Christmas

Oh geez, where do I begin? Christmas was a blast. We spent a good week and a half in Gunnison and could have kept going but Logan and Jack got sick so we decided to head home. We went down the Saturday before Christmas so we could attend the Annual Christenson Christmas Party and the Chappell Party. Always a treat. Staci and Scott and the kids were down too so we took advantage of that. We attended the Manti Temple and did lots of playing in the snow. Of course we had Jack's birthday party and the Chopped Competition. We got to see Madee and Lafe play at their basketball games, watched movies, and played Cranium and the Wii. By Christmas Eve, all of my siblings were there and then the festivities really began. We did a nativity with the grand kids which was followed by the Jacks tournament. I surprised even myself by sweeping the competition with first place! The Duck of Triumph was all mine this year! Logan's luck was not so good with his left handed handicap and ended up taking the Stallion of Shame home. We then had a White Elephant exchange where some awesome gifts were given and received. Christmas was wonderful. It was nice to be around so much family. We opened gifts then Logan and I and Jack were off to Brian Head to stay the night at the condo Logan's family had rented that year. It was a short stay, but well worth it! I couldn't get enough of Gracy's Hannah Montana game. My favorite part was when I realized we were out of diapers so we had to buy a rather small pack from the lodge for $19! The next morning we headed back to Gunnison to the Pickett Christmas Party at my Uncle Hal's house. The next day we left early that morning to head up north. We had brunch and baby shower for my Aunt Korina at my Aunt Jennifer's house. Then we had some awesome sledding up the canyon. Jack was a trooper. He didn't smile and laugh, but he didn't cry either and it was pretty darn cold. Then it was off the Chuck a Rama for some family feasting! We finished off the day with just my immediate family at Temple Square. Nothing says the spirit of Christmas like Temple Square. Finally we finished the drive home to Logan. What a fun was to spend the holiday!

Here are the thirteen shirts I screened or sewed for gifts the day before we left for Gunnison. I was enemies with my sewing machine and Yudu after that.

The snow fall in Gunnison had to have been record breaking. Of course for Logan, its somewhat common, but not in Gunnison.

Adam and Wills. Adam had a love hate relationship with the snow. He refused to wear mittens and this was often the source of his anger.

Will building a snow slide.

Jack and Logan work on a snowman.

It melted as fast as it came.

I like this picture. Jack is in the pointing stage. I love it.

He loves animals. Especially dogs, cats and of course, rats.

The Nativity! Jack was baby Jesus.

The Annual Pickett Jacks Tourney! Jason took the trophy last year.

Poor handicapped Logan. Couldn't use his right arm so he had to do lefties. Made it quite challenging.

I was nervous, but focused.

The best and the worst.

The Stallion of Shame and the Duck of Triumph.

The White Elephant Party. We passed on our awesome 7-11 Slurpee machine we got from the Carlile's to my dad.

Now that is a white elephant gift! Secretly inside was hidden a Subway gift card. Nothing goes better together than Saddam Hussein and Subways!

Christmas morning. We have a tradition of lining up youngest to oldest to go into the tree. I always liked this because I was the youngest and this year Jack took my place.

So many people crammed into such a small space...

Jack sort of got the present opening thing. But mostly he was a nuisance to the other kids as he wanted all their toys.

Logan and his happy little kindle. My gift (turned out to be a sewing machine) didn't arrive on time so I was empty handed on Christmas day. I will get my vengeance on you Wal-Mart!

At the condo in Brian Head. I forgot to take pictures until the morning we were leaving so I just snapped a few. Mostly of everyone waking up. haha.

Gracy

Lafe

Madee

I whipped up some matching beanies for Jack and I. Kind of lame. I didn't really intend for them to be matching. I just really liked the color.

Jason pulling Gracie, Jack and Will in the sled.

It started out well, but in the end...

Mom, Adam and Will get warm by the fire.

Me and Loge.

Crazy Uncle Jathon slipped in a picture.

Temple Square. I always seem to surprise my mom when I am taking pictures of her.

An attempted family picture of the Jackson family. Its mostly a miracle we didn't lose Adam while we were there.

Ahh the Temple. So pretty

Dad. Or as Gracie calls him, Papa Pickett. I like that.

The Christus Statue.