Staycation at the Bleak's

 The Bleak’s know how to party! The end of June, Bryan and Jennie were in charge of our staycation this year and it was a blast. Friday evening we all got sitters and the adults went to Bountiful to have take-out and listen to my dad’s temple presentation on the Rome and Salt Lake City temples. It was SO neat. My Dad had quite the incredible job designing temples for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was so neat to hear about those two projects in more detail. 

Then Saturday we were at Bryan and Jennie's house from 10 am until nightfall. They had rented a GIGANTIC blow-up slide that adults could have fun with along with the kids. There was good food and lawn games, a family talent show and a human piñata (that was hilarious!!!). Jordan had candy hot glued on to his shirt and he ran around the yard with the kids chasing him and trying to grab candy off of him. 

We always have a fun time when we get together and this was no exception. 

Guys Fishing Trip & Father’s Day

 

Cade and my Dad and brothers went on a pretty cool fishing trip…at least I was told it was awesome. I wouldn’t know since I didn’t go J…but Cade had such an amazing time. He drove up with Nathan and Andrew in one car and my Dad and Bryan and cousin Ben Aird drove in the other car. They stayed at a place near Flaming Gorge in Wyoming and went fly fishing on the green river (I think I’m getting it right!). Cade and Andrew were in a boat with a fishing guide who was deaf and made for some pretty funny stories. He kept saying to them “strip it! Strip it!” But all Cade was hearing was “stupid! Stupid!” It wasn’t until after the entire fishing day that he found out what he meant and was saying after all.  

I’m glad he got to do a fun weekend away with the guys. Very fitting to be Fathers Day weekend too. Cade is such a an amazing Father and puts his all into it- really into everything in life. Our girls love him so much. They love the wrestling after dinner and the tickles before bed. They love asking him about stories of when he was little and cuddling on the couch. They are blessed to have him as a dad!

Hiking with Friends

I just love being in God’s creations and I like being social too so I am grateful for times in the mountains with friends and my sister, Boose Boose (Katelyn). It’s fun taking my girls on hikes but it’s so refreshing to go at my own speed and be able to carry on a big girls conversation instead of playing “would you rather” for two hours to decrease the amount of whining. My friends Cathi & also Rachel and I went up AF canyon and hiked Scout Falls. Pretty hike and so fun in the evening. Then at the end of summer Boose and I and Emma hiked Silver Lake up AF canyon-FINALLY! And it was SOOO worth the wait. It was almost 5 miles and pretty steep but the lake at the top is incredibly peaceful and beautiful. It's so nice of Cade to give me time to go up the canyon with others. 

Amazing Summer In spite of the Quarantine

The summer of 2020. Unlike any other summer, yet amazing in its own way. Lots of places were still shut down and even if they were open we didn’t feel great going to public places much. But I came up with a great schedule that could help us have some direction and excitement but we could learn to go with the flow and change and adapt if needed. So each morning we would get our chore for the day, reading and piano practicing done. Then each day we had something fun to look forward to. I made alliterations to go with them so they could remember the fun each day would entail.   

Mountain Monday 

Temple Tuesday

Water Wednesday

Thinking Thursday

Fun Friday

 

Mondays were my personal favorite because I LOVE being in the mountians and the trees. It seems like every winter comes and I get upset that I didn’t spend enough time up the canyon near our home that I have come to love SO much. So this helps us get there at least once a week. Sometimes we would picnic and explore or we would go on a hike. Sometimes we would wait until evening and do dinner and a fire up the canyon with Daddy. I LOVED Mondays. 

Tuesday was temple Tuesday. Most weeks we would have a picnic or take a treat there and sit outside. Sometimes it was a walk or scooter ride. Two different times we got to go and weed at the temple grounds and that was really neat. After one of our picnics I talked with a gal there that worked on the grounds and asked if we could help. And because of covid and the different kind of year it was she said we could! The girls actually seemed to enjoy that.

 

Wednesday’s we would usually play in the sprinklers or go swimming at my cousin Jessica’s house. 

Thursday was geared toward learning something new- usually about people in our history. I bought a few childrens books that we would read and learn together. I had hopes of doing culture days and learning about countries or religions around the world. WE didn’t quite get to that but I still am going to do it! We also worked on science experiments or art projects which the girls always love. 

 

The best thing about Friday was that there were no chores that day! Best thing for the girls (and for me). We changed things up and did fun things each Friday. Baked goodies, tea-parties, built forts- whatever the girls were in the mood for. 

 

I have SUCH a fun summer with my girls. I am looking forward to many more memories made in the future with them. I absolutely love spending time with them and they just keep getting more and more fun as they get older. I am one blessed mama!!!