THANKSGIVING

We were so excited to go to the boy’s Primary Sunday program.  We figured that next Primary program we will have only 2 children in each family in Primary.  That doesn’t seem possible.  The boys did a wonderful job and the singing was incredible.  We enjoyed every minute.

Monday we went to Dianne’s, Grandma Peggy’s funeral.  What a grand lady she was and is.  The chapel was completely filled with family and the cultural hall was filled with friends. 

 We dress up for special people.

 We were so glad to be there and be filled with such a strong Spirit.  She was respected and loved by so many people.  She left a great legacy.

On the way home we stopped to see Nixon play soccer.  Not sure he knew what was going on.  We had a fun time.

Tuesday we had a wonderful phone call from Clark and Jan Wray.  

They were headed to their home in Arizona so we invited them to go to breakfast.  We had a wonderful time talking about family and old times.  Jan has been through a hard 2 years with her illness but has such a great attitude and is recovering better than expected.  It was just good to be together. 

When Ava and Nixon came we had fun making apple sauce, dried apples and bread. 

 peeling apples

 kneading bread

out of the oven

They each ate the little loaf they made.  We don’t know if they ate more bread or jam.  We do know Nixon ate more apples than he put in the pot.

Thursday we went to Milt’s again and finished everything but the art room.  Dad hung more paintings and even hung a wreath on the shed.

  Milt was not doing well so the neighbor, Don, took him to the VA again.  He is doing much better and is home again.  We don’t know what Milt would do without Don.

It was fun to have Tiff and kids with us this weekend.  She came for the Savannah game.  The twins went to Ava’s birthday party in the morning and Scott and Beth were supposed to bring them to the game when they came but the girls didn’t want to go to the game because of the rain so they just played with Ava.

The game was wet but not as predicted. 

 Cameron was so sure they would reach 60 points that he stood by the exit

Asher and Shanelle

 It rained hard the entire game at Scott’s but we didn’t get a bad rain until the end of it, we were so thrilled.  It wasn’t even cold.  We had plenty of padding and many blankets.

After the game everyone came to our home for pizza and a good time visiting.  We always love it when the family or parts of it are here. 

Sunday, Tiff and company left after church and dinner.  It is always an empty feeling when the kids leave but we get over it.  Our Sacrament meeting was so powerful.  The bishopric talked.  Bishop Hoopes bore such a strong testimony.  He’s a great bishop.
Monday morning we got up to watch Ava run over half a mile with her kindergarten class.  

It was 33 degrees and the wind was wild with a scattering of snow.  She finished all 3 laps.  We were frozen.  We left there to look for a new Christmas tree for 3 and a half hours.  We finally decided on one but didn't decide for sure until 4:00, on our way to Nixon's soccer game.  We don't know if it's a game or just some tiny kids running around a gym.

Tuesday was Ava's birthday.  She had already had her party so it could be on a Saturday.  Ava is a little girl full of life and fun.  She loves her family and likes to do anything to be with them.  She is full of adventure and climbs and jumps whenever possible.  She is growing up way too fast but we love the progress.  She loves to do everything she can with cousins.  She has plenty of them.  She loves her Nixon.

Scott and Beth treated Ava to a dinner at Brick Oven with us, Nixon, Cary and Annette in attendance.  We ate until we could eat no more.  It was a surprise party and Ava was certainly surprised.  It was a great treat for us.

opening presents

Erik and family are in Washington for Thanksgiving and we certainly do feel empty without them bopping in every now and then.  Erik was going to help Dad put up the outside light but Dad just didn't feel good so he never got to it.

We ran errands so we could get some packages mailed.  I don't know why we always wait 'till it's almost too late but we got it done.  It's fun to bustle around.  We spent the evening and I spent all Thursday preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner but Dad still wasn't feeling well so he slept most of the day.  Kinda lonely with all that food and no one to eat it.  (Sorry I ruined Thanksgiving. I hadn't planned on getting sick)

Still, we are so very grateful for our many blessings.  We love our family and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Scott and his family came over to help Dad decorate the outside the next day.  Dad had just been too ill to do it himself.  We missed Erik and his family.

After cleaning the church and listening to the BYU/California game, which BYU won, Scott called and invited us to go bowling and to dinner with them at the River Woods.  It was so much fun.  Scott really whipped the impresso on us with his 162.  Bethany did just fine also.  Dad came in second.  Ava and Nixon just cracked us up.  We all had a  really fun time.  We even found Santa and got a picture with him.

After going home and Home teaching we left for Salt Lake City and Hailey and Riley's choir concert at temple square. It was amazing and so fun to be with family.  Erik and family came even though they had been on the road and got in after midnight.

 Hailey and Riley

Don't know how to remove this picture.  I like the other one better.

 the family

 Scott, George and Erik

Erik's family

Temple Square

As we drove home we were so thrilled with the blessings we receive because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our Savior lives and loves each one of us.  Because of Him, we can live together for all eternity.  Christmas reminds us of His gift of the atonement and the beauty of repentance.

NOVEMBER ALREADY?

