Vlog VS Blog

Who knew there was such a difference?

2007 I started this blog where I would post videos and pictures and write a few paragraphs. I used it as our family journal. I had a time where I felt I couldn't share anything about our lives because it included so much HIPPA, so I took a hiatus. During that time I learned a little about Vlogging, but didn't quite know how to do it. Is there a difference between Vlogging and Blogging? YES!

Some people blog about, sports, food, their lives, someone elses, the news, and a million other things. Basically it's a story that is read online. Vlogging on the other hand is very similar except it's done in video format. You're telling a story, whether it be about Food, the news, sports, your life, someone elses life, DIY, anything really. Why have I seemed to move over to Vlogging? I'll tell you why.

A few years ago after moving back from AK I came across some video footage that I couldn't play. This specific footage was of my uncle Jim playing with my youngest son Theron. Why is that such a big deal you ask? My Uncle Jim passed away from cancer in 2012. When his youngest daughter (my cousin) come to stay with us for a few weeks, I tried to show her these clips and I learned that the clips were ruined. I couldn't get the tape to work. I was so discouraged and upset. I was bound to figure out a way to make these tapes work. But more importantly, how was I going to move forward if this wasn't the best way to keep my home videos of my kids. I know from experience that a hard drive is not reliable. I've lost years and years worth of footage of my kids growing up. That was discouraging. I knew that DVD's weren't reliable either. They get scratched and then they don't work anymore. I started my search online for storage. But at the same time we now had friends in AK, we had family in UT that I wanted to be able to keep up on our family. I learned about YouTube and learned that this may be my best avenue for dumping our videos, and if I made them public our friends and family could watch.

So to put things down in writing doesn't happen very often. It's still fun to take a minute and catch up this end of our Social Media, who knows really how many people come here to read about us before YouTube anyways.

What's our channel you may ask? It's the same name. The Full House Lymans. or TFHL :)

Vogging = Genealogy

We've had Christmas, New Years, Valentines, Easter, and Mother's Day.  Some of the things that have gone on during those times, are, we moved, I've had surgery on my foot, my uncle committed suicide, Jake's dad passed away, we've started daily vlogging on youtube, we've rekindled an old friendship that needed repairing, we've seen the inside of 2 temples that have either been remodeled or newly built. So much more has happened, but to catch up quickly, it's easier to go visit our channel on YouTube.

We're finally back in Utah since 2009 when we left for an unforgettable experience in Alaska. Jake has moved jobs again. We are currently getting settled in our new home. We're right in the middle of our families, and it's nice to know that we aren't so far away anymore.

I wanted to share specifically about vlogging, and why we started.

A few years ago we had a visit from my cousin Alise. I bragged about having home videos of my uncle, her father, who passed away from cancer. When she came up to visit us in Pocatello, I learned pretty quickly that the video I was bragging about was ruined. I was devastated! We had been watching others vlog online for a few months. I knew it was an option, I wanted to vlog, but was scared to, because I'm so scatter brained, I didn't think I could make it happen. After this experience I had with my ruined family document, I decided the best way to keep family home videos was through a vlog online. I wanted our family to be able to have access to it all the time. We decided to make our videos public. We started around Halloween of 2014. I had videos already on my account with YouTube, but they were just little clips here and there. I was committing to post a vlog regularly, whatever that meant at the time, I'm not sure. It was a few times a week. I went from 2 subscribers (people that commit to watching our channel) to 10 in about a month. Our numbers were creeping up slowly. They all seemed to be people I knew, but then as the numbers were getting higher, the more people I didn't know. I started a vlog for my family. After a few months, I had decided to commit to being more consistent, meaning I was going to start posting daily vlogs. We committed March 1 2015. There have been late vlogs due to connection problems, but I have not missed a day. Even though we've had good reason to take breaks. Some days it seems to just be me and 1 or 2 of the kids in it, but I haven't missed a day. Our numbers are creeping up even more since that commitment. Since that day that I tried to play the video of my uncle for my cousin, I feel much better about keeping record of our family. I know that this is something that my kids and family can look at, whenever they want, where ever they want. Genealogy at it's finest. I am pleased to know that our family has been documented from 2007 with this blog, till now with YouTube. I have Theron's Birth on this blog and birthday's and fun moments on our vlog. I don't know how long I will commit to doing daily vlogs on YouTube, but I do know that it is the most convenient way to document our family.

