Heinz Family Part 2!

The rest of Christmas break unfolded just the way we hoped it would—slow, full, and wrapped in togetherness.

Christmas morning started with opening gifts as a family, the kind of morning where no one rushes and the coffee stays warm a little longer. New toys were quickly put to use, with the 3D printer stealing the show and running almost nonstop. Somewhere in between all the excitement, Auntie Holly helped us take on a massive puzzle, which became a gathering point for conversation, competition, and a few missing edge pieces.

This break also marked a big (and emotional) milestone: Leo lost his front tooth. In an instant, he looked so much older—one of those moments that makes time feel like it’s moving way too fast and leaves my mom heart just a little sad, even while celebrating his growing-up grin.

We balanced cozy days inside with plenty of fresh air. There were lots of walks with Quincy, sledding trips to the hill, and more time at the Dome than we can probably count—capped off by an indoor soccer tournament that brought all the energy. Noah had his indoor soccer debut and Bodhi’s team ended up going all the way to the championship but losing in a shoot-out. Also, Willow and Bodhi bundled up and headed out ice fishing with Willow’s bf, Will, a few times, proving winter fun doesn’t stop when the temperatures drop.

Family time stayed at the center of everything. We made trips to Allevity to play with cousins, squeezed in board games, and even took a quick day trip to Minnesota for skiing—just enough adventure to make it memorable. The kitchen saw plenty of action too, with far too much time spent cooking meals, baking, and eating cookies (no regrets).

We rounded out the break by celebrating my birthday at Tokyo Hibachi, a perfect mix of good food, laughter, and a little flair to end the festivities.

More than anything, this break was about being together—unhurried days, shared moments, firsts and traditions, and the gift of having the entire holiday off to simply enjoy family as Blake took the last two weeks of the year off of work.

Christmas Eve looked a little different for our family this year—but in the best way possible.

As Grandma Ket spent her first holiday in an assisted living home, we pivoted and found a new place to gather, bringing our annual Christmas Eve celebration to The Finery Event Center on Main. After Christmas Eve Mass, we filled the space with laughter and the warmth that only this wild family can bring. The bright, cozy setting was perfect for our large crew, even if it was hard not to feel like someone was missing.

Just when we needed a little extra magic, Santa Claus paid us a visit. Leo received a skating rink set for his village, and Bodhi was thrilled with a brand-new pair of bongos. The kids’ excitement was contagious, and soon everyone was smiling a little bigger.

The night was filled with party games, lots of laughs, and our favorite tradition—the White Elephant gift exchange which both Noah and Willow are now old enough to participate in—which wrapped up the evening perfectly.

When we finally arrived home, the bigger kids jumped right in to help rearrange the presents under the tree. Together with Leo, we set out cookies and milk, making sure everything was just right for Santa’s arrival.

We managed to squeeze in our annual progressive dinner with the Markovetz family—our fourth year… or maybe only the third? At this point, the exact number doesn’t matter nearly as much as the tradition itself. It’s one of those nights we all look forward to every holiday season.

The idea is simple and so fun: we travel from house to house, admiring each other’s holiday decorations and sampling food and treats along the way. This year, we decided to scale things back a bit and keep it to three stops to make it less stressful for Grandma Ket as we moved from place to place—and honestly, it was the perfect pace.

Our first stop was Becky and Adam’s house, where we kicked things off with salads. From there, we headed to our house for a massive charcuterie board, dips, and a festive punch that made everything feel extra celebratory. The final stop was Jodi’s house, where mischievous elves had clearly been busy and everyone got to build their own pudding parfaits for dessert.

At each house, we played games, laughed a lot, and soaked in the holiday cheer. Everyone leaned into the spirit of the night by wearing some form of ugly Christmas attire, which only added to the fun. It was relaxed, festive, and full of those little moments that make traditions so special.

