Scary Drive

Well this is what it looked like last night when I was driving home from Clearfield. The kids and I had gone down for our annual Gingerbread House making party. We stopped briefly to talk with Lynnett and Keith then were on the road by 7 p.m. As we were sitting a red light waiting to get on the free way Wyatt said "Mom, I'm worried about driving home tonight! I don't think it's going to be safe" My response to him "Let's say a prayer" We pulled over to the side of the road as Wyatt said the prayer you could feel the spirit so strongly and it had given us the reassurance that it was going to be OK. Wyatt had even said "Mom, did you feel that?" As we continued to drive home, both of the kids had fallen asleep. Through Willard Bay the fog was so thick I couldn't even see the reflectors on the side of the road. I just kept saying to myself "it's going to be OK" Well, things got really scary after that. We missed our exit (due to the fact you couldn't see the exit signs) as I traveled slowly down the freeway I got off at the next exit, I pulled over and called Shawn. He was able to get on the computer and pull up where I was at. Amazing I ended up off the freeway somewhere close to Crystal Hot Springs. I was able to slowly make my way home from there. After a 1 hour and 32 minute drive home, we made it. I have never felt so blind before in my life. With no landmarks visible to help guide me home, I knew through the power of prayer that my Heavenly Father had helped guide me home. I am so thankful for prayer and for an amazing husband to keep me calm through such a scary situation.

Ginger Bread Houses

For the past 14 years it has been a Willis tradition to make Gingerbread Houses together. Each year we all gather as cousins, aunts and uncles to do this. Grandma and Grandpa are there also to enjoy every minute of it to! I love doing this!! The frosting is gross, it makes a big mess, but the smile on the kids faces when they are done is well worth it all!! As this holiday season is here, may we remember all of the many blessings that we have received and the many blessings yet to come!! I am so thankful for a wonderful family that I have and the wonderful family that I have married into. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mckaylee's Masterpiece

Wyatt's Masterpiece

Necklaces

So my friend showed me how to make necklaces with scrapbook paper. It is so much fun! This is a necklace I made for Mckaylee the big beads in the middle are the ones down out of paper!!

Carving Pumpkins

Wyatt's Pumpkin
Shawn's Pumpkin

Mom's Pumpkin

Mckaylee's Pumpkin

~Wind Caves~

Hiking the wind caves in October over UEA with my parents and Wyatt's friend Pearce!

~Tony's Grove~

The "BUFFALO" in the middle of the road on the way up to Tony's Grove.

Shelby waiting for Shawn to throw the ball! We have the hardest time keeping her out of the water!

Mckaylee, Pearce (Wyatt's friend) and Wyatt out in the freezing cold water!

Just another fun saturday with the Pickett's all you need is some water, food, and family and your good to go!!

~ Scout Group ~

Shawn and I are Bear Leaders in our ward. Each month we are to take our den on a field trip. Well, this was our first field trip as leaders and nothing like going to the Police station to make a little bit of a serious impression on them that we don't take or deal with anyone's crap. Right? We actually had a great time. You can see Wyatt in the back right hand corner he's one of the tallest boys. Officer Bird that gave our tour is actually our N.O.V.A. (DARE) officer for the school is a great man. He did a great job with the boys!!

~Wind Caves~

Our Beautiful Destination!

The Wind Caves are located up Logan Canyon. We decided to go up during morning and afternoon conferences Sunday. It's a 1.8 mile hike. You are not able to see the Wind Caves from the road but once your in about 1/2 mile this is what you see!

Shawn is standing at the bottom of the cave and I am at the top. There is a very steep decline to the bottom. The view was beautiful.

They are actually standing on top of the caves

This is standing farther away from the caves.
At the bottom of the trail just getting started!

It was a great family hike. We talked the whole way. Nothing like a conversation with two very curious 9 year olds. I love talking about stories from the scriptures. I learn so much from them each week. Mckaylee had actually brought up Elder Hollands talk from Saturday about how gratefull we all should be for what we have. Didn't even think she was listening. Now I know I was wrong! They are turning 10 next month and I feel like they are turning 12 on me! Scary! All in all it was a great day for family time!

~Lazy Dogs~

Lazy Dog 1 and 2, have come up with a new habit since the kids and I have started back at school! Shelby and Lady lay on this otoman (?) that sits in front of the window in Shawns office and stare out it all day. Shawn thinks they are watching for us to come home, Shelby, she loves the kids so much. We're thinking she is more of the kids dog instead of Shawns' and I's. She spends a lot more time with them then us. Maybe that explains while she is so crazy. She gets it from the kids!

