Thanksgiving!!!

I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving!!  I am constantly amazed at how quickly time flies!!  I have many favorite times of year and this is one of them!!  I have many happy memories of past Thanksgiving - dinner with family and friends.  My Mom always had room for one more plate!!  She is an amazing hostess!

I have many things to be thankful for this year.  We are all healthy!  I am married to a wonderful man who treats me so well.  I have three lively and entertaining (most of the time) children!!  I am so proud of our kids!  I am blessed with fabulous parents and parents-in-law!  I have three sisters - we are all as different as can be!!  I have great friends who are always there to listen or make me laugh!  I have great step-children and in-laws and grandsons!!!  The future is bright!

I live in the greatest land in all the world.  We just had an election where we, as a nation, made history.  I look forward to supporting our new President.   We all have the right to voice our opinion without fear of the government - all while our neighbor may be voicing the exact opposite opinion!  It is great to be American.

We live in the land of plenty.  I do not worry about feeding my children.  I do not fear for their safety while they are at school.  I know that our nation has many problems and each of us have our very own set of problems but overall we are so blessed.  We have much to be thankful for!!  

Happy Birthday Patrick!!!!

I can't believe you are 13 today!!!  It doesn't seem like that long ago you were just my chunky little guy!!  You are such a great young man and I am so so proud of you!!  Thanks for being such a great example to Wyatt & Brenna!  You are such a special part of our family!!!  Have a fantastic day!!!  Enjoy it!!  I love you!!!!  Mom

Happy Birthday Gaylen!!!!

I hope you have a fabulous day!!!  I am so glad I get to spend your birthday with you!!  Thanks for being you!!  Love you!!!

Twelve Years!

I can't believe it has been twelve years since Gaylen and I were married!  So many things have changed so much since 1996... I am still so blessed to be married to a wonderful man.  I am grateful for all he does for me and our family.  We have grown to a really happy family.  I have always been blessed to be married to Gaylen but now I realize how lucky I am to be a part of this crazy Pickett zoo.  I have amazing "step" kids and their spouse and families.  I am so lucky they have accepted me as they have.  I love them all!  We have three amazing kids who bring much joy (and some tears) to our lives.  I love you Gaylen!  I am so glad we are where we are!!  Thank you for loving me and taking me as I am!!  Happy Anniversary!!

So, I asked Ashlee to take some pictures of our little family.  She has such a great eye  I wanted something outside and a hundred other reasons.  They turned out pretty cute.  It was COLD but not snowing - THAT waited until we were all done.  I am pretty impressed with what she did.  She is going to crop 'em and do some other adjustments but I thought I would share some of my favs.

I love this one.  I think we look like a happy little family.

This one made me realize how tall Patrick has gotten!  When did that happen?!

These are my real kids.  I recognize them now!!!  

Ash & I laughed and laughed at this one.  I think Brenna wanted Wyatt out of the picture!!  It was her turn!!  

Normally you don't get to see what is happening between shots - Ashlee made sure we would remember!!!  Patrick is just playing - mostly!!

Anyway, we had a great time and I think we got some pretty good shots.  Thanks Ashlee for taking the time and freezing with us!!  We were lucky enough to bring Ash's boys back home with us so they could go on a date.  All in all, it was a success.  

I had to check the date again....

We woke up this morning to SNOW!!!  I was really shocked at how much stuck around.  I had to check my calendar - make sure I hadn't slept through Halloween (darn!!).  I am sure it will be gone soon but my kids are enjoying it while they can!!  I am too, just from the couch with hot chocolate!!!  They would probably come in too - if I hadn't LOCKED THE DOOR!!!   LOL  

I didn't REALLY lock the door.  I thought about it though!!  

These things FREAK me out!!!!

Wyatt won these Heater Meals at an emergency preparedness fair.  They FREAK me out.  You open the little packet of salt water - put the meal pouch in a special plastic bag and seal with the tape on the outside.  Then, ten minutes later you have a piping hot meal.  You don't have to put it over the fire or in a microwave or anything.  They get really hot - if you are holding the box for too long after adding the water - it will burn you.  I read the Uglies series not too long ago and these totally remind me of the SpagBol that Tally has to eat when going to the Smoke.  We are living in the future!!!!