Yes, it is over a month since Christmas, we did send these out a couple weeks before Christmas. But since traditionally I also post it to my blog, here you go....
I wish to say that 2008 was even better then 2007, but unfortunately that was not the case in the Pickert Household.
We started out the year with a huge loss. Melissa’s father, Ken, died from Multiple Myeloma (cancer). Losing another parent has been devastating and we really miss him. For those that never had a chance to meet Ken, he was such a wonderful man whose favorite things were his Grandchildren and good conversation.
Unfortunately, a couple months later we also loss our little dog Maggie when she was hit by a car. She was an awesome dog and Nick and Melissa miss her sleeping between their heads at night.
And in the “death comes in three” categories, Melissa’s Grandma also died in September from Dementia.
We did bring a new life into the house. In March we did get a new Shih Poo, Lucy. And while she will never live up to her older sister, Maggie, she is a pretty good dog, especially around Carter.
Nick was busy with work again. Pepperberry Gardens even was part of a booth with Stonepocket at the Midwest Fall Home & Garden Show and even won “best landscape booth”. You may have even seen him on WCCO-TV talking about it. At church, Nick started his term as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and safely installed a 48,000 pound boulder outside in the front of Our Lady of the Lake Church.
Melissa has been enjoying staying at home but recently did take a temporary job. She is still active in MOMS club and her quest to visit every site on the internet!
Jeffrey is an active first grader who loves math and music and is not such a fan of writing in school. He recently joined Cub Scouts. He still loves to do anything outside, and even is our household’s snow shoveler.
Samantha is enjoying her last year of preschool and loves to color and write words. She started dance this year and is our little social butterfly.
Carter turned one on Halloween and is really giving us a run for the money. He walked and got his first teeth before he turned one (before his brother and sister did) and gets into everything. He loves being with his family and getting all the attention. He is starting to make sounds and we swear he can say mama, dada and up!
Ole Scooter the Chihuahua is still trying to be our guard dog. And Max got to enjoy a hunting trip to South Dakota (with Nick and Jeffrey).
We are hoping 2009 is filled with adventure and good fortune.
Merry Christmas Love,
Happy Hannukah Nick, Melissa, Jeffrey, Samantha & Carter,
Happy New Year Max, Lucy & Scooter
Today I am thankful for my first born, Jeffrey. I always say there is nothing like you first time having a baby. Everything is new and unknown. Jeffrey is my child that we get to try everything out on. This year Jeffrey is in first grade and wow has he already learned a lot. Before school started he could only read our names and No and now he is reading short books to us. His does well in math but really feels challenged in english, especially writing. Jeffrey use to be my laid back child but that has changed a little bit since he has gotten older and hangs out with his Dad. He is still the kind of kid that has just a couple close friends and can have a bad day when they upset him. He also still wants to be a landscaper some day, even if Dad tells him he should do anything but. Jeffrey loves being the older brother to Samantha and Carter, whether it be teaching Sami how to write words or giving Carter hugs and kisses. And Jeffrey usually tries to be the helper around the house, though he would rather vacumn over picking up his toys any day. I was thinking today about how I feel I never see him (even with working) because he is in school all day.
I love you Jeffrey.
C-Ya!
... well I guess... it is November... all the kids are calming down from the sugar high (except for when Grandma says they can have another piece). Tonight we fall back... I just hope Carter sleeps in a little bit. And tomorrow is All Souls Day at church... another reason to think about Dad and how much I miss him.
And here I sit... at 10 o'clock at night working on homework with Jeffrey because he is having a hard time with it. He is good with math but not so good with spelling/writing/reading. *sigh*Well off to clean up the final last things from dinner and watch SNL.
At least the weather is suppose to be nice this week!C-Ya!
Jeffrey turned 6 in May. Every year I cannot believe I have a child that is as old as he is. It seems like just yesterday Nick and I were talking about trying for a child, and now it is over six years later.
(J in his "bday shirt")
Jeffrey is so smart in our eyes, nothing goes past him. He remembers so much, though honestly sometimes he embelishes the truth. He sure can tell you stories, though.
