Here are the top ten dates from the Bleeker household, 2010
1. Celebrate Lauren as we welcome the New Year
December 31 is Lauren's birthday and therefore we started 2010 still celebrating her 12th birthday. Lauren's top ten are: Volleyball (TriState Crusaders here we come!), Club Soccer, the #1, big chunky rings, music (including clarinet, bass clarinet, piano and show choir), glittered anything, green, Science, smiles and friends
2. Start the year long countdown til Brooke drives on March 10
Brooke is anticipating her 2011 birthday because she will be able to drive. This used to scare me senseless but because of #6 (below), I am greatly anticipating it too! Brooke's top ten are: Overland Park in Kansas City, High School, Running Cross Country & going to State (Team finished 6th place 3A), Soccer (Club & High School), Anticipating her Driver's Permit, Mario Brothers & Fifa on the Wii, Sleeping, Band & Jazz Band, Schwan's Cup in Minneapolis and more sleeping
3. Crown a princess on April 16
Reese just seems to be running the place and we are too old & tired to stop her so we have decided to crown her princess and hand her the keys to the kingdom. She seems to be enjoying her new title.
Reese's top ten are: apple juice, Avila, purple, sneaking candy, Caillou, apple juice, panties, climbing walls, apple juice and cupcakes (at least the frosting part)
4. June 4...Celebrate 16 years of marriage 1200 miles apart
Greg and I spent our anniversary many miles apart this year. Brooke and I went with her Central Valley Christian classmates from Visalia, CA to Washington, DC for an 8th grade trip. (I was a chaperon...and yes, we had fun!) Doc was back home with the crew of kids, lots of lists and two very helpful Grandmas trying to keep up our household. (He did great!) We continue to be amazed that the years of wedded bliss keep adding on but we don't feel old enough to be married this long. God is good!
5. Bleeker reunion at Big Sand Lake from August 1 - 7
Our annual trip to Park Rapids, MN just keeps getting easier & easier. Our list of things to take gets shorter each year as there is no need for cribs, diapers, multiple sets of clothes and toys. The kids are packing their own bags & there is no time for toys as they simply cannot wait to spend some time talking, gaming & beaching with their cousins. The weather this year was great & the boat put on many hours as we wake boarded, tubed & skied the week away.
6. Start a new school system on August 19
The 3 oldest kids began classes in the Bishop Heelan Catholic School system this fall. After much prayer, this transition proved to be the right decision for our entire family. I feel like a top ten list of the people that helped us wouldn't even begin to cover it and so we will just shout out a THANK YOU to those who prayed for us, answered emails/phone calls and went the extra mile for our girls in this endeavor. (Re: #2: I am the bus driver for these 3 girls as they all travel to different campuses in Sioux City...usually we are on the road 1 hour each morning & each afternoon. Ugh!)
7. Have puppies on August 21
One Saturday with "only" 4 soccer games scheduled, 8 yellow Labradors were born to our lab, Cali. She was a great mother to the 6 males & 2 females. We did keep one female and decided to name her after one of our favorite beaches in California, Avila Beach. We call her Avila and her top ten are: eating, chewing shoes, wrestling with her Mom, chewing water bowls, eating, barking at the cats, chewing rugs, running, chewing stocking hats, & napping. In no particular order, I might add...
8. Celebrate THE BOY on September 9
Jaron turned 5 this fall and when he is not creating with his Legos, he has really started to be interested in school. He attends the TK program at Sonshine Station each day. JC knows his letters & numbers & has a notebook full of words that he has seen on TV or in my pantry. It is his list. (I am afraid I might have warped him already! Sorry son...) Jaron's top ten are: Lego Star Wars, jeans with lots of pockets, playing tball, Lego Wii games, cheeseburgers, running with Avila, sweatshirts with hoods, drinking milk, measuring with a REAL tape measure and Legos. (Can you guess what I find all over the house and car?)
9. Paint with Dayle on October 4
Dayle has become our resident artist. She loves to draw & sketch but painting is her favorite. If you'd like one of her works, just ask her! She would love another reason to go to Hobby Lobby for another blank canvas. Dayle's top ten are: Club soccer (especially playing goalie!), reading, softball & winning the league Championship, her 2 cats, the fish, school & her new friends, painting, having 8 puppies to play with (We shed a few tears when they had to go!), keeping Avila and hanging out with her family.
10. Celebrate the true meaning of the season with family & friends
As entertaining as these past 9 dates are, we culminate with Christmas as #10. Our household tries to celebrate Christmas each and every day as we focus on the meaning of life amidst everything from teenage drama to toddler chaos. From school to soccer fields to the dairy to church to time at home, we often have to remind ourselves of the bigger picture. We hope and pray that this Christmas season finds you happy & healthy but more importantly looking upwards to our Lord & Savior, the real meaning of Christmas.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Bleeker's
~Greg, Shantelle, Brooke, Lauren, Dayle, Jaron and Reese~
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