I tried...

Ok one thing I am looking forward to when we move to Rexburg is internet!!! We will have our own connection (emphasis on own -- and not trying to pick up whatever signal we can from the neighbors). I just tried to upload a bunch of pictures but it just isn't happening, so sorry. I'll be a lot better when we are up north keeping this thing updated. This is the first time I've sat at the computer in like a week (I remember when it used to be a couple times a day). I'm just busy, busy. So the big move is only a few weeks away -- and I just don't even want to think about it. I remember when I first moved up to Pocatello I could load all my belongings in the back of my jeep -- now we have to do the whole moving truck business. Packing and cleaning is the worst part! I have decided though that a change will be nice - it will stink having to meet new people and get adjusted but it will mix things up a bit. I will be working a lot less which is good and bad. Good because I would rather be home being more of a wife and mom and bad because we will have no money -- we will be pretty poor. I am excited to brush up on my suzie homemaking skills... I must admit I'm not a very good wife... I get home from work and cooking and cleaning is the last thing on my mind. So we might be poor but there will be a nice meal on the table and a clean house for Todd to come home too. It will be nice to also have a more structured day -- Reese has little to no routine - due to our crazy schedule. Ok so I'm babbling...

Not much on this week's agenda... tomorrow there will be another football game (like every Sunday), we still need to finish up our Christmas shopping, Todd's work Christmas party is also tomorrow, and that's about it until Christmas. I have major plans to de-clutter my house and send some things to the DI in preparation for the big move -- but really not much else. How exciting are we?

Don't kill me... no pictures again..

Ok so we are over at a friends and we are using their internet and I don't have my memory card with me to upload some pictures. So what's been going on... Thanksgiving was great. We were in Preston for the blessed holiday -- it's so nice to have good food! Reese loved dinner too... she sat on my lap and sat mouth open the whole time -- she needed a taste of everything especially potatoes!!! We didn't stay too late since Todd had to be back to work at 8 (oh the joys of working retail during the holiday season). I had to work at 5:30 the next morning. Todd did get off work in time to hit the early morning sales. He managed to find a laptop after waiting in line for hours like all those other mad crazy shoppers! He didn't get the one he wanted but found one that will work for school and it ended up being a $100 less than the one he was hoping to get. I never do the early morning shopping... I think it's crazy and there never seems to be anything worth getting up that early for. I would rather sleep. So not much else has been going on -- we did find an apartment finally! It has been a nightmare trying to find a new place to live -- so we had originally planned on living in Idaho Falls but we found a place in Rexburg. So we are moving to Rexburg the first of January, ugh... I'm looking forward to a change... but not so much living in Rexburg. Who knows though I may end up liking it up there. Soooo... not much else going on - just working on getting my Christmas shopping done. Well I better get back to socializing with my friends ---later...

just a quickie...

Our internet is working for half a second so I thought I would put a few quick thoughts down on what's been going on lately... which really hasn't been much.
First off two of my friends have had their babies with in last 2 weeks which is pretty exciting. Being around a little baby pushes the date will start planning on child number two to much further away.
Reese has been walking around like a mad woman lately. She started taking her first steps just a few days before she turned ten months and now she walks more than she crawls... it blows me away how fast she learned.
We really haven't been up to much lately... still just working and trudging through day by day. We really need to get up to Idaho Falls and start the apartment hunt, it's so hard to find the time to get up there since it will probably end up taking a full day. I hate moving and I hate the thought of having to look for a new job... I'm praying that I can just transfer. Our schedule works out great for us right now it stinks to have to adjust to something new. Hopefully by the next time I blog we will have found a place to live. Well I need to go grocery shopping... sorry so short just wanted to let you all know that we are still alive...

Happy Day After Halloween...

