WE ARE THANKFUL.....

Autumn from our yard

Nov. 2nd we  went to the junior high to see Camden in the play "The importance of being Ernest".  He was the butler and did a marvelous job.  We enjoyed every minute.  We went to Erik's after for a treat.

The next day we went to Herriman High for the quarter final football game. 

The family always has good support.

William

It was very sad because twice PG scored but they said the player was not in the end zone.  The game film showed that both times he was very much in.  They were down 7-3 when this happened and PG just got frustrated and lost the game.  It was a sad moment.  Riley #24 played very well. Parker #55 and Kolton were on the field and Erik is one of the coaches, so we had 4 Bayles men on the field.  We loved it.

The SLC newspaper had Riley's picture in their paper but Utah valley had nothing.  Way to go Riley. 

 He is such a kind young man and a great friend to others.
On the 7th I looked up information on the story Cinderella.  It was first written in 1697.  I was interested because I did the work for a Cinderella in the temple and felt very close to her.  She was born in the 1800's.
Nov. 9th after Dad had given a blessing at the hospital to a friend of Cora Lee's, we left for Vegas and the Jennings.
On the 10th we met Dave at the District and then headed for the BYU-UNLV game.  It was fun because BYU actually won.

cotton candy

 the guys

the gals

Saturday was George's birthday so we started it by going to Baby Stacks for breakfast.  Oh my goodness was that a breakfast. 

So glad there's not one in Provo.  It is so good.
George (Granddad) is such a good man who is always there when needed.  I constantly depend on him for spiritual guidance. 

He is a fun man and does so much to make life easier for me.  Not enough words to express the blessing it is to be part of his life. We are so blessed with the children we have in our family and the wonderful grands they have brought to this life and now even a little grand and a great. The restored gospel is so true.
I was so excited because my brother Del, came from Kingman, Arizona for a visit.  He is the oldest in my family and I love him so much.  He brought models of Book of Mormon stories to show the kids.  It was amazing.  He has a model barge the Jaredites sailed in, an example of a stone used for light, the Hill Cumorah, and the Golden Plates.  The kids were shocked at how much they weighed.  And of course I didn't take pictures.  It was a great visit and so much fun to be with him.
Somewhere in all this fun, we went to a park by Tiff's house where citizens of Peccole Ranch had made a place to honor the people from Vegas who were killed in the horrible shooting a few weeks ago.  It is very special and a warm spirit was present.  The ones from Vegas had a special sign with a picture of each one and the story to go with it.  One sign has a list of all the others who were killed.  A bench was made with stars leading up on each side to represent each of the people who lost their lives.  The whole thing is so filled with emotion.  We included a picture of one of the men and a picture of the list.  If you enlarge the signs you can read the information.

Sunday was a great day in that Cameron played the organ for the entire meeting and did such a wonderful job,  We were so proud.  That evening we went to the twins Achievement Award meeting.

Monday the 13th we headed home after such a fun few days.  Clark had invited us to a birthday party for Riley & Granddad at their home.  We made it just in time and enjoyed the evening.  Erik's family was there too and some of Riley's friends and some of Dianne's family.  Dianne had an enormous Oriental meal all prepared.  It was so good and fed so many people with most going for seconds.  She had even baked an apple for 
granddad's birthday.  Everything was perfect.

 Mom and Riley

 the gang

 Molly and Uncle Erik

 Riley with Kristin's gift

Tuesday we were so excited to go to the temple because we were able to do the work for Cinderella and her 9 brothers and sisters.  They were sealed to their mother and father and then 4 of the brothers were sealed to their wives.  We wish we could express our feelings at this sacred time.  It just can't be expressed. We are now working on 8 of my family names.  We love it

Today, the 15th is Riley's real birthday. 

He is so hard to describe because he has so many good qualities.  We are so proud of him and everything he does.  He finds good in everything and loves all people.  He tries very hard to do the right things and takes responsibility seriously and loves doing things with his family.  
This afternoon a young man came from Vivint to put a camera on our garage that covers our whole front yard.  It makes us feel a little better about being gone for a year.
Vivint has been back several time to fix any thing we are concerned about.  We also got 2 new camera for both levels of our home.
Saturday the 18th. we started at 8:10 with tithing settlement, went to the the bank, visited the 3 boys before being gone for 8 days and got home just in time to get ready for the ball game.  It was 32 degrees and very cold.  It was fun in that we got to sit by Erik, Shanelle and Camden.  Too cold to take pictures.  BYU lost to UMass.  We got home and spoke with Vivint about our alarm for an hour.  The Nebekers came to get some salmon to take back to Vegas and the Jennings.  Of course we gave them some too.  We remembered we had a reception that night and hurried to attend.  Wow, what a full day.

Dad trying his new snorkel

Monday, the 20th, we flew to Vegas in time for me to see Clara at gymnastic practice.  She works so hard and is doing well.  Of course we picked up food at Canes earlier, just for Scott.
The next day we loaded the car (3 large suitcases on top, 7 carry-ons shoved in and around laps, and a small bag for each one.) and flew to LA and then on to Hawaii. 

These are just the carry -ons

This is when Lauryn is asking "Who is Honolulu?"  And then she realizes it is Hawaii and they see the sign.

 We had fun because the twins thought we were only going to LA.  They had kind of figured it out but were still so fun to watch when we went to the Hawaii terminal.  They got so excited and we were so thrilled at their happiness.  Lauryn didn't know Honolulu was in Hawaii.

