Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Plains, Trains, and Automobiles pretty much sums up the past week for me.  My Husband and I left for Biloxi, Mississippi on the 16th of June for a work conference he had there.  We opted to get up at 4:30 in the morning and drive to the Salt Lake airport to catch a plane that left at 8:30.  Looking back on that decision, I wish we would have slept in a hotel.  It is physically impossible to sleep on a plane without injuring body parts. 
    After 12 hours of flights and driving we made it to our destination.  The Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi.  It is a beautiful hotel that is right on the Gulf.  We had a wonderful time.  Tom only had meetings until about noon everyday and then we got to play.  We took a boat out to Ship Island one day.  It was very beautiful even if it was infested with mosquitoes.  The water was clear and there were several dolphins playing in it , not far off the shore.  It was also full of "cow nosed" stingrays.  It was a lot of fun.  
   I must say that it is true what they say about southern hospitality.  I have never felt so welcome in all my life.  However, I am not fond of the idea of frying all of your food groups.  I prefer my food grilled, steamed, baked, just about any other way, really.    I have to say I did try a variety of things that I never thought I would.  Such as: fried green tomatoes (not bad), gator nuggets, grits, and every type of fish you can fry.  
Biloxi is a beautiful place.  It is right on the Gulf of Mexico.  It is totally flat but very green.  The water in the gulf is Tea colored, but apparently has been that way since it was discovered by Columbus. Who knew?
Tom and I ended our 5 day trip with a car ride into Alabama. It was an interesting ride.  We were looking for a spoon, because our friends we were with collects them.  Anyway, we thought we would find something quickly after crossing the border.  No such luck.  We did however, find a woman who was very helpful in telling us where she thought we could find spoons and also in telling us that only 15 min. down the road was the home they used to film "Forrest Gump."  Tom is a huge fan, so this was to good to pass up.  After driving all over the beautiful countryside of Alabama,(because no one had understood her directions)  we gave up.  It was a fun adventure anyway.  After 5 days in the south, we were both catching ourselves drawling.  It was kinda funny y'all!
  After another 12 hour travelling day we arrived home late on Wednesday night.  We awoke Thursday morning and got ready to pick our son Jason up from the airport!  He was arriving home from his mission!  It was the highlight of my week.  It was great to see him again.  It took forever to get the missionaries off the plane though.    We hurried him home and took him to the Stake Offices to be released.  It was great to hear more about some of his experiences.  We then went home and started packing for the next trip.  Yes, another one.   Tom, Jason, and I went to San Francisco for the weekend.  We went for an adult reunion with Tom's sisters and father.  It was fun.  We took a plane to S.F. and then hopped the Bart train into town and walked to our hotel.  We went to the Golden Gate bridge, walked all over SF and went to the Walt Disney Family museum.  I think that was the highlight for Jason.  It was really cool.  

Tom in front of Biloxi Lighthouse

Old trees that were damaged in hurricane Katrina.  Instead of tearing them all up they carved them!
These are eagles.

Seahorse

Waiting for Jason at the airport

Welcome home hugs!

Family photo

Jason and Elder Johnson (his last companion in France)

Welcome home sign at home

Tom and Jason on Golden Gate Bridge

Cyndie and Tom 

Golden Gate Bridge

We also had some great company and good "grilled" fish.  We arrived home late Sunday night and I am very glad that we have a month until our next trip.  I really hate airplanes.

What do the words 'I'm Bored" and Fire have in common?

    So apparently my 7 year old decided that burning a paper towel  in a candle was a great way to rid herself of boredom.  I was making dinner when she said,(all to calmly)  uh, Mom.   I turned around to find a paper towel that was quickly being consumed by flames lying on my living room floor just outside of the kitchen.  It fell next to a toy box that is covered in material and had a ton of paper on top of it from Natalie's earlier attempts to dispel her boredom.  Needless to say I was more than a little alarmed!!   Thankfully  I was able to stomp out the fire rather quickly before anyone got hurt or it spread.  Other than some nasty smelling burnt carpet fibers, everything is O.K.
   Of course she thinks I am a mean mom because I grounded her tomorrow.  Oh, well, all in a days work , right?

My baby is 7! Wow, I am old!

Natalie's B-day Luau

 Natalie celebrated her 7th birthday last week.  Thus making her mother feel very old.  She wanted a Hawaiian Luau. (This is February in Idaho mind you)  Oh well, we decorated the house like Hawaii and had a good time.  We played coconut bowling, and hula hoop, and limbo.  Hopefully the kids had a good time.  I know Natalie did. Anyway, I was pretty proud of how the house looked and thought some of you might like to see.

This was the invitation, somehow I managed not to get it flipped before i loaded it.

