A Welch Christmas Get-together.

Curtis's parents were going to be in Orem the weekend after Christmas for Our nephew, Spencer's, mission farewell. We decided to head up on the 26th and spend the weekend with his side of the family. Turns out Michele and Erin, and their family, were also in town dropping Brandon off at BYU. So it was quite the party.

We stayed at the LaQuinta in Provo but spent most of our time with the fam. We went out to Chuck-a-Rama, which is always a crazy endeavor with a group that size. Nate and Lori hosted us all on Sunday after church. Spencer gave a very good talk in church, I think he'll be a good missionary. Then we gathered at Kyle and Nicole's for supper that night.

We were supposed to head home on Monday but we had nothing pressing so we stayed an extra day, moving up to the Hampton in Orem for Monday night. We shopped at the Provo mall then the boys and I went to visit the Holmsteads while Curtis and the girls + Isabelle went to the University Mall. Then we all gathered again at Nicole's for pizza and then headed to Blaster Tag.

It's a nerf gun tag place. The kids and lots of the adults had a blast playing the game. They have a ref who explains the games and does play-by-play. It was so fun to go with a large group and with so much family. Even James got to play! We did a bit more shopping on Tuesday then headed home. After spending so much time with family it's sure hard to leave, but we're grateful we could go.

that's a bedful of boys

James-didn't really play on a team, just randomly shot people

Nash, Charles and Soren getting ready for the next battle

Soren and Charles all set to go

they had large windows for spectators-I took pictures through them when my kids lined up against them

Battle's on….

Soren, Emma and Charles in the center of this picture

See the 'dead' people in the dugout? James didn't care about getting hit and just filled up his gun and shot people

James, Charles and Sadie in orange vests

Soren in the blue shirt with crazy orange vest

James in red shirt w/orange vest, Taylor with headband just behind him.

just an action shot. It was pandemonium in there when the battles were being fought.

Isabelle, the ref and Taylor...

Sadie kneeling in the center...

She's on the move

She had a HUGE gun that had a magazine that held so many darts. It took a long time to load, but she didn't have to stop and reload very often. She was often one of the last ones on her team still in action.

Soren and his fancy eyewear

Charles and his cool eye protection

Soren got an eyewear upgrade...

It was fun to stand in the dugout and watch and take photos

Every team had to line up on the back wall and touch it before the battle could begin. Nash found this little bumpout that put him closer to the other team to start.

Soren, Charles and Taylor here

Eli (green shirt), Spencer (white shirt w/blue sleeves), Sadie (behind Spencer) and Taylor (headband)

Sadie biding her time

Now she takes aim...
Eli and Emma also

Charles reloading

Sadie was much more into it than I would have imagined.
Hannah and Cambria weren't feeling well so they didn't play.

Oh, boy. Now the big boys are playing
Curtis in the darker orange shirt w/orange vest

after the previous group left, then the adults of our group got in on the fun...

in this game, if you got hit you stayed put and called for the "medic" to come heal you. Here is Curtis waiting for his 'medic'. Justin (Haley's husband) in next to him behind the box in  the green vest...

Here are Brandon, Allyson, Holly, and Michele. Maybe Haley?

Hannah decided she wanted to try it even though she felt crappy. Looks like James and Soren are giving her pointers

Curtis and Allyson

there was a game that required a sword. James just decided to use it instead of a nerf gun. He always does things the way he wants to, instead of how he's told to.

Curtis in the big box, Hannah in plaid, Holly holding up her arm for the 'medic', Eli back by the target on the wall

Soren in blue, James in red, Kyle in the dugout

Isabelle, Brandon, Nicole, Noah, Grandpa
We have such a great family and we love to spend time with them. Kyle and Nicole are always so good to let us all congregate at their house and visit and play. 

The sunset on the way home just south of Crescent Jct. It was much prettier than the picture shows. I'm so thankful for the ease of travel that allows us to go and visit family often. Heavenly Father has provided so much beauty for us.