Fun Weekend with the "Fam"

We had a great time last weekend with my family.  We met at the Lake for a day of fun.  My sister, Rachel and her husband Paul were here on their way back to BYU Idaho, and my brother, Stuart came down from Boulder, and my Mom and Dad and Jean.  It was a beautiful day and might be one of our last days to play in the water this summer :( 

There was a BIG dirt hill at the beach.  I think it was one of Porter and Sidney's favorite things of the day!  They would climb all the way to the top and jump off the top.  Alright, us grown-ups had a little fun jumping too!

Stuart wakeboarding!

Paul wakeboarding!

Porter and Sidney LOVE the Jet Skis!  They would catch a ride whenever possible and Porter would try to talk everyone into letting him drive!

We all enjoyed "The Molecule".  This big tube that we can't get enough of.  Even though we all can hardly move the next day!

Twirly Girls Soccer

So if you haven't noticed we are going with the "sports" theme for the next couple of months.  Sidney just started a new soccer team with her very best friends, Lily, Kayla, Tyler, Addison, and a couple of cute girls we are just getting to meet.  It is an all girl team called "The Twirly Girls."  Just about the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Since this post is all girl I decided to make it pink-just for our pink girl, Sidney!

They had their first practice tonight.  Yes, I know, Allen has his football league on Tues nights, Sid has soccer on Weds nights, and Port has football on Thurs nights!  We Welch's don't like to get board!  Luckily it is all fun stuff!  Any way, Sidney had a great time.  The coaches are two of her good friends Dads.  They were so sweet and made this cute sign to get the girls excited.  They also had a water table with cups and water whenever needed.  Don't think that every girl didn't visit that super fun station at least 5 times during the 30 minute practice!!  Addison's Mom even made them "Sweat towels" out of soccer fabric!  That is what they are holding in the picture.  Great job, Sidney!

Flag Football

Porter has been wanting to play football this year.  We finally got him on a flag football team that just started.  They had their first game last Saturday!  I was a little nervous about how he would do.....I don't know why he obviously has his Dad's athletic abilities and does quite well at any sport he tries.  So shortly into the game he gets the ball and runs the length of the field for the first touch down!!  I think I pulled something in my throat, I yelled so loud!  He was SO excited and still can't stop talking about it.

This is also a picture of him sacking the quarter back in the second half!  Pretty proud of that one too!  And, yes, those are bronco colors.  His favorite!  It doesn't get any better than that.

Needless to say he is loving football and I am enjoying the "flag" football years with no tackling!  Great job, Porter!

Surprise Trip for Randi!!

Where do I begin?  Allen surprised me and sent me on a fun weekend away to Park City, UT with 2 of my great friends.  I flew out to UT and Ariane and I surprised Amy for her 30th birthday!  Ariane, Amy, and I all lived in the same neighborhood in Parker, CO together.  They are so much fun and I miss being able to spend more time with them.  They have both trickled back to Utah, sadly.  Amy was SO surprised!  Her husband, Greg, did a great job!  She packed her things and we were off.  Greg set us up at the Canyons Resort in Park City.  It was beautiful! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             We enjoyed the shopping, eating, relaxing,  going to a movie, swimming, sitting out by the pool, reading, laughing , and a great day at the spa!  

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

A big "shout out" to Amy and Ariane!  You girls are great.  I love ya and can't wait to do it again next year!! ;)  Right, Allen, Devin, and Greg!!   And thanks to such a great husband for planning everything and taking such great care of the kids so I could enjoy some guilt free "Randi" time!!  You're the best!

Keri and Kevin come to visit!

Allen's sister, Keri, and her husband, Kevin, came to visit from California for an extended weekend!  I know I am a little behind!!  They came over Rylee's birthday.  We had so much fun!!  We went to the lake (a few times), which meant lots of fun, swimming, wake boarding, surfing, sun, and one flat tire :)!  We took a little trip down to Colorado Springs, went to a movie, ate lots of yummy food, played games (which I should note-I WON!!), and stayed up way too late!!  We also took them skydiving!! (indoor)  I know the pictures aren't great, but it is hard to get good pictures through a reflective,thick glass window with a subject that is always moving!!

Allen

Keri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Kevin

I opted to stay out with the kids this time.

Porter and Sidney swimming at the lake.

                                               

                                                                                                                                                    This one is for you, Kev!!

Thanks Keri and Kevin for a super fun weekend and a lot of laughs!  We love you guys!

Rylee's 1st Birthday

My baby girl is one year old!  I know it's cliche, but I can't believe how time flies!  When I think back to not having her in our family, it seems like she has been here forever.  But when I think that she is a year old already, it seems like she is still a new baby.  Rylee had a fun birthday.  Allen's sister, Keri, and her husband, Kevin, came to visit from California.  They made her birthday special and we had a great time.  We also were able to stop at Grandma and Grandpa's house for presents.  So, a few things about Rylee......

-Rylee loves being with her family, especially her brother and sister.  She just lights up when she sees them.

-Rylee likes to get in the tupperware and cereal cupboard.

-She also likes to climb the stairs.  Still learning how to come down safely!

