New Years Eve

New Years Eve! What a fun night. I think this is the first year my girls have stayed up until midnight. I think the only one that didn't make it was Matt. But as soon as the clock struck 12, off the bed we all went.

We ate yummy ice cream...


A little snuggle time with dad...


We played board games, including Monopoly, Clue, and Life...


Ate popcorn while watching movies...


The girls had some American Girl doll time, not sure where Cloe's doll is in this picture but looks like she had a good time with a bag full of erasers...


Playing the Wii...


Wired on sugar maybe...


Girl fight...


I'm not even going to try on this one, I have no idea what is going on!

All in all we had a great night just staying home. Maybe a little too much sugar, but we had fun. Happy New Year!!!

Misc 2010 fun!

A look at the rest of what went on at the end of 2010!

Fun with toe socks!!!


Crazy hair dos!


Who needs presents just give me a box!


Taysa's language arts book project! Can you guess what book it's about? For those of you who don't know it's The Hunger Games. Do you see it now? It's the arena with the four different sections and the cornucopia in the middle. I think she did a great job and it's made mostly of food! Yummy!


Taysa's dance performance at the Shelley High School basketball half time. The girls did a great job. Way to go!

Christmas 2010!

Merry Christmas! I know, I know, I am really late but I still wanted to get this posted. We had a wonderful Christmas. The girls got some of what they wanted, but not everything on their list. Who could afford it? They each got an American Girl doll, pillow pets, snuggies, clothes, shoes, stuffed animals, ear muffs, DVDs, board games, WII games, etc... We all got spoiled rotten and had lots of fun! I love Christmas!!!

I am still trying to teach my girls that Christmas is not about what you receive but what you can give. It's a hard one to teach. Every year Matt's entire family picks a family to help for Christmas. We each take one of the kids and buy Christmas for them. I always include my girls in this process and sometimes have them use some of their own money to help buy the gifts. It has been such a touching learning experience for my girls. They have really come to understand that not everyone gets what they get for Christmas. So for us, we will keep this tradition going! It helps to really give us the true Christmas spirit!


MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Christmas Eve

Oh what do you do on Christmas Eve with 14 grandkids under the age of 12, 10 parents, 2 grandparents, and 1 great-grandma?

A little posing with the cousins for a cute pic!...


A lot of the chocolate fountain...especially for Maggie thanks to uncle Matt! That thing is a hit with the kids and grown ups too, it's yummy!...


A little chalk board time...


A little wrestling in the kitchen...

How about a talent show? (which my pictures turned out blurry so I will save you from having to look at them) Taysa-dance, Alex-Bass, Olivia-origami, Brooklyn-baton, Cody-strength, Sam-toothpicks in his mouth, Carson & Abby-singing, Cloe-dance, Morgan-nursery rhyme, Max-is just cute, Michelle-piano Matt, Merritt, Marci, and Mandee-singing, Mema and Papa-Grandma got run over by a reindeer performance! If I left anyone out or listed someones talent wrong I'm sorry, let me know.


The two that made it all possible! We love you mema and papa.


Everyone...dog pile on uncle Merritt! Super fun!!!


Grandma DaBell opening her Christmas present...a book we had made entitled, Why We Love Grandma DaBell!


Mema and Papa opening their Christmas present from all of us...the photo album we had made with all the Disneyland pictures in it.


Grandma DaBell handing out her famous goody bags to the great grandkids! Who wouldn't love those bags? Rice crispy bears, gum, oranges, candy!


The traditional Nativity scene...excluding Taysa and Alex because they think they are too old to participate anymore!

Traditional Christmas Eve PJ's!

Goodnight...hopefully Santa comes tonight!

Thanksgiving 2010

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at Michelle's house. (Thanks for volunteering your house Todd and Michelle and for hosting the mess) There were only a few of us there, but we had a wonderful time. Good food, family, fun! What more could you ask for?

How about the kids making candy and cookie turkeys?

Or....my favorite, DRESS UP TIME!