Wishing for a couple more years

My second son Chris will enter the MTC this Wednesday for the Winnipeg, Canada mission.  He gave a wonderful farewell talk last week and I know he will be an awesome missionary.  Even though I know he is doing what he should, I am wishing for a couple more years.  I am realizing that neither one of my sons will ever really live at home again.  It is a sad realization that those days are over.  They went by wayy to fast.  All those nights of little league baseball and basketball and football are over.  Gone are my two wrestling little boys, and in their place are two wonderful men.
       So a note of advice to all of you mothers with little boys.  Enjoy the bug catching, the mud fights, the water fights, the Lego's that constantly find their way into the vacuum cleaner, the dirty running socks, the stinky football uniforms, the hand prints on the walls, and all the noisy sleepovers.  One day you will be wishing for just a couple more years too.  Just make sure you take time to throw a little mud, some water, build some Lego's, cheer at their sporting events, make cookies for the sleepovers, and always, always tell them how much you love them so that even though you wish you could have a couple more years, you won't regret the ones you got.

Christmas Calls

I had a wonderful call from my missionary on Christmas day!  I can't tell you all how awesome it is to be able to hear the voice of a child that you haven't  been able to talk to since Mothers Day.  Jason has gone native!  He has a cute little French accent!  Definitely fun to listen to.
         He is doing well.  He has been sick for a couple of weeks, complications from having insomnia.  It is weird, he never had insomnia in his life until he went on his mission.  Now he gets it all the time.  It got so bad this time that he had to go to the  Dr. and he put in on sleeping pills.  Now he can barely stay awake.  I hope he gets better soon. It is things like this that make it hard to be half a world away.  Oh well, they have to grow up sometime, right?
        We ended the phone call by having a family prayer.  We put Jason on speaker phone and had him say the prayer in French.  It was awesome.  It is hard to believe that come May, I will be getting two of these calls. One from France and one from Canada.  I can't decided if I am excited or depressed about that.

Merry Christmas!

      2011 was a very busy and eventful year for the Lyons family.  February marked Cyndie and Tom's 21's anniversary.  We went to Disneyland for a weekend to celebrate.  Of course, we waited til June so it would be warm.  We had a great time!  I think the new Toy Story ride was our favorite.

      Tom is still serving as the second counselor in the Bishopric and Cyndie enjoyed her callings as Primary teacher and camp director for girls camp.  Going to girls camp for the first time in 20 years was a kick.

      Tom started a new job the beginning of December working for Farm Bureau Insurance company.  He is the associate general counsel.  He really enjoys it, and I enjoy having him at home for lunch every day.

Tom and Cyndie at Disneyland

Baptism of Joumott children (Jason is in back row far right)

Namur, Belgium  river front

            Jason is still enjoying his mission in the Paris, France mission.  I can't believe he will be home in July.  (Tom and I are hoping to pick him up.)  He has had a few baptisms recently and is really enjoying the work.  He has served in some beautiful places.  His most recent baptism was on December 10th.  He was able to do the confirmation and loved the experience.  We look forward to his e-mails every Monday.  Our family has been very blessed through Jason's service to his Heavenly Father and we are looking forward to his brother Chris joining the mission field this January.

       Chris had a very busy year.  He graduated in June and started at BYU in August. He enjoyed his semester there, and made some great friends along the way.   He received his mission call to the Canada, Winnipeg mission in September.  He enters the mission field in January.  He is very excited.

Graduation 2011

Meagan (age 15) has decided to follow the path of her Mom. She is enjoying being a Choir geek this year.  She is in the select choir at Highland as well as their Senior and Show choir.  She has enjoyed it very much.  It was a trip for me too.  She also has enjoyed cross country and track.  She is a Sophmore this year, and Mom and Dad are greatful that she has a late Birthday and we won't have to worry about the dating game until next year. She went to EFY at BYU this year and had a great time with her cousin.  She hopes to go again sometime. Meagan is always happy, and we love having her around. She definately makes life interesting.

Meagan 2011

Meagan Lyons (left) Megan Johnson (right)

Rachel (age 12) is in 7th grade and enjoying it about as much as  most of us did.  She loves art , reading and running cross country.  She draws very well for a 12 year old and she sculpts some really amazing things.  She is like most teenage girls and she loves to talk on the phone.  She spends most of her time talking to her best friend Kate.

Perry the Platypus

Rachel 2011


Natalie is six but will turn seven in February.  She keeps us all on our toes.  She is in first grade and doing great.  She loves to dance, sing, run, play, and just about anything else that will keep her moving.  She keeps us laughing with some of the things she says.  Being six years younger than your closest sibling, you pick up some things most six year olds would never say.  Like, "he is sooo hot!"   Needless to say, life is never dull. 

Natalie

We have been very blessed this year.  We are grateful for this wonderful Christmas season when we can reflect on the life of our Savior.  We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Love the Lyons Family

What the Hay!

O.K., I am sure some of you are wondering about the title.  It has nothing to do with the fact that we live in Idaho.  It seems like everyone I know has a blog of some kind.  So, I figured, "What the hay?"  I might as well try it too.
     I started a blog for my son when he went on his mission.  It has been fairly painless, even for a computer dummy like me.  I decide it was time to start one for myself.  Plus as I was thinking about doing Christmas letters this year, this just seemed soooo much easier.  Just post it and send everyone the link!  Simple. Something I have far to little of in my life.  
         So, I hope you all enjoy  The Lyons Den.  After all, most days I feel like I live in a zoo!