The Great Room Swap!

 Jace finally got his own room!! We are all as happy as he is! Now he can't keep anyone awake at night!

Jace has Natalie's old room. It went from a bright blue Hawaiian theme to boy brown. We have put up some sports stuff and some antlers since then and Jace feels right at home.

Natalie got a room in the basement! We finished two rooms and a bathroom downstairs, yet somehow the only picture I have is from my phone of her new bed. I will have to do some better pictures later!

Abbie really didn't get a new room, but now it is her very own! She has had the joy and torture of sharing with Jace for the last few years. Mom and Dad are thrilled for everyone to have their own space. The bed time routine has calmed down immensely. Abbie is a happier little girl now too, because she doesn't sit and play with Jace all night and actually gets some sleep!

My pictures are all so horrible. Their rooms actually look better in person I swear!

Hallie stayed put, but her room was clean, so I had to take a picture!

Family Valentines Dinner

Here is the table this year for our traditional Valentines dinner.

 We had chicken cordon bleu and mashed potatoes. The little cups on each plate were filled with candy.
 

We have a great (and  very teary for some) dinner, where we each take turns and tell our family what we love about them. I love that our kids take it seriously and are thoughtful with what they say.

I sure love and appreciate my cute, fun family. I hope to keep this tradition alive for many years to come!

The Jazz Game

 Hallie is playing Jr Jazz basketball this year and they give each player two tickets.  Thanks to the miracle of Facebook, I was able to get tickets for everyone. The game was over the Holidays, so lots of people weren't going to use them.

It was the first time our kids ever went to a Jazz game. It was really fun to go, even though we were in the super nose bleeds. Yes, that is the wall at the top of the arena you see behind Shane and Hallie and Jace!

Jace thought that they were awesome seats because you could see everyone and everything. Little does he know. . . but as long as he had fun!

By the look on his face, I think he did!!!!  Thanks Jr. Jazz for giving the Toponce family something different to do!

Natalie's Birthday!!

My sweet Natalie turned 14! I can't believe it! She got a new desk for her new room and some fun presents from everyone else!

My beauty with her cake!

Christmas 2011

Christmas morning before coming downstairs!!!

Santa found us for sure!!!

He stuffed our stockings and found Nate and Shanntel too!

We had a great time opening presents. The kids got what they were dying for! Ipod's and nintendo DS's and clothes, and video games and more!

Then we headed to Maria's for more festivities and Christmas dinner!

My handsome husband handing out presents!

Ornaments for the grandkids tree!! It is fun to see what Oma finds every year!

Christmas Eve!

And the whole family was back again for Christmas! We have had them here for more holidays than we ever have and it has been so fun! Curtis and Colette stayed in Idaho Falls, but everyone else was here. So we put my dad to work making eggnog shakes (he makes the best shakes ever).

Megan and Kenny were here from Denver. It was great to have them around!

I always have fun finding some decorations!!

The girls loving their dad-that deserves a photo for sure!

Russell is always good to entertain the kiddos-and let the little boys climb on him!

Here we are playing Santa Bingo! Thanks Dana and Russell for bringing it every year! We love our candy bar prizes and the chance for some cash! We are so glad Ann could come after finishing a round of chemotherapy. She brought her mask to not get sick, but I think it got annoying to wear the whole night. We are so glad she felt up to seeing us all! (and we are especially glad we didn't get her sick!)

We also played a little holiday Pictionary!  It turned out pretty good-better markers would have made it great! It was so fun to have Jean, Jane, Ann, Laurie, Reed, Nate, Shanntel, and the Eyrings  join us for the first time for Christmas eve. The Liston's have been coming for several years. We had fun adding to the crowd!

Jean and Jane stayed for a while after the festivities to watch the kids open their Christmas present from them. They got the kids awesome wands from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The kids were so excited to have them. They felt pretty special. Thanks aunties!

And the traditional Christmas Eve present from mom and dad- jammies!! I sure love my cute kids!!

Abbie gets baptized!

Abbie's got baptized the week after Thanksgiving. It was so fun (and so nice of them to do the drive again) to have all our family come back for the baptism.

Abbie got her beautiful dress from Oma for her birthday. I can't believe my third baby is old enough to get baptized!

Here are all the cousins from both sides of the family (except the youngest Makia-who was around somewhere). Abbie loved having them all there!  I love having such a great reason for us all to get together.