THE REED E. BAYLES REUNION

Windy Top

The best thing about July is Jonny’s birthday.  He is such a fun boy who loves everything.  He is very creative, especially with cardboard boxes.  He can make anything with them.  His smile just lights up our lives.  He loves to learn about animals and most everything else.  He is such a joy to his family and all of us.  Granddad spent a day with him this summer camping and catching squirrels.  It was such a fun time.  We can’t believe he is 7.

after milkshake run

at the zoo

We went to Kamas for the 24^th of July children’s parade.  Dianne was in charge and it was a great time.  Jonny was in it riding his bike. 

Molly, Camden and Kolton held the opening banner. 

good friends

We left right after the parade to get ready for the Colorado reunion.

We left as soon as the trailer was packed and headed out.  We met Tiffani in Moab.  She decided at the last minute to come to the reunion with the kids.  The girls wanted to pet Curly and Cameron brought his bird.  We met at the park on the Colorado River and had lunch. 

We then went on to the ranch.  We got there just in time for Tiffani to set up her tent and us to prepare our trailer.   After dinner we just sat around chatting and the girls went to pet Curley.  

waiting

Curley was not in a good mood so they talked to this very old pony Katie informed us that a missionary, Elder Brian Oakley had come to her home in Aztec because we sent him.  She said he was so cute.  It made us feel closer to Caswell.  She wants to have them for dinner sometime.  What a small world.

Who knows what problems these men are solving

At around 9:30 all the young ones went to catch crawdads.  This is the favorite activity of the reunion.  They figured Lauryn caught the most.  They didn’t get back until around 11:30.  They were so pumped up, dirty and tired.

Saturday morning we were in charge of breakfast.  We fed  around 80 relatives pancakes, sausage, eggs and orange juice.  We always do breakfast.  Thank goodness Tiffani was there to help.

That afternoon we went to Mancos for their celebration.  It was a fun time.  

Beware of Lauryn's snake

We got back and just sat around visiting with everyone.  Even Uncle Eric came and added many stories.  

Wearing Uncle Eric's hat.

That evening  Mikki’s family had a program which included family questions and a dance.  Dad and I even did a jitter bug. 

The kids did most of the dancing.  They had such a good time. Everyone had made quit blocks of their family and Cathy Cosby put them all together and the first group at the reunion tied it.  They did a drawing and Julie won the quilt.  It was very pretty and fun.  

Kristin made two blocks out of fabric and it is part of the blocks on the back.

Tiffani made this block

The blocks I had made

After the dance Shawn cooked up the crawdads with some corn on the cob and potatoes.  The corn and potatoes were yummy.  We were sure the girls would be sick they ate so much.  There was a 35 quart ice chest filled with crawdads that were put in the boiling water.  The butter was dripping down arms as they ate.  

It was 10:00 before they finished and went to bed.  Some adults stayed up talking.  We went to bed.

The favorite time of the reunion is Sunday and our testimony meeting.  We sit out under the trees and share feeling with the family.  We love hearing the testimonies of our family members.  Mike and Jackie Palmer were there and Mike bore such a strong testimony.  

They are now preparing for the temple and so anxious.  He told about picking up the Book of Mormon that Granny had given him for his high school graduation and reading what she had written in it.  He had never opened or read the book.  He shared it with us and we were all needing a hanky.  He then told about a page he had found in the book that he hadn’t remembered.  It was not signed but the writing was definitely Granny’s.  It just fix exactly for this time in his life.  She was always so in tune with the Spirit.  His coming back to the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ was such a blessing for us all to witness.  We so love our families.

After the meeting everyone packed up to go home.  Tiffani probably had the longest drive.  She went through Flagstaff, Arizona.  We went to our trailer and crashed for several hours.  We walked to Mikki’s and then to Lyman’s and had great visits.  We went home in a pouring rain.  It was so heavy and we were so glad it came after everyone had left.  That area needs it so much.  We watched "Get Smart "and went to bed.

Tuesday we headed home and made it in around 6 hours. 

Horse head on Blue mountain.  See if you can see it.  I took a close -up.

It was good to be home.  We love our family and extended family so much.  It is the greatest blessing of the restored gospel.  It is so true.  We even love each other.

THE GEORGE BAYLES REUNION 2014

view from our rental housse

This week has been great because we spent it getting ready for the family reunion at Bear Lake and actually going.  Only Kristin was left out because of her surgery; many pictures were sent to her.  Monday Tiff and the kids came and Tuesday Dave,  David , Baylie and Jalen came.  David came in first so we took the kids for Dinner and went back to the airport to get Dave.  It worked out so well.  That day Tiffani, Shanelle and Bethany did the shopping for all the food that would be eaten. The kids played in the back yard.

I was so worried about my little bird family that Dad bought some worms so they would have penty of food.  The girls named the worms and played with them----in my house.

Clara and Lauryn

The birds have really grown.  One must not have hatched, or died because we only have four.

 hungry

 older but still hungry

Wednesday we all headed out.  It was a good travel and we made it in 3 1/2 hours.  It took us awhile to find the house but when we did we were excited at the beauty of it.  It was perfect.  Erik, Shanelle and family arrived soon after and then Dianne and kids.  Ashley came with Erik.  Tyler had to work and study.

We settled right in and had a wonderful dinner of hot dogs on the grill by Dave.  We love hot dogs.  Kristin had spent hours on a family game that we all bombed.  She had a page with 30 sayings sent to her by each of us about something we felt no one would know who it was.  It was amazing what we found out about each other.  We were so shocked to learn new things about people we thought we knew.  We laughed our heads off.  Then David showed projections on the wall of each of us when we were young.  Again we missed so many.  It was just so darn much fun.  We laughed and laughed. 

