Andrew turns 8!

 We Celebrated Andrew's 8th birthday with a fun party  including a clown who performed tricks and made all kinds of balloons for the kids. Andrew was in heaven!  We all went out to support.  Andrew was his loving, kind, grateful self.  What a sweet boy.  He is really in to legos right now and also got a new bike!   His Grandma Sonia did all of the traditional Brazilian food including a Bolo Salgado...  a salty cake which is really chicken salad on white bread covered in cold mashed potatoes and dressed up with veggies on top to look like a real cake.  It was delicious.   As per Brazilian tradition the birthday boy gives the first slice of cake to someone special in his life and akes a wish...well we didn't know this...and Tia Bre kept telling him,"no you eat it.. it's yours." Andrew was pretty sad that Bre didn't take his cake.  She didn't know. Next year we will have to be reminded of this sweet tradition.  

 

Neighbor gifts.

I was teasing Wayne that this year for a neighbor gift I was thinking of a pack of straws with a cute note that says..."Hope your holidays don't suck!"   Wayne said NO.   Or I was thinking a Water bottle with a note that says... "Water you doing for Chrismas...Hope it's merry!"  I know.....LAME.

Neighbor gifrs are kind of a funny thing.  We live around these people.  We wave in our driveways and shout hello when we are coming and going.  We watch over houses when they are on vacations. We borrow an egg or  take out their garbage can.  We see some of them at church.  We wonder what is happening when there are police cars parked  out front, or an ambulance. We have summer get togethers...sometimes. But we always give Christmas neighbor gifts.  Or atleast Wayne and I have since we moved here 24 years ago.
Some years we are more clever than others....along with the obvious cookies and treat plates, we have also given extensions cords and a note... "Extending you a happy holiday. "  Sparkle brand Paper towels..."Hope your holidays Sparkle."   2 litre of Sprite..."May your days be merry and Sprite."  Box of tissues..."We tissue a merry Christmas."  These are just a few that come to mind.  We just want to give a little su'em su'em that shows we appreciate living around good people like you.
Anyway.... I know that these are looked at, used up, eaten...the notes quickly discarded.   It's all good. Well.... Wayne went over to help our single, elderly neighbor and to his surprise and mine, found many of our neighbor gift notes over the years, lined up on his counter.  He keeps these and is appreciative that we think of him each year.  Who knew?  Don't take for granted the little things we do for other people.  It could make someone's day.   Love on everyone....you never know.

So this year we are giving out toilet paper rolls dressed like a snowman. The nite says "something to use, something to share. So bottoms up, Just cuz we care"

Christmas Soap Box

I love this time of year.  I love that Thanksgiving gets our minds and hearts in a grateful spot so we can welcome  in the Christmas season, and it’s wonderful that it is a Season and not just a Day.

 I’ve been on my soap box lately about getting Christmas to be “The favorite“ holiday again.  It seems to have lost its place and I think ol’ Lucifer is pretty happy about this.  Too much commercialization, too many trappings to occupy us, to much money spent, too many cranky crowds…..   I think Satan rejoices when he hears.. “Ugh, Christmas again?”  or “What’s the big deal about Christmas?” or even, "I hate Christmas"  Many people say Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday now because there are not worrisome gifts involved.  We eat, we thank.    Or Halloween is  for the younger set because it’s just costumes, candy and fun.   Don’t get me wrong, I love these two Holidays…but really they are kind of selfish holidays, because we don’t have to reach out and think of others at all.  Christmas is really the only one that begs us to be more Christ like.   This does take some effort.  It takes moving away from the “natural” man and moving toward spirituality .  

Christmas should be the favorite because it celebrates the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and all that is wrapped up in that….love, charity, faith, the atonement …..it’s so, so important.

 I don’t want to be caught up in the material side and get all worked up and worried about enough gifts or are the decorations just right or any other natural man stuff.  I don’t want to buy into the commercialization of it.    I just want to be in a heightened  spirit of generosity, togetherness and love…that’s why it’s wonderful that it is a Season and not just a Day.

 So …I will get off my soap box now and enjoy

I adore this painting of the nativity by Brian Kershisnik so much. I know Angels are all about us and we were the Angels on this wonderful night over 2000 years ago.

Continuous Courage

5 things I am loving right now.......

I am loving this quote by Pres. Monson...

I am loving my 5 Carols for Christmas  time....but it is different this go around.  The Midvale venue is less than perfect, and the Jacks show is "interesting",  but the time I get to spend on stage and off with my ladies is wonderful. My character, Ms. Q., is like me in so many ways....she has disappointments in her life but just keeps going putting on the show...staying positive...and she looks a lot like me too.
 I love the message of this show..."Christmas isn't about perfection, if anything it's about imperfection...it's about letting the people around you know that you love them whether they're perfect or not.   It's about  picking others up when they fall and being able to laugh at our own foibles and follies."
 I am really looking forward to sharing the stage with Bre this weekend when she takes over the Kitty part for Julie Blatter.  Bre is a star and can just do any part in this show. This will be the first time we get to share the stage.

I am loving my  Christmas decorations.  I paired down the decorations last year and it felt so good.  I love my simple tree with Jesus quotes from my sweet friend Paula Carlson placed on it.  I love all of my nativities...even the broken ones. I still keep my older, sentimental ornaments and decorations, and I enjoy opening up the boxes and lookng at, handling, and remembering past Christmases, but I don't feel the need  to get all of my stuff out. I am going to put a smaller tree in the family room this year with all of the old "kid" ornaments on it.  I will put it up on a table so Alfie can't get to it...and speaking of Alfie......