Hey everyone it's been less than a month since I posted last. So Todd and his brother Thomas are home watching the Jazz game so I decided to head out and update my blog (even though it's only been a couple days). I wanted to get out of the house and the boys are watching the baby so it was perfect -- and it's nice to be here at the school by myself, usually when Todd is here I feel like I have to hurry so he isn't waiting too long while I update my blog. So yesterday for Halloween we went down to Downey once I got off work, Grandma Z really wanted to see Reese in her costume. So we all went together to the ward Trunk or Treat (brilliant person who ever thought this up). Grandma Z had a blast taking her around (even it was more like showing her off to all her friends in the community). Yes I know Reese is a little young to understand what she was doing and obviously she isn't going to be eating the candy she collected - but it's all about giving her experiences. As you can see she was more intrigued by the decorations than the actual candy collecting. Todd kept joking about her using a decapitated Elmo head to collect her candy -- we probably should have found a cookie jar - that would have been more appropriate for her costume.
Reese really was just along for the ride, while Grandma Z got the goods.
Happy Halloween!! We don't take very many family pictures and even though it was at the end of the night - we snapped one anyways. Todd doesn't exactly have the most thrilled expression on his face - but he had fun don't let him fool ya!
Reese got to play with Grandma's kitties. I think this was the first time she didn't try to pull their hair out - she actually played a little softer with them.
Mmmmm cupcakes!! It started out just giving her little bites and before you know it she was helping herself.

After we left Downey we headed back to Pocatello and went to watch a scary movie at Amanda and Shawn's. It actually wasn't scary at all (Prom Night -worst, most predictable movie ever). It took us like 3 hours to watch the movie - we kept stopping it to take care of the baby, or to take the dogs in and out, some friends stopped by for a visit and other various things.. but we did finally finish it --- so all that probably didn't help when we were trying to get scared by the movie.

Not much planned in the upcoming week... on Tuesday Reese has to get her flu shot, Wednesday Todd's band is playing a show (but I'll miss it because I have a managers conference for work during the same time). So not really exciting at all!!

Oh I forgot to mention....

Reese this week has also started to take a few steps on her own... her furthest distance is about 5-6 feet on her own. She's growing up!!! I don't have any video of this yet... I'm sure I'll get some soon.. she keeps getting camera shy every time I try to capture her on film.

Sorry everyone...our internet sucks again...

Reese's Halloween Picture.

Sorry everyone our internet hasn't been working all month... but I came to the college today with Todd (who had to do some homework) and thought I better put a few updates on here. So in the last month here are a few things that we have been doing (sorry these pictures aren't in order yet again.. I need to get better at fixing that but I really don't have the time right now):On Friday we rode down with our good friends Amanda and Shawn to watch a Marsh Valley High School football game (I think the last one I went to was last fall when Tyler and Candi were here). It was fun to get out of the house and actually go somewhere and do something. Reese was able to see Grandpa Welch (who is the principle/athletic director) and get some loves from him, and Todd was able to see some old friends from high school he hasn't seen in a while. This was Reese's first game and she was clapping the whole time - she really liked to watch the cheerleaders- I think we might have to find some pom poms for the next one.
All the grandkids on my side got together a few weeks ago to get pictures taken in the halloween costumes - aren't the all so stinking cute Ethan-the dragon, Mason-the firefighter, Dylan-the monkey, Brooklynn-the butterfly, and our little cookie monster. We just got the pictures taken at wal-mart and I thought the lady that took them was kind of rude-but we ended up with some cute pictures anyway.
Reese helping mommy with the laundry... even though she is making a huge mess it's fine with me, it keeps her entertained while I fold the other baskets.
Whopper Monster-- chowing down on some candy at our Ward Halloween Party (this is also the first ward activity we've actually gone to -which is sad considering we've been in the ward for 2 1/2 years and we are moving in 2 months... we better be a little more involved in our new ward.
Reese actually looking like a girl - or so my mom would say. Usually I just let her hair run wild but a couple of days ago I decided maybe I should actually start doing it since it's getting long enough.
These are all from the Halloween Party... Reese took off while all the trick or treaters went around... she's not used to having this much space to roam around in.
Which one is the real cookie monster?
All the candy is gone... dang those trick or treaters!!
Reese and her decapitated Elmo bucket.
Cookie monsters also like to eat chicken noodle soup not just cookies. The ward served Soup and a Roll which was yummy!!