We are hoping to go to Vlogger Fair in Seattle this August to meet other YouTubbers that vlog. It's been fun to interact with others that do the same thing. It's been a relief to know that our record is online. That a simple tape can't be ruined. YouTube is pretty large and it's only getting bigger. If you haven't checked it out, do so! Subscribe, it's cleaner than regular TV :) Grab your popcorn and enjoy our craziness on THE FULL HOUSE LYMAN'S

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving 2014 was done at our house here in Idaho.

Jakes parents came up and got a hotel. She made her famous Mac n Cheese the night before, and she bought the pies. The morning of Thanksgiving I took all 5 of our monkeys to play in the pool at the hotel. They had a lot of fun.

Dad and Virginia came, they were in charge of the drinks and chips, and they brought a veggie tray. Erna came over and made an amazing green salad with strawberry's avocado and spinach.

Jake had the kitchen in full swing and didn't need me in his way. He made funeral potatoes in the crock pot. He roasted the turkey to perfection with butter, rosemary, and sage in between the skin. He also made the most amazing sourdough stuffing. He also made Parmesan lemon green beans. The best part of our feast was I didn't feel unhealthy after eating it. The most unhealthy part of it was the potatoes, and the pie. Everything else was healthy.

It was a nice Thanksgiving. Kurtis brought Ashley over. So I had all 5 of my kids here. I just wish that my brother and his family could have made it. Next year it's at my dads.

Twice baked potatoes

Forgive our mess :/

One of our favorite recipes is twice baked potatoes. Living in Idaho we happened to end up with 50lbs of potatoes. So we have gotten pretty creative. This is our recipe.

First we Bake the potatoes on 425 for about 45 minutes. Then we, by we I mean Jake, he's the chef :) cut the tops off and scoop the insides out into a bowl, after they've cooled a bit of course. Have you ever played hot potato? Then after you're done playing hot potato, I mean done getting the insides into the bowl we start adding crazy stuff like sour cream (3 heaping spoonfuls),cheese squares, bacon bits, ham squares, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, to taste, milk until it is a good mashed potato texture....and this time we added boiled eggs. Then you mash it like mashed potatoes and then we add them back inside of the skins, heaping them full. Then we top it with cheese and put back in the oven for about 45 minutes.

Then it's time to eat! Don't forget your veggie. The cheese explodes inside your mouth. 

There ya go, one of our favorites.

Enjoy!

Friends baptism

Tuesday night after the kids first day of school we went to a Baptism, of A.W. It was fun to help this sweet little girl celebrate the choice of a lifetime.

First day of public school 11/18

The kids got all registered at the school and their first day was the 18th of November.

Selfie Monday

I put the kids back into public school. The day we registered them the car battery died. while we waited for help We played with my camera.

Just hanging around

Just a few boys and our awesome dog EB. Just chilling on the couch waiting for a belly rub.

Vote! November 4, 2014

I had the chance to work voting polls on the 4th of November. I worked with my friend here in Pocatello, Misty. We brought a few of the kids with us. EmberLee came to help with Zach, her little boy. We had to be there at 7am and we didn't go home till 9pm. It was fun to see all the people just in district 19.

Pumpkin pie

After Halloween, we had Austin's pumpkin that was left over. So we decided to make homemade pumpkin pie. It turned out so good that we didn't take a picture of the finished product :/. We posted our video of that week on youtube, go check it out.

Welcome Home Grandpa M

On November 1st my Grandpa passed away and was finally reunited with my Grandma. The last 20 years or so of his life hasn't been the easiest. He has withered away to nearly nothing. His brain could no longer remember anyone and he laid in a bed unrecognizable.

There are a lot of memories I have that are so good with my Grandpa. He was such a great man. So respectable. Everyone that knew him loved him. He served every where he went. I am so grateful that he was a man that I knew in my life.

