Pumpkin Carving

Our Halloween festivities kicked off this past weekend with our first annual pumpkin carving party with the family. We had such a great time carving these amazing pumpkins. Claire had help from her uncles and her daddy. Uncle Tommy and Claire carved the cat. Uncle E carved the Mickey as a momento of our Dinseyland trip and Daddy carved the amazing Thomas the Train. We had big bowls of chicken chili (courtesy of Tom and Carla) and it was delish!!! Throw in a few beers and some spiked apple cider and we had ourselves a little party. (yes, claire took her skirt off...the girl really likes to not wear pants/skirts at home.)

Welker Reunion

Doug Welker....my grandpa. My dad was also Doug Welker but the family always called him Scotty for his middle name.

All of the Welker grand kids and our kids. We are in the middle. Eric is kneeling with Claire.

Abigail Welker....does she remind you of anyone?? haha

Great Grandma and Paige

 In early October I attended my first Welker Family Reunion. It was here in Gilbert!! We totally lucked out. The Welkers have always been Arizona based. My dad was born and raised in AZ.  It was pretty amazing to meet all of these Welkers and to be related to all of them! It was wild actually. I didn't even realize my dad had all these cousins. I could tell which cousins really had memories of my dad as a kid by the way they would take my arm or hug me. They would get that look in their eyes remembering the special person he was to them and now seeing his daughter standing in front of them. I have to say that being with all these Welkers really got to me emotionally. I am usually very used to my dad not being around. It's been 11 years after all. You just never know when you will feel hit with an emotion and this day I was feeling  a huge sense of loss without my dad, my uncle, and my grandpa being there. Our little table was a bit smaller than the rest. I have no doubt their spirit was truly there that day and that is what I was feeling.

I got to spend a couple of days with my Grandma and aunt too. It was nice to see Great Grandma and the girls together. They love her....especially Paige. It's so great to have these memories! She is the best great grandma.

There are tons more pics floating out there that I hope to get my hands on someday! There were lots of cameras snapping away that day.

8 months

8 months old! My big Paigey girl. We have been lazy bones around this house since returning from Disney and fall break. It was back to school this past week which we love and back to dance class. Just doing the usual around here. Nothing much to report but these cute pics of P.

DISNEYLAND

We had a fun trip to Disney last week. Last Christmas the Cox family aunts and uncles gave us a letter, a book of classic Disney stories, and a mickey mouse t-shirt for Claire. The letter said that when Claire turned 4 the fam wanted to help make a trip to Disneyland possible for us. I was pregnant at the time and of course I went into the ugly cry. This is a trip we wanted to take someday but with a baby and all the expenses it wasn't the time for us this year....until they made it possible! My sis in law flew in town from Chicago and took care of Paige for us. We missed her but it was nice to make this trip just about Claire and be free to do what we wanted without baby restraints.

All I can say about Disney is that it is quite an experience. There are moments of pure joy and thrill and moments of bickering, stress, and exahustion. It can quickly go from the happiest place on earth to the crankiest place on earth (us adults were crankier than claire). There was a strange heat wave and the temps got up to 104 degrees. Not ideal for standing in long lines but we did it and we survived!! It was truly a trip to remember. Claire's face when she would see a character was as exciting as believing in Santa. It's magic! In 4-5 years we will go back (by then we should feel brave enough to go back and brave the crowds again. lol) with Paige and Claire and share in the magic of Disney all over again. I hope Disney always remains a magical place for the girls. My dad took me to Disneyworld in FL when I was 10 years old and I still think about that trip as one of my favorite childhood memories.

WE HEART MINNIE MOUSE!!

Da da

7 months joined at the hip and this is the word she says! LOL! It's pretty darn cute I must admit. Claire said mama first so this has made Daddy very happy.

It's official, she's 4!!

There were cars there were trains and lots of cake! Claire is officially 4!!! We enjoyed a great week with donut holes at school, cupcakes with some bff's, and our annual family birthday party with lots of aunts and uncles! I have been so choked up this past week over Claire turning 4. She evokes such a complex set of emotions in me because she is so unique. She is smart, witty, and kind. I am so so proud of her.

Happy Birthday Claire. September 29, 2007 at 9:50pm you changed our lives and made me a mommy. I love you baby girl.