I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!

As stated in a post a few days ago ice cream is a favorite treat in our house. Well we have a new favorite ice cream shop in town. A few month's ago Farr's Fresh opened up its doors near our house and it is YUMMY!! If you don't know what it is, they have a soft serve ice cream bar with about 15 different flavors of custard, ice cream and frozen yogurt. You load all the ice cream you want in a bowl and then go over to the topping bar where they have probably 40 different toppings to choose from. You name it they have it. They change out the flavors of ice cream all the time so you can always come up with new creations.

When Tyler had the day off on Monday, that is the place we decided to go. We went through with the kids first and helped them pick out the creations first and then got them seated while Tyler and I went back and got ours ready. In the time it took for Tyler and I to get our ice cream both of our kids had dropped theirs on the floor at two different times in two different places. We are lucky we didn't get banned from the place. The lady who was working was very nice though and let us fix what got ruined about them. The kids each gave it two thumbs up!!

Tyler playing around with the camera again. Mini photo shoot in the ice cream shop. I love this picture though so it was worth it.

So if you haven't checked out Farr's Fresh yet, I highly recommend it. There are always coupons around for them too so don't go without one.

Tumbling

This year we decided to get Lauren back onto tumbling. She took it a couple years ago and really liked it. I may like it more than she does though because I just love seeing her learn new things every week. Recently she got this new pink leotard day and now wears it around all the time. The skirt is not so much for tumbling but most of the other girls in her class have one and she wouldn't let me leave the store with out getting her one. She just kept saying, thank you, thank you, thank you, I love it!! She also asked me all week how many more days til tumbling so she could wear her new outfit. Tyler had today off so he came with us to tumbling. He is much better at taking pictures than I am so we actually got some decent shots of her, that and the new camera really helps too. I hope that Lauren stays interested in gymnastics as she gets older, I really think she has good potential. She has been bugging me to take dance classes too though, so we will see where we end up.

Lauren has recently mastered the standing back bend and doesn't need the wall anymore. It is stuff like this that gets me so excited for her. I just love watching her excel at things.

Here are a few videos of some of the fun things she is learning.
Way to go Lauren!!

Ladies Night Out!!

On Saturday night a bunch of my girls friends took me out for an early birthday celebration. We headed up to Salt Lake and went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. After a two hour wait we finally got seated. Thank goodness the restaurant is connected to the mall so we could get some shopping in while we waited. For those of you who haven't been there before, don't let the wait scare you off, it is worth the wait, I promise. One of my favorite things to do is to sit around with good friends and just talk. So needless to say with a group of 9 ladies we got a lot of talking in, along with some good laughing. Although laughing really hard on such a full stomach is not such a good idea. I'm lucky to have kept my dinner down. I got this yummy pasta dish and was so full when I was done, but you can't go to the Cheesecake Factory without getting cheesecake, so I ordered the turtle cheesecake and it was so yummy. Everyone passed theirs around so we could each try all the different kinds. Oh how I love cheesecake!!

After dinner we had planned on going to a movie, but since dinner took so long five of you lovely ladies bailed out on us. April, Liz, Jessica and I headed to theatre to see The Lovely Bones. I have to say though, that the five who left, didn't miss out. The movie was just really weird and random and not at all what I was expecting. That all right though, I just enjoy being out with good company so I wasn't too bummed that the movie was dumb. I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends. Thanks so much for a great night out ladies. I love you all!!

Happy New Year!!

This year for New Years Eve we weren't totally sure what we were going to do. We had invited Heidi and McKay to come down and sleep over. Tyler's mom and sister Holly were going to come down too. They all ended up getting sick thanks to me passing it around on Christmas eve, so that didn't end up happening. We were then invited to go down to Tyler's cousin Sandi's for the night, but then the forecast changed and it was supposed to be super snowy and we didn't want to drive that far in the snow without four wheel drive. We ended up talking Rick and Sandi and their boys into coming to our house since they have a truck. The weather ended up not being as bad as they said and we would have been fine. Thanks again Sandi and Rick for being willing to come up here. We all had a really great time!!

