New Shoes

When I was a teenage I loved to annoy my parents. As a parent I love to annoy my teenager. Nichole is all about cute shoes, cute clothes, cell phones and golf. Penni and I were finishing up some shopping and we saw some pink and black high heels – or as Penni said ho-ho shoes. They were $5 so we got them to torment our teenage.

Nichole has wanted some new golf shoes – black and white with pink lining. But the shoes she wants are discontinued and real hard to find on the Internet. But we got them – as Penni was wrapping for Christmas she got to the shoes. I told her that we needed to switch the shoes in the boxes and let the good times role. Enjoy the pics.

So excited to get new shoes

Still thinks they are golf shoes

After seeing the picture on the box.

But not everything is as it seems.

Gorgeous new Golf shoes.

Good thing she has a New Year Eve youth dance that she has been looking forward to. Now she has some new shoes to wear.


Merry Christmas Nichole!!!

Christmas Day

The tree Christmas morning

You are never to old to be excited to see what Santa brought.

Santa was good to us this year!

Penni and her Christmas socks.

Zoe waiting for Dad to set up the camera.

The following pictures were not posed for - they were taken as they happened. Like I said the Picketts had a good Christmas. Ooops the last picture of Krisitne - I did have to ask her to smile.

Zoe got what she asked for, so excited.

Kristine, was it worth the wait?

Nichole finally got her cellphone - she had 52 texts by 12:00.

Christmas morning breakfast.

Zoe showing Grandpa her new game.

Penni preparing Christmas breakfast.

Zoe got a new dance outfit.

Nichole bedazzled her dance leotard (sp?)

Kristiner opening one of her gifts.

Christmas Eve Dinner

The dishes .....

the food ......

Four beatiful ladies

A few more songs and sort of better video.

Here are a few more songs - the prior ones were with our camera and these are with the video camera. You can see Nichole a little better in these pictures. She is the youngest player in the orchestra and shes plays with people of all ages. The video looks better and not so blurry on our computer than it does on the blog but again you can close your eyes and listen.

Nichole & The East Valley Mormon Choir Organization

Hark the Heral Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful

Nichole has been participating in the East Valley Mormon Choral Oganization for the past 6 weeks. It is a new organization in Mesa/Gilbert headed by two brothers from Orange County, California who started the same type of thing 3 years ago there. The inaugural concert was this past week and it sounded amazing! The videos don't do it justice. They know they can't be the Mormon Tabernacle Choir but they hope to bring that type of sound and quality of music to different communities since we don't all live in Salt Lake and have access to the music on Temple Square.

To say this was challenging for Nichole would be an understatement. She was given her music only about 6 weeks ago. So she had to learn 11 or 12 new pieces in that short of time. She has had to work really hard to learn them. We could not have done it without our new violin teacher, Mrs. Viramontes who helps teach in Nichole's high school orchestra. Nichole left the first rehearsal knowing how to sight read one piece only semi well and by the concert she could play all but one without too much trouble. The hardest one for her is the Merry Christmas song from Home Alone. I am really proud of her, it sounded great!

Their next concert is an Easter concert, so anyone who wants to save the date it will be March 5th.

The videos are a little movement happy so you might just want to close your eyes and listen.

State Fair

Dancing at the state fair. Because it was during the day and the other two had after school things going on it was just Zoe and parents. One on one attention.

Doing her back bend.

Doing her pom routine.

"No, don't touch me"

MMMM nachos!

Date Night

Saturday night I asked Penni if she wanted to go on a date and out to dinner. She accepted – then both Kristine and Nichole got babysitting jobs so it looked like Zoe was going on the date. Then Nichole’s job fell through so it was back to just Penni and I. My brother in law called to see if we wanted to go to dinner – we agreed – and planned on meeting at 6:30. I noticed that it was 5 so I thought to myself – watch some TV, shower and leave at 6:10. I ran downstairs and passed Penni in the hallway after she had just gotten home from a baby shower and she said “why are you not ready to go”. Been there done that – so instead of saying I am going to watch some TV, take my time in the shower and we will go at 6:10. I said – I am jumping in the shower and will be ready in 5 minutes. Cussing in the shower because I just knew that there was a fabric store or craft store in my future because dinner had not changed from 6:30 and I hate those stores. It's always - I just need to run in for one thing – and 30 minutes of pure h&$* ensues.

