Our Last Day of 2013…Happy New Year 2014!

Making Memories in Houston….

Our Melissa and Lance were only going to be in Houston for 3 days…so on their second day in Houston, and the last day of 2013, we went to the Houston Texas Temple together! 

We especially enjoyed attending the temple as a complete family …. and enjoyed having  Lance's parents…Craig and Bev Hackett join us also.

December 31, 2013

Lance, Melissa, Mark, Jackie, Jamie and Caroline

Houston Texas Temple

Lance, Melissa, Bev and Craig Hackett

We loved having the Hacketts with us in Houston!

In the evening, we had a fun New Year's Eve celebration at the Proffits' home…

once again our good friends opened their home to us…and we created some fun family memories together.

Great food, fireworks, games, and lots of good connections with wonderful friends.

Melissa had wanted to share this fun experience with Lance and his parents…as we have shared many new years' eves with the Proffit families in years past.

We were excited to be together and bring in the new year as a family and with special friends!

Happy New Year to us….

Over the years we have taken countless pictures of the Pickett and Proffit kids…now they have spouses and one even has two children.

Mark and I have been richly blessed during 2013….we have traveled, had good health, have loved living in Warsaw, Poland…and have enjoyed our visits to the U.S. too. 

We welcomed a new son-in-law into our family…Lance Hackett... and have enjoyed getting to know him and his family as well.

Caroline is a great cinnamon roll maker….so on Melissa and Lance's last evening in Houston.…Caroline made all of us her delicious cinnamon rolls! 

As always…they were incredibly yummy!

Melissa and Lance returned to Utah to pack and prepare for their internship in the northern California area.  Jamie happily returned to work and looked forward to having a regular routine once again.

So…on our last full day in Houston, we decided we would have some "Caroline Time"!

Breakfast with Caroline at Le Peep….just down the street from Jamie and Caroline's apartment.

We spent the morning shopping for an electric keyboard for the Picketts in Houston. 

Caroline would enjoy playing the keyboard….and Jamie would benefit greatly from listening to her play. We shopped in and out of a few stores and were happy to find the place that had what we were all looking for…a keyboard…just her size!

Thanks to a very smart and helpful maintenance man….we were able to get the heavy keyboard, bench and box up to their apartment.

Mark enjoyed helping assemble their special gift...

and Caroline was ready to play!

Just thinking about Caroline being able to play the piano…in her own home,

and creating beautiful music ...makes us feel very happy!

Soon it was time to say our good byes once again….we have loved making connections with our children both in Utah and Texas...

Happy New Year…2014! 

I am very thankful for the times we have been able to return to the U.S. and have family connections together…including this wonderful time in December and January....of Melissa and Lance's wedding, receptions, and being with family and friends. 

2014 will see our family spread out in Houston, Texas….Concord, California and Salt Lake City, Utah, Warsaw, Poland, and….?

Though there will be many days of transition for the Picketts and Hacketts…we optimistically look forward to our lives in this new year.  We love life and hope to see many good days during 2014!

Open House in Houston for Melissa and Lance … December 30, 2013

The newlyweds came to Houston! We were happy to pick Melissa and Lance up at the Houston Airport …arriving from their honeymoon in Hawaii. 

We planned a small open house in Houston for our friends to meet Lance and Melissa together. We were grateful to Brian and Diana who generously opened their home so guests could meet the newlyweds.

Lance and Melissa Hackett….married 9 days, and celebrating in Texas.

Thank you Diana!

Still decorated for Christmas, their home was a beautiful setting for a casual open house...

We brought a few pictures with us from the reception in Salt Lake City….

….and the guest book.

Delicious foods and drinks were prepared by our friends….

….along with fun and delicious cakes….served and enjoyed!

Lance's parents Craig and Bev came to Houston for the open house. We were so happy they made the trip to Texas!

They were great fun and we enjoyed having them meet our friends from our previous "home" in Texas. 

Craig is cutting up pineapple for the open house.

The pineapple was fresh from Hawaii….hand-carried by Melissa and Lance on the overnight return flight from their Hawaii honeymoon.

Bev takes a turn at holding little Juliet (Diana and Brian's second grandchild).  Bev is a pro at grandma duties…as she has 20 grandchildren!

Before guests arrived, Melissa and Lance were able to sit for a few minutes, and rest from the overnight trip from Hawaii….

…. and also watch the video of them that was shown at the reception in Salt Lake City.

We were grateful to all who stopped by to congratulate Melissa and Lance….especially because the open house was during the busy holiday season.

Snapshots of a few guests…

Melissa and Sarah

Sarah was a great friend to Melissa in high school.  They were on the drill team together….Sarah was the drill team captain and Melissa was one of the lieutenants.

Sarah and her mother Nelda talking with Melissa.

Geraldine and Lynn….two special friends that taught school with me at McRoberts Elementary….came to say "hi" and "congratulations".

.

Friends from our church in Katy stopped by…Stefan and Chris, and Elizabeth and Brad.

Randy and Gwen…neighbors in Houston and special friends from church

Melissa and Lance talking to Maria, another friend from church.

Melissa and Lance enjoying time with another Melissa….

Melissa and Melissa became friends when her family moved to Houston in the early 90's. 

Three sisters….Melissa, Jamie and Michelle….we have watched these girls grow up, and love them and their families!

Samantha (Jamie's daughter)…adding her name to the guest book.

 Lance and Melissa were able to sneak some food in between greeting well-wishers.

Sarah, Brent, and their little boy Isaac…soon to be parents of "2".

 Nathan and his wife Rachael and daughter Eliza (soon to be parents of 2 more).

 Mark's former co-worker Paula and her husband John.  Paula knew Melissa from the one summer she worked at Marathon right after high school.

Friend Kristy...

Laura (daughter to Brian and Diana) has been a life-long friend to Melissa and Jamie and our family. She was home in Houston for the holidays…and is expecting a baby boy in March!

Jennifer…second daughter to Brian and Diana…holding her 2nd child... little daughter Juliet.

Visiting friends….good conversations, food and gathering times…love these guests!

 We all enjoyed taking time out for the delicious hors d’oeuvres....

Jamie was a supportive brother…enjoying some time relaxing and visiting with friends.

Caroline taking her turn holding sweet Juliet….thank you to Caroline for snapping pictures throughout the evening…we appreciate the memories captured in pictures!

Melissa, Laura, Jennifer, Jamie….

….we have videos of these four spending holidays together from the time they were about 4 years old.

Taking time to look over Melissa and Lance's guest book...

Hi there….Melissa enjoying her visits, hugs and congratulations!

We had a lovely evening….after nearly four hours of visiting..it was time for all of us to relax.

Brother…Sister time

Our Melissa and her Lance were the guests of honor for the 2nd time...we had a lovely time visiting and making wonderful connections with many friends and families. 

We were thankful to our friends who welcomed us once again to their home and opened their home to many others. The food, the home, the location were great…conversations and reaquaintences were wonderful ! 

We have enjoyed this day and were so happy to have had a casual open house in Houston, Texas for Melissa and Lance. Another family gathering…ending the year well for the Picketts in Poland.