Christmas..VERY LONG!! (Really meant for me...)

Pictures will be added...someday! :)

We always celebrate Christmas with my side of the family on Christmas Eve Eve- so the 23rd. Santa paid us a visit, we played the cereal game, ate great food and exchanged gifts! I love being at my mom's around the holidays! It was especially fun this year because my brother, Tag was here! He hasn't been here for the holidays in a very long time and my kids were SOOO excited to see him! He spoiled them ROTTEN for Christmas! Seriously, Santa-caliber gifts! My kids couldn't stop talking about it for weeks! In fact, when Jake and Carly were asked what they got for Christmas- it was almost always what Uncle Tag got them that they told, not what Santa had! :) It was great!

Christmas Eve we always spend with Kevin's ENTIRE family at his Grandma Barbara's house. We eat, play the candybar game, have a talent show and exchange gifts. My kids love it! This year, my nephew Clay wanted to sing a song and he convinced Halle and some others to help him. Halle sang great! I was so impressed! She's definitely my performer!

It's always a LONG day and I tried my best to get the kids to bed early, but let's face it~it's Christmas Eve, NOBODY wants to go to sleep! We gave the kids their usual pajamas and 2 new videos. We have a tradition from when I was little- that all the kids sleep together in the same room on Christmas Eve, so all my kids slept in Jake's old room and watched the movies.

Christmas morning, Scott came into our room around 4:30am and I told him to please try and wait until at least 6:30. Well, 6:30 am exactly I heard Scott almost yelling with excitement- waking up the other kids. Kevin & I sat in our room laughing that our almost 13 year old was the most excited! He told the kids that he'd snuck out and made sure that Santa had come! They were so excited!

I made them wait until Grandma Maureen, Aunt Tami & Uncle Tag arrived, so they could watch them open their gifts. (It was TORTURE I tell you!) :)

Carly got her Princess Scooter and Dora Bike, plus her favorite gift...DRESS UP CLOTHES!

Halle got her American Doll- Julie. (Kevin had her convinced that they only made 50 of these dolls and he didn't think she had been good enough to be in the top 50- HOW MEAN WAS THAT?! But, her face was priceless when she saw JULIE!)

Jake got a pump scooter and Baseball Bat, but his favorite thing was the new camoflauge bedding and bear skin rug!

Scott was my all time favorite this year.
All he wanted was a cell phone. I tried and tried to convince Kevin to let us get him one, but he kept saying no. On Dec. 20th I sat down with Scott and told him that he wasn't getting a cell phone for Christmas. He got all trembly with tears in his eyes and everything. I told him to hold out and maybe for his birthday- which was in February.
(Side note: I know some of you might wonder why I told him, but I didn't want the face that I saw to be seen on Christmas day. I wanted to "prepare" him so there wouldn't be any disappointment.)
Anyway, that night Kevin & I went to dinner and to do some last minute shopping, I told him about my coversation with Scott and literally pleaded with him to let us get it for him. He actually agreed (I did have to bring up the BB Gun Story~another story)- anyway, before he could change his mind, I called Tami (who is on our plan) to come to the cell phone store NOW and pick the phone she wanted. I picked up the new phone on Christmas Eve.
We hid the phone inside the Christmas Tree- "Santa" gave Scott some new clothes, so everyone thought we were all done-we even started cleaning up. All of the sudden, a phone rings...Kev asked my brother is that your phone, no he said- mom, is it yours...no she says- we all turned and looked at scott- he didn't move! He just had this blank look-he really hadn't "clued in".
Finally Kev said- hey Dumb---your phone is ringing! We all burst into laughter! Scott's face was absolutely priceless! He found the phone and gave each Kevin & I a hug all the while- telling us that he hated us and that we were so lame... with a HUGE smile on his face! You gotta love teenagers, huh?!

It was a great Christmas!

YW's

I got called into Young Women's the first week of December! I am SOOO excited! I've loved it so far! The girls are great and the leaders are too! I love working with the youth of the church! I just can't believe how much they already know! It's inspiring to me!

