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 ...

Super Late ... but here...

Eleven Heaven ...

Listen to this while you watch.

Love you Ella

Almost a year late (but I am faking the date) - Happy 13th Ollie:

Lucky #13 ...

Please play this while viewing ...

'tis the season ...

for Karli's annual regalo de navidad ... a video of some summer adventures. We continue to be ridiculously blessed and this summer enjoyed Bend, Hood River, Ontario for mom and dad's 50th, before returning to Hood - truly our cups filleth over.

 

 wishing you and yours the absolute best in 2019

if your audio is blocked - its also here

Pumpkin Cutters ...

Our annual favorite ...

The skills keep getting better and better and we are especially grateful to the cutters for their creativity and to the judge for her skills.