Spring is in the Air

Springing and splashing in the water



Spring brings lost animals to our yard




Springing out the old Teeth

Our Cali Trip Day 2

Here we are waiting in line for Disneyland to open up at 8am. This time we are all wearing matching Caleb shirts that say 'Always in our hearts 2001-2009.' I was overwhelmed with emotions as we waited, not anxious excited like I would have been in the past, but anxious dreading. Knowing that we were finally here to keep our promise but not everyone would be walking through into Disneyland with us. I tried to not show my uneasiness as we were waiting, but I am sure Eric could feel it.



Our first ride was in Fantasy Land, on the Alice in Wonderland Ride. Monety seemed unsure at first, but towards the end he was liking it.

I took several pictures of our first ride to document it, and Eric thought it was funny that I was taking so many pictures of just one ride. After that ride, I thought I was going to run out of memory on the camera, but throughout the day I kept forgetting to take pictures.


Then we rode in the cool teacups, which of course the girls weren't old enough to be by themselves so I got to ride with them and boy did they spin that teacup. I had to close my eyes, it was making me so dizzy.



Then we went on the Storybook ride.



And as we got off the Storybook boat ride, Tamara realized that she lost her Princess Ariel wand already. So as I went back and searched the first 2 rides that we were just on, Eric took them on the carousel. Then I met them over to take pictures of them on their horsies.


Then of course I have to take a picture of Eric showing off his muscles as he pulls out the famous sword in the stone. Gotta love this picture.


Then we got into the lines of Toads Wild Ride, Peter Pan, Snow White. Liahona decided that Peter Pan was one of her favorite rides afterwards. That was the longest line that we waited in on our whole Disneyland experience.


And as we waited in the Peter Pan line this is what I saw. It warmed my heart and made my whole trip. My three Boys all together.


Montey kept hearing the trains and he was growing very anxious at this point to ride them, so we went over to Casey Jr. Train next. He was so excited to ride on it. And as they waited in line I quickly ran over to grab fast passes for Indiana Jones for later.
(My camera was doing funky things our whole trip, I think it's time to buy a new one.)


Then of course you can't leave Fantasy Land before riding the Dumbo ride.





We hit It's A Small World on our way towards Toon Town. Liahona later said that this was also one of her favorite rides, that she liked the most. Tamara loved seeing Ariel the best on It's A Small World ride.



It was 10:30am at this time and the kids were already getting hungry, but no food place was open until 11am. So we rode on the big train all around the Disenyland Resort while we waited for places to open. It was nice to rest our feet.


Then we got back and had yummy pizza and pop. Then we stayed and played at Toon Town. Tamara wanted to ride the rollercoaster in Toon Town, so I went with her. Liahona was very hesitant to want to come but she did after all. Eric took a picture of us on it.


Then we went to Mickey's House. I was hoping the to get at least one picture of the kids with Mickey, but they did not want to wait to meet him. I was a little sad, cuz I want a picture with me, I guess that's the little kid in me.



Then we headed over to Adventure Land. And went to the Tikki Room and thought of Grandpa Brooks. And then got on the Jungle Cruise where our guide was a little interesting.


Then we used our fast passes for Indiana Jones. I took the girls, they were very nervous, especially Liahona. I told them all I could about the ride that I remembered when I rode on it when I was 15. The looks on their faces when the ride ended was priceless- it was the look of what the heck just happened! I wish that I would have gotten a picture of it, super funny. Liahona said "I am never ridding on that again." Tamara said it was scary but she didn't want Eric to go by himself, so she went again with him, using the stroller pass.

After we swung with Tarzan up in his treehouse. Monety liked all that stair climbing, but that Jaguar Sabor scared us as he roared at us as we walked by. I got the roar on video tape, but failed to get the kids reactions, once again super funny as their eyes were huge.




Then we rode the famous Pirates of the Caribbean Ride. My favorite as a child. There was no flash photography allowed, which I was a little bummed. Tamara said with a big smile on her face after we were done, That was awesome. She liked that ride the best of all. Eric is still undecided between Indiana Jones, and The Pirates of the Caribbean.

Remebering that we had fastpasses for the Roger Rabbit ride in Toon Town we got on the big train at New Orleans Station and rode back to Toon Town. This was the last ride on our list and it was only 3pm. The park wasn't going to close til midnight. The rain clouds were coming in, and after the ride I said we did all that we wanted to do, and went outside and the rain was pouring down. We were blessed with good weather long enough for us to do all that we came to do. It was a miracle.

Montey feel asleep in the stroller, so we went back to the hotel. After he woke up at 5pm, we got on all our seattle rain gear on and headed back for a second round at Disneyland all refreshed and ready to go. Had dinner at the only Mexican restaurant in Disneyland. Plus we went to Tomorrow Land to do Finding Nemo Submarine ride, and Astro Blasts to finish our experience at Disneyland. Then we went back to the hotel at 9:30pm.


Ending a nice trip, but mainly sucessful for our healing hearts. A trip we do not plan to do again until 10 years from now, if that.

Our Cali Trip Day 1

We flew on the coolest airlines ever, Virgin America. Each seat had their own screen TV with a remote. With your remote you could choose to watch any of their 16 different TV channels, listen to music, play computer games, watch a movie, or even turn your remote upside-down and do seat to seat chatting. It kept everyone so busy that we never heard those dreaded words.... "Are we there yet?" Even Monety enjoyed using his remote to do things.



We had the hotel pool all to ourselves. Maybe it was because it was raining, so we did a lot of soaking in the hot tub. That doesn't stop us Washington people though. It was sunny in LA once we landed, but as we headed south the rain cloud came in from the ocean and it rained through the night.