I am loving this little guys hair.....and really just all of him!

I am loving this Duck Dynasty app that puts a beard on just about anything....we all look like we are ready to be in the next Hobbit movie.

Thankful Thursday #4

I'm Thankful for Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is here, I can't believe it.  I can tell I'm getting older because it feels like we just had Thanksgiving...... but it's gorgeous weather, and the wedding is over, so on to the Holidays.
We are joining with most of the Welch side at Mark and Jill's home in Farmington.  It will be awesome. I'm looking forward to being with my people, eating delicious food, writing in the thankful journal and relaxing.  We always go to a movie Thanksgiving night as well.....this year it's
  Big Hero 6.   This is a tradition all of my children look forward to.  Landon is  cooking his first Thanksgiving dinner for the Buzelli family.  He got permission from Alex's mom to do most of the cooking since it's an American holiday and he should know how to cook American food.

I'm thankful for my Wayne...he really is amazing.  So patient, loving, kind, generous, caring,  smart, helpful, and supportive.   I couldn't ask for a better mate to do throughtout this life with and forever.

I'm thankful for Sunsets....this is my most favorite time of the day.  I feel closer to heaven and my Heavenly Father when I take in a colorful sunset.

I'm thankful for sewers and roads to drive on with stoplights and lanes, and garbage trucks and snow removal and all of the daily necessary stuff that fills my life but that I take for granted.

I'm thankful for diet coke and chocolate....all though I probably should learn to do with out.

I'm thankful for Mexican Food... it's my favorite....just saying chalupa makes my mouth water.

and while I'm on the food band wagon......

I am thankful for pie!.... My mom was a master pie maker.  Pie makes me think of her now.
She was a Pie Party Pioneer...and she coined the infamous "Russian serving"  Which is one of each kind of pie on your plate.... a one-of-each....or said really quickly it sounded like "wonifich"--which was kind of Russian sounding, hence the name.

Pie parties were happening all over the state last night thanks to my momma....

Post Wedding highlights

Well... we are all cleaned up and washed and put away...The wedding day  is now  a memory and thankfully we all survived and are happy.

Official Wedding Party:  Laila, Alfie, Sophia, Andrew, Truman, Monson, Lexi, Katelyn, Lindsey, Bre, Addison, Landon and Alex

My friend Laura recapped the day in a text like this:  "The ring ceremony was very spirtual.  I was thrilled and surprised.  Lexi's parents were kind and helpful all day.  The temple was over the top!  Elder TIngey said the perfect words including mentioning those  who are attending from the other side and Lexi's family who she will be the example to.  The venue was so pretty and so fun.  Swonny announcing the wedding party like a basketball game...how fun. Because of the warming trays the food turned out just fine.  Ran out of some food but everyone was fed.  The Italian Soda bar was a hit. Melinda's ear and neck bling added to her beauty for the day.   All is well in Zion.  Satan had a bad day yesterday as a new eternal family was created.  Loved being there."

New Welch Girls

It was kind of a blurr for me but a few moments stand out....

The ring ceremony rehearsal dinner the night before with a house full of crazy family members, Mickey Larsen...wedding planner extraordinaire.... ordering us all around trying to keep it "light"...and all done without Monson because he couldn't miss  school.

Finding a 44 oz. Big Al......diet coke and a Si cookie on my counter for breakfast.

Laila looking gorgeous  and much older than her 12 years  in her blue dress, heels and amazing hair done by Emilee Dahl.

The Billy Ball Boutinere fiasco...with allergy, puffed, tearing eyes of Addison and Landon.  Once we realized the "weed balls" were causing  problems, we quickly took off the boutinere's and chucked them.

Monson and Lexi in a "wedding kiss dip" just outside the temple doors.

All of the bridesmaids and mommas piled in the down stairs bathroom getting Lexi ready.

Lexi informing us at 4pm the day of the wedding that she hadn't spoken to the cake lady and didn't know if she would have a cake or not..  The cake lady came through with a Michigan glutten free carrot cake and an amazing strawberries dipped in chocolate cake.

The wedding party being introduced like a basketball team, all coming in carrying giant Maverick drink cups because they stopped the limo on the way to the dinner and picked up drinks.

Monson and Lexi dancing to "All of Me"....  and Sophia and Andrew slow dancing as well.

Truman trying not to cry as he said such nice, funny and appropriate things as the Best Man.

Being in the Bride's Room in the Temple, getting Lexi ready in her temple dress and priesthood robes to be sealed for Time and All Eternity...then changing her into her wedding dress.  She is sooo beautiful no matter what she is wearing.

Pinning Monson's boutinere on and kissing his cheek telling him he's my favorite.













Holding lauging, noisy Alfie while the Ring Ceremony went on.

Setting up the Wheeler Farm venue with tables,  chairs, cloths, burlap, dinner wear, lights, fabric... waitng for Olive Garden food and our guests to arrive.

Monson and Buddies picking Lexi up for a silly picture..

Having my dad show up in a wheelchair....so happy he made it to our home and the Temple.

Looking around the Sealing room in the temple and seeing so many family and friends and feeling so much love... missing my  momma  but knowing she was there.

Monson playing his guitar and singing "Lemonade" to Lexi

Lexi saying, "Oh yes" when  Pres. Hess and Elder Tingey told them they should kiss...