Finally... a new post...

Sorry everyone.. our internet has been working fine... but I honestly haven't had five minutes to sit down and blog... it's been pretty busy!! So last Thursday our adventures started -- our little family headed down to Preston to go to Jana's reception (which Jana if you happen to read this you were of course the most beautiful bride - and sorry I was a blubbering idiot I don't know why I get that way -- I wish you nothing but ultimate happiness and Kyle is so stinking lucky to have snagged such a girl -- no lie!)... anyways... so we went to the reception and had a nice time. Friday we left Reese with Grandma Nan and went to Logan to have an enjoyable afternoon as just a couple (meaning only 2). We hit a few stores, and went and had lunch at Fredrico's Pizza --- which I could make and entire meal out of their garlic bread alone, after lunch we went to see Ghost Town (the movie) - which I might add was quite funny. When we got home we just chilled at my mom's house Reese went wild chasing the cat around the living room and playing the piano. She could barely reach the keys standing on her tippy toes. Grandpa was also home while we were there and Reese didn't even cry once while he played with her (normally she cries as soon as he starts talking - he talks almost like he's yelling - possibly due to hearing loss from driving a semi truck his entire life or maybe that's how he's always been --- anyway he usually makes her cry).
We were up bright an early Saturday morning to make sure we were in Brigham City by noon. We pass through Sardine Canyon on our way there -- which was something I was looking forward to the whole way down. The canyon is amazing in the fall -- colors like you wouldn't believe --- this picture does absolutely no justice for it's beauty (I took this while we were driving and it was hard to try and not get a road sign or another car in the picture all while trying to capture a side of the mountain that showed all the pretty colors). So we picked up Grandma Welch in Brigham and headed down to SLC to Torben and Angela's baby shower (Torben is Todd's brother). The women went the shower while the men went and ate some authentic mexican at the Red Iguana. It was nice to be able to see T & A the last time we saw them was at our wedding 2 and half years ago (they live in Denver). This will make 3 granddaughters and 0 grandsons. I suppose to make up for the 5 boys Grandma Z had -- she's finally getting her little girls. We had a nice time and the shower and drove home shortly after (we made a quick visit to Grandma Joan's before we left). Sunday nothing too eventful happened -- the Bronco's played a horrible game which ends their winning streak - hopefully a better game this upcoming Sunday.

Reese had her 9 month check up today. She is now weighing in at 23 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 30 inches (she continues to remain in the 95th percentile for both weight and height). She also had a flu shot and had a little poke to check for anemia (she is anemia free). She is a healthy girl!!

So it's really late and I need to go to bed... my day off today was way too short... I think that is why I am putting off going to sleep - trying to stretch my day out as much as I can. Sorry not too many pictures.. I had taken a few more while at my mom's the last weekend, but for some reason they keep showing file error - which is lame so hopefully I can post those sometime later. Well goodnight everyone.. I am finally off to bed.

Football games, ponies, and playdates...

Reese's first pony tail... and she's waving bye bye. Don't mind the imprisonment we have her in... we try to limit her mobility to just the living room. Ok so our internet has been down again this last week... again I can't really be complaining since we just happen to be borrowing it from our neighbors. Nothing really monumental has happened this last little while, Todd got accepted to BYU-I and now we are waiting to hear what track we will be on so we know when we'll have to move (hopefully he can start in January so we can just get him done with school and get on with our lives). Work has pretty much been the same. Yesterday we fed the missionaries - don't you wonder what it would be liking serving in an area like Pocatello, can you imagine the excitement after you open your call (and the relief their mothers probably felt). This week we'll be going to a friends reception and to Torben and Angela's baby shower. So hopefully I'll have a few more things to blog about next time.