Both boys had their holiday concerts this month, and they were such special nights to witness. Leo was up first, performing several songs with his class. One of them was O Little Town of Bethlehem—sung entirely in Latin—which was absolutely amazing to listen to. I’m always surprised by Leo in these moments. He can get so nervous and anxious about being the center of attention, yet somehow he completely thrives when he’s standing in front of a crowd. And this was no small crowd—the entire gym at Roncalli High School was filled.

Bodhi’s concert followed a few days later. He performed two songs with his band class and then sang two more with the sixth-grade choir. As a percussionist, Bodhi really stood out—he had several important parts to play in the holiday pieces, and he handled them so confidently. He did such a great job, even though I think he’s pretty relieved that he won’t have to sing in front of a crowd again for a while.

Bodhi officially turned 12, and this year we decided to keep things simple and centered around the things he truly loves. His actual birthday was a low-key, cozy day at home—exactly his style. We spent the day hanging out, cheering him on at soccer at the dome, and wrapping it all up with a birthday dinner that looked a lot like Thanksgiving. A huge, comfort-filled meal followed by ice cream cake for dessert felt like the perfect way to celebrate him.

The following weekend, we stretched the celebration just a bit more. We invited three of Bodhi’s closest friends to Pizza Ranch for lunch and an afternoon at the arcade. Watching them laugh, compete, and just be kids together was so fun. After that, Blake and I took the boys sledding, and they spent the rest of the day completely immersed in snow, smiles, and nonstop energy. There’s something so special about a day filled with fresh air, rosy cheeks, and pure joy—and I’m so glad we got to share that with Bodhi.

This birthday felt especially meaningful because it truly focused on him: the things he enjoys, the people he loves, and the moments that make him happiest. It felt intentional, and it felt right.

Bodhi has been such an incredible kid this year. He’s taken on middle school with confidence and pride, staying on top of his schoolwork without even needing a study hall—all while joining band, making the jazz band, and playing soccer almost every night. I’m so proud of how social he is, how responsible he’s become, and how he continues to show up for everything he cares about.

Happy 12th Birthday, Bobo. We are so proud of you and so grateful for the joy you bring into our lives every single day.

It’s been a few years since we had family photos taken, and we decided to go back to the location of one of our favorite photo sessions we have ever had….the place we were when we did our baby #4 announcement photos. With the sun going down and Blake’s cowboy hat on point, it was a stunning location for these pictures.

That being said, it was hot, humid, and pretty miserable out. The mosquitos were absolutely terrible and ended up in tears for Bodhi, but five cans of bug spray later, we survived. I love these pictures and our reminder of Bodhi’s blonde highlights, Willow’s stunning poses, Quincy being Quincy, Noah’s growing flow and Leo’s stubborness to smile his own way.

We definitely aren’t perfect, but we all love each other so much and we’re pretty darn lucky to have each other.

Our recent family trip to Colorado was everything we needed—fresh mountain air, cozy downtime, and so many little moments that made the week feel like magic. We split our time between Glenwood Springs/New Castle, and by the end of the trip, none of us were ready to head home.

We packed in a surprising amount of adventure. One of the highlights was hiking Hanging Lake—a bucket-list stop that was just as stunning in person as it looks in the photos. Leo even made the entire hike to the top and he loved this adventure. We balanced that with some relaxed exploring, including shopping in downtown Glenwood and spending time at the Glenwood Hot Springs, soaking in the warm mineral water with mountain views all around.

And of course, we made sure to eat well. Chris’s restaurants—Grind and Zheng’s—did not disappoint and we even ate at Grind a few times just to enjoy our favorites again and again.

For the more active moments, we squeezed in some biking at the mountain biking park which Noah and Bodhi were so brave at, and even visited an alpaca farm, where we fed fluffy alpacas and Highland cows. Being spit on by an Alpaca was one of my most memorable parts of the trips. It was one of those experiences that feels equal parts peaceful and hilarious.