We were expecting and planning on rain throughout our whole trip, but prayed that we would be able to do all that we came to do and see in nice weather, and the next day it was sunny and in the upper 60's that whole day.

Here we are playing at a park as we waited for Sea World to open.



We had Sea World all to ourselves it felt like, we got there when it opened at 10am and stayed until it closed at 5pm. We all wore our new Nebraska T-shirts to help us feel close to Caleb on this special Sea World trip. We greatly enjoyed the shows, it has sparked a huge interest for the girls, for now they both want to become a Marine Animal Trainer when they get older. Of course since we were planning and expecting the rain, which did not come, we all got sun burnt.

(This aquarium shark tunnel reminded us of the Omaha Zoo, but this was not near as neat, big, or long. They make you move through the tunnel on a moving floor, so you can't stay and enjoy the tunnel as much.)



Here is the video clip of the girls on their first rollercoaster water ride. Liahona said she never wants to do that again. Since Eric and I had to switch off watching Montey, when they were done, Tamara went again with me, even though she said it was scary. She said she didn't want me to be alone..... how sweet is that? =)




The girls wanted to get splashed in the whale and dolphin shows and sat in the lower splash zones, but they somehow managed get not get wet. Then the girls and I went on the river rapids ride and we got drenched, unfortunately we did this ride towards the end of our day and it was colder then the afternoon, when we all got sun burnt.


Which ended our first Day in Cali

Our Silly Caleb

I finally got around to downloading all of Caleb's video from my old cell phone. Here are a few of our silly Caleb. Boy do we miss him... (that is an understatement!)

Christmas 2010

IT was yet another difficult, emotional Christmas, of which we only expect to have from here on out.

Our Christmas Morning.


Here is Caleb's Tree, with all his presents.


Gathering around Caleb's tree to help him open his presents.

Christmas Chocolate Making

The girls and I got to make our 1st batch ever of See's Chocolates this year, with MUCH help from Eric's sister Jaime- who has made them for 10 years now. It was fun, and thankfully, hopefully it has stopped me from liking chocolate. I have gone about 3 weeks withOUT eating any thing chocolate, including having hot cocoa. I got up to drinking 3 big mugs everyday, and now i have no desire. It has been amazing.... me without chocolate? Have you heard of anything more unreal? If you want to put an end to your chocolate and sweet in-take make chocolates. =)

A Sleepless Night

Dear Family and Friends,
Here is our Christmas Letter in a poem this year. It is called 'A Sleepless Night,' written by Tanya, and edited by Eric. May your hearts be filled with love from whom it swells freely from- Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I know it would have been a sleepless night,
For me and you and all that would have been tucked in tight.

Thinking that we should be asleep,
For our bodies knew that our faith was too deep.

Staring at the stars in the sky,
Knowing that our Lord would be coming from on high.

The excitement would be in the air,
We would feel the energy all over and into our hair.

"The Lord is coming tonight,
Everyone get up and see the light."

How could we sleep on such a night as this,
Or would it be a moment that would be amiss?

Tossing and turning we thought, "No how could that be?"
For we knew that the time was soon, for we could clearly see.

We could not let this night pass us by,
We got up and followed the star in the sky.

Knowing that we were not as worthy as we should be,
We knew he would love us, and would help set us free.

As we came to his side,
We felt something that we could not hide.

It was the feeling of a redeeming love,
That made us look into heaven above.

With reverence and awe,
We knew what we saw.

We knew what we felt,
It was as though our hearts had melt.

All the unpleasant and unkind feelings were gone,
And were replaced with a redeeming love song.

We have been trying with all our might,
To hold on to sing that song to never loose sight.

As we remember this sleepless night,
Let us always be a witness of that Incredible Light.

-Merry Christmas 2010
Love The Mathison Family

(Our New House)


(The Backyard)

The Caleb Mathison Memorial Scholarship

Dear Family and Friends,
We are full of appreciation for all your love and support that you have given to us this past year. It has been a long and difficult road- a road that was not made to be passed through like other trials, but one that we get to live with for the rest of our lives. This trial has been very tearing on our hearts, making it difficult to heal.
Eric's dear classmates from BryanLGH started a Scholarship Memorial Fund in honor of Caleb. Our wish is to help get this scholarship endowed, to help keep Caleb forever in the memory and hearts of all who knew and loved him. Once we get his scholarship endowed we will be able to award and bless the life of 1 person each year from the BraynLGH School of Health Sciences. In helping us get this scholarship endowed, it will bring more healing to the hearts of the Mathison Family; in achieving a permanent memorial for our son, Caleb, to always be there in Nebraska- the place we have grown to love. As you help us get this scholarship endowed, it is ALL of us who will be giving and blessing the lives of many in the long run.
We do not want this to be a financial burden to anyone, especially at this Holiday Season. We just ask that if you could, please send $5, $25, $50, $100, whatever to help us in our Holiday Wish. Through the help of Eric's classmates, co-workers and many other great people, we have reached 1/3 of our goal. We could greatly use your help as we work together in accomplishing to endow this scholarship to reach 100%.

It is to be sent directly to this address:
BryanLGH Foundation
1600 South 48th Street
Lincoln, NE 68506

Make checks out to the BryanLGH Foundation,
and include a note stating that the donation is directed toward The Caleb Mathison Memorial Scholarship.

We can not begin to express what our tender hearts feel for all of you.
All we can say is "Thank You" from the bottom of our hearts, and may you feel the tender mercies of love back.
Love, The Mathison Family