MAY DAZE

 notice the tobacco bell in the garden

Reminds us a little bit of the Smokies

May day reminds me of when I was little and on May 1^st we would make little paper baskets and fill them with picked flowers and take them to a neighbor, ring the bell and run behind some bushes and wait for them to open the door and be so happy and surprised.  It was a fun day each year.  We made the baskets in school.  This May Day I went to see Milt and have a fun time.  He painted a picture of one of the ruins at Mesa Verde to thank George for all the work he has done for him.  It’s beautiful  When I got home we planted the rest of the garden ‘till dark.

Saturday we went to Riley’s soccer quarter finals.  I did take pictures but somehow I deleted all the pictures in my trash and that deleted them off my camera too.  I am so good at things like that.  I don’t know how I do it.  I guess it’s just a gift.

John and Judy Sandstrom gave us shawls that he learned to weave while on their mission to Nauvoo.  They are  beautiful  We are going to Lake Powell with 4 other couples for 4 days on their house boat.

We love Sundays. We were to have our bags and big things to the Sandstroms’ that evening so they could take them in their truck and speed boat.  I needed my floppy hat but when I got on a stool in the pantry I found gazillions of weevil on the top shelf.  They had found the heat packs we made years ago in Relief Society.  It was so interesting in that they only were on the top shelf.  I had done my spring cleaning in February so they had come since then.  We poured Clorox all over the shelf.  It took the evening to get things back in order.

We spent the next 4 days at Lake Powell.with the Sandstroms, Martins, Bushes, McCloskeys, and the Mercers.  John took us to a beautiful spot to drop anchor.  It took 6 sixty pound anchors to hold the boat.  We spent the whole time eating, swimming, laughing ‘till we hurt and had tears, boating, hiking and some sleeping in the open air.  It did rain but didn’t cause a problem. It was just too beautiful to even care.  Great friendships were increased.  I took pictures but most of the 60 were on whatever I deleted.  Kristin couldn’t even get them back. 

 swimmers

 on top

 ready

 enter

 We came back home at 10:00 Thursday evening.  No one should have that much fun.  Friday morning Dad got up to serve in the temple when he realized he didn’t have his hearing aids.  $6.000 is a big thing for us.  He knew he had put them in our assigned cubby before the first boat ride.  The Sandstroms were still at the lake and thank goodness they had taken the house boat to Bullfrog where there was cellular service.  We called and John said he would look for them.  We kept checking back and forth with no luck.  He was just getting ready to go to the dump place and search through all the garbage (he is that kind of a man) when he found them across the hall from our cubby and in the bedroom, under a black canvas bag.  The Lord continues to send us tender mercies.  Many prayers were offered because we had everyone going through their things looking and many prayers of thanks were then offered.  The Lord is mindful of every part of our lives.  He loves each one of us and all He asks is that we live  and keep our covenants we make with Him.  What a beautiful plan.  We love how you teach our Grands this truth and see that they know of His love.

May 9^th Scott and Bethany brought the kids over to give me a beautiful hanging flower basket for Mothers’ Day.  I was in the middle of making bread so Ava and Nixon made their own loaves.  It was such fun. 

 As we were taking the bread out of the oven Dad remembered that Troy Hulse had invited us to a surprise birthday for his wife.  We had 30 minutes to get ready and go to Mapleton.  We made it and had a good time.  His home is unreal.  It is huge and beautiful. 

the trophy room
Mothers’ Day was wonderful.  We heard from all of you.  Kristin talked to us on our ipad and of course Baylie and Jalen were a riot.  Their gift is in the mail. Please pray for them to get a job and sell their home in Houston.  They kept us laughing for some time.  We certainly do miss them.  Erik had us over for dinner after church.  Erik did the cooking and it was amazing.  They will come tomorrow to do our lawn and we will make snow cones from the bottles of syrup and cups they gave me. They each gave me a paper with thoughts of me on it.  I love it.  Tiffani called while we were there and we had a good talk. She sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Clark called after we got home.  He is into piglets again.  What a farmer he has become.  Dad gave me a life float thing so I won't drown when we go fishing.  It floates if I hit the water.  He also gave me those foam tubes to put in my boots when I'm not wearing them.  What a day.

.A mother cannot ask for anything better than what I have.  You are such thoughtful children and wonderful parents.  We are so proud of the way you are working so hard to see that your children learn all they can about the doctrine of Christ.  Our lifetime goal is to be together forever as families in the presence of our Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ.  We are so blessed to have this knowledge because of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants along with our other scriptures.  We are so pleased that you are reading them with your children.  It is so important.  Many of our fond memories are the morning reading times and talking about the scriptures together,  We love you so much.