Kiss kiss!!!


Cloe all dressed up!


Chase all dressed up by Cloe and I believe Brooklyn!


Uncle Todd all dressed up by Cloe!


Pa pa all dressed up by Cloe!

Boy oh boy, do you think Cloe has these guys wrapped around her little finger or what?

I can't believe you're making me do this!

Isn't it amazing that we ever get any usable pictures of our kids? We were looking through old pictures tonight and ran across these...the first one we just couldn't stop laughing!!!


Cloe 6 weeks old...bright lights bright lights!


Really...another picture come on!


You guys are crazy!!!


FUNNY VIDEO FROM JANUARY 2009!!!
I laughed and laughed at this video I found. Maybe it won't be as funny to you, but knowing my kids and their personalities this is hilarious to me. Were they ever really that little?

Cloe singing ABC's and I Am A Child of God.

I had another really funny one, but for some reason I can't get it to load. I'll keep trying.

Brooklyn's baptism

I can't believe my little Brooklyn is getting baptized. Can she really be 8 already? Brooklyn has been talking about getting baptized for at least the past year if not longer...she is super excited. We are so proud of Brooklyn for the choice she has made to be baptized. We love you Brooklyn!

Brooklyn wanted to be baptized in the same dress that Taysa wore. They both decided to wear the actual dress to get baptized.


The girls...


Brooklyn...so excited she can hardly contain herself.


Brooklyn and Papa before the baptism. We love you papa!!!


After her baptism we went back to Elite Studios, where I teach gymnastics, and had a yummy potato bar for lunch. The kids had lots of fun playing in the dance room while the adults ate in a little peace in the other room.

Halloween

Brooklyn is a vampire and Cloe is the cutest fairy I have ever seen! Taysa decided she was too old to go trick-or-treating this year so she stayed home and handed out candy and then made fun of the teenagers that came. She did dress up a little...she wore her dance tutu!

Grandma VanOrden

Grandma VanOrden...we love you so much and are so very thankful for the wonderful example you have been to us all. The legacy and family heritage you have left us with is truly something we will cherish forever. We are so thankful to know that you are reunited with loved ones that left this life before you and that you are at peace with overwhelming happiness. We will miss your soft spoken voice, your beautiful smiling face, and your sweet hugs and kisses. We love you! Until we meet again...

Party time!

Today we went the the Red Barn pumpkin patch to celebrate Brooklyn and her cousin, Morgan's, birthdays. Morgan's birthday is on October 20th and he turned 4 and Brooklyn's birthday is on October 21st and she turned 8!

This is the gigantic herd we took to the pumpkin patch. Taysa, Alex, Chase, Livvy, Cole, Caden, Tenlee, Brooklyn, Abby, Cody, Sam, Cloe and Morgan. Max was there too, but didn't get in the picture. Missing cousins are Maggie and Carson. We missed you!


Best buds waiting for the train.


Pumpkin patch fun...straw maze, train ride, picking out the perfect pumpkin, getting rained on, and just having fun!


Here are their pumpkin picks. Don't you love Brooklyn's face, it's priceless. She is really mad that I made her pick up the pumpkin. I told the kids before that they had to carry their pumpkin back to the car so to be careful not to get one that was too big. Looks like it went in one ear and out the other!


After the pumpkin patch we went back to aunt Michelle's for grandma's annual trick or treat party. The difference this year is grandma wasn't there and we were having Brooklyn and Morgan's birthday party. The kids also got to open their birthday presents too!

CUPCAKE TIME!





Blowing out candles!!!


This is the face you get when you mix Morgan with black frosting!


Best buddies! We had Brooklyn's best friend, Tenlee, come back to our house after the big party to play for awhile.


Taysa raked up the leaves for the girls to play in...what a nice big sister.


Best buds posing in the leaves!

Brooklyn and Morgan were really lucky this year to get to have such a fun birthday party and on the same day as grandma's trick or treat party too! We had a really great time. Happy birthday to Brooklyn and Morgan!