 Later we made our first of many runs to La Beaus milkshake place.  WOW!  Only one size is served and it is not small.  Can’t believe I never took any pictures of it.  Best raspberry shakes we have ever tasted. 

Every family had their own bedroom and we had the master. 

 great bed

dining room

 Before going to bed we had family prayer.

The next morning, after their bike ride, we had a great pancake and sausage breakfast served by Erik and Shanelle. 

Tiffani conducted a few fun craft projects that the kids thoroughly enjoyed.

 shrink art and braiding

 waiting for the shrink art

  After the kitchen cleanup and the crafts we headed for Bear Lake.  Our rented home was in Garden City, just a few miles away.  The view of the lake from our home was breathtaking.

We played for hours in the water.  The best thing about Bear Lake is that it has such a nice sandy beach which continues into the water.  The kids could go 30 yards into the water before it was even to their waists.  Parents didn’t even have to worry about them. 

 Olympians

Rub a dub dub 3 boys in a tub.

all alone but shallow

Many pictures are of Kristin's kids because I took them for her.

 We had some water toys we took from home.  Thank goodness for trucks.  We had 2 lounges, a river raft, and 2 rubber boats. 

 Don't think we're going far or fast

 There was never a dull moment.  They had a great game of baseball.  

always time for lunch

bathing beauties

 Kids absolutely love to bury each other in the sand.

liked this

At about 3 o’clock Scott and Bethany came.  Scott had to work so we brought Ava with us.  It is so much fun just playing in the sand.

 Around 6 we headed for the house.  Clark and Tyler got there soon after.  We had a yummy dinner of taco salad prepared by Tiffani. 

 After dinner we headed for more milkshakes.  

 mode of travel

When all were stuffed we went back where Erik gave a great lesson on staying close to the Savior.  It was done so well; everyone stayed tuned.  

After family prayer the kids fell asleep before their heads hit the pillows.  I think the adults did too.

Friday morning breakfast was prepared by Dianne in that Clark, Erik and Scott rode their bikes for 30 miles.  Bethany ran by herself.  What a woman.  After breakfast we all headed to the lake again.  Everyone was their but Kristin.  We missed her so much.  I took tons of pictures and sent them to her so she knew what we were doing and that her children were still alive.  I realize now that I got very few of Clark's family 'cause Hailey had such a great camera and took pictures.  I didn't even take any that day.
At noon Tiffani had rented 4 jet skis for 4 hours.  At 2 she had reserved a water trampoline.  No pictures there 'cause the tramp was so far out.  Even the little ones jumped.  A wind came up so it was a bit cold out of the water but it didn’t stop anyone.  We all had so much fun.  After returning the toys we headed back to the house.  We had ordered 3 pizzas that were 28 inches each.  We went to a park and played such fun games and then a huge soccer game.  It was such a success.  There were even 2 pieces of pizza left over.  Imagine that!  

ride back

We went outside when it was getting late and roasted marshmallows over the fire pit.  We had s’mores and roasted Starbursts.  Clark gave a great lesson on missionary work and how we need to be an active part in it.
 Family prayer was said before the milkshake run in that some were too tired to go.  The kids were so tired, many were already asleep.  Not as many went for shakes.

Saturday we were in charge of serving breakfast.  Easy; muffins and juice or cereal.  As soon as we were finished everyone cleaned and packed up to go home.  What a great way to be together without any problems.  We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family where our Savior is first in their lives.  We have this reunion every other year.   Each year a different family is in charge.  This year was the Jennings'

They buy all of the food and assign a family to prepare each simple meal.  We have a set amount they can spend and so far they have stayed in budget.  We do nothing but go and have fun.  The first year was Martin’s Cove and the handcart history.  Last time while we were on our mission it was at Park City with all the fun activities there.  Who knows what the next one will be.  Erik and Shanelle are in charge.  The years we do not have one the families go to the out-law family reunions.

Before we headed home Erik had us follow him to Montpelier , Idaho, 30 miles to see where I was born.  We traveled with David and kids coming and going.  I did not know just where I was born.  I was always told it was in a place above a bar but when we got there and talked to some people and read signs, we found it was above a store.  It was exciting for me to find out.  We even found the house I lived in until I was 10 months old and moved to Alaska.

Didn't know I owned this place as my name is Nancy Gladys

 my

My dad's office was in this building.

 The hospital was upstairs

My first home.

We stopped at the milkshake place and ate lunch and had more milkshakes.  I don’t know how our trip could have been any better.  It was so wonderful

When we arrived home we found fledgling #3 on the grass and #4 trying to eave the nest.  We couldn't unload because mama and papa bird would fly down right nest to our faces.  We have had a fun time watching them encourage the last one to fly.  He is still in our back yard and seems to have no intention of leaving home.

 #3

#4

Sunday morning Baylie and Jalen got up so good.  Our meeting is at 9:00, so I thought they would be too tired but they showered and were ready on time  It was a special day in that it was our 48^th wedding anniversary.  What a great way to celebrate; with family.
Kristin has posted a blurb about our anniversary after this blog.

 

David and the kids made both flights home which is something in that they fly stand-by.  Kristin was so ready for them.  So glad they could be with us.  After we left the airport we went to see my brother, Milt.  He is now at a rehabilitation center and is doing very well.  We are again so blessed.  He had a great attitude.  He will be there for 2-4 more months.   We ended here because the reunion had indeed ended.