End of year Reflection 2024

The first thing I think of when I think of this year:

Growth

Highlights of the year:

Sidetracked Band practices and performances.  We have done 53 gigs.

Machu Pichu, Peru trip

Family reunion in Desert Color

Playing Mother Superior in Sister Act

Things I worked hard on:

Friend to Friend program

Receiving and following through with personal revelation

Helping Laila get through school

Challenges I faced:

Children relationships

Laila's autism diagnosis

Election talk and results

Close friends this year:

SonSeekers, Linda Wangsgard, my Carols, Lesley Leger, Janet Webster,  Erin Perkins, Kathleen Newman, Bonnie Benedict

Looking forward to next year:

SNAP production.... again...this time on Super Heros 

Alaskan Cruise with Tami, Rob, Mark and Jill

Goals for next year:

Stronger relationships with my kids

Making more friends in this new ward area.

Figure out a path to retirement and a mission with my Wayne

Nick Cash, Markus, Me, Laila, Landon, Grandma Welch, Wayne, Sophia and Andrew...all came to our New Year's Eve celebrations at two rest homes.  We counted down to Noon and to 3:30...and sang Auld Lang Syne complete with horns, clappers and confetti and a Marinelli's toast.  

Laila and Markus photoshoot

 

Christmas 2024

On Christmas Eve we celebrated with our Christmas around the world Peruvian dinner night.  We had many extra guests which made it extra fun– Kyle and Sari Bowser, our renter- Liberdee Propst and Cody and Jesse ( Truman’s friends) were added to Monson’s family, Addison and Poppy ( Geo, Bre and Alf were home sick) Me, Wayne, Tru,  Laila and Markus.  Wayne was very excited about the food and made Lomo Saltado ( A beef stirfry ) got empanadas from the Argentine bakery, salad, french fries, rice, shrimp, ceviche ( that we ordered from a Peruvian restaurant)  and Alfahores for dessert. And as per usual we ALWAYS have Kentucky fried chicken just in case, for people to eat…because it’s served all over the world. We talked about Peruvian Christmas traditions, almost all happening on the 24th of Dec… including placing the baby in the manger at midnight and opening all of your presents then too.  The youngest in attendance placed the baby, so we had Elsie do it, and then we sang Silent Night in Spanish with Wayne accompanying on the guitar.  We tried to show our vacation Machu Pichu pics on the big screen throughout the night but our internet was shaky and wasn’t having it… oh well.  Our one chance to trap everyone and show them our pics ( haha)    We played Bank and LRC– with Sari Bowser winning all of the quarters.  It was fun to have everyone here enjoying each other.  

We have been doing Christmas around the world since 2015– the year my dad died and doing our old traditions that we always did with Mom, Dad and Marcie were just too painful for me…so we came up with this plan.  Here are the countries we have done so far:

2015:  Mexico

2016: Germany

2017: Denmark

2018: Japan

2019: Italy

2020: France ( just me and Laila and French food….she wouldn’t eat…so we went to McDonalds drive-through and got french fries which I ordered in a french accent) 

21: Poland

22: Israel 

23: Brazil

24: Peru

Kyle and Sari Bowser, Lexi , Monson, Addison,Wayne, Truman Jesse, Cody, an Liberdee

A Rice Kristpe treat first thing on Christmas morning is the TASTE of Christmas.  My mom always did these for us growing up but also added on the wrapped the silver foil -curly ribbon so they looked like little packages.  I did them for my kids growing up as well...so I still do one for everyone in the family for Christmas morning.  

Truman brought me gorgeous roses. ... He does this often, and I really appreciate it.

