Ollie is no longer in the youngest class at ASPV!!



and he is a little excited about it. (mom's sentiments)

What a difference a year makes: el año pasado

Life in new places is full of exciting and new stuff! Lots of firsts happening in Mexico and i am struggling to keep up with my documenting. I am slowly making my way through some amazing pictures of our week in Sayulita over the New Year, stay tuned.

Last Friday Ollie had his first real field trip! To go and see some Dolphin with Vallarta Adventures, moms and dads weren't allowed poolside and i have to admit i was pretty jealous of Ollie's experience. They got to meet some seals, some incredible birds, and shake hands with the Dolphin stars. It was a great morning and we appreciate all of the work that Miss. Jennifer did to put it together. Pictured are the two classes with the stars, Ollie's class, and the art project they did on the afternoon of the field trip.


So although i continue to work on our NewYear's highlights we did have an incredible weekend last weekend camping on a beach just north of Vallarta. It was the kids first experience camping and it was nothing short of amazing. Ollie was impressed with dad the firemaker and even said that he wanted to be one when he grew up, the roasted marshmallows were a hit, as was cowboy coffee and fire cooked breakfasts. Thankfully the kids both loved it and we hope to be experience the great outdoors with them a lot more! Of course the luckiness of camping barefoot in January was not lost on me. Enjoy:

Camping in January from markpicketts on Vimeo.

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One last one, because I can't resist sharing a shot from Pajama Day:

Well it is been awhile since i have written here; and it isn't like nothing has been happening. Perhaps in a later post (or more likely posts) i will have a moment to reflect on selling 95% of our posessions, leaving our home & the friends that remain like family in the Dominican after five years, blasting through Canada, then California, before driving to Puerto Vallarta, with a brief stop in Cali, Colombia, meeting new friends, starting a new job, and beginning to get settled in our new home.

However, if that happens it will be on another day.

Today is Oliver's first day of school, and although we have no idea how it is going it was a memorable celebratory morning - that i simply had to document

Our travels this winter break were not nearly what they have been previously (2007: 1, 2, 3). In fact, no flights at all and we only drove about three and a half hours - to Cabarete. We stayed there for three weeks and although we missed friends and family terribly having a special group come from California helped us to survive.

As i sit here more than a month after the vacation so many moments jump to my mind as being incredible, i just could never share them all here. One of my favorite moments of the entire time however was about fifteen seconds in duration (overhearing a conversation between Karli and Rick):

Rick: So do you body surf?
Karli: Well i just float around and laugh a lot.
Rick: Sounds like fun; and a good way to live life.

A great final Christmas in the Dominican Republic.

The original vision of this blog was that it would be a place for us to share our adventures, thoughts and general goings on with you. I have done the majority of the postings but few loyal readers of this blog could ever forget this post by Karli.

Well today is another historic day. With great pride I present you with....

Oliver's first post:

"the ocean"

So now the proud father will give you a little play-by-play. So i was on morning duty Saturday and with the monstress happily entertaining herself Ollie brought me his paints saying, "I want this." He started the work by combining blue and green in the middle of the page. I told him it was beautiful and that it looked like the ocean. He then brought me the brown paint telling me it was for sand. He added the sun then the pink fish y VOILA!

We are awaiting a call from la louvre.

On Sunday we went to the botanical gardens where our now famous artist was mobbed by adoring fans:


you aren't going to believe me but i really had nothing to do with this - you trying being the cute little blond boy 'round here!

I am writing this behind the mountain of pictures and videos that ARE the festive season. I am doing my best...which isn't that good. Well anywhoooo these are some pictures from Early December, getting ready for Christmas, a visit from Granny and Boppy, and general goofing off, enjoy:



We Christmas-ed in Cabarete this year; that is coming soon.