Monday, December 31, 2018

Family Top Ten 2018


Wayne
1.  Paris with my lover
2.  Made it through second year of bishop-ing
3.  YSA camp with 1000 YSA’s
4.  Did 100 mile bike ride. 
5.  Bad back of knee-so didn’t ride much after that 
6.  Lost 30 lbs 
7.  Found 10
8.  Got my love, Melinda a new car
9.  Survived in my business with the new Trump tariffs 
10.  Finished BOM twice
Melinda
1.  Celebrated 35th Anniversary in Paris in April!
2.  Ran two successful Soul Sisters Retreats in February and May
3.  Started Life Coach School
4.  Wrote a family book-- about my kids, lessons learned, LGBTQ, funeral talks and some of Wayne's church talks.
5.  Listened to a ton of PODCASTS...my new favorite thing!
6.  Helped in our YSA ward.  Love this calling and serving around these amazing young people.
7.  New car-- Honda Pilot.  Gave Laila the Yelo car
8.  Worked on my thoughts and up-leveling my life
9.  Finished BOM twice
10.  Loved on 6  GRANDS!
New Years Day tradition...Seafood at Joe's Crab shack with all of the fam.
Alex

1. U.K. And France trip with Landon 

2. LASIK 
3. New job at Thumbtack
4. Remodeled basement 
5. Hosted grandma Neide from Brazil 
6. Learned to make grandma Sheri/Liz & Al shortbread cookies
7. Replaced stucco on outside of house 
8. Runs whole household --Landon gone most days from 5am-10pm
9. Took fam to Disneyland
10. Spent as much time with Landon Andrew and Sophia as possible 
Landon
1. Closed Behavior services business after doing that for over 5 years
2. Started cosmetology school
3. Went to U.K. And France with alex- spent time with my Sharkeys and Gilardis
4. Saw Hamilton
5. 1 year sober mark
6. Turned 30- white party
7. Had 2nd annual pie party
8. House crazy- flooded basement
9. Started listening to and now totally obsessed with podcasts
10. Full time work and full time school gone from home 5am-10pm most days 
Andrew
1. Started 6th grade -last year in elementary school
2. Plays cello 
3. Taking computer animation classes
4. Got braces 
5. Went on 1st cruise 
6. Walked on Mayan ruins
7. Now green belt in Taekwondo 
8. Went on roller coasters
9. Moved into own bedroom in basement 
10. Made lots of movies 
Sophia
1. Went on all the rides at Disneyland
2. 1st cruise 
3. No more braces
4. Moved into own bedroom in basement (princesses and Michael Jackson themed)
5. Finished 3rd grade/started 4th grade
6. Started tap dancing
7. Now green belt in Taekwondo 
8. Took care of brother and cousins all the time in all the ways
9. Loves science- built a not so simple simple pinball machine by herself 
10. Went to lagoon all summer long with the family.
Laila
1. Won 4 state titles in cheerleading (state champs!!)
2. California with the cheerleaders
3. Made Tech BHS Officer 
4. Spent 2 weeks in Scotland (1st time traveling alone!)
5. Alex Evans got me through sophomore year 
6. Struggling through Jr. year 
7. USU retreat with officers 
8. Hours and hours of sport events lol
9. In Especially For Athletes presidency and Hope Squad presidency
10. Flirted with a lot of boys 
Tayla
1. Got a baby sister
2. Got to go to Michigan twice
3. Potty trained 
4. Was a flower girl in Keke's wedding
5. Spent the summer at Meemaw and Papa’s
6. Moved into new house
7. Started talking a lot 
8. Started Joy School learning the alphabet 
9. Went fishing for the first time
10. Had first pedicure and now thinks only professionals can cut and paint her toenails
Monson
1. Had a baby
2. Was hospitalize in Michigan 
3. Sold a house
4. Bought a house
5. Moved back into Home ward for the summer. 
6. Worked second year at VISA
7. Lady in the NICU
8. Was a groomsman in Sister-in-laws wedding
9. Vacationed with besties in St. George
10. Went fishing for the first time
Lexi
1. Delivered Adelaide Joy
2. Lady in NICU
3. Sold our first home in Spanish Fork
4. Watched our townhouse be built
5. Survived a vacation with Monson in the hospital 
6. Started Joy School with Tayla
7. Stay the summer at Wayne and Melinda’s 
8. Moved into our new townhouse
9. Was the Matron of Honor for my sister wedding
10. Potty trained Tayla 
Tru
1.  Moved From NYC to Portland
2.  Drove across the country
3.  Fell in love with my cat!
4.  Started bartending
5.  Became a real "yogi"
6.  Hair!  Bleach, buzz, blue, bowl cut, beard!
7.  Walked in my first Drag Ball
8.  trip back to NYC for Halloween
9.  Hiking, camping, trail running all over Oregon
10.  My emotional health is the Best it's ever been!
BRE
1. Played Arial at CPT in Little Mermaid
2.  Poppy's blessing day
3.  Monterey Bay Aquariaum
4. Kauwai, Hawaii trip with my parents who have been in China for a year
5.  Newsies at HCT
6 . Cupcake wars on Labor day
7.  Attended a U of U football game with the Inkleys and their Long John Van 
8.  Moab Hiking
9.  Dressing up as Coco and family for Disneyland Halloween.  (Disneyland 3 times)
10.  Mary Poppins dress up for opeinng day of Mary Poppins
Addison
1. Having Baby Poppy in my house brought me so much joy
2.  Hearing Alfie read like a champ
3.  Disney annual pass
4.  Played Harold Hill is Music Man at HCT
5.  Played Tin Man in Wiz of Oz at HCT
6.  Disney trip in October with Inkleys
7.  Choreographed "In the Heights"
8.  8 year anniversary trip with Bre
9.  Cutting 8 inches off of my hair
10. Painted our home a deep blue

