LOVE AND KISSES

February found us still with snow coming down.  We love this moisture because it may be all we get and our summers need water.  Our water depends on the winter snow and the spring rain which we rarely get.  This is wonderful.

We started the month with Ashley’s birthday.  She is a special daughter of our Heavenly Father.

 She is loving this new roll of mother and is very good at it having learned from her mother who is a great role model.  We took Ava and Nixon shopping for a dinner Ash and Ty could put in the fridge and use whenever they didn’t have something planned.  We also took cake from Magelbys.  Of course we had to get a little for ourselves.  The kids were very excited to see this new member of the family.

  They love William.  Ava couldn’t believe how tiny he is.  This was the first time we held him because we didn't want him to get any germs when we saw him not even a day old.

Ground Hog Day is a fun thing because you can kinda feel there is an end of winter.  We went to the temple with Cliff and Carma Bush.  Cliff is Dad’s fishing buddy.

On Wednesday Scott, Beth and kids took us to dinner at a place in the mall called Studio Pizza.  It was yummy.  After dinner they took us to the circus at UVU.   We hadn’t been to a circus forever and really enjoyed it.  The kids had never been so they had so much fun.  We got there early enough so the kids could ride an elephant. 

We didn’t get home until 10:30 but the time really flew and we loved every minute. (except when Nixon bumped the seat and got a bloody nose)  We love doing things with family.
Wednesday night, Thursday and Thursday night it snowed like crazy.

 iron tricycle

 driveway

 plane

hard worker
Friday Clark, Dianne, Molly and Lily picked us up and took us to Richfield for the varsity 2A wrestling sectionals.  We had so much snow that we didn’t want to drive.  Believe it or not, Clark is a great driver and we felt safe.  We missed Riley’s first wrestle but he pinned in the first round 30+ seconds.  He lost the next one and pinned in 30 sec again. 

He is only a sophomore but wrestled varsity.  He won another one by decision.  That evening when it was over we checked into the Fairfield and headed to Wingers for dinner. 

We were so tired and hungry.  The girls went swimming and Clark and Dianne got in the hot tub.

The next morning we headed to the wrestles. They blew smoke and announced each wrestler.  Not sure if you can hear Riley's name.  At least they pronounced "Bayles" correctly.  

Again, Riley did well; 

won 2 with one being a pin and lost one. 

He ended coming in 5^th

and able to go to the finals next weekend.  South Summit came in first in their division. 

Again we were hungry and went to Costa Vita for dinner.  Riley was able to ride home with us.

  We arrived home at 10:30 and Clark’s headed on home.  What a great weekend.  We so love being with family and were so proud of Riley.

Sunday morning found us at 9:00 with Brandon and Pam Luke (Pam is Bill and Ann Bayles' daughter) at their new baby, Lydia's blessing.  Brandon did a beautiful job and gave a wonderful testimony.  Bill and Ann were there as well as Nancy and Andrea.  Blessings are so tender and this one was no exception.

We went to our own meeting and enjoyed our testimony meeting and the other classes.  At 5:30 we were at Bob and Lynda Westovers for his 80th birthday.  They are people who follow the doctrine of Christ.  I taught with her for 25 years and she was such an inspiration for me.  We love them.
Monday we decided to bake cookies with Ava and Nixon  It was a fun time.

 When Scott came he got Nixon ready for karate.

Tuesday was Dave Jennings' birthday.  We love the way he cares for our Tiffani (except for remodeling ideas)  He is a good man and honors the blessings from our Father in Heaven.  He leads this precious family in righteousness.  He has  so much fun with their children.  Tiffani get them all ready and quiet for bed and then he takes over.  Noise haven; the kids love it.  They have a home filled with a good spirit.

That evening was our RS International dinner.  We had sisters from Mongolia, Latin America, Scotland, Hong Kong, Brazil and other countries prepare such delicious food for us.  It was wonderful. 

Friday we spent all day watching Riley in the varsity state wrestling.  He is only a sophomore but pinned 2 guys that day.  He also lost 2 so didn't make it to the finals. We were upset because he was ahead and he chose down but his coach said up.  Did not fare well.  We are so proud of him.

We found out that South Summit (Riley's team) won state so that was good news.  He helped with his 2 pins,  Dad was ill yesterday and slept all day today.  He didn't go to church Sunday and slept  all day Monday.