Cameron knew all along

We picked up our rental car and headed for the North Shore and our rental home.  It was beautiful and very roomy with plenty of space for all of us.  It had 3 bedrooms a great couch for Cameron, two bathrooms, and an incredible view of the beach.

view from living room in the evening

view from the kitchen

The next day we spent at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  WOW!  We had a private guide but we left her and went with Tiffani and we saw so much more.  

Our guide was very sweet but was new and didn't know how to get to everything.  With Tiff we saw it all.  The kids were in hyper drive.  They loved it all.

 ready

making fire

 hang loose

Clara's tatoo

happy

night show

What a great show with a Kalua pig dinner before.  The entertainment at both activities was so enjoyable.  The fire dancer was our favorite.

our dining room souvenirs.

The next day was Hanauma Bay and snorkeling.  It rained every night and the wind blew furiously but the daytime was wonderful.

                  

We went to Leonard"s for a pastry in Honolulu after and we were not disappointed.  Another Tiffani suggestion.  We then went to a flea market at Waikiki and then to Sachs mall for dinner.
Nov.24th, we went to Turtle Bay and more snorkeling.  The girls are now pros.  Dad and I spent most of our time just chillin' on the sand.

Of course we also went to Ted's Bakery for lunch and their famous pies. 

We also went to the pipeline where the world surfing championships were held the next day so there was excitement.  Off course the girls wanted in the water so we went a little down the beach and there they played.
A favorite place for us is Matsumoto shaved ice.  It is such a fun place.

Some where in the schedule the son of the owner showed us how to get a coconut from the back yard, opened it and cut it for us.  We all loved the milk.

Saturday was the big game.  Tiffani had the whole day planned for us.  She has made this trip so enjoyable and we have seen so much in just a few days.  Every night it has poured buckets, but when the daylight comes it is beautiful.
We loved Matsumotos so much that we headed there again.  There shaved ice is like no other.  We then drove by a pineapple plantation which amazed the kids because they thought pineapples grew on trees.  When we got to Honolulu we found the DR Horton home development and went in a few homes.  They were so beautiful and filled many blocks.
The next stop was Pearl Harbor where we had lunch. 

We toured the National Memorial and Cameron read every sign.  He would tour well with his Aunt Kristin.
Pearl Harbor is a very sacred place.
We then headed to the stadium for the big game against U of Hawaii.  While I took a pit stop. Dave and Dad bought us fresh coconuts. 

The university gave BYU the worst seats in the entire stadium.  The seats were cracked and mended with yellow duck tape.  There were up in bleed nose heaven. 

They were terrible.  They had us behind Hawaii's team instead of the Cougars.  We were so upset until it started pouring and we were in the seats that were under shelter.  We changed our minds immediately.  We had to climb many stairs to reach our seats which was very difficult but we won so that didn't matter.  It was really windy so that made it a bit cold.
After the game we went back to Waikiki to shop and have dinner.  Again we got back late but we didn't care.  Everything is so beautiful.
Sunday was one of our most favorite days.  Church wasn't until 10:00 so we could sleep in because it was only a few blocks up the hill from our home.  The meeting was so filled with the Spirit and the speakers did such a great job.  The youth in the ward sang for the special musical number.  There were close to 100 of them.  The music was filled with emotion and performed so well.  The young men were especially good.

View of the beach from the parking lot.

We then headed to the temple and walked around the beautiful grounds and went into the visitor's center.

Cameron was fascinated by the many languages the book of Mormon has been translated in.

We walked across the entrance and down to a garden where people can go and meditate or visit.  I led down to the beach.

Just a short distance is where a huge Tsunami hit.  It made a huge hole in the rocks.  It's breath taking.

We had changed our clothes and headed to a hike Tiff read about.  It was supposed to be .8 miles winding up to a 150 foot falls.  We had to go back down to Honolulu and through an old but very nice neighborhood to get there.  It is where some of the TV show Lost was filmed.  It was the most beautiful rain forest we had ever been in.  It had rained all morning so the rocks on the trail were huge and slippery and the path was very muddy.  Tiff measured the length on her phone and it was 2 miles up and 2 down.  It was a very hard hike for us but so worth it.  We were hot and sweaty but so engulfed with the beauty of the moment.  Our Father and His Son planned such a beautiful world for us to enjoy.

the beginning with the rocks leading us up

roots

the gang

tired

The next morning we got up at 4:30 so we could be to the airport by 7.  We still had 3 huge suitcases, 7 carryons plus a back pack, purses and Dad's C pap. 

very tired but thrilled with everything.

We watched Wonder Woman on the flight and then slept.  It was a 5 hour flight.  We changed planes in LA and then flew on home.  Dave got the car and again loaded all that luggage in their Explorer.  When we got to the Jenning's home Dave realized he had left his carryon on the shuttle to get the car.  He got it the next day.
Tuesday we flew home and crashed.
Nov. 30th, Dad had a doctor appointment and came home with a complete knee replace surgery date for the 15th of Dec.  How fun.  
November has indeed been a month of thankfulness for the blessings we enjoy because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are so thankful for our family we have now and the families we were born into.  We love them so much.  We just wish we could be with all of them more.  We cherish the sealing power and pray we can be worthy to have our own little family for all eternity.