So sure enough we hit Target and after trying to prolong the stay with a little game of hide and seek. Penni said that we needed to go to a fabric store – saying that it will not be as bad as the craft store - right. So at the fabric store we get our 1/8th of a yard and we are waiting to check out. I look at the next counter and notice this huge bottle of hand sanitizer. So I think to myself I am going to eat – may not hit the bathroom so lets disinfect now. I hit the pump and a huge glob of hand sanitizer comes out - I mean huge it was all over the place. So I am rubbing it on my hands, my arms, my neck, my head and I still have plenty. I finally find enough places to get rid of it all. By then Penni is done and we are heading out to the car. So like every date I am trying to score just like in college – I have put my moves on her – in Target and the fabric store - but nothing is really working.

We role out of the parking lot headed to dinner and Penni gives me this look. You know the look – and she says – what is that smell? – she says it is a good way – like I have new cologne on. I didn’t want to tell her the truth so I said – it is just me – remember I showered – she says no really – how/why do you smell so good. I smell good?? – trying a different tactic – yes, really good. Finally I can’t keep it up – I pause – it is hand sanitizer that I got at Joann’s. We both start laughing – it was really good to have a good laugh. Note to self - stop by Joann’s after work and get some hand sanitizer.

Parenting teenagers is not for the faint of heart!

So many of our FHE are turning into discussions based on what is going on in the girls lives. We have had a few of these over the past few weeks. So this week the discussion was on dating. Yes - dating.

Why might you ask?? Based on conversations with my junior high and high school daughters "everyone is dating, and have boyfriends and girlfriends," By everyone I mean their LDS friends. Boys and girls.

I am confused I tell them. Do they not know and understand about the whole 16 thing??? "Mom, nobody follows that,"" their parents don't know" and "welcome to our world" is their response. I then say " so does dating mean they just like someone and talk to them at school if they aren't 16?"

"No Mom, they call, text, meet up, hold hands, kiss etc. etc.."

So the conversation last night started by me asking Todd if I have missed some new information from the church leaders regarding dating seeing how apparently many youth in our ward and at school are doing the above.

As we then talked about dating with the girls it became very evident that what is a date in this day and age is EXTREMELY blurred. I guess it's ok to call, set up a time to meet in the park, talk and do other things.... but technically that's not a date in their minds (and an inappropriate date at that.)

I told Todd that going to the movies and getting an ice cream afterwards would be alot more innocent and better than what some of these kids are doing. The movies and ice cream is a date but hooking up at the park is not...hmmmm, I must be missing something.

Well we were all confused by the end. Kids and parents have different views of what is and what is not a date or what behavior is in the dating category and what behavior is appropriate once you do date.

So I did some researching last night for clarification.

Our next FHE will really be almost like throwing out the word DATE and replacing it with PAIRING OFF and what is appropriate and not appropriate behavior with boys their age.

The prophets and leaders have always been clear on this subject and thank heaven for that. Even though what a date is or is not may have changed in the mind of a teenagers/parents the basic principles still are sound and true.

I guess I didn't realize how unprepared I was to answer these questions about dating as we discussed a variety of situations where we had a hard time labeling if it was a date or not. I thought a date was a pretty black and white kind of thing.

I love my girls very much. Todd and I work hard at being able to talk to them about anything. I am glad that we have a chance to talk about these things with our daughters and that so far they have been receptive to the counsel we give as parents and from leaders who respresent the Lord. I have come to realize that my girls need undiluted information and the opportunities for discussion where they can ask questions.

Next Monday, I will be ready.

Nichole played in the east region golf tournament on Monday and Tuesday. Penni had the day off on Monday and went to watch Nichole play the first round. They didn’t allow the parents to ride in carts so Penni had to hoof it. Each foursome had a scorekeeper and rules official. Penni befriended the scorekeeper and at one point the scorekeeper turned to Penni and said – “I am not sure why I keep getting Meagan’s score wrong – I am always off by one stroke”. Penni told her that she was right – that Meagan was giving her the wrong score – cheating. Then another girl hit the ball and the scorekeeper didn’t see it and the girl didn’t count it. So honesty is a big part of the game and it has been an issue all season long.

The coach sees Penni and told her that Nichole was his best player from tee to green – but she struggles with her chipping and putting. On Monday she shot really well and did the best on the team – the coach told them that it was because of Nichole that they were in fifth place. Their top golfer was not playing well and one girl had been on the verge of tears all day long – aka girl’s golf = very emotional.

