Christmas in a flash...

We had a wonderful and busy holiday season. Here are just a few pictures of the magic we enjoyed this Christmas.

We filled many of our days hopping around the valley to see different Christmas displays. We loved the elves at Gardner Village.

Rylee performed in her beautiful choir program as well as her 3rd grade Christmas program. She also had the opportunity to take part in the Nutcracker production. What a treat!


Lots of train rides around the mall.

Sweet gingerbread houses!

We loved our "Elf on a Shelf", aka Tiny...

Christmas Sunday...

Delivering neighbor gifts, thanks to my little elves...

Christmas Eve is always magical. We first go to the Williams' for snicky snack dinner, which means tasty appetizers and cheese fondue. Grandma and Grandpa always give the kiddos their Christmas PJ's. The kids exchange their gifts as well as the adults. It's fun and crazy!

Then we go to the Welch's for dessert and more fun. My parents started a fun tradition a couple years back. They set up a nativity scene with hay, a manger, and a fire to keep us all warm. The little ones dress up in nativity clothing and we read the Christmas story as our little ones act it out. It is both meaningful and funny. Then my dad beautifully plays his violin as we sing a few songs. We love this!

We then switch gears as we exchange gifts with each other. We had a "special visitor" this year. Dad suddenly danced his way down the stairs in a Santa suit and handed out their gifts to us all. What a hoot! Sadie didn't think he was too funny!

Christmas morning came quick and the kiddos didn't waste any time. It was fun to see each of them light up that morning when they realized that Santa came. I had used "Santa" to my advantage this year...if you know what I mean!!

Merry Christmas to all! Thanks to all that made our season wonderful and merry! Can't wait until next year!

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are for spending time with family, laughing and enjoying each other's company, right?!! Well, these videos are just a glimpse of how our family seems to get crazy and laugh our guts out together. We missed you Trent, Laura, and Jake. Hopefully these will make you laugh!
To catch you up to speed, we are playing some minute to win it games. One is "face the cookie". The object of the game is to get the cookie on your forehead into your mouth by using only your face muscles. Nat and Chad did awesome! They were on a roll for first place but fell short by 2 cookies. The other video with the tissue boxes-well, that is self-explanatory!

Family Matters

Grandpa Dea & Rylee at her baptism, just 3 weeks before his passing.

This is not a fun post, or so one may think. You see, if I were to highligh moments in that enrich our lives, I wouldn't be able to skip past these somewhat uncomfortable photos. Uncomfortable because they are of death and resemble loss (and that loss will be felt forever), but they also resemble a man whose life was spent loving, serving and enriching others. A man who honestly always had a smile on, always laughing and cheering you on. One who lead by example. One who cared for others endlessly, and never spoke ill of anyone. Always up for a good time. Who was a living testimony of what he believed. Yes, he is (and always will be) a highlight in our lives. We gathered as family to honor and celebrate his life last week. Death is a funny thing, it stops you in your tracks. Makes you think about what is really important. Makes you appreciate the family you have. Makes living a little more meaningful! Miss you Grandpa...

The Welch clan, except Trent & Laura-Cole & jake, Garrett, Torah, & babies; London, Sam, Sadie & Logan.

Good Weekend

With the news that our good weather is about to end, we put all yard work, errands, & "to-do's" on hold and just did some good ol' playing!


Boston (5 years)

Nash (3 years)

Bo, Nash & Tate (our son that we share with the Medina's :))

The boys love to take their bikes to the skate park and cruz around. They are getting more crazy on those table tops all the time!!


Even Sadie and London got in on the skate park action! Go Marcus!

Playing at the park.

We enjoyed the nice evening at the pumpkin patch. And on the way home from our day with cousins & family & fun & sun....we stoped by "Old McDonald's" for a healthy dinner...ice cream cones! I don't think we got in a real solid meal all day or a nap for the little one, but we laughed and played till everyone was tuckered out. I love conference weekend. We love to spend time with our families, and we especially love this nice weather that we have to say goodbye to soon!

Each day is a gift

A series of events have taken place recently that has made me "stop & smell the roses", as my sis Heidi would say. Some things big, some things small, some are just little moments that stop me in my tracks. None the less, I'm not one that welcomes change. In fact, I hate change-I admit. But change makes us grow, learn and often times makes us more appreciative of each day that is given to us.

It wasn't too long ago that we were in Mexico with this cute guy (Grandpa Dea) and I put his snorkeling mask on so tight that he looked crazy (as you can see) but also gave him a headache the size of Texas.

We lounged on the beach eating chips and salsa.

We played together...


Made new friends together...


Had a few DC's together...

Even did water aerobics together...

Things changed today for him (& us). Life as he knows it is different now. Oh-how these memories are a gift!

Sadie

This girl melts me!