Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. She truly is one of the most amazing people I know. Mom I love you so much. Thank you for always being there for Kevin and I. I can only hope that someday I am as great of mom as you have been to Justin and I. You are not only my mom but also my best friend. Happy Birthday We love you!

Merry Christmas

A tradition I have had since I was a little girl was my dad would always make a big Christmas morning breakfast. Once my brother had kids of his own, he took over the role of making Christmas morning breakfast. So every Christmas morning Kevin and go to my brothers for breakfast and to see what Santa Claus brought Brandon and Montana.

Justin, Vicki, and Grandpa Roy

Brandon and Montana must have been really good this year!

After my brothers we then stopped by Keith and Lynette's to exchange gifts and visit.

Keith, Lynette, and Erica

Now the Part that Kevin has to what all morning for, we finally get to open our presents. Kevin received his "Red Rider" (From my mom and dad)and yes I am worried he will shot his eye out...

Thank you to everyone for all of our wonderful gifts, but most of all Kevin and I are truly thankful to have you in our lives.

Traditions...

Our Christmas eve tradition has become having my parents and my brother and kids over for Fondue. Fondue at Christmas time is a Pickett tradition that the DuBose' have borrowed. Kevin always makes the fondue and it is always fabulous it must be in his genes to make yummy cheese fondue.

Kevin making the Fondue

Dessert YUMMY! We have both chocolate and caramel.

We then went to my Great Grandma Sperry's (Yes that s right she is my Great Grandma, I am lucky enough to have both of my Great grandma's on my dad's side). At my great grandma's we play a gift exchange game, I am not sure what is funner the game or my uncle Dewayne explaining the game.... Watch out Pickett's Kevin and I picked up quite a dozy for next year's white elephant (all I can say is it smells like bacon) {{Giggle, Giggle}} .

Great Grandma Sperry and Jamie

A Holiday Home

I love decorating Christmas Trees, Well I just love decorating for Christmas. I think a home decorated for Christmas has so much warmth. There is something that is so refreshing about pulling into my drive way after a long day and seeing my Christmas lights with my tree twinkling in the window. I thought I would share pictures of our trees, and of course one of the Christmas lights on the house in case anyone was wondering how they turned out.

This is our front room tree, it is decorated in reds and gold. We even have a few of the ornament spinners on this tree to add that little bit of twinkle.

This is the tree we have in our family room. Kevin and I have a tradition of , getting an ornament whenever we travel. I like to think of this tree as our memory tree.

This year I wanted to change up the tree I put in my Kitchen. I really wanted to create something that was a "Winter Wonderland" It took me awhile to find all of the elements but it came out just how I imagined.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

Happy Birthday Justin

This is a little late, But I wanted to wish my brother a happy birthday. He is such an amazing father, Brother, and Son. I am truly blessed to have Justin as a brother, I always know if I needed anything he would be there for me. I hope you had a great B-day, I love you Justin.

Vicki, Justin, Brandon and Montana

Luminaries...

Tonight we went to Leavitt's mortuary in Ogden to see the luminaries with my mom and dad. This has become a tradition for Kevin and I, It is always so beautiful to see them all twinkling. They also had a group there that played bells, it sounded spectacular.

Roses

As with most of us this holiday season, it just does not seem to be as Merry and Bright as usual. Which truly brakes my heart as this is my most favorite time of year. It seems that we are all going through our own personal trials right now, whether that be the loss of a loved one, or sickness, or the loss of a job. As I drove home from work tonight, I could not help but pray for all. As I was praying, all I could think of was; Though there seems to be rough times we always have our Lord and Savior watching over us. I can't help but be more than grateful that I have Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. As I was stopped at a red light I looked out and guess what I found laying in the road.... ROSES. (It amazes me how the Lord answers our prayers). No, I was not praying for roses, but as I picked them up off the road I could not help but notice that some were tattered and broken. This Christmas lets all truly remember the reason, and all though we may fill tattered and broken we are still loved and beautiful in our saviors eyes.

