What's Up...... Thursday!

Hey friends! Happy Thursday!!!!! In true Welte fashion, I'm fashionably late today for the What's Up Wednesday link up with Shay, Scheaffer, and Mel! So, let's just pretend that their link up should've been today- m'kay?!

At the end of each month I link up for What's Up Wednesday..... except I'm pretty sure I forgot last month and now I'm posting today; on a Thursday, and it's all good- right?! We answer a few questions and just let y'all know What's Up!

1. What We're Eating this Week..............  

Well, we are currently at my mom's for the week. So, I have no idea what's on her menu! We ended up eating leftovers on Monday and Tuesday night, and we've talked about going out for Mexican food one night, and tonight, we're having a good old fashion fish fry thanks to my brother! 

2. What I'm Reminiscing About....... .

My grandmother went home to Jesus last week, so there's been a lot of reminiscing about her. You can read some of that in this post. 

And this girl just turned 5! So, I've been reminiscing about how yesterday she was just a baby!!!!!

3. What I'm Loving....

So, our last day of school was Friday, and I'm loving that we are now in our first week of summer!!!!! I kicked off summer, by making us a little bucket list! Click here to see all of the things we have planned! And, just yesterday, Gretchen asked if we could go to the beach this summer, and my mom might have told her yes, so we'll see if that gets added to the bucket list!

4. What We've Been Up To......

Last week while I came home, DJ held down the fort with the girls. He packed them up and took last day of school photos for me, and then I came home so we could celebrate a little 5 year old!

5. What I'm Dreading....

We're heading to the lake this weekend, and since I'm currently at my mom's, DJ is meeting us there, which means that we'll have a 6 hour car drive back to Tulsa and I'll be doing it solo!

6. What I'm Working on...

Well, right now, I'm sitting at a Panera because my parent's don't have internet. Y'all, they live int he middle of nowhere..... and I have an online class scheduled tonight, so I came here to schedule the posts for tonights class through Cinchsare. Have y'all heard of Cinchshare? You can scheduled all of your Facebook posts down to the very minute on any Facebook groups, pages, or events! I'm thinking I may end up loving it!

7. What I'm Excited About....

Well, have I mentioned that it's summer???

And I cannot wait for our trip to the lake this weekend!

8. What I'm Watching/Reading....

So, the Bachelorette just started again on Monday, but since I'm at my mom's, I missed it. And, the finale of Nashville comes on tonight, so I'm hoping I can catch it. I've read three books this month- Me Before You, The Apartment, and another Danielle Steel book, but the title has left my mind at the moment. 

9. What I'm Listening To....

At this very moment? Elevator music at Panera. 

10. What I'm Wearing....

These dresses from Old Navy, have been on repeat lately, but it's summer time, so any time I can wear a comfy dress, I'm game. 

11. What I'm Doing This Weekend...

Hopefully some of this...... except for at the lake instead of the pool.

12. What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month....

It's my one year oilaversery in June, so I'm planning some amazing fun all month long!!! 

I'm also looking forward to long, lazy days at the pool with the girls, maybe a little trip to Branson, and signing the girls up for the summer reading program!

13. What Else Is New....

Nothing. I'm just glad summer is here!!!

14. What I'm Looking Forward to this Summer....

I said in my "bucket-list" post that I wanted to do lots of traveling and exploring this summer! The girls are finally at an age where we can skip naps every once in a while, or where they'll be okay sleeping in the car for a little bit. I can't wait to get out and about with them!

Timehop.....

So, last week, I was scrolling through Facebook and my "On this Day" popped up. I thought it would be really fun to look back at some of my favorite memories from that week- May 16-20. 

Last year, on May 16th, we were on a family Branson trip!!!

And the year before, Megan slept in her big girl bed for the very first time!!! 

And back in 2010, we were hanging out in Chicago. 

And on Michigan Ave! Gretchen was also introduced to the American Girl doll store! 

On May 17th of last year, we were spending a day in Branson at Silver Dollar City! Uncle Matthew and Addy bonded while we rode rides! 

And in 2013, we had just finished setting up Adalyn's nursery!

But the year before that, I wasn't even pregnant, and I was spending a weekend away with my BFF!

Back in 2012 (May 18), we headed to Indianapolis for DJ's CSVA convention. 

And these girls were the best of friends! 

And look at Megan's curls!!!! (and her dee-dee too!)

We had Megan's 1 year pictures taken while we were in Indianapolis! 

And then we made it home for Gretchen's dance recital! I cannot believe I cut off all of her hair! 

In 2014, the girls were kicking it up at soccer!

And we were sitting back to watch Gretchen perform on stage! 

Her very first dance recital on May 20th! 

It was so fun looking back at all of these special memories!!! I love time-hopping! 

Last Day of School!

You guys, summer is here and we could not be more thrilled!! We're kicking off our summer vacation by spending a week in Arkansas! It's not under the circumstances that we wanted, but we're thrilled to be here with family and making the most of it! 

Last Friday was our last day of school, so I thought I'd round up the week's events! 

On Monday,  we were certain that Friday could not come soon enough! Gretchen came in to my room Monday afternoon and told me that she didn't feel well. She had a little bit of a temperature and our school nurse just asked me to keep an eye on her. And then, Megan fell asleep on the way home from school..... and so did Gretchen. Sure enough, Gretchen's fever spiked, so she had to miss Tuesday. DJ and I split the day home with her and I tried to get all of my work finished because at the time, I knew my grandmother wasn't doing well. 

