Festival of the Trees

This year we started celebrating the Christmas season by going to the Festival of Trees with Andrew and Carrie. We first had a delicious dinner at their apartment (that was so cutely decorated for Christmas)- complete with our family's famous Christmas candies for dessert and then drove up to Sandy. There were so many amazingly decorated trees- from classy gold and red trees, to motorcycle themed, and everything in between.

The BYU themed tree

They also had a ton of gingerbread houses on display, which I have a better appreciation of after Ryan and I made our own small one this year.

All 4 of us in front of the gingerbread castle
[disclaimer: my purse is not always BURSTING full of random things, I had just pulled everything out searching for my camera :)]

Thanksgving

This year for Thanksgiving my whole family was home and it was so fun. Wednesday morning the girls went shopping and then we had our annual Thanksgiving Turkey bowl and the park. The weather was absolutely perfect and we all hadfn playing football, even Audrey who even ran in a touch down for our team :)

Most of the family who got to play

After football we came home and play some rock band

&the kids danced

Thursday was the only day the entire family was able to be together. We spent Thanksgiving in San Francisco and rode bikes over the Golden Gate Bridge and down the Embarcadero.

The girls

All 16 of us

My cute parents

We rode to Boudins and had clam chowder in bread bowls

The Golden Gate

Carrie, Melissa, Rachel, me, Sara, Michelle
all the sisters

the kids

That night we all came home and had our big Thanksgiving dinner. We were each in charge of making a dish and it was so fun to try everyone's new recipes. I made the a sweet potatoe dish that I had at the Flakes house and I'm glad to say everyone loved it at my house as well.

Sara and Ben were in charge of doing the turkey and I have to say it wasn't just the prettiest turkey I have ever seen, but the best tasting as well!

Friday night we all went to see the Blindside, which I loved, and then for part of our parent's Christmas present we took them out to dinner at Johnny Carinos.

Saturday night we took our parents ice skating as another part of their present. Even the little kids put their skates on and we all had a lot of fun.

The whole group ice skating

We spent Sunday at church, making Christmas candy, and relaxing. It was a great trip and I loved being home- thanks mom and dad for everything, I am truely grateful for all of you.

Matthew's Baptism

Matthew Topham was baptised in October and I was lucky to be able to join the Tophams for this occasion. Sam and I drove down to Vegas and spent the weekend with her family playing games, eating frozen yogurt (quite the experience), eating cookies (lots of cookies), watching Dani's soccer game, and relaxing at home. It's been so fun watching Matthew grow up over the past few years and I was so excited for him and his decision.

Matthew and all his cousins

(I was lucky enough to be included in this cousin picture)

Drew, me, and Sam

I almost look like another adopted sibling :)

New Moon

Yes, I am proud to say that Sam and I went to see the midnight showing of New Moon &had a blast.
Who doesn't love having an excuse to make shirts, stay up extra late to eat candy and watch a good chick flick with your best friend?!

Halloween at DISNEYLAND!!!

You would think that being from California, I would have been able to say that I have gone to Disneyland several times- but that is not true. Sadly, before this weekend, I had never been there. But now, thank you to the Topham family, I have experienced the magic of Disneyland. They are regulars there so I was privileged to go with a family who knew the ways (to say the least) and have a blast with them.
I was getting ready to go and wanted to clear off my memory card for my camera, and on the plane half way there I realized my memory card was still in my computer and not in my camera :( Thank goodness for camera phones...

Matthew, me, Sam, and Danica
Standing outside of the gates before 8am.
(which is big for a college student on a weekend)

Dumbo

Splash mountain
with the themed pose of "asian tourist"

I dont know how Sam and I ended up being in the front of the log- but I do know that we got soaked, and were wet for the majority of the day
(hence the bad hair in the rest of the pictures)

The lovely hats in the gift shop

The tea cups.
I was with Sam's mom in the fact that we didn't know how much spinning we could handle, so we decided to ride seperately
(Matthew was sad because he wanted to be in the "fast cup" with Sam, Drew, and Dani)

Saturday at California Adventure

I think I look like I'm 12 in this picture, which I love

Thank you Tophams for letting me come with you all and be apart of your family once again,

I always have an amazing time.

Pumpkin Carving

To begin the Halloween festivities, we had a group date with a few of the girls with whom I go to school. Karolyn, Zahara, Julianne, and I all brought our dates and had a fun night of dinner at Chillies and then a fun pumpkin carving contest.


The group at dinner


Everyone with their pumpkins before the carving started


Starting the carving


Cleaning out pumpkins



Our 'electric' pumpkin, with out initials on the side


All the carved and lit pumpkins

Thanks everyone for a fun night- I can't wait for more UCDH girls date nights :)

Mom and Dad's Visit

I always love when my dad has his dental implant class and they get to spend the weekend in Utah. Sadly, this is probably one of their last times coming up for the class- but hopefully they will still get to come up often.


We had a big dinner at my grandma Toolsons which was so fun. The whole group- my mom and dad, grandma and grandpa Toolson, grandpa Tingey, Andrew and Carrie, Blake, Sam, and me. Ryan is the only one not in the picture, as he was the one to take it.

On Saturday, since my dad didn't have class, my parents, Andrew, and I headed up to Mt. Timp to hike the caves and take the tour. It was such a pretty hike up and it was the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning with my family. I sometimes take Utah for granted, just how beautiful it is- so I was glad to take a break from my crazy life to enjoy it.














Thank you mom and dad for such a fun weekend. We always love having you come up and spending time with you- and the groceries you so kindly buy us :) I love you both.