Last Thursday my friend Kallie came down and we had a little play date. She has a little girl a couple months older than Reese - here they are pretending to be best friends. Elexzia (sorry Kallie if I spelled her name wrong but I just can't remember) mostly liked to pull Reese's hair (no doubt she was jealous of her static do), they weren't so much interested in each other but someday maybe when they can actually play a little more and we can set them free to have all sorts of adventures.
Yes Reese's hair is finally getting long enough to pull it back in a little clip, the only problem is her hair is so fine and straight it usually slides out shortly after putting it in, but so everyone knows we do attempt to control the beast (her hair).
Eating can ware anyone out, she had been fighting a nap all day and then finally gave in.

A couple bronco games ago... Grandma and Grandpa (Todd's parents) came up to watch the game with us. Grandma was so excited to play with Reese since she doesn't see her every week anymore (she used to watch her once a week). Grandpa is most likely thrilled to have another bronco fan in the family.

This was watching the last bronco game... I mentioned that Reese used to love watching basketball... not so much with football and think it's too hard for her to see what's going on (jeez sometimes I struggle with it too)... but she loves to be with her daddy.

Pig skins and those Denver donkeys...

As promised here is our first post about Bronco season. Good thing Broncos won (booo Raiders fans), it's a sad day for Welch men when they lose !! I sometimes don't understand how emotionally involved they can get into the game, as if they know Cutler, Royal, and Bailey on a personal level. You'll notice Reese is wearing a Lynch jersey who no longer plays for the B's (booo) we had bought her jersey before she was even born -- so we had no idea what was to come (plus they were 50% off). Todd had put black electrical tape over Lynch's name on the back of the jersey in protest to his leaving the Broncos. I went grocery shopping for goodies in preparation for tomorrows game since we will probably have some friends and family over.

Not much else is going on... a little Reese update... she has been saying "da, da, da" really good for a few weeks now. She waves bye bye and says 'b, b, b' as she is doing it. She is crawling everywhere and over everything like a wild woman and she can pull herself to a standing position. She used to do patty cake and clap her hands together really well, but now when ever you sing the song she just does the rolling part. She head bangs everything from furniture to people. She loves to watch Clifford the big red dog, Seasame Street, and Spongebob. She is a crazy dancer whenever Todd plays the guitar or a song plays on one of her shows. It's funny to watch her when she is watching Elmo's world or something when she doesn't know you're watching and see her bounce up and down when someone starts singing a song. She is pretty dang cute!

Just a little update...

Sorry not a lot going on lately to really blog about... but last week we did make it to the big fair in Blackfoot. Which I realize it might not sound like a big deal, but it is at least to those who live in the area. We went up last Wednesday and spent a few hours making the loop around the fair seeing the animals and the lame booths they have every year. The food makes it all worth it. We loaded up on some great dutch oven cooking (BBQ pork, green beans, and cheesy potatoes - YUM!!), they have about anything you could want. We also indulged on the infamous tiger ears, but they should call them elephant ears because that's how big these scones really are!!! They have tons of animals at the fair huge barns full of goats, horses, Clydesdale's, pigs, cows and mini horses. Reese loved the animals, but only dared to pet the goats - they were they only ones that would really try to interact with the people passing by (probably because they wanted food). We didn't go to the concert they had this year (which was Poison) I was totally ok with missing it, I've had all the Brett Michaels I can stand after watching Rock of Love I and II.
Yesterday we went down to Logan to Willow Park to celebrate my nephews Dylan (1) and Mason's (3) birthday. We had some cupcakes (which all had finger pokes in them thanks to the birthday boys and other helpers), opened presents and made a loop around the zoo. We spent today in Downey with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma Z no longer babysits Reese once a week since Todd switched to overnights so she was happy to spend some time with her and show her off to all her friends in the ward. She is definitely a proud Grandma.



Well that is all that's been going on lately. We have a few more upcoming birthday parties to go to and Bronco season starts so I'm sure we'll have some more to blog about this month.

This is what happens to babies on the move...

