Time to go Back Already?

No way has it been two weeks already? I can not even begin to tell you how much I have soaked up my kids during the two week break this year. I don't think I left them for more than a few hours the entire two weeks. I mean just looking back at our blogs we did a lot but still mananged to have a lot of stay at home days and a lot of friends come over to hang out too!  This break the weather has been so amazing that most days we went outside to play and it was 73 degrees or more outside, just beautiful. Made me feel more like it was Spring break not Winter break!
  I sit here on a Sunday afternoon and almost cry to think this time tomorrow I will be away from my kids.  We did manage to get a lot done so I do not  feel stressed going back tomorrow (thank goodness) I just would so much rather have fun at home.  We organized everyone's bedrooms before Santa even arrived which was huge! Then got all the gifts into our rooms and new clothes washed and hung up which makes Mommy happy! Then we even hit several after Christmas sales and returned/exchanged a few double items we had recieved for Christmas too. Like I said we have had a lot of stay at home days especially this week, which has been great. We had many friends come to hang out but still a few people we did not get to gether with because there never seems to be enough time.
   But like everything in life all good things must come to an end. Booo!!! Well here goes the rest of the school year. Before we know it summer will be here in full hot force right? Who knows what exciting things will happen between now and then. We hope you have enjoyed your holiday this year and enjoy looking ahead to 2012. The blog is off to a great start so far...all up to speed. Yeah.

Christmas 2011

Boy oh Boy do I love Christmas, not only the joy and excitement that kids bring to the entire experience but the time off is so needed by this time in the year and I would only want to be with my family.

I love these two weeks so much!

This year was a little tough because working full time has put a damper on my spirits anyway but having to have students up until the 22nd was just plain tough!  However, now that I have done it, I would do it all over again because these two weeks, have been WONDERFUL with very little stress.

So Christmas was busy as always but so much fun. We started at my dad's house. Dad held the annual Christmas Eve dinner, which is usually held by my Aunt and Uncle, but with my grandmother passing this year we did it a little different. I think it was great to still be surrounded by family and share some fun times opening presents with the kids.

Here is a great picture of Waylon and his Great Grandfather with the $ he received from him. Such great smiles on both their faces, I just adore these two and will cherish this picture of them forever!

Then it was present time! Toni just enjoyed the box, but I really enjoyed all the great clothes she got inside the box and needed so badly. Thanks Dad and Laura!

A super cute picture of Toni and Daddy. Love these two <3

Waylon enjoyed this write and wipe book he got from Aunt Donna and Uncle Mike and I love it because it is more letter practice! Thanks you two :-)

Then afterwards we went over to my sister-in-laws house, and sadly I forgot my camera at my dad's! So I had no pictures of the fun times we had over there in their new home. Which I really LOVE they have done a great job with it.  Plus this second stop on Christmas Eve is always Birthday fun for Grandma Pam because she has her birthday on the 24th. It was a lot of fun to hang out with everyone, wish I would have had pictures.

Thankfully, by the end of the night I was able to borrow My sister-in-law and brother-in-laws camera for Christmas morning. THANKS YOU GUYS!!!!!

So we went home and put out our Picture for Santa, milk, cookies and of course food for the reindeer.

I was so excited that Toni was able to help this year and was excited just because brother was.

Oh boy wait until NEXT year right?

WOW! Holly Smokes Santa came and left so many great things for these two.

You would think they were on the NICE or SUPER NICE list.

Waylon was pretty excited about several trucks he got this year.

However, this was an ambulance that he had asked for last year! Santa had to have run out because he did not get this last year.  I think it was worth the wait, as this one was bigger than what he wanted and so much cooler according to him.

Toni really enjoyed playing with the kitchen.

Jake and I got the kitchen and food for them as their big gift from us.

They LOVE this and play so well together with it.

I have to share that when Waylon walked out on Christmas morning he said, " WOW! A kitchen, I always wanted one but never asked for one! How did Santa get this here?" I had told him that this was for Toni and him and that it was from Daddy and I. He looked at me with such a shocked face and said, "WOW you had to have a lot of money to get one of these!"