-Rylee is a good eater, so far she likes everything and is always excited when it's time to eat.

-She has a very sweet and loving spirit about her, she has always been a happy and easy going baby.

-She is a good sleeper. I will always be thankful for this one!!

Rylee's 1 year stats....  Weight-16 lb. 11 oz.  Height- 27 3/4 inches

 

I can't say enough good things about our sweet little girl.  We are so thankful to have her in our family, and I am so blessed to be able to be her Mommy.  Things are busy around here, and she is always a ray of sunshine in my day.  I look forward to watching her grow and play with her brother and sister.  I love you, Rylee, Happy Birthday my sweet baby girl!!

Utah Trip

We had such a great trip to Utah last week.  We were able to see both of my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, my great-grandma and great-grandpa (yes, that is great-great for my kids!), and our good friends the Chamberlains and Gorringes.  These pictures are at my Grandparents house in Bountiful.  Love you guys!

We had a lot of fun in Vernal.  We played at the lake for a couple days, sorry no pictures.  Then we went to the parade and did fireworks for the 24th of July!  Thanks for the great fireworks show, Dad!!

Thanks for all the fun, Grandma and Grandpa!

Then we headed to Salt Lake to visit our good friends.  We played and had a great time!  We went to Liberty Land, Porter stills talks about the Go-karts, and had a great BBQ (with an awsome slip-n-slide!!  Greg and Amy, Devin and Ariane, you guys are the best!  It was so fun to get away and just relax with fun friends!  I am trying to get over my denial that you guys really moved and letting go of my dream that you are all moving back soon!!  Who am I kidding?  Denial is a great thing, a girl can hope, right!?!  Good times!  Thanks guys!

Porter is off to 2nd Grade!

Today is Porter's 1st day of 2nd Grade!  He was excited and happy to see his friends.  I can't believe his is old enough to be in 2nd Grade.  He is such a sweet and loving boy.  Porter is a great big brother and good example to his little sisters.  Sidney, Rylee, and I will miss him.   I hope he has a great day, I can't wait to hear all about it.  Until then I will keep watching the clock waiting to get him back!

Funny little Rylee!

So, Rylee decided she needed a little snack today......So she got one!   Gotta love those cheerios!  We had to hide the "Fruity Pebbles" cereal.  Way to go, Rylee!

So, I thought I would try out a little video.  Rylee really doesn't need toys!  She has fun with anything around the house, and lately she is into everything.  She is almost one year old and is just getting interested in walking.  So today she used what she could find to get around!  This girl is hilarious!  

Allen's Hiking Trip

Allen went on a hiking trip to southern Colorado near Durango.  They camped and hiked 3 of the 14,000 ft. peaks.

They had a great time.

Thanks Dave, Ryan, Doug, Nathan, and Scott for a great trip!!

Livin' it up at the Rodeo!

Well, the Rodeo came to town.  So we decided to wrestle up our cowboy/cowgirl attire and saddle up.  We had a lot of fun.  

I know the pictures aren't great, but hopefully you get the idea.

Rylee had a great time.  She even made it staying up till 10:30 p.m.!  She climbed around on everyone all night, O.K. so all 3 of the kids did that!  They had a great time and have been talking about it ever since.  Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!

Splash'n in the pool

What a beautiful day!  Life can get a little busy around here and the kids have been great for meetings and phone calls this morning, so we decided to have a pool afternoon.  So nice to be in our own backyard.  Rylee played and played and then went in and took a great nap!  Little sweetheart.

Porter and Sidney loved it of course.  Don't worry they won't get splashed in the eye.....they thought ahead and put the goggles on before filling up the pool!!  What great kids.

4th of July

The 4th of July was a lot of fun this year.  It was a beautiful, hot day.  We started of at Cherry Creek Lake in the morning with my Mom and Dad.  Then we went to the Carnival, had dinner, went to the park, and watched the fireworks!  It was a great day!  

Allen had a great time wakeboarding.

Rylee loves the boat!  She had a great time and a couple naps!
My Dad surfing!  Nice!
Allen enjoying the great wave.

Ready to go to the carnival.

Porter and Sidney on the pony rides.

Allen, porter, and Sidney running through the blow up obstacle course!  

Waiting for the fireworks to start.  Rylee stayed awake until the fireworks started, then she snuggled in and fell asleep about 3 minutes into the show!
What a great 4th of July!  

Little fingerprints

Some people might call me a "clean freak".  Rylee loves to pull herself up on the stainless steel fridge, and laugh at her reflection.  In doing this she leaves little hand and finger prints all over the fridge.  You might think this would bother me, but I LOVE it!  I am realizing that my kids are growing up way too fast, and too soon they learn to be careful and not leave little finger prints on the fridge.  Rylee is 11 months old and I can't believe it!  I am excited that they are learning and growing and enjoying experiences, but I am sad that much too soon I will have a fridge that will stay way too clean and fingerprint-free.  I love my kids being little and safe at home in their beds.  I know I am learning and growing as a mother along with my kids, and I just hope I can grow into the kind of mom they will need.  I just LOVE these kids and every time I walk by and see little finger prints all over the fridge it makes me smile.