We all played lots of games. At one point the kids couldn't agree on what to play so they each had their own games set up. They finally realized it was more fun to play together and took turns playing everyones game of choice.

Of course there was some Wii played as well.

Rick and Sandi at the adults game table. I love playing games and can never get enough of them. These guys are some of my favorite people for game playing.

I had gotten the kids a few things to play with for the evening to keep them entertained. Once it got dark they broke out their glow sticks and had a dance party with them on. I think Tyler had more fun than anyone though. We just got a new camera and he had fun playing around with it in the dark getting cool shots of the glow sticks.

There were a few random fireworks being set off in the area and whenever the kids heard them they would hurry and run to the window in hopes of getting a glimpse of one.

It is a tradition in Tyler's family that at midnight you go outside and bang pots and pans. I always feel so silly doing, but I love it at the same time.

After the banging of pots we came inside for the toast. I found these cheap cups at the dollar store to make it a little more festive. Lauren of course loved drinking out of them. Logan on the other hand was not a fan of our sparking cider.

New Years day was just spent being lazy and relaxing. We made a good breakfast and hung out for awhile before Rick and Sandi had to leave. We always have so much fun hanging out with them. After they left, we discovered they had left us a gift card for Cold Stone. If you know Tyler very well then you know of his love for ice cream, so of course we had to go and use it right away.


So many to choose from, how will I ever pick!?!

Logan went with brownie batter with peanut butter cups.
Mmmm chocolate!!

I can't remember what flavor combo Lauren had. I think she picked a couple different kinds of ice cream. Lauren shares her dad's love of ice cream and happily volunteered to try everyone's and finish off anyones who didn't finish on their own.

A great ending to another great Holiday Season!!

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Last Saturday was kind of a lazy day with not much going on. I got this fun idea from a friend to watch Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and then have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. So that is just what we did. It was kind of nice to just be home and be lazy.

Order Up!!

Christmas '09

I think I have already mentioned this but this year for Christmas it was our first year to stay home with just our little family. It was really nice to just be together without any other distractions. Tyler and I heard Logan open up his door on Christmas morning and we just watched him from our bed slowly walk down the hall and just stop and stare. He then came running into our bedroom shouting, presents, presents, santa came. He was SOOO excited, he couldn't stop dancing around. Tyler and I got up and got dressed and we let Logan go down stairs and wake up Lauren. We could hear him down yelling at her, "presents, present, wake up sissy, wake up. Santa came, come see, come see." Then on the way up the stairs he said to her, lets hold hands and they walked up the stairs together where he brought her into the living room where he continued to once again dance around in pure delight and excitement. it was so fun for Tyler and I to just sit back and watch the joy on his face. Lauren on the other hand is NOT a morning person and didn't show the kind of excitement I would have liked to have seen, but she got into it eventually.

Santa found his way to our house.
The night is finally quite and Santa had gone to bed.

Logan opening up some of his many presents. Just look at the happiness on that face!!

Lauren got down the routine. She would open a present, hold it up in position and smile for the camera then put it in her pile and wait for her next turn to open her next present.

Lauren posing by her pile of presents

Logan's version of a pose by his presents

Lauren and Logan each got to go shopping and buy a present for each other. Here they are posing together with the gifts they picked out for each other. Which of course they had both told each other what they had bought way before hand, but they were excited to finally open them.

The kids had a special little pile of presents lined up over by the stairs this year along with a new countdown chain. After all the other presents were opened they were allowed to open these ones. Lauren's were in princess paper and Logan's were in Mickey Mouse paper. Each present contained a different Disney themed item. After opening them all up I asked the kids what they thought all of this stuff was for and what it had in common. After several attempts and wrong guesses Lauren finally figured out that it meant they were going to Disneyland. I was a little disappointed by their reaction but I just don't think they realized how big of a deal it is. Since then we have been showing them pictures online of all the places we are going to go and they are so excited now. They tell everyone about it. I think I am still the most excited to go. We are going in February and our good friends the Stubbs are going with us. I can't wait!!

