All is calm, all is bright.

We have arrived home safe and sound from our week long trip to our California home.
If you're confused... In Utah, home = California. While in California, home = Utah.


We arrived Thursday afternoon and visited Dad for a while. Then after Mom got off work we joined her for some Yummy Thai food.

Friday we spent the entire day at Disneyland with William and his friend. We had so much fun and ate way to much.
Saturday was Christmas Eve ate dinner and opened our presents. We. Were. Spoiled.

Sunday was Christmas and I woke up early that morning and brought Jack in the Box (tradition) to my Dad before heading off to church. After church we got a call from Elder (Josh) Lyman. So great to hear from him and in just a few short months he will be home!  Then hung out and played with our toys till dinner. Prime Rib! Yum! After dinner we raced over to the Websters to play games with Zach's family. Zach broke his 24 year tradition of throwing up on Christmas. Little depressing because it has become such a joke BUT I think we tricked  his body by celebrating the day before.
Monday we slept in, ran errands with Dad and hung around with him. Then dinner at Yang Ming, my fave Chinese place then off to the hot tub.

Tuesday we took our tandem beach cruiser for a spin in Newport. It was beautiful weather. We stopped for lunch and some ice cream before heading home. That night we watched Sherlock Homes and then visited my friend Stephanie and family. Later that night I visited Dad for some TLC and watched the Glee movie with him and Sophie.
Wednesday was our final day, and after running errands and packing the car we didn't have much time to hang with the family. So after a quick sushi lunch with the parentals; we were on the road to Utah.

 In the blink of an eye it was over. It seemed the week just flew by and we hardly got to spend as much time with the family as we wanted. This year we had to do things a little differently due to the unforeseen circumstances. My dear Father fell in the beginning of November and broke his ankle. After a few days in the hospital they decided to throw him into a rehab facility for anywhere from 3-6 months. Ugh! He hates it but is doing well so far. Since my jet-setter of a Mother has been flying across the country for work, it has left her little time to decorate for Christmas. BUT this amazing woman still found time to make TONS of goodies, do all the Christmas shopping and make a fabulous prime rib dinner.
We are so lucky to have her!
We were completely spoiled this year! Thank you Mom and Dad for making this an amazing Christmas.

Dear Daddy

How can I begin to tell you how much I love you without saying, Thank you?

You are my best friend and biggest supporter. Thank you for always being there for me growing up. Thank you for the love that you have given me. I love being able to call you almost every night and talk. I love our inside jokes, our funny voices and making up songs together. Thank you for always letting me sing along to the radio in the car or the TV in the room, you helped me grow my talent and not to mention my love for music and the oldies. Thank you for comforting me when I was upset as a child. It really meant a lot to me. Thank you for punishing me and grounding me too. I may not have realized at the time but that discipline helped shape me into the women I am now. Thank you for always cooling off my french fries in the AC before I could eat them.  Thank you for the wonderful example of loving Mom and making us a family.  Thank you for supporting our family for so many year and working long hours to give your children all they needed and wanted. Thank you for making every Christmas and birthday special. Thank you for going up to bat against Mom, when I REALLY REALLY wanted something. Thank you for letting me be your nurse, spa technician, chef, hair stylist and barber over the years. Though those careers never seemed to pan out, it was still really fun to practice on you as a kid. Thank you for helping me learn to drive and for taking care of me after I crashed the car. And especially thank you for not being too mad at me for totaling said car. I don't care what insurance said, that was NOT my fault. Thank you for not killing any/all of the boys who tried to take me on dates, even though you may have wanted to, I appreciate the restraint. Thank you for all you have taught me throughout the years. Thank you for helping us this month to accomplish the things we needed to do. You have been such a blessing.

 

You really are amazing, Dad. I am proud of you for all of your accomplishments. I am proud of you for your goal to go to the temple. I look forward to the blessings you will receive because of this. I can't explain it much more then, its amazing.  I am glad that I can be your example for once because you have been mine for so long. Because of your great example to me I have been able to find someone just like you to be with forever. He may never be my Daddy, but he also holds a big place in my heart for the leading man role. When I found Zach I knew I could never marry him unless he was just like my Dad. Someone who loved me more than anything, always wanted to see me smile and was always there to listen. And well, I lucked out because Zach turned out to be that amazing guy, and so far I think I'll keep him around.