Wednesday morning, Gretchen was feeling better so we headed off to school. 

She had her award assembly, and received two awards! 

Our school has a character trait word every two weeks and student's that display that character trait our chosen to have lunch with the principal. Gretchen was chosen for "compassion" and it melts my heart that she is sweet and caring to her friends and classmates. 

She also received a music award! I'm so proud of her! 

DJ was able to come for the awards assembly. 

And I say it all the time, but I'm so thankful that she's able to attend my school, so we never miss out on these moments together! 

We're so proud of our 2nd grader!!!! 

After the assembly, DJ and I went to lunch, and that's when we found out that my grandmother wasn't expected to make it, and I decided that I needed to head home to be with her and my family. 

That afternoon, Megan's school called and let me know that she had a fever! Thankfully, DJ was more than willing to hold down the fort, and Gretchen made it to school on Thursday for her Super Kids Day, but Megan went to the football offices with DJ, while Adalyn was at preschool. 

All was well by Friday morning with the girls, so they all headed off for their last day of school! 

Addy on her last day in the 2 year old class at her preschool! I cannot believe she's going to be in the P-3 program! 

Meggie on her last day of Pre-K!!! This girl will be joining Gretchen and I next year!!! 

And, Gretchen's last day of 2nd grade! 

And just for fun, a little first day and last day comparison for you! 

Gretchen- August 2015 and now, May 2016. 

Megan- August 2015, and now, May 2016. 

Adalyn- August 2015, and now, May 2016.

I cannot believe how much they have grown and how much they've learned this year!!!! 

Gretchen is learning multiplication, and she adds and subtracts fluent! She loves to read and is reading on a 5th grade reading level! Girl can finish a chapter book in a day! She's not the best with spelling, but she tries! She's made friends this year and her personality has blossomed and she's matured so much. 

Megan can write her name, upper and lower case letters, and can count to 20. She is learning basic addition, and she can spell several of her friends names. She is learning basic sight words, and can rhyme.  She is a little nut, and full of personality- she's either hates being the center of attention or she's outgoing and vivacious!

Addy Pearl can count to 3 and she knows all of her colors. She can recognize the letter "A" for her name, and can spell her name "Addy". She also recognizes the letter "M" for her friend at school, Makenna. Her ballet baby and her thumb are still her most favorite things!

The Best Things In Life.....

Today is an exceptionally difficult day for our family. On May 19, 2016 at 6:11 pm, my grandmother entered in to the gates of Heaven. 

It was truly a beautiful homecoming in that she was surrounded on this side of with many of her family members, and she was greeted in to Jesus' arms with many family members on that side as well. 

How miraculous is it knowing that she is now resting in the arms of our Father above?!

Today, I will join my family in saying our final goodbyes to the most inspirational woman I have ever met. 

From the time I was a little girl, I always remember my grandmother being a constant present in my life. For some reason, my earliest memory of my grandmother is when my mother sat my brother and I down and told us that she and my father were getting a divorce. I was about 6 at the time, and I just remember my grandmother being there too. From then on, she was a constant present. Whether it was walking down her driveway every day after school, helping her in the garden, or picking strawberries in the strawberry field, we were just always together. She taught me how to be a lady and how to be a friend. And looking back now, I know that she also taught me how to be a mother. 

I will always remember shelling purple hull peas on her back porch, making homemade rolls in her kitchen (and sneaking bites of the raw dough), picking a switch from the peach trees in her backyard, and the time she washed my mouth out with soap from when I called my brother a "butt-hole" and she overheard me. I remember our trips to Colorado, the time she took me deer hunting, and when she joined us on our first trip to Florida. 

My grandmother exuded class and elegance, but she had a flashy side to her as well. Her crazy came out when she was with her closest friends and family. 

I will never forget when I told my family I was pregnant with Gretchen. My grandmother was less than thrilled, which was not the reaction I was expecting! In fact, she offered me money in exchange to not have any more children! Ha! 

When Gretchen was born, I had to return to work shortly after she was born. Since many daycare centers wouldn't take babies before 6 weeks, my grandmother saved the day, and lived with us for a month while I went to work. She would give Gretchen daily baths and rock her more often than I wanted! And when DJ moved to Tulsa, leaving Gretchen and I behind, when I was 7-9 months pregnant with Megan, my grandmother was there once again during the last month of my pregnancy, just in case I went in to labor early. 

Our annual Branson trips were her favorite! We went every Thanksgiving, and my favorite was when we celebrated her 70th birthday there. 

She was always up for an adventure! When my mom planned a 30th birthday cruise for my sister in law and myself, my grandma tagged along too! 

She sometimes cursed like a sailor and she could bargain a deal any time. 

She taught me that furniture could never be arranged too many times. In fact, i'm fairly certain that John the Baptist has moved her furniture around at least 5 times and will do so a half a dozen times more before she has everything in its rightful place. 

When in doubt, fix it with hot glue. One time, she reupholstered an entire bench of mine using just hot glue. 

One can never have too many rings, but please wear a simple necklace.

And even though she tried to talk us in to not having any more children, she loved them when they came along. 

The best things in life, I learned from my grandmother. 

Like, how to make her homemade rolls. Thankfully, I have the recipe. 

And that family is the most important. It doesn't matter what happens, family should always be there. She told me all of the time, that I should be nice to my brother, because one day, he'll be all that I have. I'm so thankful for that piece of wisdom. 

Today, we lay her to rest. She is at peace and she is rejoicing with the angels in Heaven. Our time together was short. We had 33 years, but I could certainly use 33 more.