Top of Utah Half Marathon

Well, I did it! I was hoping for a faster time but I finished it and am very proud of myself. I am still thinking about doing the Ogden Marathon in May of next year. If you are like me at all, I want to do another half marathon just to beat my time from last time. I know, Shawn says I'm crazy but I met so many fun people while running the Top of Utah that the experience alone there is way worth it.

~I'm ready~

Ok, I am officially ready for school to start! School shopping done! Went through all of the kids clothes and their rooms. We did a little rearranging at the time also. Classroom ready, went and bought me a few shirts for school. I think we have done it all! Oh wait! House Clean!! Now I'm ready!!

~Anxiety Update~

Ok, so the ward split was crazy! We went from the largest ward to the smallest. Now I don't have a calling so I feel a little lost! Now that that is over hopefully I can concentrate on everything else!

~Anxiety~

So it is the 2nd of August and there is way to much on my plate right now! 1. Ward split this sunday. 2. Being released from my calling. 3. School starts in 16 days! 4. Running Top of Utah 1/2 marathon on August 28th. AHHHH!! Number 1 and 2 are very emotional number 3 don't want to even think about yet!! Number 4 this is my first and maybe my last we'll see. So what else could be handed to me? I don't know but I feel it coming!

~CamPinG~

So we planned a last minute camping trip with our friends the Merritt's! We decided to just go up Logan Canyon. We stayed at Wood camp. Beautiful. We had shade the whole time but we ran into a little problem. As the kids and dad's went on a hike, Tami and I decided to hang back and read our books. About ten minutes later Joel came running back to camp yelling " We found a rattlesnake" It scared me. Lucky they had taken their BB guns, and Pellet guns with them on the hike. When we got up there this what we found!

It is still alive but bloody so this is what Shawn decided to do!

The kids each took their turns holding the snake!

~WyAtT~

Wyatt has been working really hard to earn his Bear in cub scouts! Our goal was to have it done by the time school starts and we did it!! Yea!!! He also earned a few extra arrows also.

~CaMpInG with the PicKeTtS~

What a beautiful view of the canyon as we were driving up!This is a picture I took of Wyatt because I was mad at him for asking"ARe we there yet?" When it was only a 40 minute drive!A very tired little girl! This was out first camping trip with taking the dogs! We had so much fun. Managed to fit two dog kennels, two kids, and two adults with an air mattress in our tent! There's always a first time for everything!

I had to take this picture of Anna. She made me laugh watching her steal food off the table hoping that no one is watching her!

Grandpa's butt got in the way!

All in all, it was a great camping trip with the family.

~BeAr LaKe~

We had a great time at Bear Lake this year! This was Wyatt's first year at being able to knee board unfortunately I don't have any pictures but here are a few other's!

Ogden Marathon Relay

Here are the other 4 members of our relay team. Our morning started at 3:30 a.m. leaving from Logan. The relay officially started at 7 a.m. I didn't run my leg till 10:00sh. It was a lot of fun but I didn't like waiting so long. The anticipation was a killer. We have all signed up to run the Top of Utah. 3 of us are running the 1/2 marathon and the other 2 are doing the full. So here's to happy training!!

~Finally some update~

Yes, I have been slacking on blogging for a while. I will try to do better. Here are just a few things that we have done the past month or so. Enjoy!!!

Shawn's Birthday

Shawn's Birthday! As you can tell he looks soooo happy! We went and got him an ice cream cake since he doesn't like cake! So he was much happier!! We spent the day together, went shopping and nice long motorcycle ride! Love you babe!!!

Cub Scout Day Camp

Shawn and I were able to go with Wyatt to Day Camp on the 23rd of June. This is him getting ready to go down the zip line!

They also had a BMX bike track that the boys were able to do. Fortunately we were the last group of the day to do this so they let the boys go 3-4 times. Also, I couldn't go to camp and not participate in anything so the boys challenged me and another leader from the other group to race down the track. Shawn was yelling from the bottom "be careful our insurance sucks" it was fun.

Wyatt getting ready to do the archery range.

~Woodruff Wildcat Run~

Each year Woodruff Elementary does a Wildcat Run which every grade level runs a mile. It's a lot of fun and this year our school raised over $10,000 dollars for our fundraiser (which was the wildcat run). So this is what the Janitor made to have the kids run under at the finish line!