Fondue

This past Saturday was the Pickett fondue party at Kevin and I's home. It is always so much fun, I personally look forward to it all year. We always have such a great time with everyone. The fondue is always fabulous (Thank you Keith) and The White elephant gift exchange cannot be beat . There is a cat lamp, (well the eye’s glow I am not sure that qualifies as a lamp) {Creepy!} that always makes a reappearance every year. They have been around for a very long time; I hear they are about fifty years old now. This is one item that you do not want to get. I am happy to report that Kevin and I have never had the cats (Hmmm I hope I just did not jinx's myself)… This year however the cats did come with and addition a kitten. I think the little cat family will be nice and cozy over at Scott (Kevin's Brother)and Christie's this year.

Keith setting up the Fondue

Megan and Shawn enjoying the white elephants

Zoolights!

Tonight we went to Zoolights with my mom and dad and Justin and the kids. This is the second year that the Hogle Zoo has done Zoolights. It is always way cold, but as my mom would say that is part of the fun walking around looking at the animals and the lights with a cup of hot coco. I love Christmas time and so of course I absolutely love doing anything that involves spending time with the family. To me this is what Christmas is all about spending time with those you love creating everlasting memories.

Brandon, Grandma Vicki, and Montana

Grandpa Charlie

Grandma Vicki, Brandon, Justin, Montana, Jamie and Kevin

Thank you mom and dad for taking us all to dinner and Zoolights!

Have you ever had one of those Mondays...

Maybe its because it was a Monday after a long weekend, but this Monday seemed horrible. I can not pin point one exact thing, maybe it was the guy on the freeway that cut me off this morning ; Or maybe its the fact that Amex decided to put extra security on our corporate card(I can not say much about this but its a nightmare)... Or maybe its was the girl at the gym that almost dropped a 10lb weight on my head (She missed me by 4 or 5 inches)... and what is wrong with my Christmas Tree.... UGH! All I can say is thank goodness this day is over! Good night all, I pray for a better Tuesday.

*My tree is not falling over although the picture makes it looks that way. I am not going to say anything about the lights

All to be Thankful for...

This year was the year that Kevin and I went with the Pickett's for Thanksgiving. Lynette hosted at her home and it was Yummy! It was fun to have a big family dinner with everyone we dont do it very often because with all of us there are 24... and that is just the immediate family! I really enjoy getting together with everyone and visiting.

Megan, Christie, Lynnette, Karen and Kim

Ben the Turkey Carver

This year the Dubose's are in Vegas my brother is Racing "Good luck Justin I hope you kick butt!".

Kevin planning our Black Friday shopping

Kevin and I did our traditional black friday shoping, I have such a great husband he always goes with me with no complaints. This year we were on the hunt for Kathy 2.0 (A new home computer). We decided to start at Best buy. So we set the alarm clock at 3am, the plan was to leave the house buy three 3:20 and get in line. When we arraived at Best Buy there was already a long line. At 4a they started to hand out tickets, for the door busters; we asked and the computer we wanted was not a door buster so they were not giving out tickets. Kevin said he would wait in line and I went over to JC Pennys to get Pillows and a new down comforter... $40.00 dollars latter. I met up with Kevin, Once the doors opend at Best buy at 5a we had to get into another line in the store for computers... Well it turns out the computer we wanted was a ticked item," What we were lied too"... YIKES! I thought kevin was going to loose it but he handled it so well. We got in the car and headed to circuit City. We have officaly sworn of Best buy for any furture after thanksgiving sales as this is the second year in a row we have been skunked.

The Line at Best Buy

Yeah Circut city had a Computer Wahoo... Welcome Home Kathy 2.0. We then hit some other stores and of course breakfast, we were back at home buy 8a and in our toasty warm bed! Oh How I love the Black friday Shopping!

