Ella Turns THREE!!!

It was a day filled with princesses, pizza, & chocolate cake - just what the birthday girl ordered. We all had an incredible time. We were so lucky to share it with great friends here in Vallarta and Granny & Boppy during their visit.

Ella is an incredible sweetheart of a little girl, kind, caring, a real beauty, and funny as anything. All of these great traits were on display.

Some history: birth announcement, 1st birthday (stills), 2nd birthday

In February we were treated to a visit from Ian, Liz, and our new niece and cousin Anna (aka AnnaBot). It was a wonderful visit and we were lucky that they were here for some great events including Ella's first day of school, Ollie's second Trike-A-Thon, some birthdays, and lots of smiles, laughs, and fun.

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A HUGE thank you to the people who made Oliver the highest sponsored rider in his

class (two years running*): Aba, Granny & Boppy, Ian & Liz, Geoffrey, GGB (GreatGrandmaBond), The Hugheses, John & Nina, Tia Amanda, and Tia Nancy. Thanks you for your incredible generosity. I am happy to let you know that thanks in large part to you, Givelod Manis a beautiful girl from Haiti will go to school and receive two meals a day for another year. Thank-You so much.

There is lots more footage from the days as they fly past me that i will try to share with you here as soon as possible.

* denotes father bragging

So this morning as I put the finishing touches on his birthday video Ollie got a star of the week award from Pre-K (picture). Congrats Ollie, we're proud of you.

The real reason for the post is to mention what happened last Wednesday. Ollie had some friends over to celebrate his fifth birthday. Everything was going well and people were having fun but then an evil villain (the DarkShark) broke into our house and of all the low down dirty things....stole his birthday cake! Ollie and his friends went through a gauntlet of tests and before anyone realized turned themselves into SuperHeroes! They found the clues that led to the cake and a major crisis was averted. Enjoy:

In other, unrelated news...Ollie continues to work really hard twice a week in his art classes and I wanted to share some of the work he's produced in his dinosaur collection:

So i know i always start this way, talking about how behind i am, but this one is particularly rough. I really have no idea what to say. I was almost done the summer video (in October) when my computer crashed. Sifting through so much great footage of time with family, friends, their new babies, weddings (on both sides of the continent) allowed me to relive a summer that was incredibly fun! As great as it was to go through these digital memories it involved an enormous amount of time and losing all this work was painful. I tried to re-start a couple of times but there was so much...I just felt buried.

I still want to re-do the summer video as well as to share some of our fall fun & adventures but i blinked, and months had passed. The number of images were growing - we continue to be blessed with a wonderful life - and now it is 2011. So i am using the whole holiday update bit to push the reset button with the hope that i will get to the videos from an epic summer and wonderful autumn one day.

So enough with my drivel (more below). This video is of our holiday season, disfrutalo:

(There are many stories that could be told about these images, and they are all valuable in my selphish opinion, here are a few more details then could fit in the captions)

The mariachi is a Mexican icon that few would fail to recognize. Our new house shares a wall

with a beautiful boutique hotel. The restaurant of this hotel has a band of mariachi that play monday thru Sunday. They are truly incredible musicians, and I hope that Ollie and Ella will remember the soundtrack to their bedtime stories in the future. I won't lie; it would be nice to see some variance to their setlist - but i have nothing to complain about. Its beautiful, its Mexican, and listening to their nightly gift is a major part of this incredible dream that is our life. Back to the icon piece though, they dress - differently then many people, Karli and I have become obsessed with mariachi doing regular things. (more mexicanisms)

Hard to believe but in November Karli and I celebrated 5 years of

wedded bliss. Of so many incredible things I have to be thankful for, she is definitely numero uno. Thanks babe. Also, thanks to Granny & Boppy who took care of the kids so we could have a wonderful long weekend to celebrate.

Our new house defies description it is so beautiful, i really often think i am living in a dream. You should really come and see it.

In November Karli became an official Yogi. We are very very proud of her. It was an experience that has been life changing for her and indeed all of us. She was snapped up immediately and is now an instructor at Davanna Yoga just up the street. A huge thanks to Anna, Karli's fellow classmates, and all of her students.

The video is already very long, but really should be longer. We were very blessed to have visits from Granny, Bobby, Aba, Karl, Geoff, and Bryan this fall.

Fiestas de Guadalupe. The original clip (with the bells) goes on like that for four minutes! Living right behind the church we heard them from dawn long into the night, we were certainly not too sad when the celebration was done - but it was

beautifully rich in so many ways and we were treated to the street festival daily. I can honestly say I am looking forward to next year's festival - or at least the first few days of it.