I remember as a young girl going to grandma and grandpas on Sunday to eat dinner and Grandpa helped us find bullfrogs after dinner. He would get old bread bags to put them in. We tried to sneak them home, but those dang bullfrogs wouldn't be quiet. He would laugh when my mom would learn what we had hid in the car. I remember helping him burn garbage in the drum by the swing set. I remember helping him feed the cows, I remember hanging out in his shop with him. He would give us a hand full of screws and nuts and who knows what to organize while he worked on things. I remember watching him check his bees hive. I remember helping him light the fireplace by putting crumpled up newspaper inside. I remember helping him haul coal in for the fireplace. I remember helping him grind flour for his famous sourdough pancakes. I remember him paying us to comb his bald head. I remember tickle backs as a very young kid. I remember Christmas' and the big white christmas tree. I remember sitting on the steps petting one of the cats. I remember him helping us with that first boost to get into the big maple tree so we could climb as high as we could. He would stand below and tell us what branch was more sturdy. I remember watching him mow the front yard and him getting after us for playing under the pinetrees. I remember helping reload shells in his gun room in the basement. I remember camping trips, and his bear stories. I remember thinking that he was either a really good story teller. I remember so much about him that thinking of the last 20 years and his struggles hurt.

I am so grateful to have had him in my life. I am so happy for him and Grandma and that they are finally together. That he is no longer stuck in his shell of a body. How I will miss him when I was younger. I can't wait for the sweet day that I will be able to give him a hug and not have it be strange. I will miss you Grandpa!

Halloween

After carving pumpkins this morning, the kids went to another homeschool families house to play some halloween games before it was time to get dressed up. They came home got dressed up, we went to a strip mall for local business trick or treating, then we went to our friend Misty's trunk or treat, that was a mad house. Then we went to the mall and let the kids collect there, then we came home and saw our local light show, click the link to watch the show Steel Productions

and then the trick or treated our neighborhood. It was fun.

Bridger was the Amazing SpiderMan. I learned something new this year as we procrastinated make-up buying. I learned that tempura paint works better than halloween make-up. It doesn't smear, and it washes off much easier. We went to the strip mall and let the kids collect candy from local businesses. There they got to meet a camel. I thought it was so funny that Bridger was once again loved on by an animal. I guess a camel is no exception. It mauled his face. He moved to the other side of EmberLee after it hugged his face. But I loved that all animals love him. Even camels.

Theron was an Army Guy. When we did a trunk or treat, one gentleman that was in the army stood up and saluted Theron. It brought tears to my eyes. When I took the picture he had already sat down, but it was so cool to see the respect from an adult to a small little boy.

EmberLee was a belly dancer. She had a lot of fun being like her mommy, her grandma, and her aunt she got an entire bag of candy to the top. She made a hauling this year for sure.

At the mall when we went, one of the cops dressed up. I wanted to do this for halloween too, but it's ok. She did it justice.She even posed for me :)

Chopped

After having shoulder surgery, I've learned that I can't take care of my hair. When I mentioned cutting it off, Jake agreed, and EmberLee freaked out. She decided that if she learned to french braid to get it out of my way that it would keep me from cutting it. She learned to french braid in less the 24 hours. My appointment was friday afternoon. When she learned I was doing it still, she cried. What she didn't realize was that it was me that had to deal with it in the shower. It felt impossible to deal with. Yes I know my back side is huge, yes I know that there's writing on the mirror, it's our self talk.

When Misty my girlfriend here in Pocatello cut it, she cut off 15 inches. I got home and still can't put my make-up on, because having my arms up that long is too painful on my shoulder, here is a crappy view of my new hair cut. I've done this cut before and I loved it last time and remember it being way easy to do.

This morning washing it was amazingly easy. I'm glad I cut it, I am more proud that I didn't do a pixie cut instead :).

Big teddy

We went to Costco a few days ago and found the biggest teddy bear ever. I couldn't resist taking a picture. I'm not sure who would actually by it, but it was funny to compare sizes.