Tuesday we were thrilled to take Lucille Rawcliff to her doctor’s appt.  She hasn’t’ seen any doctor for 7 months and will be 95 in May.  She is such a sweetie.  She tries so hard to do things for other people but she can’t get around without help.  We just love her.  She is so appreciative of everything we do.  We took her to another doctor Wednesday and another one Thursday.  Her last apt. is next Tuesday.  She is just fun to be around.  She is so sharp and remembers so much.  She has been a widow for 17 years.  Dad felt a little better so he did his shift at the temple.  He still is not well.

The good thing about Friday is that it was Asher’s birthday and he will be baptized on the first Saturday in March.  He is such a sweet boy and loves his family. 

Asher and brother, Camden

He can do anything with Leggos and loves anything to do with Star Wars.  The sad thing is that he has to have all his teeth pulled out as they start to get loose.  He’s a trooper though.  We certainly do love him.  The whole family went to Disneyland for 5 days for his birthday.  What a fun present.

Dad is finally feeling better but still has to rest each day.
We went to visit the Ogdens who replaced us in Murphy.  It was such an enjoyable evening and loved hearing about the people there.

Sunday morning Karen called to say her husband,Bert, had died.  They will have the funeral in Malad.  She has her family with her and is holding as strong as she can.  We will be in Malad, Saturday for the funeral.  I ordered flowers to be from Del, Milt, and us.

George had a fun thing happen in the temple.  He looked up and there was Will Jenkins from our mission.  He was such a young boy when we were there and now he is a missionary going to Canada.  We are so proud of him.
Thursday night we went to an incredible Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor.  The boy had built a huge pen for a red fox who needed to be in a shelter. The lady from the shelter came with the fox, a skunk, bird, and even a boa constrictor.  The room was full of people and everyone had a chance to pet each animal.  It was great.
Friday we got up and went to the Red Barn at Thanksgiving Point  to watch Ava in a dance competition.  

She got a first.  She is such a great dancer.

 We missed the Saturday competition because of the funeral.  This dance was a group and they took 1st and Beth sent us a picture.

That afternoon my brother, Del and his wife came on their way to the funeral.  They live in Arizona and we seldom see them so it was really a treat.  We love our families.
Saturday, Milt came early so he could ride to Idaho with us.  It was fun to be with my other brother.  Funerals are a great way to see extended family and renew relationships. (funeral reunions)!  Some we had not seen at all.  Karen did very well and her children handled the funeral.  Clark and Dianne came from Kamas and it was so good to have them represent our family.

George, Del's John and Del

 Del, Nancy, Milt, Karen

 We loved seeing my only Aunt Belvalene and her husband Jay.  They are the only aunt and uncle I have left.  It was a great surprise when I looked down the hall and saw my roommate from BYU.  She lives in Idaho and figured I would be at the funeral.  We cried on each other and shared stories of our fun days.  She has influenced my life so much over the years.  She taught me by example how to live and keep the commandments of our Father in Heaven.  She made sure we had prayer together every night.She, was to me, a perfect example of a beautiful and virtuous young woman.  I love her so much.
After the funeral, we went to the cemetery

Del, Nancy, Milt, Karen

and then to a wonderful luncheon.  

We visited some more and then headed home.  My sister has always been so good to me and even as children we played and had fun together.  She was always there for me.  It was so good to be with her and support her.  It was a wonderful day to be with family.
The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is so true and the only way back to our Father.  There is such a beautiful glow around people who are striving to keep the commandments and follow God's plan of happiness.  We love our family and the way they try to live the commandment and teach their children of doing the same.  They are great people and we are so proud of them.
Monday Ava and Nixon came for a few hours so we baked bread.  When it was finished we took a loaf to Lucille Rawcliff.  They thought it was so fun.

Ava and Nixon

When we got back from delivering, I pulled in the garage but not all the way so they could get out easier.  When dad shut the door it scraped Lilly's bumper.  We have called a repair man.  What next?
That night we went to Dallyn Bayles's concert at the Scera.  Two hours of such pleasure and amazement.  We just couldn't believe how he could hit the notes so strongly and then so softly.  He got a standing ovation and the concert hall was booked solid. Absolutely breath taking.  In between numbers he preached the restored gospel by telling stories about his family and the influence the church and our Savior has had on his life.  What a great way to end the month.  It has been full of so many blessings.