Ollie continues to progress through school. I am so proud to say that his Spanish is very good (he regularly corrects his parents - no joke) and we are again blessed and thankful to have a wonderful group of teachers guiding him as he navigates through the treacherous waters of Pre-Kinder. He has produced some incredible things this year, loves going to school, and demonstrates new knowledge daily. Miss Katie, Miss Mary, and all the other caring teachers - we truly could never thank you enough.

Ella has worked hard at potty training, Yoga, in art classes, swimming and remains a kind, sweet, animal obsessed, ball of love & laughter. Who picks up her numbers, letters, all types of food (and lots of it), and relationships of all types staggeringly quick. She can melt you with a smile - and i have great fear for when she fully figures out how hopelessly wrapped around her finger we all all.

Both kids love to sleep together, although there isn't a whole lot of sleeping going on - but the giggling and stories they tell each other are some of the most hilarious moments in our day to day life. They are

definitely a dynamic duo who love, stick up for, and cover for each other all the time - Karli and i are in a great deal of trouble!

I started my winter holiday by jumping on the private plane (of one of my 7th graders) and flying to Baja, a land of incredible beauty for three days of kiting in the mecca of La Ventana. The wind didn't cooperate but I had some great mountain bikes through the desert and i don't think there was a better place on earth for watching the lunar eclipse on the solstice; actually flying the plane for 45 minutes was something I will never forget, nor was watching the full moonrise through the crowds as we flew over the sea of cortez. Despite not kiting for a minute, it was a great trip, and I hope to return with the family next year. Thank you to the Tron family for the invitation and opportunity.

We continue to enjoy the beauty (human, manmade & natural) of Puerto Vallarta. We go the beach a lot and have regular meetings with whales, dolphin, rays, turtles, crocodiles, beautiful birds, and much more.

So this is a lot longer than it was meant to be, but i suppose it is kinda my version of a holiday letter. We have so much to be thankful for and wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2011.

KOEm

(if you actually made it here you deserve a medal)

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

In May we celebrated Mothers' Day. Ollie's class put on quite the show and then we hit the Mexican countryside with friends for a little adventure. It was a great time in honour of a fabulous and gorgeous mom who we could never thank for all that she does.
We are so incredibly lucky to have you able to focus completely on us - thank you.

Of course we have lots of mom's to thank including Mary, Delores, Laura, Nora, Kristy, and Evelyn - thank you all so much for all that you have done and continue to do for us.

Mothers' Day 2010 from markpicketts on Vimeo.

- on the nerdy side of things i have begun simultaneously posting these to youtube (account: markpicketts) for those that asked to see them on your phones, m.

So as I get ready to leave here and start summer I am writing about April...at least I am consistent.

April was fantastic. We were lucky enough to have a visit from Granny & Boppy which is always a treat, did some camping, went to the boat access only community of Yelapa, played, laughed, celebrated Ella's 2nd, swam, kitesurfed, saw turtles, iguana, dolphin, pirates, rays, birds, fish, and were treated by the return of Uncle Foffy at the end of the month. We live a lucky life and are thankful for it everyday.

April 2010 from markpicketts on Vimeo.

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Speaking of giving thanks, i just want to publicly thank my family for allowing me - and often joining me - to kite more than 50 times in a little over two months. My wife's patience, forgiveness, and being the hottest girl on the beach everyday is what makes me the luckiest kid on the playground - thank you. My favorite sessions were the ones when you're there...

lens: Rudo

March was a busy month around these parts, first I traveled to San Antonio to train to become an official nerd, the title: Google Certified Teacher has been added to my resume and all kidding aside it was one of the most incredible professional development opportunities that I have ever been a part of. Of course everyone involved wanted to eat Mexican food at every meal...

From there the whole crew went to Rome, Georgia to celebrate the 90th birthday of Raymond Waters. It was great celebration befitting an incredible man. Ollie, Ella, and i were able to meet some family members we'd never met and Karli reconnected with people she hadn't seen since she was Ollie's age. I am consistently amazed at how family, regardless of previous contact or distance, seem to know they are family at the youngest age and this was no exception. See the video!

As the world cup draws closer and closer i am thankful to have returned to a futbol crazed nation and excited to cheer el Tri into the second round. The signs, spirit, and jerseys can be seen everywhere these days; these players truly bear the weight and pride of the entire nation... i for one can not wait! (more mexicanisms)

This blog has really evolved to become more of a video-journal and this post is no different. Highlighted in this clip are a long weekend camping, an enchanted wedding on a magical Mexican beach with old friends, and our road trip down to Manzanillo and Boca de Iguanas south of Vallarta.

disfruta:

March and April adventures... from markpicketts on Vimeo.

