Weekend fun

Wayne and Eric rode the Metric Century up in Cache Valley.  They started and ended in Richmond, Utah.   They wore their Mountain Orthopoedic Kits and wore their Blue TEAM ERIC bracelets in honor of our friend Eric Johnston who is fighting pancreatic cancer.  IT was a gorgeous day and a good ride.

Bob Farley, Wayne, Eric Belnap

We had the Belnap's annual U or U party.  We love to wear Red, celebrate Ute football, have a BBQ, gather with family and friends and sing some, "Utah Man am I."

Jackee Belnap, Pat and Mark Oberg

Elsie and Lady sporting their UTAH attire.

Kelon Oberg and Whyneere are you?

Melinda and Michelle Wood

Monson with his girls.

Jackee and Ben Belnap running the food.

Me and Brady Bentley...both Stag at the PROM.

My niece Liz Bentley turned 40 and threw herself a PROM! 

Blake and Liz Bentley, Me with Kirsten Smith- Bre's sister in the same fabric, and Dancing with Savannah is a RIOT!  

Liz rented out a space in Farmington and had a black tie affair which always speaks to me because I got to wear my glitter gown again that I got for the Brazilian wedding.  The place was all decked out with a giant charcuterie board , fun drinks, treats and a birthday cake… a background that said PROM for pictures, and a dance floor with great 90’s music!  I loved dancing with some of the Bentley bunch.

Laila's Wedding Showers

Laila flew in on Thursday for a busy 2 ½ days of wedding showers.  We picked her up from the airport and went right to Canterbury to get all of the details pinned down with decor and ceremony set up.    

Then off to the dress fitters.  Janelle is a genius helping to make this  dress still fit after a body change from Dec. to Sept.   Laila came with a suitcase filled with dirty clothes and nothing really appropriate for the bride of a shower to wear… so while her clothes were being cleaned, we found a darling dress at TJ’s. 

Laila had her first wedding shower at Jill Allsop’s back yard. The ward and neighborhood came out in droves.  It was very sweet.  So many people who love my girl.   Jill, Kimi Farley, Kathleen Newman, Amber Crane, LaRee Olson and AnnMarie Oborn all helped put this on.  We tried to get pics of all in attendance, but alas, we did not.

It’s fun to watch Laila be her true self.  Loving on and thanking every one so graciously for being there and for the gifts.  I love this side of Laila.  She has this ability to really see people, and she feels things deeply. 

Laila, Jill, Kimi and Jessica Barlow

Ann Marie Oborn and Laila

Two special gifts from this shower–One from Sister Moss…she is 95 and wrote Laila a poem about her as a baby and growing up and now starting her own family.  It’s really sweet.  And one from Ann Marie Oborn- the artist.  She painted a picture of our house so Laila will always have a piece of home with her in California. 

Laila, Beverly Harris, Nan Bruske, Angela and Leah Moon, Laurie Cutler, Annett Eiting, Molly Moon, Kathleen Newman, Linda Wangsgaard, Kimi, Linda.... so many gifts!

We had a bridal brunch with Markus’s Mom’s side of the family– the Perez.  It was great to meet these people, and Markus’  sweet grandma who he calls Nammers. We learned more about Markus and finalized some wedding dinner plans which will be held the night before at Markus’ aunt’s home.  This same aunt is doing the flowers for the big day.  

Markus little sister Scarlett got Laila a cute BRIDE headband. 

Aunt Tonya Allred, Nicolette, Aunt Tania, Jill, Laila, Kristen, Angela and Melinda

Saturday afternoon we ran up to Sandy’s house for a combined, Cole, Welch, Allred shower.  Sandy is always so gracious to  open her home.  Sandy, Tami and Cyrrena all helped with this    Sandy made Laila’s favorite ice cream cake rolls in her honor.  Laila  was so grateful to see everyone.  It was good to meet some of Markus’ dad’s side of the family. We were missing quite a lot, but so grateful for those who made it. I tried to get pics of everyone...but I failed.