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Top 9 Instagram

These are my top 9 Instagram posts for 2018--the ones that got the most likes.  Seems right..two of Lady, two of Poppy, 3 of Laila, three of my Wayne.  

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Celebrating Monson's 26th

We also celebrated Monson’s birthday this week.  He turned 26. We did our 3rd annual TOP GOLF for Monson’s birthday party.  Monson is a great dad. He adores his girls. He and Lexi are good parents and it’s fun to watch them.  Monson is big hearted, has many friends, loves playing cards and college football and Michigan. He is working at Visa credit card but is really hoping to find a new job this year, something that the inter office politics won’t drive him crazy.   Monson and Lexi have been married for 4 years and in that time they have moved 8 times, have worked 7 jobs, have made 6 trips to Michigan, have owned 5 cars, and had 3 hospital stays , 2 kids and 1 car accident. It's been a full life.
Monson with his girlfriend Tayla.

Poppy and Lady our little women.

Tay tay was being so nice letting Poppy suck on her pickle.

Poppy LOVEs dill pickles, just like her mom!

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Good friends, good food, good times

Welches, Farleys, Blakes, Johnstons, Binghams, Fosters, Lakes, Belnaps
 I'm so grateful that at some point in time we were all in the same ward together.  The Mueller Park 7th ward joined our lives and our hearts.  We raised our children together, served in callings together, laughed and cried through our children's childhood and teenage years together; went through births and deaths together.  These people were a part of my wonderful "wardies".... and are now my "sunseeker" girl friends who try to get together at least a few times a year, shine some light on all of the topics, support and love on each other. 
Kimi, Erin, Melinda, Kim, Heidi, Laura, Si, Diane

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Christmas Morning



 Christmas morning brought us lining up and running down the stair at 8 in the morning. It was so great to have Monson's family and Addison's family stay over night with us so we ( Me, Wayne, Laila and Truman)  could have some littles opening their presents in the morning.  So much excitement over the smallest things like a dollar gumball machine and a sucker.  All that Lady cared about were the rice krispie treats.


 Laila got a lot of little things she asked for... a windshield cover, unicorn oil, a thread wallet, razors, shopping, and a cruise zip line excursion for when we go on our cruise over spring break.   We got Truman some  Louis Voutton Archlight shoes that he was thrilled about.  We really surprised him.








The kids surprised Wayne and I with re-do's of old fashioned pics that were taken 23 years ago.  I couldn't stop laughing and crying with delight. They switched out cousin Emily in the pics for Laila. 



    I wrote a book for my children and gave them  all of their scrapbooks that I did for them.  The book is called Live, Laugh, Love and Learn-- Memories from the Wayne and Melinda Welch family.  It has chapters on each of my five children, funeral talks on our parents, lessons learned while riding a bike and life in general, my writings on our LGBTQ journey, and 6 talks that Wayne has written and given.  Everyone seems delighted with it.
 These littles were the best part of Christmas.  Lady and Poppy are only one, but oh so delightful.


Monday, December 24, 2018

Christmas around the World.. Japan

 For our 4th annual Christmas Around the World we celebrated  the country of Japan. Truman and Laila helped with homemade Gyoza-- really delicious, and we ate what all Japanese eat on Christmas - Kentucky Fried Chicken and Sushi.  We had a surprise drop in by some of the Belnap kids and spouses, Erica and Braden and Paul and Maddie which was so fun.    We had Truman instruct us all in making origami swans, then we played a crazy antics game, tape your face, watched  the Muppet Christmas Carol and by 9 pm put the kids in bed . Alfie slept in my bed and bedroom...this is a second time Christmas tradition for Alfie and us.

 I borrowed costume and table decor from my Japanese friend, Si Foster.  She had clothes that she wore as a youth in Japan.  Tayla looks darling in the kimono.