The top school was a Catholic private girl’s school – Nichole has been talking about their matching warm-up suits that the girls all envied. Early on Nichole was not that concerned so much about what she did on the course – it is how you look. Although the more Nichole plays golf the better that she wants to get – and there have even been some signs of competitiveness.

But some things don’t sink in – we have had many conversations about the difference between a water ball and a non-hazard ball.

Option 1

Titleist Pro V-1
$48 per dozen

Option 2

Women’s overrun balls (water ball)
$6 per dozen

On Monday Nichole was shooting over a water hazard and hit her ball right in the middle of the lake – ball she used - option #1 a $4.00 Titleist. Her response – but Dad I thought that I had it, I was hitting the ball really good.

So the season is over but Nichole and her new friends are already planning their practice schedule – Penni is ready for a break from golf - but Nichole response is that she has really worked hard and doesn’t want to lose it. Plus I think that enough people have told her how good she is that all she needs to do is practice and she can go as far as she wants. I think that is sinking in. She wants to get a golf scholarship to some college. WOW!! What a difference a year makes.

Quote of the week

Quote of the week – Halloween Day – I was home with the girls while Penni worked.

Here is my honey do list –

Make sure the girls do their Saturday jobs
Get drinks for a dinner party– wanted to make root beer but Penni told me to keep it simple.
Get and carve a pumpkin for Zoe – on October 31st
Frost cookies for the dinner party
Re chalk shower
I want a clean house when I get home!!

So let me start by saying that my day went by really quick – Zoe started her jobs but couldn't’t do the second job on her list because we were out of cleaning supplies – so to an 8 year old this means that she can’t do any of her jobs. Rode the other two to get their jobs done and took Nichole to practice golf. I got A&W root beer on one of my four trips to the grocery store that day. Got the last pumpkin at the store, found a face to carve on the Internet that Zoe was happy with and spent an hour or so carving with Zoe’s help. Had Kristine frost the cookies but when making the frosting she put in a tablespoon of almond extract instead of a teaspoon – used all the almond extract. Then came to me saying that she needed more extract to make more frosting to do the other cookies. This led to two of trips to the store, one of almond extract and one for already frosted sugar cookies to take to the party. Didn’t get to the chalking of the shower but the house was clean. Plus all three girls were changing their minds for costumes for the night – helped all three come up with new costumes. Penni got home at 4ish and was not real happy with my progress – she expected the lawn to be mowed and brushes trimmed. I told her that it was not on the list.

Hang on the quote is coming – we were to be at the dinner party at 5. I jumped in the shower at 4:50, got dressed and ran out to the van where everyone was waiting for me - except for Nichole (that's a whole other post) to see Penni get out of the van and say in frustration – “Do I have to do everything?”

My life is now a Wednesday night primetime comedy

Our family has a new favorite TV show on ABC called "The Middle." The scary thing is it feels like someone looked inside our home to get some ideas. I can relate alot to Frankie (the mother) who is trying her best to be a good mom but life keeps getting in the way. I don't watch too many things that make me laugh so hard but this show does. It reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite meets middle American family with its comedy style.

Even though my kids and the kids in the show are not exactly alike, every episode so far has that "oh, that is so like _____" (fill in the blank). Our girls have every dialect of "oh, my gosh" down pat that I am just waiting for the foreign language versions to start. All of us have our own quirky things that make us who we are just like those characters on the show.

So if you have any questions as to what the Pickett family life is like, this show has many elements of our life in it. We are family. The good with the not so good but we are learning together. In the end we love each other and know we are here to help each other through life. - Penni

H1N1- What to do??

Because I am a nurse I have had many family and friends ask me if I was going to get the swine flu vaccine or not. I have gotten the regular flu vaccine for years and when I started having my whole family get vaccinated as well we have been a healthier family overall.

There is alot of media on the swine flu and I don't write this to say I am any type of expert but as my opinion only. I personally have gotten the regular seasonal vaccine as well as the nasal swine flu vaccine (that is a weakened version of this virus) over the past month. I have had no negative reactions of any kind to either one.

I plan on getting everyone in my family vaccinated but our area is out of these vaccines at the moment.