New Camera!

Actual date: December 15th, 2008
I seriously think that I've begged for a new camera, a nice digital SLR one, for more than a year! My friend Vanessa takes the BEST pictures with her Nikon and I've LOVED it! Well, for my birthday (& Christmas) my darling husband with- I'm sure great pressure and TONS of HELP from my mom & sister- finally bought me a Nikon D60! I coulnt' be happier! Well, I could-I would love to know how to use it! LOL! I was sooo surprised! I was camera happy before- but now it's just kind of ridiculous! :) (Just ask my kids!) Thanks again ALL of you! :)

Gingerbread House Contest

So, we've started a tradition in the Lyman family of decorating Gingerbread houses for FHE. We usually do it the first Monday of the month- but with Halle's injury we had to wait until the 2nd Monday. We always have a contest between the girls & the boys. Then whenever someone comes over we ask them to "vote". I'm pretty sure the girls won this year, but it was close! It is so much fun! I love to do it and I know all of my kids look forward to it each year!

Carly, of course is in her dress-up!




The Girls finished project:


The Boys finished project:

Not again...

Actual date: December 1, 2008
Well, at least it wasn't Carly this time! I really think I jinxed myself by saying that poor Carly has almost had stitches twice and Halle hasn't ever had any kind of semi-serious injury! Well, she was running from the front door to the garage to tell Scott that a friend was here and banged her head on our banister! Of course head injuries bleed profusely and surprisingly enough- Halle was pretty calm! I had her lay on my kitchen counter top (gross, I know, but who's thinking of sanitary options when their child is bleeding?)anyway, it was a pretty good cut, but I figured I could just superglue it- I didn't have any superglue, so Barney's to the rescue again! I would NOT recommend supergluing your beautful daughter's head! Sure, the bleeding stopped and it healed nicely, but after 3 weeks of "superglue glob" in her hair, her dad finally had to pull all of the hair out! Can you say "Holy Crap-OUCH!!"? If I even accidentally touched it too hard in the tub she would tear up- but, no when daddy -her favorite- is pulling out a chunk of her hair, she barely even whimpered! What a tough cookie! She has a nice bald spot, but luckily you can't really see it in any hair style we do!

Sports

Through the months of October-January Scott and Jake have kept us busy with basketball and wrestling.

Scott is a great basketball player- I didn't really know what to expect because he hasn't been able to play for the last 2 years! But, he does awesome!


Jake loves wrestling. He's had the opportunity to practice with the Payson Junior High Wrestling team and has learned a TON! He has taken first or second in each tournament that he has wrestled in-which is awesome! I really have a hard time watching wrestling- little boys crying is just too sad to watch! But, as long as Jake is there, I will be too!

This is a picture of the ref getting ready to bring Jake's arm up as the winner:

Thanksgiving

We spent Thansgiving this year with Kevin's family. There were A LOT of family there. My mom & sister had Thanksgiving by themselves, they loved the peace and quiet and relaxation so much they are seriously thinking of never hosting Thanksgiving dinner again! LOL! Like I would ever let that happen! :) I hate having to choose where to go on holidays, but after our first year of eating at both places and feeling sick afterwards- there are just some decisions you have to make! :)

I've read so many blogs that talk about why they are "Thankful" and I loved reading them! So, just so everyone knows- I am very thankful for indoor plumbling- but not for having to clean them, washers & dryers, dishwashers (& mom's that fill them for you while you're at work), my great husband, my best friend- who, sad to say, is as busy as I am and we don't get together often enough!, my kids, my mom & sister-without them I wouldn't be able to do 1/2 the things I do, my brothers & their families, my dad & his family, my Aunt Sally who keeps me laughing through emails and reminds me on a weekly basis just how much we are alike!, Kevin's family, my neighbors who are my great friends! and for my Heavenly Father who makes all of this possible for me to be thankful for!