Thumbs Up!

Last weekend we took a trip to Flagstaff to see family. Our sister in law, Gayle, was just diagnosed with breast cancer. We made the trek out to be together with family before her surgery that took place yesterday. She had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, all of which went well. The greatest gift is that her lymph nodes came back clear which is a good indicator that they "got" it all. She's amazing... she's such a rock. I want to be like her when I grow up :) While we were there we got to introduce little Sadie to the family, play together, celebrate our sister-in-law, Ruth's birthday, see a piano recital, and just hang out. It was perfect.

before we hit the snow of Flag, we spent a night in Palm Springs

"Nice to meet you, Baby Sadie William!"

We had fun playing in the snow

Our snow friends, Jean and Pierre

The world's most patient cat, Sneakers

Happy Birthday, Ruth

"When you're a little older you can have cake, too."

On Friday night Gayle had a surprise visit from her nursing staff at Flagstaff Medical Center. Gayle is a labor and delivery nurse... and it's clear she's made a huge impact on the ladies that she works with. Another cool thing about our family is that both of our sister in laws are nurses and get to work together at the hospital... how fun to work together with your sister... kinda like someone else I know :)

Counter Time

Sweet Nieces

Message From Sadie William

I'm taking matters into my own hands. My mom is neglecting our blog. She says she's busy taking care of my sister and me, working, and trying to take care of the house, so I thought I would share you what we have been up to. I'm almost 3 months old! Can you believe it? I am all smiles and my mommy and daddy think I'm a really easy baby. My favorite activities are sleeping, eating and hanging out. My Rosie is a great big sister. She had some adjusting to do, but we're getting into our groove and having a lot of fun. Next week we are headed to Arizona to hangout in Sedona and meet my aunties and uncles and cousins. I can't wait.

Love, Sadie William

Daddy and I like watching the Olympics together. My favorite event has been the speed skating.

My sister has been determined to pick out her own outfits each morning. Mommy says she's swallowing her pride and letting Rosie wear whatever she wants.

Here I am hanging out with my cousin, Henry. We're both new to the world. He likes the same things that I do.

We had a visit from my Great Papa Welch. He just turned 91! Happy Birthday, Great Papa! That's My Papa next to him. I'm named after him. I think he's pretty great.

My daddy went to Minnesota on business and he brought us back these great hats!

Carrying the Torch

We are so excited for the Olympics that we can hardly stand it. We LOVE watching the Olympics. in 2008 after the closing ceremony in Beijing I, (heather) went through a little mini-depression. I love watching the Olympians, hearing the background stories, learning about other countries, and cheering for the underdog. This morning we watched Matt Lauer run through the streets of Vancouver carrying the torch. Rosie decided that this looked like a lot of fun and decided to carry her own torch through our living room, running her "loop." Of course, mommy and daddy clapped loud and cheered wildly as she ran.

Getting ready for Daddy to pass the "torch."

(notice what fabulous running shoes the pretty, pretty princess slippers make)

Carrying the torch!

Let's Go to the MOVIES!!

"The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day...."

-The Cat in the Hat

Do you remember your first movie? I think mine was, Annie with my parents and sister in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Ron remembers seeing, The Rescuers in the theater. One of my good friends, Brieann's first movie was a double feature of Goonies and E.T at a drive-in theater. She remembers being in her PJs with her 2 sisters in the back of their station wagon with a huge bowl of homemade popcorn that her mom had brought. Is there a better picture of childhood than that one?

We had a day of blessed rain yesterday and decided to take Miss Rosie to her first full length feature film in the theater. The Princess and the Frog was the film we chose, it was that or The Book of Eli :)

We got Rosie the smallest bag of popcorn that they sell, but even so it seemed about as big as she is. We nestled in our row with Rosie in the middle and mommy and daddy on either side as to intercept any scary moments in the movie. She sat motionless and watched with wide eyes for about an hour and then got bored. When the lights came up, none of us were in our original seat... and I can't really recall all of the details of the movie... but we had an adventure. Last night on the way home Rosie asked if we could go to the princess movie again tomorrow, so I'd say she had a good time.

Christmas 2009

We finally got all of the Christmas decorations put away last night. Things look a little bare around here today but it feels good to have it all down. I pondered the birth of Christ in a new way this season... probably because we welcomed our own little bundle almost 3 weeks ago. I thought about Mary, miraculously hosting this pregnancy, far away from her home, going through the labor process in a stable surrounded by animals and assisted by Joseph who had probably never stood by as a midwife before. That's bravery. She must have been terribly frightened by the whole thing. What an incredible paradox for Mary and Joseph to raise their savior. What a weight Mary and Joseph must have felt holding Jesus... but yet he was fully human, which makes me wonder if he went through the terrible 2's. Did he refuse a nap and shout for Mary from his bed as my own 2 year old is doing at this very instant? Did he stamp his foot and say no when Mary asked him to put his jammies in the dirty clothes? I wonder.....

Here With Us

It's still a mystery to me

That the hands of God could be so small

How tiny fingers reaching in the night

Were the very hands that measured the sky

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King

You're here with us

It's still a mystery to me

How his infant eyes have seen the dawn of time

How his ears have heard an angel's symphony

But still Mary had to rock her savior to sleep

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King

You're here with us

We had an incredible Christmas.

We celebrated Christmas Day in our own house, which we have never done before. My parents joined us on Christmas Eve and stayed the night, and Ron participated in the 11:00pm service. We had a great time. We celebrated Boxing Day with the Hunts, complete with "Nana and Papa Wales" visiting from the UK, celebrated Ron's 39th birthday, and headed to Lake Arrowhead for a few days all together. Take a look at our pictures!

Ron and Rosie look for Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve after the church service.

Christmas morning brought:

a stroller, baby bed and high chair for Rosie's doll

new books to be read.....

a new jersey....

a traditional trumpet solo......

that needed a little choreography....

homemade bagels...

a treat for the mutt.....

all while Miss Sadie slept.

and slept.....

and slept.

Ron's birthday morning

Yes, I know my daughter looks a little like Joe Dirt

December birthday celebration in Arrowhead

The cousins!

New Year's dinner

Ron and Simon rocking Sadie and Henry

Getting to Know You

"....... Getting to know you

Getting to know all about you

Getting to like you

Getting to hope you like me."

-from The King and I