One thing with the nasal version is that you have to be between 2-49 years old with no chronic type of illnesses - healthy individuals only. If you don't fit this category then you have to wait until the injectable version comes out - which at this time they don't know when that will be.

I know vaccinations are controversial but I believe in them. I guess because I see the end results of people and children who are extremely ill it is a strong visual for me.

I have always believed that you have to do the best for your own family - whatever that may be. Be educated medical consumers and do your homework. If you don't feel comfortable then learn more so that your decision is one that you feel good about. Be sure you are using reliable sources and not just the internet rumors that seem to be so easily spread.

The way to keep healthy no matter what kind of flu season it is are all the commen sense kind of things::

The flu is spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing within 6 feet of someone who is sick, so....

Cover those coughs,

Don't touch your eyes, nose, and mouth

Wash your hands

Avoid those who are sick - or if you are the one sick, stay home.

Get good rest and eat well.

(Todd's not sure why I am writing this on "his blog" but I hope this helps those of you who have asked.) --PENNI

(Since I have started writing occasionally in "his blog" I am now putting who has written the post at the end and my posts will be in color.)

It's all about Perspective.

Background: It's an early release day from school and I had scheduled dentist appointments for Kristine and Nichole. Come to find out the high school doesn't have parent teacher conferences so they don't have early release days. So instead of canceling the second appointment I (Penni) decided to go ahead with it myself and reschedule Nichole. Because it is early release Zoe has to come and tag along. So this is how the conversations go...

Zoe - "Hey Kristine, did you know that you get to watch TV here while they do your teeth?"

Kristine - Ya

Minutes later-

Zoe - "Mom, Kristine says she hasn't brushed her teeth for two weeks"

Kristine - "Zoe, I was just kidding."

(Which I know she has because I have seen her brush her teeth) however mind you that the dentist and hygenist are hearing all of this.

Minutes later---

Dentist - "Kristine is ready for braces."

Discussion amongst the adults regarding braces.

Zoe - "I really want braces like Nichole. I just can't wait until I have braces" (back to the TV).

Dental Hygenist - "Really Zoe? Does you sister like braces?"

Zoe - "No, but I still really want them."

Minutes later-

Zoe - prying herself away from the Disney Channel and peering over my face to look into my mouth that has the water sucker upper and the scraper going says

"Hey mom, did you know you have some silver teeth?"

Mom - uh huh

Zoe - "Hey mom can I get silver teeth?"

Mom - huh uh, shaking my head no.

Dental Hygenist - "Zoe, you don't want silver teeth"

Zoe - "Yes I do, I think they are really cool."

Dental Hygenist giggling.

So after the water sucker upper and all the other gadgets are out of my mouth I say to the hygenist

"I guess it's all about perspective."

So what they have heard are my kids who haven't brushed their teeth for 2 weeks, one who needs braces, on who wants braces because they are cool and who also wants cavities so that she can have silver teeth. I guess from the perspective of an 8 year old kid that is all pretty cool.

Perhaps from the dental office's perspective I am sure they just see the dollar signs that will be coming in for oral care from our family in the future.

And from my perspective I am not sure if I should give explanations or just shuffle everyone out of the office as quickly as we can before we say anything else.- PENNI

Beach Camping 2009

Last year we took a trip to San Diego to go beach camping. We had a great time so we have been planning to go this whole year. Our friends expressed interest in going last year so they were part of the plans this year - since you have to make your reservation 9 months in advance. We went over fall break and were there for four days. We had a great time - I rented a trailer this year - the guy met me right out side the camp ground. It was awesome - we eat great and spent a lot of time on the beach. Plus you just can't beat the view. - TODD

Waiting for dinner beach camping style

Nichole and her buddy

Visitors one night during dinner

Dinner beach camping style - can't beat it.

This year we went in style - the girls had bunk beds, a toilet 2 feet away, a fridge, stove and so on.

Picture at the Aquarium - one day we thought that it was going to rain so we planned a trip to San Diego - nope the clouds burned thru and it was sunny.

Touching creatures of the sea - star fish and stingy things (info from Zoe)

The Girls

Penni's favorite - the sea horse

Group shot

Kristine buried in the sand - I made sure that it took her a while to get out.

Zoe kept saying that the sand was getting in her face. Problem solved

Our friends had a kite - it was really fun - here I was showing Kristine the ropes.

The kite

Following Kristine's trail to the beach