This pretty much brings you to Ella's 2nd with lots more to come, keeping up with this is a battle i continue to lose but i keep trying....

Everyone of these starts out with an apology for the late posting, and this one is no different.

It's official, we have a two year old:

Ella Turns 2! from markpicketts on Vimeo.

looking back:

• Here is her wonderful arrival
• and was this really just a year ago??
  birthday stills, semana santa video - this is the video that had her bday in it

Is it possible that with each day that passes time moves a little quicker?? because it is really feeling that way...

en serio, how else can you explain that this was in the fall:

February.

Yes it was some three months ago but i find myself today writing about it.

It is likely the month that receives the most "bad press". I have often heard, and maybe even lamented about the blah's of February and how difficult it sometimes is to get through the shortest month of the year.

Well, it is difficult to feel that way any more. With four family birthdays in the month, Valentine's Day, and this year an (extended) visit to Boston, not to mention a trip to the zoo, Ollie's first field trip, and the general chaos of day-to-day life the month absolutely flew by.

Indeed, time seems to be flying these days (so fast that it takes a while for me to actually get to putting up some stuff here on this blog). Regardless of how late it is; its here now. Sometimes as i am feeling a little bogged down with footage i wonder if i should just forget it...then i look back and it is so much more than all worth while.

So i invite you to watch this:

February 2010 from markpicketts on Vimeo.

Then consider a couple previous posts, from Februaries gone by...

• February '09
• February '08
• February '07
• The Original Birth Announcement!

So I spent the first couple days of my Spring Break finalizing some old footage and putting together more recent stuff. Of course the other 14 days i spent further digging myself in with more and more footage - ahhh good times.

Here are two little flicks:

1. Christmas Part Two

yup the hole is that deep. This takes off where this one left off, ready for Uncle Foffy's arrival just in time for Christmas Dinner. From there we had an incredible week with family in the surf town of Sayulita.

Winter Break 2010 (part 2) in Sayulita Mexico from markpicketts on Vimeo.

2. Raymond's 90th

so there is much to fill in (two months and three birthday's) between these two videos, but late march had us in Georgia to celebrate Raymond's 90th birthday. Friends and family came to Rome from all over the place, and the fiesta was a wonderful testament to an amazing man.

Raymond's 90th from markpicketts on Vimeo.

As I mentioned in this post there is a lot more footage that i will try and work on over the spring and get out to you. Start looking forward to three birthdays (four as of Thursday), more camping, the zoo, friends, friends, weddings, two weeks off and more friends...so stay tuned.

Well February is a busy month around this family and 2010 has officially proven to be no exception. We have birthdays for Aba, Oliver, Karli and me, add to that Valentine's Day, an extended work trip to Boston, the arrival of almost wind to the Bahia de Banderas, the Olympics ... a great month really - but lets not forget another superstar award for Ollie for random acts of kindness on the school yard, a "bathtub" added to our apartment and nightly routine, all while Karli continues to defy the aging process by looking better and better with each day that passes.

There is a lot more footage from the month that will find its way here soon but this post is specific for a great event that was held here at the American School of Puerto Vallarta - last Friday, February 26th:

It was the annual Pre-School trike-A-thon. Ollie personally raised more than $3000 pesos ($300 dollars) to help build/re-build schools in Haiti; we could not be more proud of his effort or the generosity of his sponsors. The event was a blast and the group as a whole raised more than $2000 for the cause - not bad for kids still learning to tie their own shoes!

trike-A-thon from markpicketts on Vimeo.

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:

Yesterday on a road trip to a new beach in the south we had some car trouble, we never did make it to the beach. We did have a 9 hour ordeal that had us meet (and appreciate) some wonderfully kind people. One of my favorite moments was asking the attendants at a gas station - in the middle of nowhere - if they knew where i could find a mechanic; there was literally no response whatsoever. Taking their silence as a no, i asked for a taco stand recommendation ... this response was a diatribe describing the wonders of the local cuisine. They love their food here (and so do i). Good times.

Pictured is Karli reveling in what very well could have been the greatest chile relleno ever made.

(reposted from: http://sites.google.com/site/betadepuertovallarata/mexicanisms)

I am simply blown away with the amount of footage the holidays brings. I am a little overwhelmed to be honest, but i have a lot of good stuff that i want to share.

This is early December here in Vallarta; A staff Posada, Ollie's Christmas concert, some Vallarta, a trip to a jungle beach, a couple piñatas*, Noche Buena, Christmas morning, and lots of just goofin around:

Early December in Mexico from markpicketts on Vimeo.

