Dalley and Cross Country

Dalley ran cross country this year in school. She learned a lot. She had pain, she was tired, there was some discouragement with her times, but never at anytime did she give up. Dalley loved every minute. Easy? NO! Worth it? Absolutely!

Its official. I am a parent of a college student. This is Aubree coming down the stairs from her apartment.

At first it was hard to have her gone. She didnt call, write, text... but then I realized we raise them to go out on their own and become independant from Mom and Dad. I am so proud of her and all she is doing.

She has already been in a play and has auditioned for others. She is working, socalizing, and most of all studying. They had stake conference and the speakers were Jeffery R Holland, Boyd K Packer, Julie S Beck and a member of the 70's. (I want to go back to college)

SUPERMAN?????

I am not sure if I could call my almost 2 yr old Super. I am trying to think positively about the destruction he causes on a daily basis. This picture is just a sample of the types of things he does. Let me list a few of the things that... I had to have a time out for...

destroyed 8+ tubes of lipstick or gloss, emptied out a vaseline jar. opened 5 soy milks and poured them out (luckily we were able to save some), ate several packages of gum that now can be found in my carpet, took 30 melatonin (sleeping) pills. (luckily poison control told me they were not lethal so I enjoyed a good nights rest). Ate Annies dog food. tracked mud all over the house. We had to have the carpets cleaned... personally, I think it is interesting that he even found mud in Las Vegas in August. Ate all of the cookies in the pantry. Wiped poo all over the house... Keep in mind I have not even addressed the picture above which has permanently stained my carpet. Child proof capped cough syrup.

I love this little boy but I hope he out grows his inquisitive side.

4th of July

Having the 4th of July on a Sunday was great. We talked to the kids about how blessed we were to live in a country that allowed us to worship our Father in Heaven. We had Family over and enjoyed visiting and being together. Our tradition of having homemade ice cream did not work so we had milkshakes instead.

Our young women went to girls camp in Salt Lake City, UT. It was so neat. The girls and I saw and did things we have never done before. We hiked Ensign peak, We did baptisms in the Salt Lake Temple, saw the vaults, did humanitarian service,and saw the original transcripts of the Book of Mormon. We had testimony meeting on Friday night and it was such a spiritual experience. I was so grateful to have been there with the girls.

Aubree has graduated from high school. She had several accomplishments:
High Honors Diploma
White letter for Music (White letter is for those who lettered all four years of high school.)
Shadow Ridge Scholastic Scholarship (this was only given to 10 seniors who excelled in acedemics, leadership, and activities).
In theater she won Best actress in a play for 2009-10 and she won Senior of the year. Her picture will be hung in the lobby of the theater for the entire 2010-11 school year.
She received Senior of the year for Music.

We are so proud of you Aubree!!!

I Shouldn't Be Alive

Saturday May 8, 2010 8:15AM I attended the 2nd year hike for girls camp. They needed leaders and I volunteered. I was eager to go and bond with my beehives. I arrived on time at the stake center, prayed, asked for directions to our hiking location and I was off with a car load of girls. So young. So naïve. Completely unprepared for the horror ahead of us.

Saturday May 8, 2010 9:00am We arrived at our destination with no problems. Weather was nice, the sun was shining, and the mountains appeared to have little patches of snow on them. It was beautiful. My eagerness turned to excitement for the adventure that awaited us.

Saturday May 8, 2010 9:15am The trail started off a little rocky. At first I was nervous at the steep incline. The elevation had affected my ability to breath. I found myself gasping for air with each step but knew I had many miles to travel and was not going to be discouraged at my lack of oxygen or the fact that this climb would last another 53 steps. I should have known that this was a bad sign.

Saturday May 8, 2010 9:35am We arrived at what we called “the tree arch”. (Branches that had been pulled over to make an arch) This would be a pivotal moment in our journey. The snow was getting thick. Too thick. Before we knew it, we were off of the trail and were unsure where to find it. Finally, we decided to continue forward to the unknown… Luckily I had water with me so I took a break and drank some.

Saturday May 8, 2010 9:50 Some of the leaders (Whose names will be hidden to protect their identities) Sara and Robin decided to go up the side of a mountain. It was enormous and covered in snow. As I climbed I noticed that there were hideously deep holes in the snow where other hikers had stepped. They were so deep. I wondered how they got out alive. I took my next step and it happened. I was falling. The snow engulfed my right leg up to my knee. Here I was face to face with my worst fear. How am I going to get out of this? As I looked around hoping to find some answer there it was a branch just above my head. I grabbed hold and pulled myself up with all of the energy in me. I felt the branch breaking under my hands, covering my hands in the life blood of its sap. I was trying to get out as quickly as possible. The branch broke. I wanted to cry. Other hikers were laughing cruelly at my misfortune and I was not going to let them get the better of me. With my left leg I stepped and gave one great push and was just able to walk out of it.


