George turns 3

 Our youngest grandkid is 3!   

We celebrated George’s 3rd birthday… Add and Bre took George and cousins to ride go-carts at Boondocks and have cake and presents.  George was thrilled.  He loves Lightening McQueen andanything Stitich or Mickey..so he got a lot of these kind of presents. 

George is getting nicer all the time- less frustrated.  Talking and understanding better. 

He is doing better with potty training…fewer accidents inbetween…although he did have one while at the Bees game and messed his underpants.  Addison had to go to the gross restrooms and get George cleaned up.  Georgs was so sad that he ruined his Lightening MCQueen underwear and kept saying, “I’m so sorry Mcqueen” because they had to throw this underwear away. 

School starts 2024

 

Poppy 1st grade

Alfie 5th grade

Andrew 12th grade

Sophia 10th grade

Lady 1st grade

Elsie Preschool

Tayla 3rd grade

George working on potty training ( 2 years almost 3)

New Friends

 I've been making friends in Layton.  I thank GOD for Bonnie Benedict!  I met her the first Sunday here, and she has been a lifesaver.  I walk with her and Tammy Petty about 3 mornings a week.  

I have really worked on making connections in Layton.  I knew if I was going to like it here I needed Layton friends.  I have asked people in my ward to go to lunch with me, to share their stories, and how they feel about the gospel.  I have put myself in charge of our ward newsletter section of Meet a Ward member where I call on different families to share their stories, hobbies, why stay in church etc... that's been good for me as well because I have to reach out and put myself out there.  I gave myself this calling and told the Bishop what I wanted to do.   I have worked on relationships with our next-door neighbors and across-the-street neighbors.  We have delivered many loaves of sourdough bread and chocolate chip cookies.  

Welch Reunion '24

 

We got together in Terry and Cyrrena's backyard for our family reunion.  Terry, Cyrrena, Mark and Jill were in charge.  I was surprised and happy about all of the grandkids and great grandkids who showed up.  Wanee loved it, of course.  We had a BBQ  then did individual homemade ice cream, with little packets of cream in plastic bags and put them in a bigger plastic bag with ice and salt.  The kids loved doing this as well.

We played Family Jeopardy for prizes, with categories of Wanee and Tom's life.  It was a gorgeous evening filled with laughter, visiting and an amazing sunset.

One year later

It’s been almost one year since we moved here… Aug. 7th is the date. I’ve been thinking about what this year has brought- what we’ve experienced, learned etc...  So here’s the list…..

1. We finished our basement and yard– this was a big deal and took a lot of time and money, and we are so glad we are finished.  We have tomatoes growing in our backyard that we are harvesting… they are coming out of our ears… so many and we love it.  And our basement family room is a perfect spot to send the grandkids so they can play. 

2. We joined a band. Wayne learned bass guitar and picked up his regular guitar again which he hasn’t really played since high school.  Our band is back practicing or performing on Tuesday after a 5-week break.  We're gearing up to perform 4 times in Jackson Hole in September.   this also keeps us tied to some of our Bountiful people, and we love that as well.

3. Wayne became the Sourdough king.  300+ loaves in 9 months.  We have been winning over people with bread and kindness.  It’s our ministry. 

4. I started crocheting in January. Bags. Little animals, a blanket, sweaters. A granny square long coat with yellow fur is in the works. I’m obsessed.

5. We sold Wayne’s Genesis and his Gold wing and we got a Tesla– the most fun car we have ever driven.

6. I was in A Christmas Carol at OMT - began rehearsals for Sister Act at Terrace Plaza Playhouse.  Living in Layton makes me closer to both these theatres so it’s easy to want to audition there now.

7. Wayne’s over the Priests- the hardest calling he has ever had because of the dynamic of priests in this ward...and he has blessed the sacrament more this past year than ever before as an adult.  

8. I’m loving my Primary calling… my counselors are amazing and the kids are sweet and darling.  It’s a glorious place to spend a Sunday. 

9. Living in Layton allowed us to serve on a Temple committee- and celebrate a new Temple.  We hadn’t done this since the Bountiful Temple almost 30 years ago.  

10. We have extended ourselves to meet and know our neighbors and we have made new friends….and maintained old friends. It’s been good that there is an Empty Nester group that gathers once a month.  It’s different because our Layton people don’t know any of our kids or our history– so we have a lot of stories to share.  Our Bountiful friends have the full picture and love us anyway.   I really am so grateful for my Layton Bestie- Bonnie… the Lord knew I needed her.  

11. Living here we appreciate the mountains so much more…and not so much the sunsets.  I have to be reminded with a sunset timer to go out my front door and take a look…but the mountains around that same time of day are glorious..they get a golden pink tint to them… I had never noticed this in Bountiful. Plus, I have goats on my corner. It feels very rural with fields around us. We also have an amazing Kays Creek trail that we walk a couple of times a week with squirrels, ducks and geese!

So moving to Layton has been good and hard…. Just like living in Bountiful was. We do love our new home set up though…main level living and open spaces- 3 car garage and not living on a hill…. delightful.

July is favorite month

 Well, my favorite month of the year is over!  

I love JULY.  

It truly is my most favored month of the year.

And why not?  It includes two holidays... July 4th and Pioneer Day July 24th- so fireworks, family time, cookouts, movies, parades.  

My birthday.  So I love the attention and any thing purchased during the month I say it's a present...any lunch or brunch or dinner I attend I say it's for my birthday.

No work- as a teacher this is a big deal.  

And our family's annual Bear Lake vacation.  Extended family time, shakes, and long walks, hanging out, talks, heat and tomatoes, dance parties, and watermelon.  Corn on the cob and pool time....it's just all so good!