Eight Year After Clinton Left Washington, D.C.

Just for kicks

Ohhhh Mexico

Down on the Yucatan things are a bit different. Bus stops are where ever people happen to be. Houses are huts. Iguanas are pests. And boobies enjoy the nice cool Mexican air while bouncing along the beaches.

Yes the land of the Mayan. Hot, humid and holy cow was it humid. Havyn's hair, due to the dense air moisture was bathed in curls. Everyone else was bathed in sweat.

The Mayan are a humble people. Happy to help, eager to assist and more than willing to be tipped. In fact tipping is the hottest thing in the Yucatan, next to the sand. Tipping is so popular that if you don't participate you get that old why-are-they-pointing-and-whispering-about-me high school sensation. And every situation is a tipping opportunity.

"Do you want to see where the jaguar sleeps?" says a young Mayan at Chitzen Itza. Before I know it, I'm whipping tree branches and vines off my face and hastily trying to keep up with my new amigo in the middle of the jungle. "It is very close," he says as he turns to me, stops and reaches out his hand. "50 Pesos to see it." Okay fine, five bucks, no big deal right. I give it to him and wait for our excursion to head within the belly of the dense jungle. He takes the money and within the next five seconds points to the nearest tree says "aqui" and vanishes back up the path where we came from. Stupid white American I say to myself as I run to catch up.

Not all Mayans are money grubbing opportunists, okay I take that back, they are. At the ruins they line the walkways and follow you like shadows. In the cities, they beg and bark and suffocate with their intrusive haggling techniques. But one thing’s for sure – in their minds all Americans are endless money pits. They see us parading around their shops pointing, grabbing and taking like we’re at a buffet line. Sergio, a bellhop at the resort asked if I would give him some money so he could follow his dream and come to America. Sure I said, how much, as I reached in my pocket to grab a couple pesos. “500 dollars,” he says with a smile. A genuine smile too, no trace of even the faintest ‘gotcha’ smirk. I imagine we created each other. Their low-balling tip grubbing and our haughty little bargaining games are the product of the other. We talk ‘em down to a two for one special then pull out a wad of cash and expect exact change. We must seem so arrogant. They want more ‘cause they believe we have more and in endless supply. It’s a match made in heaven.

Now there were some amazing sights and some amazing ruins. But, the entire Yucatan experience is all about the dinero (and I don’t mean Robert). Even the best of the people we met have the color of money burned in the back of their minds.

On one particular day we hitched a 45 minute bus ride to Playa del Carmen and lapped up the scenery in the little beach town for a few hours. Just before dinner at Senor Frogs we checked out one of the many trinket/jewelry/souvenir shops the city had to offer. The merchant spoke awesome English and dressed slick and sharp. He talked me into trying on an authentic Guatemalan tunic. I plopped my backpack on a chair and tried on several of the surprisingly comfortable shirts. We browsed some more; Ty purchased two toe rings and to dinner we went. On the bus ride home, my sandwiched position between a couple of uncommonly large Mexicans seemed a bit airy. I actually had a few inches to move my legs. I soon discovered the reason. In between my legs, the very place my backpack sat on previous rides, was empty. I had left my passport/plane ticket carrying backpack in some tourist-luring-shamble. Immediately I recalled a conversation with the slick shop owner. After telling him I had no money for the tunic, he offered to trade for my backpack. “This thing cost me 200 bucks man. No way am I trading it.” For some reason, in the course of my life, my little anecdotes and vignettes seem to always end stinging with irony. And now, in this very unfunny situation I imagined my wife, 16-month-daughter and myself learning to make ends meet in a country where its citizens were famously and illegally escaping.

My brother-in-law and I broken-spanished our way out of the bus, crossed the highway and attempted to wave down a bus heading back to the city. Once we got there we were like rats in maze with no wind of cheese in any direction. We would have retraced our footsteps had we been able to locate them. We spent two hours trekking the endless identical streets to no avail. Finally, I saw the slick and sharp merchant hounding some passerbys. I slipped past him and entered his shop. Sitting on the chair in the back of the shop, next to the Guatemalan tunics, was my pack. Everything was still in it. I snagged it and b-lined it to the street. The shop owner smiled, “you didn’t think I sold it did you?” I honestly didn’t no what to say. It was like all my money-grubbing and tip-hungry generalizations I’d so recently formed during the week were being bludgeoned to death by a man I thought to be the used-car-salesman of Mexican hagglers. I mean my whole life was in that pack and he held on to for four hours. I was saddened by my sudden epiphany. What was it about me that made me judge people so quickly? Was I really that cold? How could I so easily doubt the goodness in others?

