Christmas 2017

Christmas Eve was different but wonderful this year! This year the family decided to hold our Bleak Family Christmas Eve party the day before Christmas Eve (Saturday). So Sunday we had our first ever Christmas Eve just home! Last minute my parents and Jor Jor decided to come join us and that made it even more fun!

We started with a spaghetti dinner (so I didn't have to hear anyone complain about dinner) and then we sang Christmas hymns for a while. Then the girls opened up their new Christmas jimmies and gave their "gift from the heart" gifts to each other. I LOVE that tradition so much and am so grateful I grew up doing that and can pass it on to my girls. This year Nora made Reese a homemade coloring book with all of Reese's favorite things printed in it. Emma tied a fleece elephant blanket for Nora and Reese made a cheetah print picture frame with the word "family" on it. They were so excited to give to each other. It's much more wonderful than buying things for each other.

Then we got Lucy in bed and Grandpa was kind enough to stay back at our house with her. The rest of us drove to Provo to visit Boose in the NICU at the hospital since she had to work that day/night. She was SO excited to see us! It made driving through a snow storm worth it :).

Then my parents drove back to Bountiful and luckily made it home safe (barely). The storm was crazy that night so Boose got off work at 10:30 p.m. and decided to sleep over at our house. It was so fun!!! Boose and I stayed up until 2:00 am just talking and laughing together and finishing last minute wrapping and such. It was a perfect ending to a different Christmas Eve!

Christmas Fun- Santa, Parties, and Programs

Thanksgiving was at Grandma and Grandpa Bleak's because of the church production I was a part of. But Gma and Gpa Close came the day after Thanksgiving to come to see me in the musical and that was fun to see them!

The Christmas festivities begin! Reesie-Roo got to top the star this year:

This was the first year I wrapped up all of our Christmas books and the girls took turns opening one each night. I was really fun and I think we will keep it up. I love children's books and I love spending that time with my girls at night:

Our family Christmas party was at Nathan and Steph's this year and it is always so much fun. Especially the nativity and the kids talent show! Emma sang "Lost Boy" and Reese and Nora sang "Rudolph together while doing the actions that Reese taught Nora (which was hilarious).

Reese's Kindergarten Christmas program. We were proud of her. She was the only on with a little speaking part at the end and no problem memorizing it. She did so good on all the songs too:

We have tried to make giving a focus of this Christmas season. I really want to instill that in my girls all year long. But one thing we were able to do is give Christmas to three little girls Emma, Reese and Nora's age. It made it more personable and they got to pick out things for others and not for themselves. We also visited the elderly a few times, made cards for others, delivered goodies or gifts, went caroling, and other.

We got picked for the Polar Express ride in Stringtown! It was super fun. Thousands of people enter the lottery to go and we were grateful we got to go. The girls had a blast. And then.....after we met Santa, we went to Kneaders for cookies and hot chocolate and guess what?? Santa was there AGAIN! :) It was funny but we had a great night!

Aimee Hickman invited us to her Christmas party. Lots of treats, games, crafts and of course Santa! Those are a lot of the girls favorite things (especially the sugar and crafts part):

Cade working on his gift from the heart to Boose this year. He made Narwhal PJ pants for her. I LOVE that we have started this tradition with our girls. I'll post more about that later!

Reese's Dream Come True Birthday Party!

Reese had the surprise of her life! She knew we were doing some sort of "animal party" but I told her the main part was a surprise. I had scheduled Wild Wonders to come and share her exotic animals and teach us about them. But the best part was Reese's absolute favorite animal is a skunk and she got to hold one!!! Her face lit up SO big and was the happiest I think I have ever seen her.

The kids also got to learn about and pet other animals including: a hedgehog, Chinchilla, red fox, ring tail, ferret, giant flemish rabbit, and tortoise. The kids absolutely loved it. We also, decorated fox, skunk and rabbit sugar cookies. Reese isn't a huge fan of cake so we usually do donuts or sugar cookies!