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.  

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!

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

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.

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.  

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.