Prom 2016 (April 1)

The invite

It all started with a little scavenger hunt which concluded with this invitation…
She responded with an answer on his truck. She set up a bunch of army men on the hood of his truck with a poster that said, "It would take an army to stop me from saying yes!"

 Then it turned into finding a dress to wear. Buying one was not in the picture so we asked around and finally found this beauty. It belongs to her friend Amy's, sister, and it fit her perfectly except for the length. We shortened it by pinning it up a bit more with safety pins, which worked incredibly well since it was already gathered and ruched all over. What's one more gather or ruching?

 Finally the day arrived and she had lots of help getting 'beautified' for the big dance, after they had gone to dinner and she had been dropped back off to get ready. Cambria did her hair and Annsheri helped with makeup. She looked so grown up and lovely. Looked like she could have been on Miss America. (I certainly did not look so mature for my Prom…)

Her date, Talon, arrived to pick her up for the dance. There was the usual awkward putting on of boutonniere and corsage and then pictures. I guess she didn't want to be extra sparkly since she did not smile showing her teeth and braces. Her date was very gentlemanly, telling me their schedule and asking what time she should be home. I was impressed with him. A nice young man.

 The Promenade was scheduled for 8 pm. In a break from longstanding tradition this year, the actual dance was held at the Community Center down by the golf course, but the Promenade was still done in the High School gym. I actually really liked it done this way, because there was sufficient light to really see the kids do the dance they've been practicing for so long. Not so much to put up or take down either.

 Here Hannah is announced and she is accompanied by and danced with Amalio. He's a funny kid. :)

 They danced well together and it was fun to watch them do their thing. I love that our school has not abandoned the tradition of introducing the Jr Class members and dancing the Promenade. LOVE IT!

Following the dance, the Prom Royalty was announced. Hannah was chosen as 2nd attendant. She was on the prom committee and worked a lot of hours in prep for it, as well as on concessions at sporting events last year. It was a happy moment for her.

 After the royalty dance, then it was the parent dance. Shandon brought her to her dad and off they went to dance. I know Curtis doesn't love Prom, but I love watching him dance with his lovely daughters. It'll be my turn again in a few years when the boys go to Prom

 Ford and Shiala also came to watch so Ford danced with Hannah and Curtis danced with Kami. So cute!

 What a fun thing to remember, dancing with Grandpa!

On Saturday, Hannah and Talon and some of the other kids took 4 wheelers and went down to the Falls near Canyonlands. They had a good time and no one was injured, thankfully. (there was a boy in another group that was hurt in a fall down a cliff near Moab. He happened to be Allie's date. Yikes! He broke quite a few bones, but he's ok and recovering. So scary!)

Another Prom come and gone, 5 down, 4 to go! It was a great event and I'm happy it was a good experience for Hannah. I hope she has great memories of her Prom.

Kami turns 2!

As hard as it is to believe, Kami turned 2! I do not know how those two years went by so fast. 

Shaila's mom and her sister and family came down for a few days to help celebrate the event. We hosted a little party at our house, since it would be hard to have enough space at Ford and Shiala's. 

Shiala loves to think about, plan and put on parties. She likes to go all out and make it a shindig. 

It was very cute and had an Ice Cream theme. Kami got lots of gifts and had fun being the center of attention on her special day!

Opening her gifts. She understands the whole process now and was fun to watch as she ripped paper and pried open boxes to see what was inside.

Shiala had made these cute ice cream cones out of balloons and paper and put them up around the house for decor. We all enjoyed lots of ice cream with a variety of toppings and cake, of course.

Shiala really likes to bake and make cakes, trying new techniques. Her kids will hopefully realize how lucky they are to have a mom who LIKES to make their birthday cakes!

I thought this cake was awesome. It had a 'melted' ice cream cone on top which was actually chocolate ganache. It was so cute and everyone was very impressed with her cake making efforts.

Kami, we are so thankful for you and for the sweet little girl you are. You are a ray of light and life and make life fun and brighter every day. Happy Birthday, sweet girlie!!

Charles turns 7!

Again we reach the end of the winter version of the Welch family birthday season by celebrating Charlie's birthday. He has reached the ripe old age of 7. We so enjoy this boy, except we don't really love his 'frumps' lately. He has had a hard time getting up and going for school and acts really frumpy. He always tells me he's tired and I always tell him, "Join the party. We are all tired and we all have to get up and going anyway!" Aren't I a nice mom? :P

Charles had decided that we were doing foil dinners for his birthday, just like Soren and James, but at the last minute he decided he'd rather have pizza. Sweet! So much easier! 

How we miss Little Caesar's! Living here we either make our own pizza on French Bread or we buy frozen Freschetta or DiGiorgno when it's on sale. The pizza places in town are just too much $.

Following dinner, we lit up his cake and sang to him. As you can see, he wasn't sure about our singing and I'm not sure if he was laughing at us or trying not to cry by covering his mouth….

He wanted a Ninjago cake. (we did wash all those Legos before putting them on the cake, and again after we took them off. Cleanest they've ever been!)

He opened presents and was happy to get a new Star Wars t-shirt, money, a rubber band pistol, and a RC car. Oh and CANDY. Cannot forget candy. It's his most favorite thing in the world.

Kami provided the entertainment for the evening. After everyone who wanted cake got some, she pulled that cake over to her and using the server began eating the frosting off the cake. She really went to town and had it pretty much everywhere. We laughed and laughed at her, which just made her keep at it.

At the end of the night, I had no problem just chucking the rest of the cake. Kami really helped her old grandma not be tempted to finish off the cake the next day. Thank you Kami!!!!

Baby boy is 5!

Today was a day I've been thinking about for a long time. The day my baby turned 5. In all my married life, I've never gone so long without a new baby. And he will be going to Kindergarten in just a few short months and my life will never be the same again. It's rather momentuous, and kind of hard to wrap my head around. It's rather strange to realize that I've truly moved past the child-bearing part of my life.

Anyway, today was James' 5th birthday. Since he was born at 6:45 a.m. he was already 5 by the time he woke up today. After Stake Conference we had Ford, Shiala and Kami over for dinner and donuts. Per tradition, James chose our big meal for the day, tin foil dinners. Here he is enjoying his own creation.

yum!

The local Welch tribe

After dinner, we lit the candles on the donut 'cake' and then opened gifts. When we began this part of the party James immediately covered his ears. He does not like to be sung to. This year it also took quite a bit of coaxing for him to actually blow out the candles. I thought they would melt completely before he put his hands down and blew them out. But he finally decided to do it, thank heaven.

watching Nina light 'em up

Kami had no qualms about the singing, unlike James

debating whether to blow or not...

opening his card from Grandma and Grandpa Welch

Loving the 'gift' he found inside!

a fun light-up spinning candy/toy from Ford and Shiala.
He always wants one when we go to Maverik, but I never let him get one!

This shirt was perfect for him! and it came with a RC dinosaur. 

Lucky boy's goodies

After we ate goodies, Allie brought up a gift from Grandma B…some cool rocks from the Fort, $5 and a rubber band pistol...

"Take a picture of my dinosaur, Mom!"
I was really aiming for the cute face behind it!

James came as a surprise to our family, but what a gift he has been. He has kept us hopping and wondering how we'll survive him at our advanced ages. He is a very smart, capable boy and we look forward to watching his life unfold. James, we sure love you and are thankful that you came to our family!