 Granny Bayles

Grandma Hanks

We are so blessed to have the mothers we have.  They were so loving and taught us the importance of trying to do our best.  Granny and Grandma are the best and we are who we are because of the teaching they continually instilled in us.  They taught us to always follow our Savior.  It will be a beautiful greeting when we can be in their arms again.
When the boys and Ava and Nixon were at the house Monday, we made snow cones with the syrups Erik's family gave us.

yum

That evening we went with our boaters to give the Sandstroms a floating water play thing for their houseboat.  It was a fun home evening.

Tuesday at 2:30 we got a text saying Lily was in a play at her school.  We got in the car and headed for Kamas.  We got there just in time for the play at 4.  It was a cute performance and Lily was the best one.

After the play we went to Clark's for a yummy, better than Cafe Rio dinner.  After the dinner we went to the Tapestry Choir concert.  It was especially fun because both Hailey and Riley performed.  It was incredible music and they were so darn good.  The last number they were side by side which made me very teary because it was for the last time.

 what wonderful siblings

After the concert we went for ice cream.  We're always up for ice cream.

Saturday the 16th we went to the credit union breakfast.  It was bitter cold but dad won a fun kids swimming pool  We then went to Camden's soccer game which they won and then to the state track meet.  Kate Hunter, a sophomore in our ward, took 2 firsts and one second.  She's amazing.  We didn't take a blanket or an umbrella and it poured NC rain.  We were so cold.  We went to JDawgs for dinner.  When we got home Erik's family was there.  As they were leaving, Scott's family came. Ava wanted us to know she made the swim team.  How we love family to come by.
Sunday evening was Hailey's seminary graduation.  It was so well done.  She led the opening and closing hymns.  She did a marvelous job.  She kept the tempo so peppy.  She sang in an amazing group.  The youth beamed with testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and of the Prophet Joseph.  After the meeting we went to Clark's for some of Dianne's yummy desserts.

It has rained and rained causing our yard and garden to be growing so well. The hanging flowers are from Scott and Beth.

George went to Spanish Fork to pick up our boat and I went to Parker's choir concert.  George met us there.  It was so good.  We were so impressed with the quality of the music and the size of the jr high choirs. Of course Parker was the best.  There were over 200 singers.  Afterwards we went for ice cream.  It was a great evening.

                               

Paker is in the vest.  Sorry it is so dark.

Thursday the 20th we got ready to go to Pine Valley for the weekend because of Memorial Day.  We headed to Kamas to watch Jonny be the head pirate in the play, "Pirate King"  He was amazing.  He did such an amazing job, especially for a second grader.  He sang solos and even danced.

 After we hustled to Provo for Sue Tandy's retirement party.  Dad hired her as his secretary when he opened Centennial Middle School.  It was a good time in that Dad got to see many of the teachers he had at that time.  He enjoyed the reunion.  He loved working with those good people.  
We finished our camping shopping and went to watch Camden in his fourth grade Utah program.  He was dressed as an Indian in Dad's Timpview costume.  He was great.  They sang and talked about the history of Utah.

  We brought the trailer home and started getting it ready for our trip.  We thought we would have to unhook the trailer and then hook up the boat to move it and then hook up the trailer again but Scott had come and hauled the boat to his house so we were saved from a task we just didn't have the energy to do.
The next day we packed up and headed to Cedar City and up the mountain to Pine Valley.  It rained a lot.  When we got there we pitched Scott's tent because they were going to be late and it would be dark.  After they got there Tiffani arrived and she and Cameron pitched their tent. It was a very cold and wet night,  It rained non stop.

The next morning. Scott and Dad had a fire going and put up Scott's portable garage.  It was wonderful.  They put it right over the fire pit and we had a nice warm, dry room.

Dave came that day .

The kids didn't know it was cold and fished and played for the next few days.  They caught over 12 fish but only ate 2 of them and threw the rest back.  We laughed and visited the whole time. (When we weren't fishing).

 Clara's fish

 Bethany fisherwoman

 Ava (last one but finally caught one)

 Lauryn's fish

 Nixon's fish

I got pictures of everyone fishing but Cameron.  He also caught one.  This is the next best thing of a picture of him; his best friend, Flappy.

Got out of the trailer once but Tiff saved him just before a dog got to him.

I love the reflection in this picture.