So as I have mentioned before Reese is crawling now... Above is a picture of Reese's holding cell while mommy tries to update her blog. I've tried to hold her while typing and that is impossible!!! She's grabbing at everything she can get her chubby little hands on and usually helping me type as well - which only results in me having to erase and retype almost every word. The laundry basket keeps her entertained momentarily - enough to get a little done.
So she doesn't seem to mind her prison -- she definately enjoys pressing her face up against the net and having a taste. My house is a disaster - I miss the days when I could sit her in her bouncy chair and get all sorts of things done. I do love that she is able to interact more with the world around her. She crawling all over us demanding all sorts of attention and affection.
So not much else has been going on lately. Todd is switching to overnights next week... which frees up more time at home and he has to work less days but longer shifts. So three nights a week I'll be sleeping solo - which kind of stinks - but having him at home more when I'm there will be nice. He used to work mostly nights and not get home til eleven at night and that stunk. I wish I could only work 3 days a week!!!
So I'm working on getting Reese on some sort of bedtime routine. She used to sleep so well... she would fall asleep at a decent time and stay asleep all night! Now she'll go to sleep when we usually go to sleep at like clock work she'll wake up at 3 AM!! So we are trying to do the same routine... Ideally I would like to go for a evening walk (which who knows if that will keep happening), give her a bath, read a couple stories and have a bottle and off to bed. We'll see how long this will last... I just hate being so disoriented and not having control over the sleeping situation. It will be nice having Todd home during all this now. If anyone has any other ideas feel free to mention them I'm open to other options. Well I better get ready for bed myself... I have to work tomorrow.. it's the sucky part of my week.. I don't have a day off til next Wednesday, ugh!

When I grow up...

So I don't know if I've mentioned before than I'm trying to break into the design world. Ideally I would like to work from home and do wedding announcements, baby announcements, Christmas cards or whatever (and I've even started playing around with some video editing software for Wedding videos). It's something I've always been into... but I'm not business savvy. I've done a few wedding announcements here and there... this is the most recent one I did (hopefully they don't mind it's on here for the world to see). I still have a lot of things to learn - I know there are a lot more brilliant designers out there and I'm not all about being Miss Super Design Woman... more as a hobby - or enough to bring in enough cash so I don't have to have an outside job. Like I said the goal here is to stay at home - so there is a little insight to a goal of mine. We are moving to Rexburg in December - all those young, poor Mormons up there getting hitched should provide some opportunities to develop some more skills in the industry. So I'm just babbling now... but I just thought maybe someone out there might be interested it what I want to be when I grow up.

The baby is asleep, it's really late...and I want to blog!

So as I mentioned it is late and I should be in bed... but it's not happening. Todd is watching the Mens Olympic B-ball game (it's 12:45), the baby is asleep - so I am taking this opportunity to brush up on my photoshop and update my blog. Last night Todd, Reese and I went down to Downey to a get together with a bunch of people Todd went to school with and had a nice little dinner and campout (only we didn't camp out - since I had to work this morning). It was great to see some people we hadn't seen in a while and to see what they were up to. Todd brought his guitar and entertained everyone while we chatted around the fire and grilled up some good food. Reese was loving it all!! As you can tell she was mesmerized by the fire - and it actually put her to sleep within a few minutes. Don't mind me looking like a dork - but these are some of the only pictures I took of last night - maybe should have included some other people besides Reese and I in the pictures.
So Reese loves her cookie monster!! He has a plastic cookie attached to his arm and she is constantly chowing down on it - either that or his eyeballs (they are soft and she usually puts a whole eyeball in her mouth - mmm tasty)!
When every Reese is drinking a bottle she saves the last ounce to wear. When there is just a little bit left she bites the nipple and pulls it out of her mouth over and over again - getting little milk splatters everywhere!!! What a goon!!
So as I mentioned before I have a new camera and it has this neat setting - it takes the picture as soon as the person smiles. So here is me testing it out on Reese... which is an awesome feature if any of you have tried to capture precious moments with your children - not an easy feat if your camera isn't quick enough.

I"ve got rhythm...

