Christmas Break and Other December Festivities

 One of our favorite things of this December was practicing and preparing for a musical program to take to a couple nursing homes. Lucy sang a couple songs with us and the three other girls and Cade brought their musical instruments. It took a lot of preparing, but made the Christmas season so special this year! The first assisted-living home we went to. We were able to talk a lot with the residents who live there, and that was really special. We hope to make it a tradition every year! 

Because grandma lives by us, I was able to take Reese and her friends on a field trip to the nutcracker. I’ve never been able to be one of the drivers, but it was really fun to be able to be there with her! 

Lucy had a first grade Christmas program that grandma Close and I were able to go and support her in. Back in kindergarten the kids scream the songs but now in first grade they actually sang them 😆. It was super cute. 

Jane and Lucy have been taking a tumbling class at a place called TORQ. They just started in November and have both been loving it so much and show us all their tricks at home! 

Emma invited 10 school friends over for a Christmas party for fun. They played some games, ate tons of treats and snacks and spent about 2 1/2 hours of it just screaming (hahaha). They played a white elephant game where Emma's tortilla blanket was a definite hit! They also had a movie on but instead just played and screamed some more :). It was originally supposed to go until 11:00 pm but because I didn't realize that they wouldn't be watching the movie until late and keeping all of my other children up I cut it shorter at 10:30 pm. Emma had a great time and I'm glad they were all able to come (minus one girl). They seem like a great group of teens!

A couple not so Christmasy things were Nora got braces! Also, Jane had to be put under for a bunch of dental work :(. It was so sad to see her go under. I've never had to do that with any of my children. Poor 5th child. (Benson has no hope!) 

I took the kids to Blickenstaffs and the carousel at Provo Beach Resort. We also got a pass to the Draper Aquarium! WE haven't done that in years so it will be fun to make use of that this next year. Benson LOVED all the fish and animals. 

Meeting Santa at our ward, Christmas party. The ward party committee did such an amazing job with this Christmas party, and the decorations there were absolutely beautiful!  

Cade and grandpa took the three older girls to a place called 512 in Utah County. They provide meals for children who don’t have food on the weekends and Cade said it was such an awesome thing to do with the girls! Grandma and I went to the Relief Society party that night, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to be there. 

Jane got to put the star up this year! 

Just doing our annual hot chocolate bar! 

One of my favorite things to do with the girls this year was ice-skating! We had such a blast and I was so grateful I was able to get a babysitter for Benson and Jane so I could enjoy skating with my older girls. It was Lucy‘s first time skating and I think the second time for all the other girls.

Close to the beginning of the Christmas break and Marrisa Nora went sledding/tubing with the Waite’s (Madi and Kenzie’s family) up at Tibble Fork. They had a blast! 

The day after Christmas we took the kids and a coupe friends to Soldier Hollow to tube. It is always so much fun but this time was definitely the fastest we have ever gone! Jane went down 3 times and decided that was enough speed for one day :). But we had a fabulous time. 

We got one day of skiing at Sundance in! Only 1 :(. But it was actually a lot of fun. I was very nervous and the first couple runs were rough but I am actually excited to do some more skiing with my family this winter!

This Christmas break has been one of my absolute favorites and the whole month of December! I am sad for them to go back to school tomorrow. I sure love spending time with my husband and children! 

Bleak Family Christmas Party!

 This year we hosted the Bleak fam Christmas party. It was a great time! Everyone brought their favorite finger foods/appetizers/salads and we had so much yummy food. After eating dinner we did a nativity puppet show that Emma and Reese put on (Nora and Reese were going to do it, but Nora was sick and had to stay in her room for the party :(. She was very bummed and we were sad not to have her). After the puppet show, then Elmo came to visit and sang some Christmas songs with us! Jane's face was so priceless. She was so excited to have him there. 

Then we played a jingle bell shake" game. There were groups of 4 people called up and as soon as the music started we tried to get the jingle bells out of the tissue box tied around our waist. It was hilarious and a big hit. Nathan and Jordan were SO fast and were both positive they won (hence the arms in the air at the exact same time hahaha). 

After that we had the cousin gift exchange and opened gifts from Mom and Dad while we Facetimed them. Then some people stayed and talked while others left. We had a great time!

Reese Roo's Birthday Celebrations!

