17 Years Old Already???

It seems like just yesterday she looked like the picture on the cake. Hard to believe that 17 years have passed! We celebrated Alyssa's birthday with a few of her friends, Grandma and Ted, Amanda, Lane and Rylan, Heather, Shawn, Connor and Lexi. Alyssa had softball practice so she was late to her OWN birthday party! But she is so carefree and easy going that it didn't even phase her. Just look at that smile! How can you NOT love that smile? Alyssa is so NOT big on being the center of attention. It almost seems to embarrass her but that is a parent's goal in life anyway. She just makes it easier for us.

Alyssa never really lets us know what she wants for her birthday so it is a challenge to shop for her. This year she received Alpine speakers for her car since about 1 week after receiving her car she blew out a speaker in the back. :) However, she is always happy with whatever she gets. I might try and get her a box of rocks next year just to see the reaction on her face. She would probably just laugh! That's just the kind of person she is and we truly love her for that. Unfortunately though, because she is so easy going, she probably gets less attention than her sister sometimes but ONLY because she is less demanding than her sister. Alyssa is so low maintenance and Kylie is so, well, so Kylie! 'Nuf said.

Alyssa??? Alyssa who?

Yes, Alyssa does still live here and we love her lots! She is just not into letting me take her picture. I am hoping to get one soon of her and her car to post. Both are still doing well. I just have to be patient because she does NOT like her picture being taken nor does she fall for my pathetic attempts to trick her into taking her picture. She's smarter than me most of the time but I will not admit that to her so PLEASE keep it a secret.

Alyssa is leaving us on Saturday to go play softball in Oklahoma and to watch the softball World Series. I didn't know there was such a thing but she is excited and it should be fun for her. Wish we could go with her but we can't so she'll have to have fun without her family. We (well, mostly Alyssa) have been busy raising money so she can go to Oklahoma. She sold fries and tater tots (donated by Simplots-thank you everybody who bought some or donated!) and had a yard sale last weekend so I think she is ready to go. She is still working at Mickey D's but has not had many hours because of softball. She has plans to play softball through the summer so she will stay busy. I PROMISE to post pictures of her soon-She is AWESOME!!!

No more middle school????? Aaaagggghhhhh!!!

What happened to my baby girl? She is all grown up...almost. Tonight was Kylie's "promotion" ceremony from middle school to high school. Fortunately for me, the so-called ceremony was not too long nor was it very sappy so I did not cry. I was worried all day that I would cry tonight as it is sad realizing that I will now have 2 girls in high school. I'm still wondering where the time has gone since the girls were babies just yesterday-I swear. Okay, enough about me being an emotional mess right now. Kylie was not at all excited for the ceremony but she did NOT fall and that is a good thing since she was wearing her BFF's stilettos. She may have been a little wobbly but she did not fall. Kylie was mainly concerned about the dance after the ceremony. Jim and I went to find her afterwards and she shoved her 'certificate' into my hands and said they (Jordan, Steffi and Merenci) were going to practice telling the boys "NO" they did not want to dance. As if NO was not bad enough, they added a little foot stomp to the end. Of course, I secretly laughed but told them that was not nice and they should just dance if asked.

When I picked Kylie up afterwards and asked her if she turned down any requests, she said that she didn't. It turns out that the only boy that asked her to dance (slow dance) was a boy that she likes anyway. I cannot divulge his name or I would lose her trust so hopefully you will understand. This special boy asked her to dance not once but TWICE. I think it is safe to say that she had a great time.

Jim wants to sneak her phone away from her and leave a message on her voicemail letting the boys know that they should stop calling because her dad is not afraid to go back to prison.

Here are just a few more pics from this evening...

No More "Brace Faces" in this house...

Yeah! Kylie and I both had our braces removed yesterday! It was an exciting day for us. We both went to the orthodontist and knew that it could happen but were prepared to keep them on another couple of months IF we had to. Kylie wore hers for 2 years and I wore mine 2 months shy of 2 years. We were competing near the end to see who would get theirs off first. That kept us wearing our rubber bands like we were supposed to. Of course, I had the age thing against me. WAH!!!