Christmas Eve Breakfast

 Another awesome Christmas Eve breakfast at the Call home.  Front row:  Melinda, Casey holding Roonie, Becca, Rachel, Nano, Bre, Alfie and Truman.  2nd row: Wayne, Addison with Poppy, Megan, Jordan, Ryan, Laurie, Jenna, Tayla . Back row:  Christine, Adam, Aaron, Preston, Angela, Liz, Gary, Guy, Monson.    We are so grateful for Gary and Megan hosting us all.  We do a white elephant hat exchange, and what we chant when someone opens up their gift is "Put it on your head.  Put it on your head," then we laugh a lot.  Bowling is next at Bountiful Bowl.  It's crazy crowded.  The adults tolerate it and the kids LOVE it .  Wayne gave a $1 for every strike and 50 cents for a spare.



Lexi and Poppy don the winning hat. Quite the extravaganza with fuzzy ear muffs and an elf on top.  




Wednesday, December 19, 2018

2018 things

20 things I accomplished this year:
Went to the gym or walked with Si and Kathleen at least 3 times a week.
Started Life coach school
Did a good job with online organization with my Utah Online school class
Made Family Sunday dinners - at least 40 of them.
Cleaned out basement
Wrote a book
Supported YSA activities and Bishop Wayne
Organized closets
Wrote in my blog weekly-
Sent out 52 Welch week emails.
Loved on Laila- supported her in her work, school and life.  Let her have her journey
Prepared for, took and Passed my PRAXIS exam to certify as an Elementary teacher
Put on two successful Soul Sisters retreats in February and May.  Met so many amazing women.
Went to Paris with my love...truly the best trip we have ever taken.
Read/ listened to 20 books
Lost 25 lbs.
Reached out to friends and family
Got a new car
Moved Truman to Portland
Moved Monson and Lexi to Saratoga Springs


How do you feel when think about those accomplishments? 
I did some stuff!!!    I can see that I am all about connections, so true to my zodiac sign, my color code yellow/red and my enneagram 7/8.

What want to say to yourself about what you did? 
Good JOB!.  You can do hard and  plenty of fun things

What didn't work or didn't get done this year?
My eating plan...hard to stay away from flour and sugar... but I will manage my thoughts and do it better with more ease in 2019

What did I learn from this....?
I need to not be in a hurry.  Need to look at things from a big picture.  IF not getting results right now, don't abandon it..just be curious and move forward.

What story do I want to tell myself about this year?.... 2018 was the year of LEARNING

What is different about me today than who I was one year ago?
Soaked up teaching and learning from Brooke Castillo and Jody Moore with Life Coach school. Have new thoughts I am trying on.
Like the idea of winning or learning.  Like the curiosity part about myself and looking at my life with empathy.






Friday, December 14, 2018

Wizard of Oz

 Wizard of Oz at Hale Center Theatre was filled with heart and spectacle.  Everything that happens in the movie, happens on stage even better.  So many  flying effects..the house,  Dorothy and the bicycling witch all flying up in a tornado..then Dorothy landing in OZ and the witch flying on a broom stick.  Throwing apple trees, mocking birds, flying monkeys, wild Emerald city people, Galinda in a bubble that floats above the stage, the great and powerful OZ projections  and shocking jitterbugs... and the melting witch...and the hot air balloon going up ...just all the things.  They changed Toto from a real dog into a puppet dog while in Oz and it was enchanting.  The little boy puppeteer who managed Toto was amazing.   It was so good and Addison was a tender, heartfelt, most perfect Tinman.  I just can't get over it.  Addison said, that if he was ever going to be in Wiz Of Oz he would do it at Hale center because they can do all of the special effects that make this show magical.  It really did not disappoint.  I also loved sitting next to Alfie and Tayla and watch them watch the show.  It was magical!!
Julie Briggs, Wanee Welch, cousin Jessie, Tayla, Lexi, Wayne.... Addison as Tinman, Melinda, Alfie, Bre

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Cookies for the Road Home

Si and I held our 7th annual cookie party.  The last two years, we have stopped exchanging and taking cookies home and started packaging them up and sharing them with the homeless instead.  We take the cookies to the Road Home for families.  The staff is thrilled and said the residents and people served at this facility really appreciate home made goodies.  They get a lot of packaged, Costco type stuff so our homemade cookies with love are extra special.  It's so sweet to combine cookies, gathering and service all in one.  We got 100 boxes donated from Gygi's this year to facilitate the cookie packaging, stacking and delivering part.  
Peggy Rinehart, Kristen Fowers, Mel Evans and Misty Mayfield

Tibby, Cindy Brown, Becca, Christ Briggs circle the table to fill the boxes.

Nana Bruske, Tibby, Kathleen, Mel and Si. 
The boxes were piling up.  Mel keeps them from falling. 



So many gorgeous baked goods!
Off to the Road Home