Las Vegas Bowl

BYU made it to the Las Vegas Bowl again this year and Matt and I decided to go. We have some friends, Diana and Chris Erb, who live there so on Friday afternoon we headed down to their house. We took everyone but Kolton (who is at the age where he doesn't want to do things with the family). On Saturday we went and met my mom,dad and Josh, Stacy and Taylor, Deco and Kera, and Jeremy Redd who were also going to the game, at the MGM Grand to see the lions.

Looking for lions.

Shhhh! They're sleeping.

After the lions we went to Mandalay Bay to the Shark Reef.
Touching the sting rays.

One of the cool fish we saw.

Beautiful jellyfish (which are actually not fish, but are made up of 96% water, they are invertebrates that have no eyes, no ears, and no brain, huh, who knew?).

We had a hard time getting any good pictures of the sharks because they swam past us too fast but they were the coolest part.

After we were done at the Shark Reef we took the kids back to the Erbs house and got ready for the game. We dressed really warm since all the men that went to the game last year froze.

We had great seats thanks to Chris and Diana. We sat on the third row right on the side of the north end zone. We sat right in the middle of Matt Ah You's friends and family. We forgot our camera so I don't have any pictures right now but at half time I went and borrowed Stacy's camera. When she emails me the pictures I took I'll add them.

BYU lost so it wasn't a fun game but one cool thing happened. While I was getting the camera from Stacy, Matt ran into a friend, Mark Hodge, that we lived by in Orem. We hadn't seen them for years. We moved to Montana and they moved to St. George and we lost touch. It was great seeing him again and getting phone #'s and emails so I guess the trip was worth it even though BYU lost.

Kolton , Alexi, Jensen, and I are all in the ward choir and were singing in church today so we headed home after the game. We got home at 4:00 this morning, YAWN. We had church at 9:00 a.m. so we were all pretty tired. Luckily I was able to take a long nap after church and get caught up on some sleep.

Thanks Chris and Diana for putting up with us this weekend and for getting us great tickets!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Okay, I'll admit it does feel a lot more like Christmas with snow on the ground but I still hate snow for two reasons.

#1. I HATE TO BE COLD!

#2. I hate the mess that is always by my front door from all the kids snow stuff!

Christmas Fun!

I love the Christmas season! But, it also means we're really busy so I've had a hard time keeping our blog updated so I decided to do one long post to show some of the Christmas fun we've been having this season.

This is the first year we've had a mantle to hang our stockings up on. Last year I found the cutest stocking hangers at Target. I love how it all looks by our fireplace.

On Dec. 6th we started off celebrating with a family Christmas party with Matt's side of the family. We had it here at our house. First we had dinner. Then while the kids ran around a played the adults all played a fun game of Apples to Apples. When the kids couldn't stand it any longer we let them open presents.

All the kids waiting for their turn. We went youngest to oldest opening presents.

Oakley showing off the Legos he got.

Jensen loved the perfume and lotion she got.

Even Kolton had a good time.

The next week, on Dec. 11 Oakley and Addison got a special night with mom and dad. Santa had left them each an early present to open.

What could they be?

P.J.'s!

Still not knowing where we were going they got dressed for their adventure.

We went to Heber for a ride on the Polar Express.

Mom and Addi waiting for the fun to begin.

Dad and Oakley can't wait to see Santa!

Noelle, Scout, Maxon, and Trent went with us.

First, we all got chocolate chip cookies made by Mrs. Santa, YUM!

Then we got yummy hot chocolate.

Mrs. Clause came by and gave everyone her special cookie recipe.

We finally made it to the North Pole and picked up Santa!

He gave each of the kids a bell from one of his reindeer.

Maxon wasn't too impressed with Santa.

One of Santa's elves told Oakley his bell was from Blitzen.

Addi's was from Cupid.

We all had a great time.

On Saturday Dec. 13th was our ward party. Our activities committee put together a Luau. They even roasted two whole pigs. It was good food and a lot of fun. Santa even showed up and took family pictures with everyone.

The next week we went to Kolton's Christmas Choir concert. He even had a solo part. He has a great voice. I love that he is starting to really enjoy singing.

I was in charge of the Oakley's class Christmas party this year. My neighbor is really good friends with Santa and was able to talk him into coming to Oakley's class and giving all the kids a present.

Addi went to help me with the party so she even got to sit on Santa's lap and get a present.

Alexi was Santa's helper.

After Santa was done in Oakley's class he went around and visited all the other classes and gave out candy canes.

The kindergarten class decorated sugar cookies, made reindeer food, and played bingo.

Geography Bee

Alexi and Jensen each came home from school recently (on different days) and said what a terrible day they had had. Why? Because they both won the geography bee in their class. Can you imagine a worse day? They were both terrified because now they were both going to be in the school geography bee. Luckily neither one of them won because I'm sure the world would have ended. I was just proud that they did so well.

Meal Group

Okay, I just have to tell you about one of the best ideas ever. My mom gave me a book about how to start a make-ahead-meal group. You get 9 other women (10 total counting yourself) and each month you each make 10 of the same meal and freeze it. Then you all meet and exchange meals so everyone takes home 10 different frozen meals. This is the second month I have done it and we love it. On nights when everything is crazy I still have a home cooked meal to feed my family. Matt loves it because he gets stuff that I don't cook because it's not my favorite food, but hey if someone else does the cooking I'll eat it! So far it has saved us time and money.

These are pictures of all the food for this month. Awesome, huh?!

Job opening

I am currently in need of a blog maid. Not sure if that's the right title for the job but I couldn't figure out what else to call it.

Qualifications: TIME! That's it, just time to keep my blog updated.

Pay: Not much, but I'll fix you dinner every now and then:)

Please leave a comment to apply for the job and I'll be doing interviews as soon as I can find 5 mintues in my day without something else that needs to be done.

Thanksgiving

This year we went to Noelle and Trent's house for Thanksgiving. My entire family, 27 of us, were there along with Trent's mom. We had great food, great company, and a great time. After we ate we went to a park next to the Mt. Timpanogos temple and took some family pictures. After pictures we went back to Noelle's to clean up and have more pie while the men went to a movie. Every year I say that the next time it's the women's (Michelle, did I put the ' in the right place on that one, it always confuses me?) turn to go to a movie while the men stay home and clean up but it never seems to happen that way. It was a great day. I'm so thankful for such an awesome family that I love to spend time with.

These pictures weren't actually taken on Thanksgiving but Addi and Oakley both had parties in their preschool and kindergarten classes and dressed up like Indians (or should I be politically correct and say Native Americans?). They were so cute I had to show the pictures.

Lexi had baby Scout in her arms as much as possible throughout the day.

What would Thanksgiving be without olives to put on your fingers?

We only had 10 pies and a pumpkin pie cake for 28 people but somehow we made due.

Grandpa and grandma with very uncooperative grandkids.

The entire Lyman clan (at least until June when Deco and Kera add one more:).