Family Reunions

This week, we had a surprise little family reunion when my grandparents, aunt, and cousin showed up at my apartment unexpectedly (they did try to call first and couldn't reach me, but I'm glad they came by anyway). I was so excited to see them all, and so was Lacey. So, at the risk of making Grandma Welker very jealous, here are a couple pictures.

Here's Lacey with Aunt Sandra (that's Lacey's GREAT Aunt Sandra). It's hard to get that little monkey to sit still for 2 seconds!

And here's Lacey with Great-grandma and -grandpa Simmons. The best part was the hanger that Grandpa is holding. At least, Lacey thought so.

Lacey was SO sad to see our visitors go. But we got to see them again on Saturday for the Simmons family reunion, which happens every July 24th. That's my grandpa and his brothers and sisters, and their kids, and their kids, and their kids, etc.

Lacey and Aunt Lorrie. I was amazed at how long Lacey sat in her lap. She certainly won't sit in MY lap for that long!

And Lacey FINALLY sat in Grandma Simmons's lap long enough to get a picture.

Lacey loved playing with cousin Melissa, especially cousin Melissa's necklace. It was the coolest thing! And, when Lacey wanted crackers, it was to Melissa she went for help getting them out of the package. And I don't blame her, cuz Melissa is one of the sweetest people alive.

Eventually, she found the croquet set that no one was using and started throwing the balls around. I was okay with it until she started throwing them like bowling balls between the tables where everyone was standing. Then it was time for a new game.

Cheers, and happy Pioneer Day!

Fourth of July

I'm finally blogging about our Fourth of July weekend. It was cool to have a 3-day holiday for the Fourth. It was great to have Daddy home with us for three days, and we had a nice time hanging out with family and friends. Saturday we didn't do anything to celebrate except chill at home, and I watched the fireworks at Stadium of Fire from the kitchen window. I had to practically sit in the sink to do it, but it was fun. Sunday evening, we headed over to Phil's brother's house for a family barbecue. And here is where the pictures begin (and thank you to Grandpa Bobo for sharing his pictures with us).

The two babies and babies' mamas enjoying some dinner.

Here's some of those pictures that we'll look at and wonder which baby belongs to whom. Here's Phil with Lacey's cousin Mark.

And Lacey sitting with her Aunt Sarah.

Saturday I got Lacey some "Mega Blocks" at a yard sale. She really loves playing with them--and here, she was pulling out all the blue ones. I guess blue is her favorite color!

Monday afternoon, we got Lacey a new front-facing car seat. She was a little dazed when we put her in the first time, but she really likes it.

Monday evening, we visited some friends--Phil's mission companion and family. Phil lived with them for a few months before we got married. Here, Lacey is playing with her books with Travis.

And here's, she's playing with an empty water bottle with Marilyn. She played with that thing for ages.

The youngins played some wiffle ball. Lacey wanted to join in.

So she went to catch with Daddy.

And here she's stealing Camee's cake. Just walked up, stole the fork, and started eating. I was actually impressed with her fork skills.

And that was our Independence Day holiday!

Sewing project

Here's my first sewing project for Lacey is completed! It only took me a couple days, but it was the second one that I made. The first one I made for another little girl, and it took me a lot longer. I think this one turned out pretty well. Granted, it was a really simple pattern. Lacey makes it much cuter than it really is, too.

More comings and goings

This weekend was an eventful one for us. At least, by our standards it was. And Saturday was really low key. But that evening, we decided to get away from the heat a bit and head up the canyon a ways. We ended up at Nunn's park. We grabbed a pizza on the way and just enjoyed being outside and together. And eating pizza. Yummm.

Here's Lacey eating her pizza. I took the pepperoni off cuz I didn't think she'd like it. Then she found it in the box and ate it (as you see here) and looked for more. Guess Mom doesn't know what she's doing.

And after we ate, there was no keeping her still. She was saying hi to everybody she passed and exploring a much as she could.

