Christmas in warm AZ….and Calls to Our Missionaries!

We enjoyed Christmas in Prescott, Arizona! The kids always enjoy spending time together and play so well with each other. Santa delivered again! Reese got a "Little Einsteins" rocket ship with characters. Emma got an Octonauts play set. On Christmas morning we drove to Phoenix to see the extended family. HOWEVER, this year we didn't have to leave until 9:30 to Phoenix! In years past, we would all start Christmas morning before 6 am so we could be out the door to the Christmas breakfast by 7:30. It was a much more enjoyable Christmas morning :).

This year was such a treat though!!! We got to talk to both of our missionaries! Not only talk to them but see them as well. Technology is amazing. We had family members in 6 different places around the world and we could all see and talk to each other at the same time! So incredible. Boose and Jordan are both doing amazing and it was so great to see them. At the end of our conversations as a family we ended with family prayer and I was again reminded what amazing people I have been blessed to call family. I have enjoyed growing up with these incredible people who have helped me become a better person. I am so grateful for people who help me to be more like Christ and who love me for who I am.

It was a wonderful Christmas!

Cade had some great man time with his uncle Tom and Dad. They went out shooting while us girls hung out at the house. Tamara and Aunt Kelly hung out all day after Christmas but of course I didn't get a single picture with all of us!

Cade went to the Phoenix Suns game with the Egans who now live in Arizona. These guys are definitely like family. 

Ashur's birthday is on Christmas, but to make it a little more special and his own day he had an Octonauts birthday party the Saturday after Christmas this year. Tara went out of her way to make it such a fun birthday party! The kids loved the games. I helped make the cupcakes but Tara did the toppers (and everything else for the party). It turned our super cute!

Emma's Dance Recital

Emma is so much fun to watch at her dance recitals! She knows exactly what she is doing and loves being on that stage. Gma and Gpa Bleak can to cheer her on and then we went and got lunch afterwards. She loves going to dance class every week and we are really proud of how hard she works each and every week there.

Reese's 3rd Birthday

My spunky, fun three year old! We had a little minnie mouse birthday for Reese this year. She LOVES Minnie Mouse, but I forgot how much she doesn't enjoy cake, so the cupcakes were just for looks I guess :). She got lots of Minnie Mouse presents and her favorite…Minnie shoes from Grandma and Grandpa Bleak. Her first set of hight heels. She wore them until her heels were hurting :).

An update on Reese:
- She wakes up before 7 am but has learned that she has to be very patient and lay on Mom and Dad's bed until 7:00 before she gets her beloved cereal in the morning. And cereal is one of her absolute favorite things.
- She LOVES playing dress-up and usually does that immediately after breakfast.
- Reading is a favorite thing of hers and can look at books for hours
- She has been without bottles and binkys for a while now, but needs to take her pink and green blanket around with her everywhere.
- Cuddling is one of her favorite things to do. Especially after nap time and when she is sad.
- Has been taking a music class with mom and Nora and loves it.

We love our energetic Reese!

Thanksgiving with the Bleak's

Thanksgiving week was wonderful! I actually didn't get any pictures of Thanksgiving day. Kristen and Andrew were with us the weekend before Thanksgiving so that's when we did more together as a family. Most of us went to the museum at Thanksgiving Point and the kiddos had a great time! It's so fun to see them all growing. Thanksgiving day was pretty quiet and small this year, but still wonderful. We ate wonderful food and played lots of games.

At the museum...

We had a (early) Christmas party at Nathan and Steph's house when Kristen and Andrew could join us the Monday before Thanksgiving. It was absolutely fabulous! Nathan and Steph went through SO much work to make it beautiful and amazing. All of their work paid off because everyone had such a wonderful time together. Dinner was one of the best meals we have had, the kids did crafts, there was a treasure hunt to find the gifts that the cousins exchanged with each other, Elmo did a puppet show :), and the best part was the nativity that the grandchildren did. We hope to make it a tradition because it was such a great night!

Getting ready for the nativity….

Doing the treasure hunt...

Grandpa and Grandma Bleak with all 10 grand babies :)

Emma Turns 5

First time EVER that Emma has requested something non-princessey for her bday :). She is currently into Jake and the Neverland Pirates that plays on Disney Junior. So a friend from our old ward that is a professional cake decorator owed us a cake from Cade helping put Christmas lights on their house from the year before. She made this amazing cake for Emma's bday!

Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa Bleak's house and celebrated with our cousins! We had a pirate piñata with pirate loot in it :). It was simple but great!

Some updates on Emma:

- Little dancer. She loves turning on music and just dancing to her own beat. She has some awesome moves.
- Has been attending Little Red Preschool this year and is a natural leader in her class. She loves being at the center of attention as well.
- Got her first ear ache in over 3 years! She got them all the time in her two years of life but luckily didn't get them for a while.
- Such a friendly, happy girl.
- Great older sister and loves to play with Reese. They love to play dress-up together and be princesses.
- She loves hide-n-go seek, playing chase, and ANYTHING artsy. She will sit at the counter and color, paint, cut and glue for hours. She is a good little artist.
- Loves cuddling and being close to mom and dad

We love our sweet Emma!