He still wants to be a landscaper when he grows up. He loves, loves, loves when he can go to work with Daddy. Nick just told me when they see Jeffrey on the job site they call him the boss. And when Jeffrey is home he has his own "employees" to deal with - and be careful, if they are bad or old they get thrown in the trash.
Jeffrey really enjoyed Kindergarten. He made his first friend all by himself, Jack.. and enjoyed some other friends. He really knew how to butter up his teachers... he had two teachers most of the time and one could never discipline him he was too cute with her. He says his favorite classes were art, music, library, computer, gym and math ... well really almost all the classes.. And he liked to ride the bus to and from school but also liked when Mommy and/or Daddy occasionally picked him up. I am just amazed at how well he can write and start to read things.
(J wrote the alphabet with bath crayons)
He is enjoying his summer so far. Besides going to work with Daddy, him and Samantha already were in one music/religion camp at my friend's church which culmenated with a performance. He also is enjoying a chance to go with to MOMS club stuff. And he is a great helper with Carter (he sometimes takes that role way too seriously)
And that is a little update of my "big, little" boy JeffreyC-Ya!
Sometimes when the world is getting you down and life is really sucking, you need to look at 3 smiley faces to think of happiness. Here are my 3 smiley faces who I am so blessed to have:
Jeffrey, Carter & Samantha
C-Ya!
Yea... can you tell I am counting down the days!!! Honestly, I don't know what it is, but lately it has not been fun to be a sahm. The kids are not listening to me and they are fighting with each other constantly. I am sure it does not help that we have had 2 types of weather, really hot or rainy (as of the past couple weeks for the rain) and have not been outside much. Today is actually nice but they have trashed this house so bad that I do not feel like letting them outside.
So next Thursday Jeffrey will start Kindergarten!! He will be going to school full time, riding the bus and wearing a uniform! We had his open house last night, he got to see his classroom (including where he is sitting - right across from someone he knows - Yay!) and his locker and check other things out. It was quite funny, we went to the new family event before the all school event and we were joking with those that we know because, while we are a new family to the school, we have been going to the church for awhile and know our way around and other parents and such.
Samantha will start preschool in a week!! This is her first foray into school and even though she denies it, I know she is excited. She was so jealous of Jeffrey going to preschool last year. We decided to have her go to the same school as Jeffrey (because Jeff went to the public school the last 2 years) and she will be in class with her "boyfriend". Of course this also means I can call her potty trained!! It has been over 2 weeks since she has had an accident and has attained all her goals - so she is going to get a day with Daddy soon and got her Dora underwear. We also got to see her room yesterday, but will have an official open house next week. And I even went into the bathroom with her to make sure she could do everything and she can.
So I am looking forward to next week. I will actually have 2 1/2 hrs of me time 3 days a week... well at least till the baby is born!!
C-Ya!!
Yes, blog, I am sorry... I have neglected you.
And it is not like I have not had the time to write... especially since I got the new (awesome) laptop.
Just wanted to let you know, the pregnancy is going well... we are at 25+ weeks. The baby sure likes to move and kick and punch more then Jeffrey and Samantha did. Most of the time it is amazing, except when I am trying to get some sleep.
Nick is still crazy busy... he is a landscaper and it is the summer. He has taken Jeffrey to work a couple times and everyone calls him Nick Jr.
Jeffrey is doing well... we just got done with some summer speech therapy which I am sure it has helped. He has had a bad streak of accidentally breaking things lately - and unfortunately they are usually made of glass.
Samantha is on the course to being a self-proclaimed Big Girl. She got rid of her Buba about a month ago ("blankie"), we took the side rails off her bed yesterday, and if she is dry today it will be day 7 (in a row) without an accident. She is looking forward to hitting 10 days when Daddy will take her to work with him.. and 14 days when she gets some Dora underwear.
As for me... sticking inside as much as possibly on these 80+ days with high humidity.. I feel so much better and don't get headaches that way. Also, I have been busy because I couple months ago I was elected the MOMS club President in my area. I am having a blast being Prez, especially since I have a marvelous board and great members.
Otherwise blog, I hope things have been well. I do know I should post a pregnancy picture soon and maybe some of the kids this summer.
Till next time.
C-Ya