Laila was excited about her Christmas underwear

The duck statue at the duck pond is in its Santa outfit

ON Christmas day we had a roast beef with all the fixings lunch at the Buzellies– gorgeous china set table with gold flatware ( Grandma butters)  Alex knows how to set a LOVELY table…he would make my mom and Grandma Butters so proud.   We opened gifts.  Wayne and I ended up giving our kids with grandkids another year of Grandkid Game night the 2nd Friday of each month.  They loved it!  AND we also gave everyone money for Christmas… I don’t love this..because it’s not like we can give them a lot to make any real difference for them, or to get them excited about the sum…and I would much rather give experiences… so we included a list of 100 things we love about you with it.  This 100 things list was easy to create the first 30-50– but then after that you have to get really detailed and it’s tricky.  But it was fun for us to spend the time to do this and really think of each of our children and in-laws and their couple relationship and what we love/appreciate about it.  It was sweet to have them read it and decide who of the couple we were talking about… or if it fits both of them.  Tru got all 100 just about him.  

 Our children gave me 5 more pieces of my favorite Fontinini Nativity that I inherited from my mom.  These pieces are hard to find and at this point are on eBay or auction.  I also got a Jesus walks app– that tracks my walking with Jesus ministry.  Pretty cool.  Wayne got an electronic bird feeder with a camera and an app and an anti-squirrel setting on it too.  It’s the perfect gift for him.   Wayne and I gave each other an Alaskan cruise this next summer.

More Birthdays!   Andrew turned 18!  Christmas Andrew was great as we celebrated this.  Andrew is such a good person and he has an unexpected, quiet confidence.  He knows what he likes, who he is, and isn’t ashamed or afraid to just be himself.  I’m really proud of him.  He has many musical talents and continues to work on his instruments and practices a lot.  

Sunday we had Monson’s birthday celebration with a big family dinner…roast beef, rolls and mashed potatoes…Monson’s favorites.  We went around the table and said what we love about all of our December birthday people– Andrew, Elsie and Monson.  I think this is really good for the birthday person to hear the good things about them, even when it’s uncomfortable, and it’s good for the rest of the family and little kids to have to come up with something to say about that person.  It’s good to stop and reflect on this and think about other people and not just yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable. 

Cole- Jammie and Wig party

 Megan and Gary threw our Cole Extended party...this is usually on the. morning of Dec. 24th-- but there are still people who work that morning so they did it on Sunday afternoon to try and catch everyone.  It worked!  We had it at Centerpoint theatre's basement big room.  We wore jammies, and ate breakfast foods...then we had our white elephant wig exchange.  so many funny wigs..and it's always a hoot to sit there looking at each other with wigs on.  

Liz looking like Aunt Lynette

Once the wigs were settled we had a model runway walk with all of us...then a giant snowball fight.  The littles loved the snowball fight!    We sang "were you there" in honor of Mom, Dad and Marcie-- we mostly just cry through it.  It's always sweet and a fitting ending to the party.  So grateful for these people.  

Becca brought a BOX for a photo shoot.  

Charlie Brown Christmas Party

 A Charlie Brown Christmas was our theme this year for the extended Welch Party. We decorated with Charlie Brown characters, and his tiny Christmas tree; played the Charlie Brown show on a tv in the corner for kids to watch, had Snoopy slap bracelets for kids to color and play with and  named the food Lucy's Baked potato heads, Charlie's Chili, Lucy's Ceasar Salad, Peppermint Patty's Dessert and Snoopy's puppy chow  ( muddy buddy's)   It turned out great.  Wayne ran an awesome bingo game which everyone gets into.  He had a lot of help this year from Evan Shurts and Victor Bentley--

Wayne told about Charles Shulz and having Luke 2 scripture  in this show– and how the executives at CBS told him to cut it and he said no.  It stays in or the whole cartoon goes away.  It got left in and is the best part of the show!  Linus recites Luke 2 to tell about the true meaning of Christmas  and when the angels say, “fear Not” he drops his blanket..the only time in all of the Charlie Brown shows that he does that.  His blanket is his comforter, but now Jesus is, so he doesn’t need it any more.  It’s all very sweet.  Wayne acted this out with a blue blanket and reciting Luke 2.

