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.

Jack's Birthday Bash

The one nice thing (and maybe only nice thing) about Jack's birthday being so close to Christmas is there is lots of family around to help us celebrate it. We had two parties over the break with each family. The theme was cars of course because he loves wheels so much. We had cupcakes, homemade chocolates, slush, and chips and dip. Yum! Jack was spoiled with many gifts from family. Happy Birthday Jack!

The cupcake.

Part of his loot.

Treats!

We had a combined birthday part for Lafe's 16th birthday. His birthday is worse than Jacks- on the 24th.

Proof that I was there

We played pin the Lafe in the mini-van.

An Ode to Samson

We called him Samson. He was a good dog; hyperactive, but a good dog. We should have known he was different from the start. He was the only puppy eating flowers out of the flower bed instead of playing on the grass like the other dogs. Nonetheless, he was our one and only dog and so he shall always have a tender spot in our hearts. We found out he had cancer in his leg and so it was necessary that we put him down to avoid a slow painful death. So over the break Staci, my dad, and I took him out to the vet and gave our final farewells. It was especially hard because he was so happy to see us and it seemed as nothing was wrong with him. He lived a good life though and was about 10 years old. And now a few memories with Samson:

Staci and I got him when I was about 14. We had to walk him everyday because he spent most of his day in the kennel. He was such a ball of energy that he just pulled us around town. I got sick of hearing "you walkin' that dog or is he walkin' you."

He would escape a lot and we would have to chase him down in the Station wagon.

I think I attempted to take him running once but he swept my feet right out from under me and I fell to the ground. That was the end of that.

Staci had him on his leash to take him to the vet. It was icy and cold. Samson took off, Staci slipped and he dragged her along main street. Unfortunately I didn't see this, I only hear the legend retold.