Saturday May 8, 2010 10:10am We realized we were too far off of the path and could not complete the hike. This was a discouraging moment for all of us. It was determined that we needed to go back the way we came in. As we descended down the mountain the snow became slick. I was careful as I went down but not careful enough. I began to slide, the further I went the faster I was traveling. I closed my eyes. I hoped that I would miss tree branches and rocks that covered the path. As my life flashed before my eyes I looked for someone to catch my fall. No one was around. I thought who would find me. Would I be left to the animals? I was in deep despair. Finally after 2 feet of falling I came to rest in a soft patch of snow gazing toward the sky. Amazingly, I was free of any injuries. It was not my time to go.



Saturday May 8, 2010 10:30am We wandered for what seemed to be hours. I was starving, exhausted, I craved shelter, and longed to see my children one more time. In the far distance I began to see some evidence of life. It was a troop of scouts (I think they call themselves cubs). I ran to them only to learn that they were lost as well. I grabbed their map and compass. I knew it was going to be up to me, and me alone to find the way out. I got my second wind. I felt strong and alive. I moved quickly toward the summit of the mountain. When I reached the top there it was…a mound of snow. I know to most people it may not seem like much, but to me I knew it was a mound only a snow plow could create. I was right. We were at the top of the Ski Resort. We slid down the side of this mountain that only moments before was the monster trying to keep us from returning home.

Saturday May 8, 2010 The girls began to cheer my name. They raised me on top of their shoulders (Well at least they thought about it I am sure). By 11:30am we were safe at our cars. I was hesitant to remove my boots. I was terrified of frost bite. Luckily as one sock came off and then the next all was well. My toes had a little polish missing, but the others assured me that I would not lose my style. This was an experience that I will never forget.

DISNEYLAND

Disneyland was so much fun. I think we were able to do everything we hoped to do. The kids loved it. Aubree's favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean. Dalley and Brenen loved Tower of Terror. But the family favorite was the roaring rapids. Superman was not able to ride some of the rides so he created his own fun by using his dads head as a drum. Kaison was excited to see Lighting McQueen lived at Disneyland. Chandler and Trey were easy to please they loved it all. We missed Haleigh who had dance try outs the week of Disneyland. It was worth it. She is on the dance team for next year. Go Haleigh.

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Aubree was Titania in the play "A Midsummer Nights Dream." She was amazing if I do say so myself.


Superman, however, wanted to star in the play but could not get his make up to go on the way he hoped. It was exhausting for him.

Happy 40th Birthday Mom

I had my 40th birthday and the kids wanted to make me a cake. (They are so sweet) However, they put a trick candle in it. Kaison was laughing so hard due to the fact that no matter how hard I tried I could not blow out my one candle. After several tries I was finallly able to blow it out. Kaison was so happy for me that he threw his arms in the air and said "Yeah"

HAPPY EASTER

We had a wonderful Easter. It was nice to have it on conference Sunday. The kids all ate candy as they watched it on TV.

Aubree's picture hangs on the wall at Shadow Ridge High School. She is student of the quarter for the science department. She is a great student. GOOD JOB!

Go to bed

Superman just graduated to a big boy bed. There is only one problem with it. He wont stay in his bed. Every night we lay him down kiss him and tell him to go to sleep. We leave the room and all is quiet. Any parent knows that when everything is quiet that usually means that the kids are asleep, but to our surprise he is not sleeping he is missing. He leaves his bed and goes hiding behind the couch, in sisters room under laundry, in the toy box, the list goes on. I am amazed that a 18 month old baby can be so quiet. I am hoping he overcomes this desire to hide. It is wearing me out.

Aubree is now 18 years old. Chad and I cannot believe we have an adult child. She is headed for BYU in the fall. She will be seeking a degree in acting and a PHD in Anthropology. She is such a good girl and very talented. We know she will accomplish alot.

Mom is getting old

I was shopping at Costco. Kaison was in the cart with Superman. Kaison was looking at me:

Mom: What is it?

Kaison: Mom you are old.

Mom: (Sad face)

Kaison: (smiles) Dont worry your still my mom.

Later that day I am driving with all of the boys in the car.

Mom: Boys Kaison told me that I was old.

Chandler and Brenen: (sympathetically) Mom he did not mean it.

Kaison: (Very matter of fact) Yes I did

Merry Christmas

We all got what we wanted for Christmas and more....