Sunday morning, we headed up to the airport to visit with my parents and younger brother, who were heading back to SC and had a three hour layover. It sure was nice to see them, even if it was just for a couple hours. I think Grandma was in seventh heaven. Lacey was content to sit in Grandma's lap--until she got over her weird shyness and just wanted to run around. Then Grandma was content to chase Lacey around. Grandpa was pretty happy to see Lacey, too.


After visiting at the airport, we said goodbye to my family and headed to downtown Salt Lake City to check out temple square. We went and looked at the new scale model of the Salt Lake temple in the south visitor's center (you can see more about that here). I thought that it was pretty cool.

Sorry I'm too lazy to turn the picture the right way now that it's already here. But here's Lacey on her first trip to temple square, in front of the temple.
And here we are together enjoying the flowers. It's weird to see me in a picture. I'm usually the one behind the camera...

After temple square, we went to visit Grandmother Bobo, who fed us lunch (thank you, Grandmother Bobo), and we had a nice visit together. I'm so glad that two Lacey's grandparents live so close, and that we got to see the other two, even though I wish they could have stayed longer.

Summertime!

It's finally summer! We're having fun playing outside and eating corn on the cob and cantaloupe. Phil finished his freshman English class (hooray!) and is now on to bigger and better things (Information Systems 201 or something). Maybe someday he'll get a break! Lacey and I hang around all day. She's walking like a pro now, and getting into EVERYTHING. She's busy busy busy all day long. She would literally go until she drops--except she won't ever drop.

Speaking of summertime, we took Lacey swimming for the first time on Saturday.

Here she is before going into the pool.

Here she is after going in the pool and screaming uncontrollably. She stopped screaming right before this picture was taken. Notice the tears on her cheeks. I'm making a funny face cuz the sun was pretty bright.

Eventually I got her to sit on the stair with me. She still wasn't too thrilled with it, though. I hope that she'll get used to it before the end of summer, cuz I love to swim!

Saturday and Sunday at the park

Earlier this month, Phil's sister-in-law and her three boys came to Utah for a visit. It was so much fun to get together with family for the afternoon. Phil had so much fun playing with the boys.

I think that this is the first time ever that I've seen Phil throwing the football around.

And here they're playing tag on the play ground equipment. Tall Uncle Phil looks a little out of place in his black getup.

Going down the slide.

I'm not sure what's going on here.

Finger sword fighting with Eli.

Tossing the football with the boys.

And here's my beautiful angel with dorito dust all over her face and fingers. Yum!

Playing with cousin Lynn.

Sunday morning, we went down to Goshen to have breakfast and church with Samantha, Lynn, and a bunch of boys. Lacey was running around with seven boys, (and a little dog named Chloe) and loved every minute of it. Her favorite thing to do was climb up the stairs. We don't have stairs for her to practice on, so she goes for them whenever she sees them.

After church, we made our way up to Salt Lake City to This is the Heritage Place park monument, built to commemorate the first company of Mormon pioneers to enter the Salt Lake Valley, which includes several of Lacey's ancestors.


Lacey and Daddy.
A couple cousins being silly for Lacey.

The relief sculpture with Lacey's ancestors--Lorenzo Dow Young (the man behind Grandpa, brother to Brigham Young--Uncle Brigham is riding in the carriage), and Lorenzo Sobieski Young (the little boy with the dog). A bundle of cousins and such.

Lacey and her "twin" cousin Mark.
Lorenzo Dow Young is Lacey's great-great-great-great-grandfather.
Lorenzo S. Young is Lacey's great-great-great-grandfather.

Tarleton Lewis is Lacey's great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. He was also the first bishop of Salt Lake City (before it was divided into smaller wards).

Memorial Day Picnic

We celebrated Memorial Day this year with a little Welker cousin gathering. We had a lovely picnic at a park and enjoyed spending time together.

Here's the gang. Or most of it.

These two little munchkins were the life of the party. They're twin cousins (or second cousins, really), born just a couple weeks apart. It was so fun to see them interacting with their very different personalities--both very big personalities in very little bodies!

Lacey loved the bubbles. It was so much fun!

Reese wasn't thrilled about the grass. But what a pair of cute monkeys!