.... there is much much more to come...

* notice how quickly Ollie goes from barely touching the piñata to really givin'er!

So its true. Living my life is officially taking all my time; leaving me unable to fully document it...at least not in a timely fashion.

November was kicked off with a Halloween visit from "Uncle Foffy" who made the journey laden with the finest of TraderJoe's wares, which we enjoy and appreciate every day. We also had a visit from Granny & Boppy before celebrating our 4th year of wedded bliss and American Thanksgiving with our new friends here in Vallarta.

Throughout all of it we have laughed, loved and continue to feel like the most blessed people on the planet.

Here is some images from our month:

Geoffrey, Granny, Boppy & Halloween from markpicketts on Vimeo.

The end of November brought visits from our past: Ecua-peeps. Ollie and i helped launch Nutmeg for her return voyage to the Bay Area. Then visited with John, Olivia, Ceci, and pending as they celebrated an extended dia de gracias in one of our favorites: Sayulita.
This incredible day was launched into unforgettable when our sunset cocktails were interupted by news of sea turtle hatchings about 20 meters from our seat. We endured the walk and watched as these little ones made their run for the sea (footage). Modern odds are stacked against these tortugas and it was a pretty amazing thing to witness; especially when Ollie (unprompted) carved a road into the sea to help the little tortugas (meanwhile mom used all of her strength in holding Ella back).

As we head into December it is difficult for me to comprehend how fast time is passing...and (unlike me) it shows no sign of slowing...
We hope that this finds you and yours well and look forward to being in touch over the holiday season.

Its October here in Vallarta (unlike wherever you are), and although the leaves are not changing the weather is...and for the better! Less heat, less rain, really wonderful and the old guard here tells us it is just going to continue to get better - very exciting. I am still anxiously awaiting the wind but need to be patient until January, until then we are still really enjoying the family trips to the different (and amazing) local beaches (details, stories and pictures).

This year Ollie is really excited for Halloween ; and why wouldn't he be? A chance to dress up, to eat junk food, combined with a visit from Uncle Foffy has the whole house pumped for this weekend.

All the more reason for me to hurry up and post some images from the 3rd Annual Picketts Pumpkin Carving Party!

3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party from markpicketts on Vimeo.

Here is some history:

• 2008
• 2007
• 2006, 2006 (otro)

wow, i really like looking at those but it makes me feel OLD!

Although there was a plethora of reasons for our relocation to Mexico, near the top of the list was being closer to our California family. Toronto-PV and Toronto-DR is really a wash but the difference from San Francisco is massive. We have not been disappointed and last week were spoiled with the second visit from Kristy this year. Ollie and Ella hammed it up in the pool with Aba non stop and both show new tricks in the water daily.
Another Sunday passed and another beach this week: Los Muertos - Sayulita.

Kristy's Visit 09.09 from markpicketts on Vimeo.

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Monday mornings ASPV has a very cool flag ceremony in the elementary school. This week Ollie was recognized by his teacher. I know i am bias but i thought it was pretty cute:

Flag Ceremony Final Version from markpicketts on Vimeo.

Sometimes you have to hit reset...this is one of those times. I created this blog as a place to share memories with friends and family - and although i have a ton of footage left to share from the summer and from our first six weeks here in Vallarta the backlog was getting a little heavy.

I kept wanting to finish a video and post it before moving on - chronologically like...it may seem weird but its just the way that my brain works; but we are in Mexico now the things we are seeing, smelling, experiencing, and lets not forget tasting are happening now.

So i am hitting the reset button.

This is us, last weekend:

Last Weekend in September.m4v from markpicketts on Vimeo.

Some explanations:

1. We could have left that CD on repeat Friday night - he would have sung us through until monday...
2. Cirque-de-Backyardigans...an experience that truly defies explanation
3. Playa Camarones y Chilaquiles (the list is growing)
4. fun in the rain and some new swimming skills

I really will try and share some of the great stuff that is now backlogged but not at the cost of falling further behind.

in other news i think i am officially done with YouTube; been wanting to go to Vimeo for more than a year now but resisted and resisted but no mas!

If you subscribed in YouTube, please redo so in Vimeo (if you still want)

img from: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/reset_button090324.jpg

So just shy of October, i am posting for some good times in June and the start of July.

There are lots more coming soon but for those of your living in "real time"; please know that Mexico is fantastic! The four of us have never been more happy. We have a house, friends, jobs which we are loving, and then there's the food....

We go to a new beach every Sunday and have a new love: chilaquiles. I am tracking these beach adventures (and will get them posted - with pics - here soon enough).

So 'nuff talk...