 Reese Marie turns 11 years old! What a joy she is in our family. She brings so much laughter and funny moments which we are very grateful for. Reese is still just as obsessed with animals as ever! She would own just about every animal there is if she were allowed AND take care of each one of them very well. She definitely does more than her fair share of taking care of the chickens and bunnies. Reese is LOVING 5th grade and she is doing great in each subject. Reese is a very important glue in our family. She plays well with each of her sisters and they all love being around her. She also is still in love with Benson and volunteers to get him out of bed and read him books and take care of him. They have a cute bond! We are grateful for her hard work and fun personality and are so happy she is in our family. 

For her birthday date Dad and I took her to peoples homes to visit animals. She got to cuddle guinea pigs, 2 different sets of puppies and a sphinx kitten. We also took her to Olive Garden for lunch. It was a great time AND we didn't go home with a new animal (which was a win for me :)). 

Thanksgiving 2022- Full of Fun and Barf :(

 This was definitely a memorable Thanksgiving Holiday and not for the best of reasons. Tara and Johnny decided to drive down to Utah last minute and so we were planning on having an early Thanksgiving dinner with them. The weekend before they came we had Reese and Benson who threw up. But we thought "well, if it's just them then we'll be in the clear by Sunday or Monday and they kids can all play. But then while Cade and I were at a Pentatonix Concert with my siblings, Emma called to let me know Jane threw up. And hence started the worst Thanksgiving week. Cade and I were sick the Sunday and the rest of the family to follow. But after the Young's came they ended up getting influenza A on top of a stomach bug and were extremely sick with flu and throw up. They were very miserable and in the mean time we had all been trying to play the "who is better and can play" game. It was crazy. We had one evening that we all ate Thanksgiving dinner together (even though Benson and Shepherd were the sickies) but the actual Thanksginvg day was miserable for Tara and Johnny's family. Cade's parents we angels and stayed here with Nora and Benson so the rest of us could enjoy the holiday with my family. But then Gma and Gpa got sick the next day :(. 

The actual dinner at Kristen and Andrew's was good. We had a wonderful diner and gorgeous decorations and played games. I am grateful any time my family is healthy!

(The only pictures I got with the Young's here was of Reese and Taft on the way to pick up Mac 'n cheese for Thnx dinner :)). 

Dinner at the Van Noy's:

Adlee Van Noy and baby Holland Bleak

2022 School Pictures

 Cute school pictures! Cade loves having them so I keep buying them :). 

Emma 7th Grade

Reese 5th Grade, Mrs. Bagley's class

Nora 3rd Grade, Mrs. Webster's class

Lucy 1st Grade, Mrs. Mecham's class

We Officially Have a Teenager! Emma Turns 13!

 Emma has sure grown up a lot this past year! She is a rockstar babysitter and diaper changer. She discovered an architecture program through her College and Career Awareness class that she LOVES and gets to design layouts of homes and all the furniture and decor to go with. She has been doing awesome in 7th grade and was on the honor roll last semester, however, 7th grade homework is proving to be quite a bit and take up most week days! Emma still loves sugar and Mac 'n cheese, and hates anything with beef. She is best friends with Autumn in the neighborhood and they get to play more often than last year. Emma loves to have her own room with her own stuff and it's kind of her haven from a crazy loud home that we currently have. She would rather be watching movies but still will enjoy board games with me. She loves to snuggle and usually wants the snuggles super late at night when dad and I want to go to sleep and she wants to stay up all hours of the night :). Emma is very dependable and super helpful around home. I love spending time with her. 

This year Emma got sick on her birthday. Kind of a bummer but also kind of awesome...she had a fever so she stayed home from school and watched Harry Potter all day. She actually liked it. 

For her birthday date, Dad and I took her to a Harry Potter Utah Symphony concert. They played the 7th movie, part 1 while we watched it. We got dressed up and had a great time at the concert and getting dinner afterwards. 

We love our teenager and how awesome she is. We can't wait for the years ahead. 

Halloween fun!

 The first set of pictures are from our ward's Halloween Trunk or Treat party. Our family was mostly all animals...Emma was the moon with her friends Autumn Bailey. The girls love more excuses to dress up and get candy :). 

Halloween night everyone was kind of a mis-matched random bunch. I went with what would keep me most warm!

Making gingerbread haunted houses is always fun!