I guess so, thanks for the help Trevor :-)

Then it was off to Gammie's house Christmas morning.  Jake had been diagnosed a week or so before with walking pneumonia and was still not feeling well at all, so he skipped my mom's. :-) We all missed him, but are glad he was also able to rest in a quite house too.

Gammie always finds such cool toys for the kiddos. Toni got this cute peek a boo bear that she plays with every morning. I know she is awake when I can here the bear and her playing in there.

Then Waylon got these two blue Fords from my mom. Of course he loves them and also plays every day with them. The kids also got some more great toys from Aunt Courtney and Uncle Jon too.

Connor opening his blocks from us, and Miss Toni is showing him how to do this whole unwrapping thing.

Then we went home for a little R&R and then later that afternoon we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house. More and MORE TOYS and fun. I truly don't know which was better for Waylon spending MORE time with his cousins or all these cool presents he got.

He got a portable DVD player for his room from Grandma and Grandpa! Computers for learning more letters, clothes, more trucks!!! WOW again these kids made out pretty amazingly.

This was a cute stool he got from his Aunt Cindy. I just love the look on his face!

Christmas is such a joy and blessing, but having children makes it 100 times better. I love and cherish these days more than anything. I am SO very grateful for such amazing family and love that surrounds us daily.

We hope you enjoyed your Christmas and hope that the New Year brings Great things.

Lots of Love,

The Pickard's

2011

Rawhide with the VanHorn's

This is one of those blogs were the pictures will speak more than I will, but all in all this was a FUN day that was not planned at all but what a wonderful time!

Eric was in town for a week and I was privilaged to see him 3x this visit. This was the first time we hung out and he called and litterally asked "what are you doing today?" mind you this was 10 AM and by 1 we were on our way to Rawhide! This was about an hour or so away from the house, but we jumped in the car napped a little and were pumped to see everyone when we got there!

Waylon being a gun fighter! Although he wanted NOTHING to do with the gun show! Oh well maybe next time. I won't complain to much that he did not want to see a shoot them up bang bang show this time. :-)

                                    

Then ETHAN WAS ARRESTED! Do you believe it? He was arrested on I believe it was 26 counts of whining! He had to sing "I am a little teapot" to get out but sadly the poor child did not know this song. So he gave this poor pitiful face as his mug shot.

Then was required to ride this wooden horse around yelling "ye haw" in front of everyone. He was such a great sport about it. Sawyer was a little scared of the whole thing holding on to Eric for dear life and Waylon just wanted to make sure that Ethan was going to come back soon. All in all it was good fun and gave all the adults a great laugh.

Toni enjoyed herself hanging out with all the boys. She did get to run around a little and even though she hardly napped that day she was smiling the whole time. I even got a few cute pictures of here without her serious face. Yeah. This is my Toni girl here!

.
                                                
Then we went to the petting zoo. Which was by far this little girls favorite. I have so many pictures of here with the animals these are literally just a few of the many pictures I took of here in the petting zoo.  She saw every animal in there and went up to each of them. She not only petted them, but also greeted each one with a sweet wave and "hi" She was just too cute, total Gammie quality in here with her love of animals.
                                       

This one is my favorite picture.

Then Waylon and Ethan took a ride on some Donkeys. This is another great picture that would make daddy proud. One hand on the horn the other up in the air with a number one. Total ham!

Our last stop for the day was Panning for Gold. Ethan got the most and did a great job. Sawyer was not sure what he was doing and Waylon got a few pieces but mostly just got dirty. While the boys were panning for gold Aunt Pat snuck in some Toni time with a small tickle fest. Like I said she was a happy girl all day which made it so much more fun.

We did get a great group shot too. What a fun unplanned day. Which typically turn out so much better than those you plan for way ahead of time. We managed to see Eric two more times during his trip and the kids got a lot of time to hang out together which is really important. I miss having them here but I sure do enjoy every time they come out because we always have a great time. We don't have to go anywhere either, the kiddos always give up plenty of entertainment.

Eric, Ethan, Colette, Toni, Waylon, Sawyer and Trevor.

Can't wait until you are HOME again!