As I have mentioned before Reese loves when her Dad plays the guitar. In this video she has pretty good rhythm and rocks out while Todd plays the guitar. Note: The song Todd is playing is a song he wrote for Reese.. he isn't quite finished with the words as you'll notice. Even when I was sitting her uploading the video Reese was rocking out -- she is a pretty vain child and loves to see photos and video of herself. I should have had video of her watching the video she was all over the place and clapping her hands. Hopefully in the future she will develop some musical abilities.

Dancing with Daddy

So Reese's favorite movie is enchanted -- she especially loves the cartoon beginning and all of the songs. She was starting to dance when the song began then her daddy picked her up and started twirling her around and she loved it!!! We watched it last night while we waited for Todd to get off work. She has being staying up late lately - ever since she was sick last week her schedule is all messed up. She used to always go to sleep by nine thirty or so and that was even with a few naps during the day... now she hardly naps and stays up way late and only falls asleep when you hold her... when before as soon as she started rubbing her eyes you could just lay her in bed and she would be out in a few minutes. She's is driving me nuts I wish she would sleep better.

Happy Birthday Weekend to Me!!!

Sorry but these pictures went in the exact opposite order I wanted... I always forget when I upload them...so skip down to Friday first... ok these pics here are from Saturday (my actual birthday). After work we headed down to Preston and met up with the Bee's at the Bull Bonanza (a festivity held during the fair) - the actual bull part was lame but we were able to see some old friends and spend some time with Kate and Eli.
Sadie is about 4 months older than Reese. Kate and I are set on trying to make them be friends. Sadie would give her "luvs" but I failed to get a photo. It's too bad we live an hour away and can't have more play dates.
We stayed the night in Preston and had a nice Sunday dinner with all my family to celebrate my birthday. About 3-4 different times during lunch we caught these two (my nephews) taking a wizz. They always made sure to face us whenever they did it to (maybe to prove they were big boys who didn't pee in their underwear)
Reese likes to play patty cake now. She can pat it and roll it - we haven't conquered throwing it in the oven yet - soon I'm sure.
There's that bottom lip again.. she is always pulling this little pouty face - whenever she pokes her lip out it makes her cheeks seem even chubbier - like there is no room for her lips to sit naturally on her face.. what a goof ball.
(these are some other pictures that were supposed to be under Friday - at the play ground at Ross Park after we had a nice little picnic lunch).


These pics are from Saturday before we went to the Bull Bonanza. Ethan got the Thomas the train engine set out that has the cars that drive them selves so naturally destruct-o girl was always trying to catch the cars to eat. In the photo below notice we still have blue eyes. Must have come from the grandmas and yes her hair even though longer is just as wild - there is no taming it, I've tried many products and styles...I just let fly.

FRIDAY -- so my birthday weekend (yes I said weekend) I couldn't get my actual birthday off (apparently in retail the Saturday before school starts is a pretty important day to be there) from work so we kind of spread the celebration out. Friday we didn't do anything too exciting just went to Ross Park and the Pocatello Zoo. Where you can see local animals in a make shift natural habitat. We still like to go though. It's quite the hike if you've ever been, the zoo is kind of set up on this cliff side so one half is spent climbing up this mountain and the other half is crusing down the mountain (on foot).

Reese chillin' in her stroller...(ps I got a new digital camera for my birthday and I love it... Sony DSC-W170- I was in dire need of a new one)!!!
As mentioned before we saw animals we see around this area anyways... Look how majestic the Bison is.. in his natural habitat (troth)?
One nice feature is the petting zoo -there are donkeys, cows, and goats that you can go in their pen with. Reese is really starting to like animals - and especially lazy goats that just sit there while you pull on their ears.
The donkeys didn't ever get too close - but she thought they were hilarious, maybe it was the big ears (which might be why she also finds her mom and dad hilarious).
The zoo also has this big tree house with different levels and a slide. Note: the slide is made for smaller butts.. Todd originally was the one who took her up first and I was going to stand at the bottom for photo opps while they slid down - but Todd didn't fit in the slide. It's amazing my child bearing hips did.