Poor puppy

Austin got a puppy for his birthday back in April. She was so stink'n cute when we got her. She's now 9 months old. She has been breaking out in these weird sores. At first we thought she might be allergic to the dog food. It seemed no matter what we did it wasn't working. We left for the weekend to my brother and came back to her doing a lot worse and she looked horrible. She was no longer being a puppy, she was loosing her hair and she had multiple open wounds. So we took her in. The options after being there for a while was a few things. They thought she had mites, or that she had some skin allergy, and the easy solution that also was thought to be the problem was puppy strangles. She was prescribed an antibiotic that happened to be the same one that I was on from my shoulder surgery and a steroid. Instantly the next morning she had bounced back. Her open wounds were no longer oozing. She wasn't moping around anymore. So she is still on the medication and sees the doctor at the end of the week. It seems that we have figured it out.

Ol Red 1974 Custom Ford F100

A few weeks ago we brought Jakes Dad's truck to Anthony's to repair it. It was given to Austin, with the understanding that he would take care of it and repair it. So far Jake and I have dumped money into it, not Austin. The deal will be that Austin will be paying us back and when he has his license, he will have a truck to drive. Jake drove this truck as a teenager. So to have it passed on to Austin is something pretty neat. I took a video of it being backed out of the garage after being broken down for awhile. Remember Anthony and his bag of tricks. So awesome that Anthony is so knowledgeable about engines. The oil was changed, Things were repaired and It is running. It still needs a few things done to it before its all done, but it's close to being ready. It's new Idaho Plates will read "OL RED"

Shoulder surgery

After the night of being stranded, I woke up at 5:30am, showered and got ready to go to the surgery center. When I came in to get dressed, EB was still sleeping under the pile of blankets. It was pretty funny to see her trying to sleep even though we were up and moving around. She's usually up and ready to be awake when one of us wakes up.

For those that don't know about the accident a year ago, I'll have to do a blog about the accident. The surgery was done on my right shoulder. It was to repair problems that we've tried to take care of over the last year.

We got to the surgery center and filled papers out and I went into surgery at 7:15 Monday morning October 20th. I came out in pain and was extremely groggy. We, meaning Jake signed papers to leave at 10.

I slept on Jakes recliner till we left for Utah Friday morning. I made arrangements to sleep on dads recliner. The second night we had Jakes parents couch's that we gave Anthony and Christina. So I slept on the hide-a-bed. I propped up with the cushions. When I got home Sunday night I slept in my bed with lots of pillows.

A week later I met with my Doctor and had stitches taken out. I start Physical Therapy again, for 6 more weeks. Hopefully this is the end of the repair on my shoulder. Only time will tell, but it's suppose to be looking better after this.

Anthony's bag of magic tricks

After dropping my favorite nieces off in Malad and finding out I was overheating, Anthony pulled out his bag of magic tricks, aka Anthony's a diesel mechanic and knows everything that has anything to do with wheels and gears. He did what he thought would work. I got on the free way with Bridger and I instantly learned it's more than just lack of antifreeze. I overheated and pulled off the freeway. I limped it to Downy, Idaho and parked it at the truck stop off the highway. I called Jake the night before surgery and he came to my rescue. I got home in time to eat dinner and get ready for bed. A week later we went down to Pleasant Grove, Utah to bring back some things that Jakes mom gave us (another blog).

We headed back to Idaho and stopped off to put a thermostat in.....the bag of tricks Anthony carry's with him where ever he goes came with him. When we pulled off the freeway Jake noticed the passenger window was gone (so we thought) as we pulled up I noticed that it wasn't really gone, Bridger never rolled it up. But it had rained over the weekend and the wind had blown the rain in and across the seats and there was water marks on the steering wheel and the drivers side door. Wow, the wind was pretty strong. Then when we lifted the hood, we found a little friend had made a home on top of the engine. Probably when it was still warm. It wasn't there when we lifted it though. Anthony literally pulled his bag of tricks out, had all these gadgets and replaced the thermostat, tested it to make sure it had sealed and we were on our way home.