Poor Willow spent part of the trip pretty under the weather with the flu, so we balanced adventure days with plenty of quieter ones. Honestly, those ended up being some of the most memorable. We hung around the house, played card games and puzzles, soaked in the hot tub, and even made a stop at a brand-new Barnes & Noble—the perfect spot for a little early Christmas shopping (and a lot of book browsing).

On the way home, we broke up the drive with a stop in Boulder for a visit with Uncle Chris and Aunt Erin. True to form, we were spoiled with great food and good company. We walked through Chautauqua Park, taking in the unbeatable views, and even drove up to the Boulder overlook, where we snapped some beautiful family photos.

We made a quick driving tour of the CU Boulder campus, and after taking in the mountains, the sunshine, and the whole vibe… let’s just say no one was eager to leave Colorado behind.

Leo made the most of his time, especially getting to play with Uncle Chris’s model trains—an absolute highlight. And we’ll all miss Chris and Sara’s sweet pets, Tigger, Cooper, and Clyde!.

Having Halloween fall on a Friday this year made Noah’s 14th birthday weekend even more fun. His friends walked home with him after school, and the house was instantly filled with laughter, snacks, and the kind of energy only a group of teenage boys can bring. They stayed up late, and the next morning we celebrated with birthday donuts—because that’s the best kind of breakfast when you’re 14!

Noah had one big birthday wish this year: an electric guitar. We decided to let him open his gifts in the morning so he could spend the whole day playing. The look on his face when he unwrapped it was pure joy—and the sound of him strumming away all day was pretty great, too.

After church, we took him out for his favorite meal: cheeseburgers at Buffalo Wild Wings. Then it was off to Rachael’s house for card games and some friendly competition between him and Sam and the Nintendo.

It was such a simple, happy day—full of friends, food, music, and laughter. Watching Noah surrounded by people who love him, guitar in hand and grin on his face, was the best gift of all for us. We just love that boy so much and couldn’t be prouder of the young man he’s becoming.

All Hallow’s Eve was full of costume changes, candy, and chaos—just the way we like it! Leo started the day dressed as Pope Leo for school, feeling pretty holy and proud of himself. By evening, though, he’d swapped his robes for a badge and cowboy hat, ready to patrol the neighborhood as a Wild West sheriff.

Halloween itself was chilly and a little drizzly, but that didn’t slow anyone down. After handing out candy to what felt like thousands of trick-or-treaters downtown, I made it home to a house full of kids and commotion. Willow and her boyfriend, Will, were carving pumpkins at the kitchen table. Noah had a pack of friends over celebrating his birthday with a sleepover, and Bodhi and Sully were hanging out before heading to the Wings hockey game.

Leo helped me answer the door for a while before we all gathered for pizza and headed out with the Oliver family for a few blocks of trick-or-treating. Once our buckets were full (and fingers frozen), we loaded up the car and made our usual rounds to visit all the grandparents, including Grandma Ket who wouldn’t let Leo leave without teasing him and even biting his finger!

It was just another perfectly chaotic Halloween in our home!

Today marked the end of Willow’s competitive dance season, and what a season it’s been! After months of early morning practices, long bus rides, and countless hours of rehearsing choreography until it was second nature, the girls took the floor one last time at the State competition in Watertown.

Just last week, the team danced their hearts out at ESD in Brookings and had their best showing yet—placing 5th overall, with an incredible 3rd place in Hip Hop and 4th place in Poms! The first few meets this year were strong, but there was a stretch in the middle where they had to dig deep. Exhaustion, school demands, and late nights on the road can take their toll on both athletes and coaches.

Then came State this weekend—one final chance to give it everything they had. The girls were fierce and focused, leaving it all out on the floor. Competing against some of the best teams in South Dakota, many of whom train together year-round, our young team held their own—earning 9th in Poms and 8th in Hip Hop out of 16 teams. That’s something to be proud of.

For Willow, this season was full of growth. She worked hard, gained confidence, and already has her sights set on new skills and tricks she wants to master for next year. Saying goodbye to the seniors is always tough, especially knowing that some of her closest friends will be moving on next season.