Kylie is so excited to have them off before the last day of middle school and BEFORE big time high school. Me, I was just excited to be able to floss again like a regular person-not as though I was sewing the biggest project of my life! She thinks I'm completely whacked for being excited about flossing. Funny how we take for granted the "simple" things in life. 'Nuf said for now...hopefully more exciting post next time.

Mexican Chicken Lasagna

Thought I should take a moment and make a quick post as I have been slacking with the updates. I wanted to share a recipe that I made and LOVED. It is actually a recipe I found from Pampered Chef but I made a few changes. It is so easy, yummy and fast to make even for a weeknight dinner. Try it!

1/2 cup lightly packed, fresh cilantro leaves
2 pkgs (8 oz each) cream cheese
4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, Co-Jack or whatever cheese you like
1 large onion, chopped
1 can (28 oz) enchilada sauce
12 (6-in.) corn tortillas
1 rotisserie chicken (deboned & shredded)

Place cream cheese in microwave for 30-45 seconds or until very soft. Chop cilantro leaves and add to cream cheese. Add 3 cups of the shredded cheese and mix well. Chop onion; set aside. Spread enchilado sauce over bottom of 13"x9" pan. Pour remaining enchilada sauce in mixing bowl; set aside.

To assemble lasagna, dip four tortillas (or enough to cover bottom of pan) in the enchilada sauce and place on bottom of pan, overlapping as necessary. Scoop half of the cream cheese mixture over the tortillas (small ice cream scoop works well) and spread. Top with 1/3 of chicken and one-third of the chopped onions. Repeat layer one time. Dip remaining four tortillas into sauce and arrange over second layrer. Top with remaining chicken and onion. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over lasagna and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Enjoy!

WE WILL MISS YOU PEEK!!!

Well, the day finally came for us to say, "Good-bye for now" to Grandma Peek. Last Wednesday, February 18, all four of us took Peek to the vet. We hugged her and kissed her as she left this earth to wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge. If you are a pet lover (and who couldn't be?), this is the poem about the Rainbow Bridge:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.
Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

STEELERS WIN 6TH SUPER BOWL!!!

It was a good game. A close game but fortunately for us and Steeler fans everywhere, it ended well! This is a BIG day for the Pocatello Welkers, especially Jim! He is sooooo happy that I cannot even describe his happiness, almost annoying really. (Doesn't LULU look thrilled?) Heather, Shawn, Lexie, Connor, Mom and Ted came over to join in the fun. Heather and family left before the game was over though because Shawn had to go to work. They left when the Steelers were up big and it looked as though they would easily win. But that changed rather quickly! Alyssa, Mom and I were all nervous upstairs while Jim was yelling downstairs with Ted. Poor Ted. We could hear the screaming upstairs so I can only imagine what it was like sitting in the same room with Jim. Kylie was also downstairs on the computer updating her MY SPACE to annoy her former "boyfriend."

I think of all us had our doubts that the Steelers would win at that point but Jim said he never stopped believing! Jim and Ted celebrated the win with shots of tequila and then Ted left us with Jim. We all have to go to work and/or school tomorrow except Jim. Tomorrow will be a holiday for him and I will be surprised if he can even speak because right now, he will not SHUT UP! Yes, I know, the Steelers have won their 6th Super Bowl. I guess he thinks we missed the game or something??? Alyssa needed to run to Walgreens to buy computer paper for her homework that she just now started so I made Jim go along. He might stop in at Randy's to gloat a little to his co-workers. I HOPE by the time they return, his voice is gone or at the very least, he is ready to go to bed. I am THANKFUL for ear plugs and GLAD the Super Bowl is only once a year...I don't know if my heart could take much more.

Thank you and congrats STEELERS, World Champions 2008-2009!