Christmas 2010

Does anyone else feel like they blog about Christmas every few weeks? I can't believe how fast it comes around but we had another wonderful Christmas. Matt was the Activities Chairperson for our ward so he was in charge of the ward Christmas party.

Here's our cute primary kids acting out the Nativity and singing a song.

Matt asked the Payson High Chamber singers to sing for the Christmas party.

I only got a good picture of the guys, the rest were all blurry but the girls were there too.

Santa even made a visit.

We headed down to Blanding again this year. On the 23rd we had a Christmas party with my dad's side of the family. Of course we had good food, singing, and lots of laughter.

Kolton and I sang again this year.

And we played the present game.

This ended up being our last Christmas with Grandma Clessa. Of course none of us knew it would be but now I'm so grateful we decided to spend Christmas in Blanding.

Christmas Eve morning we went to the Stake Center and had a Zumba class with family and friends.

A blurry picture of me teaching.

After Zumba Matt, Jensen, Oakley, Addi, Jeremy, Kristi, Camryn, Carter, Logan, and my dad went hiking at Natural Bridges.

Kristi, Carter, Logan, Oakley, Addi, Jensen, Camryn, and Jeremy.

Addi, Jensen, and Oakley

Dad, Camryn, Logan, Jeremy, Carter, Jensen, Addi, and Oakley

Addi

Oakley

Addi

That night we had a party with my mom's family. More good food, singing, and laughter.

Kolton opened a pair of Batman underwear during the present game and figured the best way to keep them from getting stolen was to put them on immediately. Luckily he put them on over his pants. Logan thought it was pretty cool and wanted to be an Underwear Superhero too.

Christmas morning started off with everyone meeting in Grandma and Grandpa's room to read the Christmas story out of the scriptures. We say we do this to remember the true meaning of Christmas but really we just do it to torture the kids. ;) J/K It's one of my favorite traditions of Christmas and helps us get in the right spirit for the day.

Jensen, Addi, Mom, Oakley, Lexi, and Kolton waiting "patiently" for everyone to get to G & G's room.

Getting their first look at the loot.

After we were done opening presents Grandma and Grandpa had another present for the kids to open. It had Mickey and Minnie ears for all the kids. G & G are taking us all to Disneyland in April!

We had another fantastic Christmas.

I wanted to add a couple of stories of Grandma Clessa so that I don't forget them. One of Matt's favorite Grandma treats is Honey Candy. She always makes sure she sets some aside for him. This year at Christmas she asked if he and the kids could come and help her make it because she wasn't strong enough to pull it anymore. Matt took the kids down on Christmas Eve afternoon and helped her make it. He is really grateful that he had the opportunity to spend that time with her and learn how to make it.
Grandma had been in the hospital in Nov. with pneumonia and had been having a hard time recovering fully. She always makes Christmas dinner for everyone but my mom told us that she wasn't up to it this year so we would just have dinner at my mom's house. Apparently someone forgot to tell Grandma though and she still made dinner for everyone.

Fall Happenings

Here's a few pics of some of our fall activities.

Not really an activity just a cute picture of Addi and Oakley.

Another cute picture of Addi, Jensen, and Oakley.

Addi and Oakley played soccer this year.

Addi playing goalie

Oakley

Kolton is on drumline again this year which meant he also had to be in Marching Band. He also got Lexi to try out so she was in Marching Band also and is now in drumline.
Kolton

Lexi

Addi

Oakley

We headed down to Blanding for Thanksgiving this year. As usual we had tons of yummy food!

And if you're a Lyman you know the most important part is DESSERT! We had 8 different kinds of pie, pumpkin pie creme brulee, and pumpkin poke cake. I think I figured out we had 14 pans of dessert plus several individual creme brulee for 27 people. Just about perfect if you're a Lyman!

Grandpa

My Grandpa Fred Halliday died on Aug, 14, 2010. I'm going to miss him so much but I know he's happy to be reunited with Grandma Audrey now. He is one of the best examples I know of someone who lived his life how the Savior would want. He was always serving others. Some of my favorite memories of him are:
The little red pickup
Homemade rootbeer
His super sweet punch
When he and Grandma took us to Disneyland
I always knew he loved me, even if I did something to disappoint him.

More summer fun!

The last month of summer was busy! So this will be one long post trying to get all caught up. Jensen made it to the Gold county swim meet this year. She wasn't very happy because it meant she would be swimming against the fastest swimmers. I told her she better just swim slower next year. She competed in freestyle and breaststroke and swam in two relays. She beat her best time in both events.

For Family Home Evening one evening we took the kids up Payson Canyon to hike the Grotto. It's a short easy hike that ends at a waterfall.

Addi and mom

Oakley

Jensen and mom at the top of the waterfall

Jensen cooling off

After we were done hiking we went to McDonald's for ice cream and then went to the park to play for awhile.

Lexi

Jensen & Oakley

Addi

Matt and I have wanted to hike Timp for the last few years but every time we plan it something comes up and we never make it. We planned a Saturday again this summer and it actually finally worked out. We invited my dad and Jason and Monica Bergstrom to go with us.

Jed, Matt, and Marilyn

Jed, Jason, Monica, and Marilyn

Marilyn cooling off under a waterfall

One of the many mountain goats we saw.

We made it all the way to the saddle. Not quite to the peak but close. The views were amazing.

Marilyn and Matt

Marilyn, Matt, and Jed

It was an awesome but exhausting hike. My feet were killing me for the last 3 or 4 miles down the mountain. I do want to do it again sometime though.

Bergstroms took us out several times on their boat. We loved it!

Matt wake boarding

Addi and Oakley jumping in

Addi and dad chilling at the front of the boat

Oakley trying knee boarding

Addi with Monica wake surfing in the background

Oakley and Zane

Eli driving the boat

Addi and Oakley

Oakley and Zane

Marilyn

I even tried wake surfing, but I never got up :(

Jason and Matt tubing

And to finish the summer off Kolton got his wisdom teeth out. I know this picture is kind of gross but I had to show them because they were huge! Even the dentist couldn't believe how big they were. Luckily he healed up pretty fast and didn't have any problems.