It’s the most wonderful time of year…

I am getting so excited Christmas is almost here. Anybody that knows me knows I love birthdays and what better than the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I love the spirit of Christmas and all that surrounds it. To me Christmas is about spending time with those you love, and reflecting on the many blessing in our lives. Today I am absolutely bursting at the seams Kevin and Kurtis are putting the Christmas lights on the house (We don’t turn them on until Thanksgiving night). I love decorating our home for Christmas; I have always loved Christmas lights. When I was younger I would beg my brother and dad to put them on our house. I also used to beg my grandma Leavitt to decorate her house for Christmas. One year when I was about twelve I finally took a strand of lights and decorated a small tree in my grandma’s front yard. From that year on, she would decorate her house with the help of my cousin Curtis her yard always looked spectacular, her home even placed a few times in the Sunset City light contest. Unfortunately my grandma passed away on February 14, 2006. She truly was an amazing woman and I miss her greatly, she was one of my best friends. Now that I have a home of my own I always decorate it in remembrance of my Grandma and all of the love she brought to the world and to my life.

Grandma I know you and Jesus are looking down from heaven enjoying the Christmas lights. I love you and miss you.

My Grandma and Grandpa's House Decorated (2004)

Bath Time…

I just had to post these pictures. Kevin and I gave Roxie and Izzie a bath, there is just something so cute about a soaking wet Yorkie. Not to mention I love having clean fluffy animals. I love my girls they are so good; we have been so blessed to have such amazing animals in our lives.

Izzie

Roxie Mae

Good bye old friend we will miss you….

Well its official our computer has died! Her name was Kathy and she joined our lives Christmas of 2001. Kevin used to spend so much time with her; we figured she needed a name. (I know I have pictures, but I think she has taken them to the grave with her along with my Christmas card list). She was with us for almost seven years and in that time, she truly became part of our family. She had a good life with her buttons glowing green, but now there seems to be no way to revive her… RIP Kathy!

Kathy 2.0 coming soon!

Welcome Home Roxie Mae…

We have had Roxie now for almost a week; we brought her home on October 19th. The Original plan was to have her sleep in her Kennel at night; However on the first night when we put her in it. She started to whimper; Kevin looked at me and said “Let’s just let her sleep with us”. All I could think is “Great I am going to be up all night”. I must say I was so surprised she is such a good puppy she slept through the night… I kept waking up to check on her, but she just laid there snuggled up to Kevin. She is such a Daddy’s girl. We are now in full potty training mode, in an effort not to Jinx myself I am not going to say much, expect for the fact that she is good puppy… Izzie and Roxie play so well together, it is a lot of fun to sit and watch them play.

Road trip Day 5… Crazy horse and Jewel caves “Almost”

Today we went to Crazy horse memorial. This memorial is privately funded and is still a work in progress. Work started on crazy horse in 1948 by Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. The Memorial's mission is to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians. Once completed it will be the largest memorial of it type. Right now all that is done is the head of Crazy Horse, they still have quite a bit to do... But it is still amazing.

The Black Hills

We then drove up to Jewel Caves. However once we arrived we found out that all of their tours we sold out for the day. Due to the time of year they only do three tours a day with a maximum of thirty people per tour.

Wyatt and Davis at Jewel Caves

We also did a little Geo Caching along the way.

Our view through lovely Wyoming, We are coming home! (It is such a long drive)

Kevin and I really had great time on our South Dakota vacation with everyone. We are excited to be coming home though, we get to bring Roxie home for good when we get back {{Giddy}}

Road Trip day 4… Bear Country

Today we went to Bear Country. This is a wildlife park that you can drive through, and see animals such as Wolfs, Bears, Buffalo, and Elk up close. It is a lot like Bear World in Rexburg ID. I have included a slide show of all of the animals we seen. There of course was nursery were we could see all of the baby cubs… My favorite.

We then went to Wall Drug, This is a drug store that has been around since the 1930’s. Their claim to fame is that they offer free ice water. Nowadays it is more of a tourist trap with a ton of photo ops, and a huge jackalope.

The Pickett Men

Kurtis and his BunnyAfter going to Wall Drug a few of us decided to go to a Cave (I am so bad I don’t remember the name of it)… But when we got there it was closed for the season. Of course Kevin and Kurtis had to go exploring and Kevin had to take a ride on the train… (This was a fun day)