On the twelfth day of Christmas my family gave to me...
12 Trips to Target (Because the kids were on Christmas Break and were bored)
11 Broken ornaments (maybe not that many)
10 Fights over Christmas toys (maybe more that that many)
9 Garbage bags of gift wrap
8 Kids out of school
7 Dirty diapers in one day
6 The time gifts were all opened (too early)
5 HOURS OF SLEEP
4 Interupted showers
3 Days in Arizona
2 Bushy eyebrows (We love you Liz)
1 family who shows they love me.

Fast Sunday

We had a state wide fast. We were asked to fast for those who may be effected by the current economy. Our family sat down on Saturday evening and discussed how important this fast was. All of the kids wanted to participate. The next morning I got up and was busy as usual. I went to a meeting and came home a little after 11:00am. I noticed that Kaison (who is 4) had not been fed breakfast. I started to ask why no one had given him breakfast. Kaison said Mom I am fasting. Needless to say my heart melted, what a sweet boy.

Christmas Wish List

Dad - Books, DVD, Gift Cards (Easy to please)
Kayleen - Perfume, Candles, Crockpot cookbook (I know, moms should never ask for anything for the kitchen)

Aubree - Anything for college, anything "Wicked" (the musical)
Haleigh - Side kick cell phone (fat chance those are expensive)
Dalley - I pod
Chandler - Something that has to do with sharks
Brenen - Lego's
Trey - I spy books, games
Kaison - Cars
Superman - I think he wants a new logo.


I think the biggest thing our family wishes for is that all of our friends and love ones have a wonderful 2010.

Merry Christmas

10 K

At Thanksgiving the Lyman brothers planned on running a 10K. Dalley and Kayleen wanted to run as well so they joined the brothers team. This was an accomplishment for Chad and Kayleen who do not enjoy running. Dalley who loves to run finnished ahead of her parents.

We had Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday and Friday for both the Cuthbertson and Lyman families. It is always so fun to get everyone together.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Above are pictures of everything that has happened over the last month or two. For Chads birthday I surprised him with tickets to the BYU/UNLV football game. The game was on his birthday so I could not resist. He had no idea. Halloween was great. Aubree and Haleigh did not dress up this year. Dalley was a princess, Chandler was the Grim Reaper, Brenen was Batman, Trey wanted to be Dracula, Kaison was Superman, and of course Superman was himself. I just wore a witches hat and green lipstick. Aubree went with Colby to Homecoming. She was so beautiful and they had lots of fun. I was able to go on the game show "Lets Make a Deal" I thought I was real origonal by being the real octomom. When I got there I found out that they had alot of octomoms so I was not selected. I am sure they were not the real thing like I was. I had a lot of fun anyway. Finally Superman has turned ONE. I cannot believe it has been a year. Definately a crazy month but it has been great.

I almost forgot I had a blog. With facebook keeping me in touch with everyone,my blog has just been put on the back burner.

Our family celebrated two birthdays. The first one was our little Superman. We cannot believe he had his 1st birthday. We gave him his presents and he just looked at them. Once mom poked a hole in the package he stuck his finger in and pulled the paper off. However, he just wanted to play with the paper. It took about 20 minutes to help him open his gifts but he did get them opened.

We gave him his own cake to tear into. He was pretty careful not to make a mess at first. Big sister Dalley came along and pushed his hand into the cake. He laughed so hard and thought it was fun so he started to swing his hand around and cake went flying. Mom would have normally been a little unhappy but Haleigh had floor duty so she was the one saying "no" this time. Superman then took his plate and flipped it off of the high chair when he was done with the mess.

Chad had a little surprise for his birthday. I had arranged for him to have his birthday off of work. Chad had no idea. The kids and I then woke him up to the "Happy Birhday" Song and breakfast in bed. We gave him his present which was a BYU highlight video and tickets to the BYU v. UNLV game. He was very excited. It was so much fun and BYU won so it was a great birthday indeed.

Shadow Ridge Dance Team

Haleighs dance team looked great at the football game Friday night. She is so cute,isn't she?

Happy 15th Birthday, Haleigh!!!

Happy BIrthday!!!!! Trey!!!!!

Trey had a great birthday. He opened his presents in the morning and then went off to play with all of his gifts. I made a molten chocolate cupcake for his birthday and put lots of ice cream on top. After we went to butterfly park and loaded up on free school supplies while the boys played at the park. Next birthday he will be baptized.

What a fun summer our family has had so far. If you look at the pictures to the left you will find that we went to California and enjoyed some time in the pool. Next we went to Utah for football camp. The boys were great and had a lot of fun. We were able to see the Oquirrh Hills Temple open house. It was so neat. Finally all the Lyman girls went to camp. Yes, I ziplined, climbed a rock wall, and managed to find time to eat a bug. However I would say the highlight of my summer so far was seeing the Oquirrh Hills Temple.