Addison did a funny thing.  He brought a gift that said To Addison from Grandma Welch, then asked me to get on the microphone just before bingo and say I found it.  He came up all confused and wondering, then pulled out a sweatshirt that said, "Grandma's Favorite".  It was soooo funny.  He said, "I knew it!  Take that Brady John".  Cousin Brady Bentley was so confused. Everyone laughed.  Cousin Shelbi said, "that's it, I'm leaving!  Ha ha". Grandma Loved it.  I think she actually thinks she gave that to Addison.  

More December round up

Monday night was my sibling party.  We all came to my house… I was hosting since I have the leg lamp… we potlucked the food, and it was all delicious, played Left Right Center with $-- and I won the pot.  I have only ever played this game with $ three times, and I have won all three times.  We also played Christmas Jeopardy and Gary and Wayne’s team won.  Angela and Adam smoked everyone on the normal jeopardy questions, but the double jeopardy is where Wayne and Gary came on strong.  Liz and Al weren’t fast enough….they excel at other sports, and not button pushing.  It was fun. We traded gifts and took pics.  I love this group so much.

I am now helping with Friend to Friend at Centerpoint Theatre that Shelley Davies is over.  I'm one of the coaches and I love driving Holly to and from and spending time with Holly.  We just had their Christmas show over 3 days on the big stage to sold-out crowds.  It's a highlight of so many people's Christmas season.  Holly was in heaven getting to be the 9 ladies dancing in Partridge in a pear tree. 

Our Lights on Party was amazeballs.  We put together a nativity with the grands and made a wonderful little movie with Josh Groban singing "Silent Night" in the background.  Addison did his magic with the video and it turned out beautifully.  

Story behind Video and Grandkid game night: " I set up in my friend Tammy Petty’s snow filled back yard a manger and candles etc… so we could make a short Nativity movie for our Light on Party.  It was FREEZING!  The grands were all good sports though.  THis was part of Grand kid game night.  We had Alfie as Joseph, Tayla as Mary and borrowed Holly’s manger and baby..then Elsie was the angel- because she fit the costume- but she was thrilled to have this part. Andrew, Sophia, George, Lady and Poppy were all Shepherds. We put all of their costumes on over their coats.  The plan is to put video clips together with Silent Night playing underneath it all,  and Show it at our Lights On party….   Grandkid game night was good.  I’m always so grateful Andrew and Sophia are not your typical teenagers and are cool with hanging out with the grandparents and the littles. We made ornaments by coloring on cheap clear plastic cups and then melting them under the broiler in the oven…it’s cool watching them melt.  It was like magic.  I’m grateful all of my littles get along…..even George is getting better.  They love playing hot cold hide it games and charade type games.  Anything you can act out and guess."

We gave all of the Grands Christmas jammies for their present as per usual...and they all danced and sang, "We are Family."   It was darling. 

Wayne has made over 65 loaves of bread in the past three weeks.  He is a machine.  The Edgars stopped by to spread some Chrismas cheer..and take home some bread. 

We went to Manheim Steamroller with Bob and Diane Lake and enjoyed their Christmas music so much!  This music has been the background of my Chrisms season for 40 years!  

December round up

 We started the season with a ballet dance concert for Lady and Poppy. They are darling little dancers.

I finished my 2nd crocheted sweater pattern.

I took my little grands to a Polar Express night at Layton city lights, and we met Santa Claus.  It was so fun to just be with them.

 We had 6 Christmas band gigs. One got canceled because the facility goit covid...we have 2 on New Year's Eve.

Wayne taught another Sour dough bread making class to Diane lake, Bonnie Benedict, Kathleen Blake and her sister Francine.

Attended Andrew and Sophia's band, orchestra and choir concerts at Viewmont high.

                                  Celebrated Elsie's 5th birthday.

Spent time with our Belnaps... we were there 3 weekends in 6 weeks... it was awesome.