I put the pack on and motioned to my brother-in-law to follow me back up the street. As we were leaving, our new friend stopped us cold and pushed his hand aggressively toward us.

“Hey man, where’s my tip?”

Our Disney 07 Vacation

Adyson and Ainsleigh turned 4 and 2 at Disneyland this past May. What an exciting time to see Mickey and all his friends! Of course grandma and grandpa had a lot of fun too. Zeke got only a couple of blisters but I am sure they were well worth it. We had breakfast with Goofy one morning and saw Chip and Dale, Alice and Jasmine, and Baloo! What a great start that was!

Kaleb had a great time too, I know he won't remember any of it, but Kat and Justin took hundreds of pictures there, so when he gets older he can see them. Of course we will have to go again when he is older.

The Princess lunch was so much fun. The girls loved getting their pictures taken with Ariel. There were 5 other princess', but I can't remember who they were. I'll have to ask Kirsten who they were.

Of course Kyle rode on all the roller coasters! While we were on Indiana Jones the ride broke down. We had to get out of the cars and walk thru the tunnels. This was like the 3rd time that a ride broke down and we got 5 extra fast passes! My favorite was It's A Bugs Life, they gave us 3D glasses to wear and what a sight to see. You have to try it. I sat next to Jason and probally hit him on his arm a couple of times especially at the end when the bugs ran thru our seats!

Well that's all for now. M I C K E Y M O U S E rules!!!

Dear Schnib Dibley

Two times I peeked outside and called your name. While inside sitting with your flesh-skinned rival, I heard your name, better yet a version of you name said in question mark form. "Dwiblee?" Havyn said while looking for you.

Recently Havyn had become your biggest fan. You, being her second, third and fourth words mumbled from her mouth. "Dog, doggy, dwiblee." Saying she loved playing with you would be an understatement. Most of her belly laughs erupted from something you did. When Havyn learned to throw, you were there to bring the ping pong ball back. Which, by the way, worked out quite well for you when she was in her high chair hurling her snacks. When she learned to tug, you were there to tug back. And, when she learned to crawl you were there to give her something to crawl to.

"Dwiblee," she said again. I peeked outside. "Dibley," I yelled, "Here girl." nothing.

Nobody could greet like you. Guests to the house knew it. Ty and I knew it. And every time we walked through the door we felt it. As I came in through the garage I could hear your claws click clacking across the wood floors. When I was with you and those very familiar, indicating arrival sounds began you would rush to the door and wait for Ty's priority Dibley embrace. You know she always did hug you first.

When I heard your howl, I darted out the door. You looked my way and immediately stopped howling. I scooped you in a swoop and cradled you close. I didn't care to listen to the lady apologizing. I had but one single thought. I can’t lose you. We can't lose you. Havyn can't lose you. I hurried you inside and got ready to jet you off to the vet hoping for good news. But it was the opposite.

When we found out Ty was pregnant we were worried. "How's Dibley going to act around the baby?" we thought in a worst-case scenario way. But there was no need for that. You behaved around Havyn in a best-case scenario way. You were slow and soft and calm. Everyone who's met you can attest to your manic, nonstop, adrenaline-rush like state. But Havyn would argue otherwise. Even after her less-then-soft ear tugs you acted like a saint, even turning the other ear. When she cried in her crib you came to get me. When she cried around you, you got closer. You seemed more happy when she was and visa-versa.

But now you’re gone and the floors don't clack. You don't come when your name is said even if it is a soft and awkward Dwiblee. We miss you Dibley. We miss your greetings. We miss your middle-of-the-night, let-me-outside pee-pee yelps. We miss your snarled belly and globed and knotted ears. We miss your frantic, play-fetch-with-me stare. And, we miss your smell, no matter the length of time in between baths. And most importantly we miss you.

August Notes in AZ

The Lyman Lowdown
Well Kaleb is now a month old. Katrina is catching up on sleep. Last week Trina called and told me Kaleb is rolling over already! Our dear Adyson started school at Toybox. So now Ainsleigh is left to play with Kirsten. Zeke has registered for school at SLCC. And Kyle is really moving home next month. He got a new job with a company down here in Tempe. I of course went back to work. We now have about 3300 students at my school.

Kyla has a new address, she is now in Suisun City. Her address is 323 Sandy Lane, Apt H Suisun City, CA 94585. She has two companions there, Sister Martin and Sister Packer. I got an email from her Mission President and he told me that Sister Lyman will be going to Santa Rosa on Aug 28th. He said he would try to get a picture of him and Elder Wood and Kyla. How nice of him. Suisun City is southeast of Santa Rosa, close to Fairfield and Vacaville.

