I can't believe I have neglected this poor blog for so long. I was posting to instagram for a while to keep up with all our little daily adventures. But I have missed the format of a blog.
Since Maela's birth two years ago, a lot has happened.....
Enjoying the warm fall weather
Maela learned to laugh and smile and has always been the happiest little girl!
We have kept up the tradition of attending the Nativity Celebration, and had to dress up.
Bliss Wives Lunch.
For Christmas 2016 we were able to travel to Arizona! We spent so much time with family, I barely took any pictures. All the Grandkids were able to convince Nana to make gingerbread cookies on Christmas eve. They all helped mix the ingredients, roll out the dough, cut, and frost all the cookies. I loved watching my boys interact with Nana and Anna. There is something special about making cookies on Christmas eve, I am so glad they were able to experience the magic.
Christmas Morning, I made our traditional Christmas breakfast Abel skivers and Buttermilk syrup! They were delicious, we managed to all eat breakfast, run out to catch Church. Then back home to open presents. We made sure to let Santa know we would be away for Christmas and to forward our gifts to Nana's house. The boys loved every gift they received! And I loved being with family!
After Christmas when my family had to return to work and normal life, we escaped to Cottonwood to visit with Jared's Family. luckily Kevin's family and David joined us, we spent a few days in Cottonwood then headed up to Flagstaff to enjoy the Snow!
All my life I thought people who went tubing in their jeans were crazy and should plan better. I was able to eat my words, my poor babies only lasted so long before we were too cold to play. Regardless we had fun!
While we were in Flagstaff we were able to wake up to a fresh blanket of snow almost every morning. I have always loved my snowy hometown and was so happy it snowed while we were there. I have missed seeing and playing in real snow that doesn't turn to ice like it does here in Missouri. We welcomed the New Year in Flagstaff, we didn't dare venture out into the cold weather to celebrate instead went to bed early and when we woke up snacked on some gummy worms to celebrate before breakfast. After a week in Arizona we were ready to head home to Missouri.
2017
We started 2017 off with a bang, Maela won the Tubby Todd Tubby Baby Contest, she had so many rolls and was so chubby. We also found out that Logan's youngest brother David was engaged to be married and we were able to visit Arizona again. The kids and I were able to drive out a few week before the wedding and spend time with family. The boys were able to run on the rock formations at their Great Grandma Sally's home in Cameron with some extended family. They loved being free and throwing every rock in sight.
While I was in Arizona I knew I wanted to Visit my Grandmother in Inscription house on the Navajo Reservation. It was so weird yet welcoming to visit again after being away for so long. As a kid my family spent countless holidays/weekends running to the sand dunes, snuggling up by the fireplace, exploring on the four wheelers, watch Grandma tend to her sheep. It was so fun to see my kids being able to do the same.
When I was a little younger my Great Grandmother and Great Grandfather held me in their arms in the exact same spot as a baby. I was sure to recreate the memory while we visited.
After spending time in Northern Arizona the kids and I traveled down south to pick up my mom and drive out to San Diego To meet up with Logan and the rest of the Bliss Bunch.
We were sure to snag a Bliss Wives Breakfast in while we were all together. We were so excited to see all the Bliss Wives after being apart and meeting Katia for the first time. She was the sweetest girl, I am so glad David found her!
David and Katia were Married in the San Diego Temple on March 17! It was a beautiful warm windy day.
These three sillies were ready for some partying!
While in San Diego we were able to attend Audrey's baptism!
2017 was the year of plenty of Silver Dollar Visits, James reached the height limit for his first big roller coaster, turns out he's not a big fan.
Both boys loved this ride and rode it dozens of times!
Sweet Maela grew like a weed, all her milestones were a joy to experience, it was so fun to experience all the fun things I did with James and Boston but this time with a little girl!
James designed his own Valentine's Day box, a monster with lots of eyes, sharp teeth, drooling goo, stretchy arms, robot legs and a rocket pack.
For Easter weekend the weather was amazing so the Blisses all decided we would camp in Stockton. Maela did surprisingly well for her first time camping and the boys loved camping! Saturday morning we made sure to do an egg hunt then pack up and head home to wash off all the camp fire and dirt.
James learned how to jump hay bales, one of Logan's childhood favorites.
Spring time arrived early and we were able to enjoy afternoons outside!
James turned 6!! Boston, Maela and I surprised him with Lunch at school!
Miss Maela learned to crawl!
Climbing Grandma Bliss's trees.
And eating her grass.
We finally took the boys fishing and they loved it!
Strawberry Picking our family tradition! I have loved picking strawberries since we've moved to Missouri. Luckily I have also raised strawberry lovers.
James learned to ride a bike without training wheels! Boston mastered his balance bike and is sometimes still faster than James.
On the road again to Arizona, for the Johnson Family Reunion.
I am so sad I was not able to take as many pictures as I would have wanted. There were so many fun games, there was tug o war, stink bug racing, watermelon eating contest, a lip sync battle and so many more....
After returning from Arizona before the summer was over we snuck in a trip to Six Flags in St Louis.
To keep track of our summer shenanigans I made a Bucket list, we were able to cross off almost all of the activities or trips, one of which was a flour fight.
Zoo Trip with Friends
Lake Day
When Logan needed new photos for work we posed in the backyard and snagged some.
Both James and Boss became pros at UNO and loved playing Grandma each time they visited her house.
We had plenty of Halloween Parties to attend, one Maela dressed up as her favorite movie character, Moana
Thanksgiving was spent in Ohio with Jase and his Family, it was cold and far but worth the trip!
The night we got home from Ohio, we pulled out the tree before unpacking our suitcases, we were ready for Christmas!
We were sure to enjoy the Christmas magic and look at Christmas lights
On Christmas day all the Blisses Gathered and were able to take a family photo, it has been over a decade since the last photo was taken without missing anyone!
Wooo! 2017 was a year of trips, lots of family and so many memories! We loved every bit, but made sure not to plan any big road trips for 2018.
