Back to school dinner 2014

It was that time again, for the Welch Family Back to School Dinner!

Porter 8th grade

Sidney 5th grade

Rylee 2nd grade

Jax....home with Mom :)

Invitations were sent out, everyone arrived dressed nicely and with their best manners.

Our theme for this school year is "Be your BEST self".

I love this tradition.  I can't believe that it is already time to get ready for another school year!  They each had a sweet Fathers blessing and now I feel like we have done everything we could to get them ready.  Last year of Middle school for Porter and last year of elementary for Sidney.  

Ready or not....

Rylee turns 7!

This sweet girl is SEVEN!

She had a great day!  We opened presents and went to "Pirates Cove" water park.  It was really fun (and crowded) but mostly really fun!

She requested Red Robin for dinner with Grandma & Grandpa :)

And loved it when they sang Happy Birthday to her.

Love these sweet sisters!

Loving her very own birthday cake!

SEVEN things I love about Rylee...

1. She is usually happy and has a big smile.

2. She is always excited about whatever is coming up next.

3. She loves her family, and she is great at telling each of us.

4. She loves school and her teachers.

5. She is a great friend.  She is kind and always knows when someone is feeling sad.

6. She gives me a hug and a kiss before I leave the house every time.

7. She is fun. She can get anyone excited about anything.

Happy Birthday, sweet Rylee girl!

this just happened…..

This kid just got his braces off!! And.....

Shaved for the first time :)

Catch up

After changing to his big boy bed he has had some nights where we find him asleep in random places...behind his door, on top of his toy box, on the side of his bed, and in the hallway.  He doesn't cry, he just curls up somewhere.

Loving this rainbow.

I was able to spend the weekend with these kids for youth conference.  We learned about family history and had a great time!

Temple trips

I just needed to make sure I had a picture to remember how grateful that I am that this handsome teenager is excited to get up early on a summer day, dress up, and go to the temple.  I am so proud of him.

I am so glad that these kids have a big brother they can look up to.

Rylee and her shark teeth

This cute girl little girl has something crazy....

going on behind this sweet smile.....

a hidden row of teeth!!!

The dentist says her 4 front teeth need to come out, so we are heading to the office.

She is actually excited, and I am so nervous!

Trip to the zoo!

My Mom and Dad treated us to a fun day at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

We had so much fun.  It was a beautiful day.

Petting a baby kangaroo!

One of our favorite parts is feeding the giraffes!  Porter loved it, Sidney tried and tried, but just couldn't bring herself to hold her hand out for that long giraffe tongue to slime!  Rylee took a little while to warm up to it, and Jax just laughed and said, "EWWW".

I was laughing so hard at this picture of Rachel and the giraffe that looks like it is getting Gavin :)

We love the zoo!

Randi bday

I had such a nice Birthday!  A very delicious breakfast, Birthday banner, cards, gifts, and lots of love from my favorite people :)

Thanks family!  You are the BEST!

Camp

I had the awesome opportunity to spend the week with these amazing girls at girls camp.  I am so lucky to be able to serve and spend time with them and each of our Young women leaders.  We had a great time!  We had some great experiences together.  We played, worked hard, sang songs, prayed together, ate good food, and strengthened our testimonies.  The time that I have spent serving in Young women's has included some of the most amazing spiritual experiences.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true, the Young Womens program is an inspired program, and we are Daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves and knows each of us. 

After I got home we set up the tents in the back yard to clean them up a bit.  And the kids thought it would be great to have a "camp out" and sleep in the tent in the back yard.  I fully supported the kids and Allen in their adventure. I made sure they were tucked in the tent and then went straight inside!  I was so ready to sleep in my bed :)

SUMMER!

School is out and so is the blow up pool and the water, it is officially SUMMER!

I love summer.  I love kids home from school, making up our own schedule, being outside, sun, snacks, and really getting to play with the kids.

This may not look like much, but it is the first strawberry from our garden....it's a big day!

And it was delicious!  Looking forward to many more....if we can keep the bunnies and birds away.