Snow Hike with Boose

 Why have I lived in Utah all these years and not gone snow hiking before now?? Okay, I have gone snow shoeing ONE time...only once. But winter is so beautiful. I can't believe I am saying that. Let me rephrase that...winter with SNOW is so beautiful. If it's going to be cold, we might as well have snow to make it amazing to look at! This year has been a record breaking year with snow. The resorts have gotten over 400" of snow.

Anyway, Boose and I went snow hiking just close by my home at Battlecreek Falls. I've hiked this place dozens of times with my girls but it was so amazing covered in snow. The waterfall was partially frozen and the river beds too. And of course I love spending time with my sister. I love her so much. 

Lucy Friend Party

 It was Lucy's turn to invite some school friends over for movie night. Lucy had 5 friends Part of the events of the night were decorating flamingo sugar cookies and taking them to their 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Mecham. We love Mrs. Mecham! She is so great and she is obsessed with flamingos :).

Lucy had such a great time with her school friends. She lives for friendship and playing with others!

Reese Goes to the Temple

 Reese got to go to the temple for the first time in January. Cade and I and Emma and her all went to the Provo City Center Temple. It was great to be there with them. I actually haven't even been able to go with Emma so it was special to be there with both of my oldest girls. The Provo City Center tempe is absolutely beautiful. I am so grateful we live so close to many temples and can go there and feel the spirit and do work for those who have passed on. 

Family Skiing 2023

 This was technically my second season having a ski pass. Finally by mid-season I started liking it! And now I am writing this at the very end of ski season and I have to say...I am excited for next winter to do it again. At first it was just way too much work for not very much pay off. It takes a while loading up and getting ready to go, then you have to drive a while, and THEN when you are finally there it takes a while to get all the boots on and walk to the lifts. But I can say I enjoy it and think it is worth it. Emma, Reese and Nora love it and it's super fun to have a family activity that we can all do together! Next year Reese and Nora can get passes to go ski at other resorts for super cheap...but Sundance is closest and much more convenient than any other resort. My guess is we will do night passes again. It has been a super fun season together!

Lucy was a trooper. She learned how to go down the bunny hill with Dad's help. She was most nervous about getting on the magic carpet and staying on them. She was brave even though it wasn't her favorite (I know how she feels). I hope she will join us more this next year!

Daddy Fishbowl Visits

 Ever since covid we haven't really visited Dad too frequently. Mainly because he worked from home often but the last several months he doesn't hardly work from home any more (sad day) so we have visited him more often. It's been super fun. Benson and Jane look forward most to the gummies or fruit by the foots they get to eat. And Jane always asks if she can "ride the alligator" which she means elevator- haha. So cute. 

Oh, and just a random picture of us playing "sardines." One of the girls favorites lately. This was Daddy's hiding spot. Just missing Emma! Not sure she would have fit. 

Nora Boo's 9th Birthday!

 For her 9th birthday Mommy/Daddy-daugter date we took Nora out for hamburgers and then went to a really fun airbnb. Dad played some games with us before heading back home. Nora and I got to sleep over after watching "While You Were Sleeping". It was a really fun basement with a fun theater room. In the morning we went to breakfast at Gourmandise and then went home. It was super fun!

Then for her birthday morning (Sunday) Nora was unfortunately sick :(. She stayed home from church and had fun building her new Lego set. She was sad because she was also sick for Thanksgiving day and the day of the Bleak Family Christmas party. Too many sick holidays! But she was a trooper and tried to have fun in spite of her not feeling the best. 

Nora is such a sweet girl who is really finding her voice as she gets older. She is such good friends with her sisters and loves playing with them. Third grade has definitely been a whole lot better than 2nd grade and she is grateful for that! Nora is getting really good at violin and finally through a lot of hard work just finished her Suzuki book 1 with every song memorized and passed off (March 2023). Number 17 really took a lot of hard work but she pushed through all the tears and frustrations and we are so proud of her. 

Nora still loves tacos as much as ever and loves to play with her Calico Critters and Legos. She is very creative and often likes to work alone in her space.  We love Nora and watching her learn and grow!

Mom and Dad Get Away to Cali

 Cade's boss told him he had been working too hard and deserved a little break. So Cade and I Spontaneously flew to California for a few days to get away together. Grandma and Grandpa Close watched the kiddos for us. We flew out Tuesday afternoon, went to Disneyland Wednesday and California Adventure Thursday and flew back Friday morning. It was wonderful. A little too much rain and feet and legs hurt like crazy but it was all worth it. Just some time to be together and enjoy some time to be with each other and not take care of 6 kiddos the whole time. It was needed. Wednesday we were able to do everything we wanted in Disneyland and by around 5:00 pm we decided to go to the Newport temple together. It was wonderful. Always good to be in the Lord's house and remember what is more important in life and eternally. Thursday it was raining too hard to get any pictures and most of the rides were closed for the majority of the day. From about 7:00 am until noon it was pouring like crazy and California Adventure didn't have much for us to do so I finally convinced Cade to go back to the hotel instead of huddling in a restaurant with way too many people. We took a nap, then ate at Cheesecake factory and then went back to California Adventure. 

We had a wonderful time together even if there wasn't hardly any sunshine to enjoy :). 

It's a New Year!

 This year we didn't stick with our annual new years tradition and get together with the Kingsford's. Their kids had been sick so we just had our own little family celebration. Larren Kingsford always lets off the big fun fireworks...I only had little sparklers :) but the girls had fun with them in the snow. 

The year 2021 was an extremely hard year for me and 2022 was very hard for Cade. Together, with Christ's help we got through both years. I have hope that 2023 will be amazing but I have learned that through the hard things our thoughts and hopes deepen, we gain more empathy for others and learn lessons that God would have us learn. I am grateful for lessons I have learned and I have hope for the future and excitement for what this year has to offer!