Baby 'Luella' has arrived!
Sammi and Mason Rich are the proud sister and brother of little 'Luella' Rich, born to Whitney and Ben on Monday, November 2nd at 1:45 p.m. She weighed in at 6 lbs. 8 oz and most of that weight was in thick black hair! She is our newest black beauty and we are so happy to welcome her into the Rich Clan. We now stand at 18 - with 4 grandsons and 2 grand daughters. LUCKY US! Congratulations! Well done!

BIG SURPRISE LETTER!

Last night at the Marriott Mountainside resort, our family met for our monthly dinner, (we call it the 'Sacred Second Sunday' dinner) and were interrupted by a knock on the door! A Marriott employee appeared with an envelope which Jim proceeded to open and read. It was on official Marriott letterhead, so we were impressed that they would send us a special 'welcome' note! Instead this is what was written...!
"We would sincerely like to thank you for your choice to stay with us at the Park City Mountainside Resort through the Marriott Vacation club! Aside from thanking you for our stay we would like to announce and congratulate the newest proud parents to be, Lance and Marianne Welch, whose little blessing is due to arrive April 5th, 2010! Congratulations and enjoy the rest of your stay here with us!

Sincerely, The Welches

My 'baby' is having a 'baby'! Just wanted you all to know how happy we are!

'SUMMER'-izing Summer '09

Where do they go, those lazy, hazy, crazy days of Summer? We began with the joyous new birth; our 5th grandchild Jaden James Rich, born to Coby and Tiffany on June 30th. From there we enjoyed some wonderful weekends at the lake, including a JEMCO family reunion and a Sternling R. and Beth P. Rich Reunion. The 'Alaska Cruise' was a highlight, along with more baby news, announced to Jim and I in the celestial room of the Jordan River Temple. Yes, Bob and Sara are expecting February 26th, 2010! Of course, first we have to hear the 'surprise' news from Ben and Whitney in November. (the surprise is the baby's sex)! Jim and I also just enjoyed a Pocock Family Reunion in Rexburg (Beth's family) where we learned the ropes of 'choke-cherry picking' and enjoyed getting to better know Jim's cousins. Now we're into September, and although Fall is not yet 'in the air', we know it's coming - as life seems to race faster and faster each year. This month will also mark the passing of our darling, sweet Jackie. We miss him and often feel him so near. Wish our eyes were more 'spiritual' to really see him, but our faith is steady in the knowledge that we will again someday! Here are a few picture highlights of the last few months!

MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE '08

Here we are on a Mexican Riviera Cruise one
year ago this month. Much has happened in
a year - but these couples are still, 'the best'!

Honey and Poppy

ALASKA OR BUST!!

Jim and I enjoyed a FABULOUS ALASKA CRUISE this July with my siblings, Marg, Brent and Janette, and Rob and Liz. We visited the ports of Skagway, Juneau (Sara Pallin's hometown) and Ketchekan. We also sailed into Glacier Bay and, on the way to Vancoucer, had a beautiful day in the 'Inside Passage'! I especially loved playing games with the sibs, the ship entertainment and trivia games, the food and time alone with Jim. Our ship, The Sapphire Princess, even made the local news, sailing into Vancouver with a 'Fin Whale' impalled on it's front!

BOATS IN PORT - ours far left!

BABY HUSKIES - SO CUTE!

We crossed over into Canada and the Yukon on our day in Skagway

The 'Sibs' in Alaska

Our mighty leader in Skagway, "OZ"!

Glacier Bay

GIRLS OUTING TO BEAR LAKE

Last week a few of my favorite ladies spend a night and day at the cabin. I still need to blog the other group picture - but here are the former Duncan girls (Chris and Suzi) and Sue Ryser. The day they left, Cynthia, Cherie, Wendy, Jan, Sandy and Jacque arrived. Love sharing with good and FUN FRIENDS!

JEMCO FAMILY REUNION '09

Congratulations to Mindy McGrath, Kim Peterson, Coby Rich and Doug Sonnenberg, JEMCO committee members, for another fabulous reunion at BEAR LAKE. We have some 80 plus family decendants of Edna Mae and John Edwin McMullin - with Barbara McMullin Patterson and Ruth Fisher McMullin the surviving matriarchs. Here are a few photos from the 'big bash'! Love to all!