The kids with all their Disney loot. I took a lot of it away and are going to give it back to them on our trip so I don't have to buy all the expensive junk when we get there.

I have never added a video before, so if this works, then this is the kids coming up the stairs together on Christmas morning. You can see for yourself their excitement.

Over-all it was a great Christmas for the Lysager family this year. I look forward to doing it all again next year and continuing on with our new traditions we made this year as well and adding more to it Thanks to all of our friends and family for all the wonderful, cards, gifts and goodies. We love you all!!

Heaven makes me happy!!

This past week at church the kids got new teachers in primary. Lauren's new teacher told me in her class she asked them when they were the happiest in their life. All of the kids raised their hands and said things like when I did this or went to this place. Lauren raised her hand and said, "I think I was probably the most happy when I was living up in heaven." So cute, I think those kids know more than they let on.

Lauren 11 months old

Christmas Eve

This year for Christmas Eve we went up to Heidi and Mckay's in Logan for the day. Most of Tyler's family was able to be there, so it was really a great time. We had a yummy dinner planned as well The Nativity and opening presents. I wasn't feeling so good in the morning and only got sicker as the day went on. I think my body was just over worked and tired and ready for a break. Therefore Tyler got to be the photographer for the evening. When we first got there we just relaxed and hung around for awhile. The boys ran out to finish up there Christmas shopping true to fashion. While they were gone, Heidi, Mami, and myself played some speed scrabble, which is a favorite of ours. Once the boys got home we started to get dinner ready and ate just as Holly arrived. We were really happy she was able to join in on the fun with us. She is really a fun one to be around. After dinner Heidi had planned for the kids to do The Nativity story. Uncle McKay narrated for us while the kids acted their parts. They really had a great time doing it, and were so cute.

Logan starring as Joseph

Joseph and his wife Mary who is great with child.

The proud parents adoring their new born babe!

I am like a star shining brightly, shining for the whole world to see.
Lauren making her debut as angel/star.

After The Nativity, uncle McKay read the kids a really cute book. Don't ask me what it was called, by this point I was really not feeling well.

Next was the activity the kids had been waiting for ALL day...PrEsEnTs!!! First up was Paka and you can tell by his expressions, that he was just as excited as the children.

Paka showing off his new cozy sweat pants we bought him.

Mami opening her gift from us, which was new kitchen towels, hot pads, etc...

Lauren got the Barbie Christmas Carol doll. She was so excited, it's just what she wanted.
Thanks Mami and Paka!!

Logan got an awesome new Bionicle, which he absolutely loves.
Thanks Mami and Paka!!

Logan also got a new Transformer, thanks uncle Jeff!!

Lauren got another barbie this one from uncle Jeff, Thanks Jeffy!!

Chocolate anyone?

All nine of the grandkids together. They have so much fun playing with each other. We love times like this when we can all be together. Thanks again Heidi and McKay for hosting such a wonderful day!! We all had a great time. Sorry I ended up getting everyone sick, I didn't mean to really, I promise!!

When we got home that evening the kids still had their Christmas jammies to unwrap. Logan had fallen asleep in the car and was super grumpy when he woke up when we got home. He was not happy with his jammies. It ended up being a good thing he didn't like them, because they were mismarked and ended up being two sizes too small for him, so sorry bud, no Christmas jammies for you this year.

Lauren opening her jammies. She got a nightgown this year for her jammies. Lauren really likes night gowns a lot more than pants. Atleast she was happy with them.

After a super duper fun filled day, it was time for bed. Santa was on his way and rumor had it he was not feeling very good this year and really just wanted to be in bed sleeping the night away. The kids finally fell asleep around 11:00pm and Santa finally arrived sometime around 1:00am.