Tiffani needed to study for her college classes.  The shelter made a great place.

 Granddad helped her with her studies.

Then they both wised up.

It was so cold and wet that everyone decided to go into Pine Valley and have ice cream.

Sunday we went to church in Pine Valley.  It is a building they built around 1863.  It is so beautiful and filled with such a special spirit.  We always sit outside and they pipe the program to us. It rained on us but no one cared. This year there were over 400 visitors.  All the campers and families from afar come there for Memorial Day.  The speakers were so inspired and taught us how blessed we are to live in such a wonderful country.  There was such patriotism.  After the meeting we went to the cemetery to see Camry's little boy's grave.  There was a peaceful feeling there.

That night the twins slept in our trailer with Cameron and Flappy.

For the camping food: Scott's family did cinnamon rolls, Salmon cooked over the coals and rollups.  Tiffani's family did Eggs, garlic cheese sandwiches and tri tips.  We did pancakes, chicken salad sandwiches, and hamburgers and hot dogs.  Dad did his famous Dutch oven potatoes and I think they were the best ever.
It poured rain every day and all night but did not dampen the fun.

  We got up Monday morning to pack up and go home and of course there was a blue sky.  It had to rain a little which made us take things home wet.

time to go home

 It was just a very fun time.  We had 10 kids in our trailer when it was too wet or dark and they played and had fun together.  The trailer was thrashed every day because it's hard to keep clean with that many wet feet.  We got home at 8:00 that night. unpacked the trailer, did some laundry and fell in bed.
Wednesday I got up early to drive Dad to the temple so I would have the car to go to Ava's kindergarten graduation.  The truck was still hooked to the trailer so Dad didn't have wheels.  The graduation was great.  They sang for an hour.  Ava had a speaking part and did very well.

 It was hard because the boys had a program at the same time and I had never missed it except when we were in NC.  I made the decision and the boys I'm sure did very well.
After the temple we went to find a place to store the boat and found that we could also store the trailer there.  It is very well protected and by Utah Lake so it is very close.

Thursday we went to Kamas for Hailey's graduation. We had salad and bread at her home before the ceremony.  She was the only one in high, high hot pink shoes.  She is a special person who loves life.  Her graduation was on the football field and cold but not rainy.  Yeah!

 getting diploma

hugging
It has rained every day for a week which is so rare but we need the moisture so desperately.  Hailey sang a beautiful number with a group and had an inspirational talk at the end and she said "I will just say a prayer." and she did.  It was beautiful.  This no religion in school is so wrong,  After we went back to Clark's and had yummy desserts and ate and ate.

Shanelle and Erik
Tyler and Ashley 

 The kids had fun playing with the goat and seeing the new piglets.  Clark is getting to be quite the farmer.
While Dad was at the temple Friday, I went to visit with Uncle Milt.  He is doing so well.  He was walking a lot more and had completed some more paintings.

When I got home that night Scott and Dad had gone to get our new door.  It is beautiful.  I'll send a picture when it is hung.
Saturday we went to Salem for Scott's triathlon .  I love that tri because it is so easy to see everything.  He did well and it was just fun to be with them.

 out of the water

 cheering him on

leaving

 When we got home we were so tired that we took a little nap.  We trucked right to the garden when we woke up and started pulling weeds.  We hadn't weeded this year because it has been too wet and the weeds were certainly glad.
While weeding Dad got a call from the stake office asking us to be one of 3 couples to be on a panel at the evening session of stake conference.  thank goodness it was the last minute. (Pres. Gagon was out of town so had not looked at his computer)  We didn't have time to worry or prepare.  It was great.  While weeding we listened to Elder Nelson's conference talk about the Sabbath on my computer.  So much for not washing my hair.  It was on holding family councils and we were so glad that we did that.  I told them about the time the kids called a council to discuss having to be at church 30 minutes before the meeting.  We learned a lot from that event.  The meeting went very well and much was learned.  We learned that we need to impress as empty nesters, the importance of Sacrament meeting to our grandchildren.  So get ready for some preaching.  We feel you are all doing so well in instructing our grands about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and we thank you for it. We are so grateful for the family home evenings, family prayer, scripture study, and family councils that we had while you were growing up.  It made everything so much easier.
Sunday conference was also very good.  We enjoy learning about the gospel and what we ca do to be true to the covenants we have made in the temple.  It's true.
We love our family more than we ever imagined we could.  They are trying so hard to live the commandments and are so aware of our needs.  We love the tender way they continue to help us in all that we do.  Families are forever.