Utah Memories '06 and '11

Last Time we were in Utah was June of 2006
Here are some of those pictures.







Our current Trip to Utah- May 2011
Here are some of those pictures.





"Temples, where families can be eternal is where the Mathison's hearts belong."

Our Memorial Weekend- A Tribute to Our Latter day Prophets

It only felt right to visit all of our Latter day Prophets while we were in Utah- for Eric's Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary.
It was an honor to visit ALL of our Previous Latter Day Prophets. To show them of our love for their service- in building and strengthening the Church of Jesus Christ in these Latter Days.

Latter day Prophets are number #1
Joseph Smith. (This was taken back in 2009, when we went to Nauvoo on June 27th after Caleb's baptism.)


Then, Brigham Young.


John Taylor came third we know.



Then, Wilford Woodruff.


Lorenzo Snow.


Joseph F. Smith, remember the F.


Heber J. Grant.


And George Albert Smith.


David O. Mckay is followed by,


Joseph Fielding Smith.


Then, Harold B. Lee.


Spencer W. Kimball.


Ezra Taft Benson.


Howard W. Hunter.


Gordon B. Hinckley.


Thomas S. Monson...
We hear and follow his words today.

-LDS Primary Songbook

Beautiful Birthday Girl

This beautiful girl is growing so tall,
Using her long legs to bike, she never will fall.

What a dear girl she has grown to be,
Hard to believe that there will be no more parties with tea.

In May she turned 7,
It was solemn and close to what we call Heaven.

What a joy she has been,
In our family that seems to become so thin.

Her laugh is contagious,
Her smile is outrageous,
But most of all she is very Courageous.

She is full of talents and love,
How grateful that we were given her from God who is above.

Happy 7th Birthday.
We Love You Tammie Lady
Love Your Mom and Dad

Look Who Is THREE

No, how can this be,
How could he possible be three?

I could have sworn he was just born,
But now we just feel so torn.

With the memories we have already made,
We are sure that they will never fade.

To a future so bright,
We know that having him was truly right.

Happy Birthday Montey, Our Little Man.

Our Easter

Easter Packages, Baskets, and More....


Camped at Lincoln Rock State Park, over Easter weekend.
It got up to a whole 65 Degrees, which was warm enough to break out the shorts and t'shirts. =)

(Montey being silly)

(Tamara doing her Karate)

(Liahona being Lia)


But the most exciting part about the whole trip WAS....
Tamara fell into the fire pit, and burnt her hand. It was a very bad 2 degree almost 3 degree burn.

Easter- The Season of Hope

I could not bear the thought to follow him as he was lead to the hill,
But something pushed me on so, to Calvary still.

As they drove those nails into his hands my eyes streamed with tears,
My heart rent with much ache as I just watched Our Lord so dear.

Not a single word did he utter while he was in deep anguish and pain,
Oh how I wanted to stop those men from thinking this was just a game.

Helplessly I watched him slip from this mortal life on earth,
He was free from feeling this terrible pain giving him a new birth.

Three days we mourned, we cried in pain and ache,
Our hearts once full of hope now only ready to break.

On the morning of that Glorious Sabbath Day,
We were told by an angel that everything would be okay.

He came down from above , to show us so we could see,
The blessings that his rebirth would guarantee.

The blessings for all of us to live again,
Is true and real and is made for all of us to obtain.

The price was paid the work was done,
And Christ for us has finished and won.

We have been given the greatest gift of eternal life,
We no longer need to live our lives with bitter strife.

I pray that we will continue to look above,
Towards heaven where all blessings flow with great love.

Happy Easter Season to all our family and friends.
=)The Mathison's

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.