Well that's all the news I have for now. It seems the last 3 blogs were from me. Anyone else out there. It could be I have a lot of time on my hands. Gilbertmom

Welcome baby Kaleb!

We want to welcome baby Kaleb to the family. He was born on Wed July 12, at 1:17 am. He weighed 8 lbs and 1 oz. He is a keeper!!! and so cute!!. Katrina and Justin are doing well. A little tired but very proud of their new son. We sent Aunt Kyla a picture so she wouldn't feel so far away. And grandpa Kyle drove all night to get here. I would put a picture up but my computer tech Zeke is in Salt Lake, so I will put Kaleb's picture up when Zeke returns home. Did I tell you how cute he is? Everyone thinks so, not just me. I am sure grandpa Kyle has sent a picture of him to everyone already.

Vacation trip to the National Parks

We had a great trip to the National Parks! The Grand Canyon was on fire, so we decided not to go there, plus it was getting late. We headed to Zion, it was on fire too! But we got to see most of the great sites there. Ady loved riding the bus shuttle. They had elk penned up. The lodge we stayed in had log beds. We then went to Bryce Canyon and Ady got to ride a horse and swim with grandpa. Ainsleigh just loved walking everywhere. Zeke took lots of pictures! Hopefully I will post them later. Drove thru some scenic parts of Utah. Some desolate looking parts too! Spent the night in Blanding and had a cookout up at the Property, actually tin foil dinners. They were great! Headed for Hall's Crossing and spent the next 3 days playing and fishing. Dawn and Bob camped and I got to see Havyn and her parents. Karson and Cowboy Davy were there too! Sorry Davy, I think you will be Cowboy Davy from now on!! Katrina and Justin and Ady and I rode the ferry across to Bullfrog and back. Those big boats are a lot smoother ride. Our last day in Blanding and Jan and grandpa dropped by. We all had a great trip. Kyle caught some fish so I hope he had a little fun. I got to ride home with Kirsten and Jason and Ady and Ainsleigh. Now I am home and it's 106 and Trina will have her baby next week on the 12th???

Hello

Hello All.... The girls just had a birthday! We all went to the Wildlife Park and saw the animals.

Welcome to The Lyman Lowdown

Hello dear family members. Welcome to the Lowdown. I hope to answer any questions that you may have about the blog in this post, but if not, pose your question or concern in the comment link at the bottom of this post and I'll address it later.

As mentioned in the comment section of the Gilbertmom post, a few of us in the family have discussed starting a website. But, Instead of having just one webmaster, I thought it would be easier if everyone could write and post whenever and whatever they wanted.

With Blogger, each member (which should be everyone in the family. I invited all those of whom I had email addressess for. If you didn't get an invite, email me at jrsaunders@cc.usu.edu and I'll send an invite.) of the particular blog has the ability to write, upload pics and insert links on this blog. This blog is the lyman lowdown, and only those invited to it (lyman family members) may post. Yes, others who stumble upon this blog may read the posts, but they cannot post themselves. We intend this to be an open forum for the family to keep in contact, view pics of growing youngsters, share recipes, and detail softball war stories (or anything else you want to share.)

After you sign up, (from the invitation) log in under the name and password you signed in as. Then, click on the lyman lowdown link. Next, either click on create post or view blog. If you want to creat a post, make sure you click on the Edit HTML tag which is located on the upper right hand corner of the message box. If you would like to upload a pic from your computer, then click on the picture icon on the upper left hand corner of the message box. After you click on it, locate the source of the file and click upload. When you are finished, the html code for the pic will appear at the top of the post inside the message box. After you write whatever it is you want to write, click on the publish post button underneath the message box. Then click on publish entire blog. Then if you click on view blog you should see your post at the top of the blog. If not, log out and log back in and the blog should be updated.

We encouarge everyone to post. That way, we'll recognize all the little youngsters when we see them next. Please share anything you would like; your goals, triumphs, successes and even your down-and-outs and woes. We'd like this one day to be an alive and breathing hub of lyman activity. But that won't happen unless you start posting. So blog away and let me know of any problems.

Havyn when she got on The Lyman Lowdown and saw that no one had posted

Havyn when I told her the only new post was my own


jack & ty & havyn

questions on new blog for lyman lowdown

Not quite sure how this works yet. Will anyone be able to read our posts? Or just those that get invited to?

Kicking it Off With a Bang

Welcome to the Lyman Lowdown from Havyn Jade.