The Year That Was

I always have good intentions of sending out Christmas cards every year, but it just never happens. I think it is because I personally think I'm a boring person. But, after looking back on this years photo's, I have found that there were a LOT of noteworthy things that have come to pass. So here is my Christmas letter, in pictures.

I celebrated a lot of birthdays:









Grew a garden:




Went to a wedding:


Crocheted:


Got a new look:


Had visits from family and friends from far away:




There was a baptism:


An ordaining:


A graduation:


I made some new friends:







I spent some time at the Lake:


Attended some luau's:



Tackled Girls Camp:


Grew a mustache:


Took a trip:




Took a hike:


Went to a ball game:


Got grossed out:


And welcomed new family members:



I hope that you all take the time to reflect on the positive things that have happened in your life this past year and are mindful of where those opportunities and blessings flow from. A Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Hooray For 3 Birthday's On the Same Day!

Hunter had a birthday last night and is now the ripe old age of 4! Happy Birthday Hunter! It was also Spencer and Kesa's birthday and they are both 14. I wished that they weren't in Colorado and Nebraska so we could have one big celebration, but since that isn't the case, I am sure that they partied it up with their families. Love you guys!

Not a Creature Was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse....

....was the theme I was going for with these egg, radish, mustard, and carrot appetizers for the Christmas party. They just made me laugh!

The Welker Family Christmas Party

Last weekend was the Welker Christmas Party. My personal favorite time of the year! It was great to get together for a huge Italian dinner. There were games (thanks Colleen) and of course the singing of Christmas carols, played with much enthusiasm by Grandma of course! Even Landon gave us a piano carol! I love my family! Can't wait until next year. And to all of the family that missed it, I hope you can join us next year!

Welcome Welcome Melody!

I have the sweetest new niece! She smells so fresh and beautiful! Congrats James and Audra! I can tell that her brothers and sister already love her very much!

Some Of the Best Kids Of All Time

There has to be something said about the hilarious kids that I am constantly finding myself surrounded by! I think that everyone knows how much I love my nieces and nephews, that is just a given, but there are also my friends kids who I find very funny! They can really make my day! They have the most hilarious personalities and do and say the most random things. They are all unique in their own way. I wished that I had pictures of all of them, but I don't, but they know who they are! Here are a few of them that I actually have pictures of:

The Christmas Tree Cutting Expedition

This year I joined the Bailey's and the Holt's in search for 5 of the best Christmas trees that Pine Creek Pass had to offer. It was the most perfect day to be in the mountains and after a long search, we found what we were looking for. I had so much fun! Thanks for the invite!

GWO

Forget girls night out! Try girls WEEKEND out!! Triple the fun and excitement! We all had a wonderful time in Island Park at the Groberg cabin...once we had all safely arrived (a slide off and 2 run away car incidents later). The gals were mainly there to do some scrap booking but other festivities included beading, eating Chinese, movie watching, chocolate eating, wonderful conversations...for the most part (:D), eating Chinese, knitting, cooking, an occasional nap, BSing (the card game of course), and crocheting. To Viki and little Miles, Linda, Terri, Susan, Shay, and Camy, thanks for a great time and for being such wonderful people! I am not going to get too emotional about you all, I have a certain appearance to maintain.....besides, it seems like whenever I start to talk about you, Stevie Wonder starts playing his harmonica intro to "That's What Friends Are For" in my head. It is best to just tell you all that you are the greatest!! In good times, in bad times, I'll be by your side forever more........dang it...

The Quarter

Take a good hard look at this quarter. It should take full responsibility for teaching me a lesson last week! I know that it looks like just a regular ordinary quarter, but if you look again, you will notice that it lacks in luster and is dull and chipped around the edges. I first came in contact with this particular quarter when I exchanged some change in my pocket for two quarters at work to use in the peanut m&m slot in the vending machine. While pondering over my beloved peanut m&m's and the new arrival of the hot tamales, I was holding both quarters in my hand side by side. They were stark contrast to each other, the other quarter being a new, shiny, Georgia edition quarter. It's edges were perfect and it had obviously sat lovingly in someones pocket and hadn't gotten around much. It almost made me want to despise the worn quarter....that is until I turned it over the crusty quarter and discovered its date....1978, the same year of my birth! This quarter is as old as I am. Here I am judging this dull and disgusting looking, old quarter when it isn't any older than me! Rather than admiring it for its years of travel and all of the good that it has obviously done, I was only looking on its outer appearance. I felt awful! So right then and there, I shoved the perky quarter into the peanut m&m slot, and lovingly placed the warn quarter into my pocket. Us oldies need to look out for each other.

Smiles From Miles

I can't believe how big Viki's little Miles is getting! He is so sweet, especially when he smiles!