Christmas 2010

Jimmer is all bundled up and and ready to roll.
"Ticket to Ride" is a great game to play after all of the kids are to bed.


Spencer is just a kid at heart.
The guys made a tubing trail through the trees behind the cabin. Everyone had a great time sledding right off the back side of the cabin. . . at night no less!
Ben and Sharalee take a one minute time out. Christmas is exhausting for parents.Cute jammies Shara!
Wiley and Kimball watch Harry Potter for the first time. . . with dads and moms nearby for editing purposes. They were mesmerized. It was most fun to see them devour the book.
My first picture with my new camera! I love being at the cabin for Christmas with the family. This is the first year we have ever attempted it and I was in heaven.
There is nothing better than playing dress-up with your special cousin.
Baby Hazel is so precious. She is an angelic little soul who smiles constantly.
Annie, Rosa, and Eva dance the lovely princess dance, as only real lovely princesses can.

Baby Olivia pushes her new toy train all over the cabin. Was there ever such a happy little baby?

Ben and Wiley eagerly read Stephanie's new book, "Why Can't I Fly?" Steph wrote and illustrated this darling children's book for a class at school and gave all of us a copy.

Love is in the Air

Halloween Spooks

A New Scouter in the Family

I hardly know what to say except that to my surprise and joy we have a new scouter in the family. Tim spent two weekends this past month at Woodbadge, held at Heber Valley Girls Camp. The thing I admire most is his obedience to counsel and willingness to do something out of his comfort zone. I'm also looking forward to the blessings that will come as a result :)

Fall Fun in Ohio

It was wonderful to visit Lisa and Matt and family for a few days while Tim was at Woodbadge. The fall leaves were absolutely gorgeous and I had so much fun just being with the kids. We went to a fun farm the first day after I arrived. Kimball, Annie and I thought a slide like this down the back of the cabin at Timberlakes would be really fun. What do you think Grandpa?

On Sunday we attended stake conference and visited the Isaac Morley farm. Lisa made a nice dinner and then it was time to leave for the airport. It was over way too fast! I am so proud of Lisa and Matt and all that they are doing to bless the lives of others while going to school in the "mission field." But it is especially heart-warming to watch them in their parent roles and to see first-hand the wonderful job they do as parents to our darling grandchildren.

Later that day, Judy and Hank Dowse sat by me on the plane ride home from Chicago. They were my tender mercy for the day.

Grandma Joan Welch

Today marks the third year since the death of Tim's mom, Joan Evans Welch. She was a very devoted mother and she loved playing the organ in their ward for many years. This picture reminds me of the happier early years of their family where having six rambunctious boys crowded into a small two-bedroom home must have been quite a task. I think of her whenever I make bread or peach pies and I feel grateful for the many years she gathered us at her home every Sunday.