 

Its funny to think that the older I get the closer we become. I secretly love it. You know my secrets, my good days and my bad. I am so lucky to have such an amazing Dad. Thank you for my "care packages" once I had grown up and moved away. They helped me not feel so homesick in the new chapter in my life. Thank you for adopting Sophie as your fuzziest grandchild. I hope the future ones will look nothing like her! I look forward to seeing you as a Grandpa though. I know you will be just as great at that job too. My kids will be so lucky to know you and grow up with you. I really hope you are taking care of yourself for this reason. This past year has been a rough one for you and honestly has scared the crud out of me at some points. The thought of my life without you has made me cry several times because I really don't want that. I pray that you will be healthy and strong and live forever.I know that last part can't happen but you sure as hell better try. I need someone to drive the car behind the bus while I cry my eyes out as my baby goes to kindergarten.  I need someone to sneak candy to my kids after I said no. I'm selfish and I need you.  I want my kids to know you and have so many wonderful memories with you. I want them to have inside jokes and funny songs with their Grandpa. Keep up the good work, you are doing great!

I am proud of all that you do.

 

But most of all...

 

Thank you for being the Papa Bear to this little bear.

I love you.

 

Hope you have a wonderful day, I'll call you later.

He did it!!!

Finally after over a year and a half of waiting, countless meetings, and endless paperwork he did it!!

Zach has worked so hard to create a club on campus. They are the EMS first responders for Utah Valley University. They provide medical attention in emergency situations to students while on campus. This will helps much! It is also an internship and Zach is one of the main people running it. Talk about adding more awesomeness to his medical school resume!? From this day on all future students have MY HUSBAND to thank for their well being..... Yay !!!

Dear Santa

We have been really good this year! We have been staying out of trouble. Eating our veggies. Going to bed early. Working two jobs. Trying to save money. And being nice to everyone. So now as we reflect on the many things we are thankful for this month, let us also take a minute to tell you what we really want..

All we really want is world peace and to help those in need.

(If I say that it means I get more presents, right?) j/k

Let us being with the littlest of the Lyman family, Sophie. She has simple needs.. a fancy fountain. Mostly because her mother forgets to give her water. She does not want bones because she does not have many teeth to enjoy them and no toys as her youth is fading quickly. Perhaps a bag of soft treats would be just right. She will also take anything from the Sky Mall magazine. In fact so would I! That thing has it all!

This is the one she picked out, its $80 bucks! Ha, she's not getting it.

Mr. Lyman actually has a list this year, which is great because I never know what to get him. It is a bummer because we are extremely low on funds this year and will have to make due.

His list includes:

SCRUBS - Size Top Med pant med. He really like the "digital navy " found here He would also like Plain scrubs; any color maybe darker colors the SET , Found Here
MCAT study books - Because he will be taking those in just a few short months and anything helps. Found Here

Additional things He has not said he wanted but I think he might need/like: Newest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. A year of Xbox live. New white church shirts (french cut). New church shoes. He could always use a new sweater for church too.

My list this year is quite literally a "wish list". I know everything on here I will not be getting but it is fun to dream and once I save up some money I will hopefully get them The Shark Steam Lift Away Mop - Amazing. Bigger house means more to clean. Sadly I feel lame asking for it but its more of a need then anything else. I'm still trying to find a coupon for it.

Black flats and everyday shoes. These I do not have specific ones picked out but they would be nice. The ones I currently have are warn away and are starting to have holes.

Filtrate water station because I go through water bottles like they are going out of style.

An angel for my willow tree nativity , this one its technically not the one that goes with the set but I like it so much more!

but my biggest wish of all is my digital camera. I really really really would love this one .

My laptop will survive another year, duct tape and love are still holding it together.

Gifts that are always good for US: Board games, DVD's, and maybe a mini DVD player for out bedroom or something, and gift cards to movies or dinner.
So Santa, you jolly old guy, these are are hopes and wishes for this year. Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that you will soon be there....
Love, Zach, Sara and Sophie.

Thankful

This month as kind of a tradition I like to pick one thing a day to be thankful for:
1- Zach home early
2- my brother for being there when dad fell
3- skilled surgeons
4- air travel
5 friends that care
6- as always on November 6 my mother
7- being home with my wonderful husband
8- jobs and income
9- technology
10 - My new skill of sewing.
11 - Dinner with friends, sushi
12- The Gospel and the knowledge that families can be together forever, Goodbye Joan.
13 my nieces and nephews sleeping in till 930
14- my home with more space
15 Sophie for being a good dog and not complaining when I'm sick in bed all day.
16 FaceTime with family in CA
17 An education for my husband
18 Candace cheering me up
19 day date with Zach. Crepes in movie
20 extended family get togethers.
21 being sealed forever!
22 buying christmas gifts
23. A healthy body. Aside from the flu this month
24 food!

Check this out!

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted you to check out my amazing friend Heather. She is a new and upcoming photographer and her work is amazing. We grew up together and she is just so much fun to work with! A while back I did a mock bridal shoot with her and this week I was featured on her blog , you have to scroll down a bit but take a look and tell me what you think.

It's that time of year again

That's right dear readers, it's time for our 2nd annual "spot the deer" game! Are you as excited as me?!


This one is tough but look hard and see if you can find him!