'LIFT OFF' for baby JAYDEN JAMES RICH!

Welcome Jayden James Rich - born June 30th, 2009!

Coby, Tiffany and Corbin are grateful for a sweet, beautiful

healthy newbaby boy. Heaven-sent, we all feel 'baby Jayden James'

has spent a few months with his 'heavenly' brother, Jackie -

who will always be part of this wonderful family. Blessings

and love to all!

VEGAS OR BUST!!!

HOW ABOUT THESE BABES? Here we are on our first official RICH/WELCH SIX girls outing to VEGAS. We stayed in a timeshare on Tropicana, a couple of miles west of the strip. We sunned, shopped the outlets, walked and walked, chatted, saw a great variety show 'V' at Planet Hollywood, ate, chatted, slept, toured hotels, had FREE makeovers at Sophora (make up store), watched movies, even exercised a little and made some fabulous jewelry (necklaces, watch bands etc. ). I am so LUCKY to have smart SONS who married so well. Not to mention a beautiful daughter (and her 'Lance'-alot) who makes life's colors, brillant! Here's to many more fun outings!

BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL FOR JACK
This past Sunday, May 17th our family met at the Memorial Estates Cemetery to commemorate what would have been Jacks
2nd birthday, May 20th. Coby spoke and reinforced his great faith in the plan of exhaltation and eternal families. Tiffany brought
mini-cupcakes for friends and family to share. Baby blue balloons were let go heavenward with many special thoughts for our sweet
Jackie, who I'm certain is quite aware of us and longs to be close. We add our faith to Coby and Tiffany's that we will see, hold and make memories with Jackie again. He is still such a blessing in our lives and we can only imagine the great JOY we'll all have seeing each other
again. Love to a special family (Coby, Tif and Corbin). Can't wait to hold the new wee one, knowing he will have been with Jack in heaven.

TEA PARTY TIME

Darling Sammi and I attended a tea party at Gardner village last weekend, where we were
treated with a tiered tray of 'tasties' (including Engish scones with clotted creame) and dresses galore for Sammi to try on, one after the other. We had lovely china tea cups and Sammi drank pink hot chocolate. Each dress fit Sammi perfectly (age 4 must be the meen age for tea parties with Moms and Grandmas). Sammi was DELIGHTFUL and we both had a wonderful time, just the TWO OF US!

Pat's Graduation -U of U

May 8th, 2009
Congratulations to Pat who graduated with a BS in Mass Communications this week. Anyone looking for an amazing and creative mind, please contact him for employment! We're pretty proud Pat. You're a WINNER!

MASON, CORBIN AND SAMMI:

Our darling grandchildren Easter egg hunting and enjoying the joys of push-up pops
on the porch. Mason turned two in March and Corbin and Sammi will be four in
July. Oh joy and bliss.....GRANDPARENT-HOOD!

MARIANNE'S GRADUATION - UVU '09
Today our darling Marianne graduated in elementary education from UVU, first class of the University status. Lance graduated from BYU last August and the two love birds (still) have just bought a home in Sandy. We'll miss them living in the basement and all the swoons and giggles from 'down under', but are so happy they will be near by.
CONGRATS MARSIE....You did it and we're so proud

MOVING FORWARD

JACKSON BURTON RICH 5/20/07-9/ 23/08

It is impossible to describe the loss of a child, especially your own. We have survived and are moving forward with faith, but we will not be the same - ever! Jackie is deeply missed! We have all lost our innocence. We are grateful for our faith as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the promise of our family living all together again, eternally. It's amazing how his short life has touched not just our own, but countless others. Tomorrow, May 1st, 2009, a large photo of Jack will be on its way to Kenya where it will hang in a newly constructed library for some special African students who have been helped by a program called 'Koins for Kenya", instigated by our Aunt Shelley's sister, Rinda Hayes. The inscription will read, "Share your learning as he shared his love"! So our sweet blue-eyed blonde angel will forever be seen through the eyes of these dark-eyed, dark skinned children who cherrish their opportunity to learn. We love you Jackie, and know you are about the Lords work, on earth and in heaven!

Hi family: Just seeing if this works. I haven't blogged for several months and don't know what I am doing.....testing, testing!