Laila and Becca hugging, Karen Butters, Jessica Butters Everett and daughter Whitney, Anna Welch, Becca Welch, Lizzie Welch and baby Charlotte

Sandy and Ice cream Cake rolls, Savannah, the littles, Nicole Welch Burnham with daughter Ella

Al and Liz, Angela Brown, Holly  and the Allred side! 

George and Bre, Jenna Cole,  Becca Cole Call and daughter Rooney

Landon and Alex stopped by so they could see their sister.

Tami Madsen, Holly Welch, Laila, Grandma Welch, Cyrrena Welch, Sandy Bentley, Melinda

First day of school pics.

 School has started!!

Andrew is a 10th grader at Viewmont High School

Sophia is an 8th grader at Centerville Jr. High

Alfie is a 3rd grader at Kaysville Elementary

Tayla is a 1st grader at a Spanish immersion Charter school.

Woman in the mirror

THERE’S A WOMAN IN MY MIRROR 

by Donna Ashworth

There’s a woman in my mirror

And she looks a lot like me,

Though there’s lines around her eyes,

And her hair is wild and free.

She is plumper than myself,

And she is definitely grey.

Did I miss the day this happened

Has she always been this way?

And this woman in the mirror 

Has an air of something calm,

Like a tide that’s going out,

And a beach that’s soft and warm.

She has seen the world in colour,

She has learned to know the truth.

There’s a wisdom in her wrinkles,

There’s a knowledge brought from youth.

And she seems to move more freely,

As though released from earthly binds.

Is she made of something lighter?

Perhaps the weight she left behind.

Like the press of expectation,

And the need to yield and bend.

I like this woman in the mirror,

She’s fast becoming my best friend.

Bear Lake 2022

We just got home from an excellent week at bear lake with our Cole Family reunion.  Momma Sheri showed up every time we exclaimed about the gorgeous clouds or beauty of the lake. Daddy Lyle showed up when Adam came down to the beach fully clothed with long pants and  athletic shoes.  

I love my sibs and kids and nieces and nephews and the efforts they make to all be together on this week each year.  Some couldn’t stay all week– but a night or two is always worth it as well.  We had Wayne and I , Lando,n Sophia, Andrew, Addison, Bre, Alfie, Poppy, George, Monson, Lexi, Tayla, Lady, Elsie, Truman and 3 friends ( Lucas, Sal and Matt) .

Gary, Megan, Hayden- Laura, Nelson - Andrea.  Liz and Al.  Angela, Guy and Preston.

Adam, Christine, Rachel, Nano, Rosie, Jamie, Jenna, Becca, Casey, Roony, Jonas, Silas.  

We had 4 condos this year plus Guy and Angela’s trailer so plenty of room for everyone to come and enjoy.   We had a cooler week than usual, but not real rain to chase us off the beach or delay our going to the beach until Saturday….so that’s good.   

We ate out under the trees, or in front of the Call’s condo Monday to Thursday nights…and on Friday the thunder storm was  fierce– so we ate at the double condo..and played a funny game of Truth or Dare, where we found out all sorts of interesting info. 

We all love bear lake for it’s memories  of beach time, and conversation, and boat time, and mini-arguments, and game time and forgiveness and getting the cousins together so they would be friends and not strangers to each other.  There’s something about spending this extra time together and sleeping on top of each other, and sharing a meal together each night that is bonding.

This year we were at Bear lake over Marcie’s death day  7 year anniversary.. Aug. 13th.  It was good to think about her and remember and cry a bit and just see how we have all changed in the last 7 years.  She would be so pleased with her kids and the addition of Hayden  and Nelson’s wives.  

Favorites about Bear Lake this year reads like our favorites from the past 50 years.

Beach

Boating

Tubing

Matching Sweatshirts

Biking around the lake 51 miles  ( Wayne did it in record breaking time this year 20.3 mph)

Water fight always started by Liz and Al with water squirt guns for all

Talking on the beach

The Play ground

Golfing

Mini golfing

Sharing the condo

Raspberry shakes

Eating together each night

Playing games on the beach

Lounging in the water

Big water trampoline

Ice cream cones

Zippz food!

Games in the condo til all hours of the night

Trying to sleep in

Fans going all night for white noise

Sand castle and mermaid building

Laughing a ton

Mini Dance party on the beach