more than our share - we remain very blessed

But allow me to steal a moment; a brief stitch of your time

What's up with these Picketts; who's ages continue to climb

For regardless of my efforts, time just keeps a' movin

As impossible as it is to believe, life just keeps improvin'

First there's Karli, the queen of our clan

She's yogaing, and kiting, whenever she can

But that's old stuff,  you want to know something new?

Now teaching grade 4, making earrings, and on her Peloton too

Then there's Ollie, now 13, he plays horn in the band

But then grabs his surfboard and heads to the sand

The marks on the garage, prove he's not getting shorter

Mtn. biking, water polo - the family's newest snowboarder

Then Ella - remember her?  Well, she's now in grade six

Fills her time surfing and acting - a wonderful mix

In twenty nineteen, "I need something new" said my daughter

Who promptly got certified to SCUBA dive - underwater

Then there's Wally - the dog - he's just barely two

If you are around you'll want for nothing to do

You're bored you say?  We'll just quit your kvetching

Pick up a ball - toss it; and Wally'll go fetching

And what of the last of the letters in KOE[W]m

I am just hanging on, barely keeping up with all them

They keep me running and laughing; I'm one lucky dude

With so much in this life for which I owe gratitude.

We're happy and healthy and doing just swell

We hope this message finds you smiling and doing quite well

So much thanks to give; such great people so many

We hope our paths cross with yours in two-thousand & twenty!

Lucky #13!! - Pumpkin Cutters

It's the most wonderful time of the year ...