November is here whether we are ready or not.  We learned a new concept concerning a pumpkin during our Fast Sunday meeting.  At home evening a man told his son that cleaning the gunk out of a pumpkin was not a very spiritual activity.  The 7 year old son replied by saying, “Dad, we take all the gunk out so we can see the light.”  What a beautiful concept in the eyes of a young boy.

Saturday we went to Parker’s championship game.  They played a good game and won 14-6.  

We had fun with Nixon while his family was in Salt Lake watching Ava dance.

buddies

Sunday after church, all the Utah families (Di couldn’t come because she was ill.) came for pie and ice cream to celebrate Dad’s birthday Tuesday.  Fun was had by all.  I baked 5 pies so no one left hungry.

I am so blessed to be married to such a good man.  He honors his priesthood which blesses me daily.  We enjoy being together and working on projects.  He is a direct answer to prayer and I am so glad I was listening.  He keeps me on the straight and narrow and I love that, even though I don't always show it.  His daily testimony by the way he lives strengthens me in so many ways. I love that he loves his family so much  He cherishes each one of you and those precious children you have added to our eternal family.  They are such a joy.  We love the Plan of Salvation and that we can always be together forever.  So much for the preachy; he still isn't right as many times as he thinks he is.  (She is wrong again!)
Thursday Dad went with me to work on Milt's house.  It is a fun little place. 

 Dad put shelves in his closet, vacuumed floors, emptied trash and hung many of Milt's beautiful paintings.  It makes it look so homey now.  I finished putting more of his clothes away and deeply cleaned the bathroom and kitchen.  Oh, Dad also hung some curtains.  It is really looking good now.  Milt is still confined to his wheelchair and is waiting for his prosthesis.  He calls it his peg leg.  He will be able to do the normal things when he gets his leg.  It snowed all the while we were working.
We turned the little boat over all by ourselves.  We are so healthy and strong.
Saturday was Riley's birthday.  Boy do we love him. 

 Do you see some Clark here?

and Jonny?

Riley holding baby brother Jonny.

He is such an example of an obedient young man.  His friends call him the Preacher because he wants to pray before every game. He is an example to his peers of what an honorable young man should be. They just took state.  He watches after his siblings and is a helper around the house.  He is just fun to be with.  The only problem is that when he took off his helmet I had a startle because it was Clark out there.  If he follows in the footsteps of his father he will be just fine.  He has a great example, just hope he learns to tell time.
We went to the BYU game that night with 43 degree temperature and ended with a wind chill of 17.  Lands were we cold.  When I returned from the restroom, I had to laugh at Erik and Shanelle.  I wish I had thought to take a picture but I was too cold and couldn't wait to get in my blankets.  They were huddled together and all I could see was 4 eyes.
Kelly and his kids took the extra tickets and had such a good time.  It was so good to be with them.  They are good kids.  Kelly's not too bad either.

Kelly, Stacey, Cory

Today we went to Erik's ward so we could see the kids in the Primary program.  They did very well even though Asher was hidden by the piano.  He knew the words to every song and sang right out.  Camden knew his part and sang with gusto.  Kolton was glad this was his last Primary program but still sang and did his part well.  We realized that next year we will have only 2 little ones from each famiy in the Primary.  Shocker.
Here are some leftover posters from my classroom I thought you might like to share with the kids.

We are so thankful for this season of the year when we are constantly reminded of the many blessings we have been given.  Above all we are thankful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ which is so intertwined with family.  We are so blessed to be born of goodly parents who taught us from our youth the Gospel of our Savior.  We were blessed to live in families who loved us and cherished us.  We are abundantly blessed with the children our Father has sent to us and trusted us to rear in the teachings of Christ.  Our blessings are added upon with the addition of each grandchild bestowed upon us.  As our family continues to grow we have been blessed with an outlaw addition whom we love, Tyler.  We pray the Lord's blessings to be with us all in this coming year.

CIDER,SPOOKS AND FOOTBALL

Just found that I never published this in 2014

garden carrots

Sunday Scott and Beth had us over for Pumpkin French Toast.  She found the recipe on Pinterest.  It was so good.  She made it on Texas toast.  What a combo: French and Texan. 

Monday the boys came to mow the lawn and helped Granddad make apple cider.  Ava and Nixon were there too. 

 planning

Nixon crushing

Ava helping

Camden pressing

Kolton pressing

Parker pressing

Never have I tasted better cider.

Tuesday I gave Dad his Birthday, Fathers’ Day and Christmas present for eternity.  He is so excited. 

It’s used but the price was so low that we just had to buy it.  We just stopped by on our way to Asher and Camden’s ball games.  We love to watch the kids in whatever they do.  

Asher's is the only picture that turned out

Just as we were ready to visit teach Annie Nordgren we got a call from her.  Her husband had been in a car accident and she cannot drive so she wanted me to take her to the scene as her husband didn't have a way home.  No one was hurt but his car looked totaled.  It was the other car's fault.  It could have been so much worse.  We are constantly grateful for our Father's tender mercies.  I waited for the car to be towed and then took them to the doctor's office where Annie had an important appointment.  I waited until they were through so it was a very long visiting lesson.  I got home at 6 in the evening.  I was so happy to be able to help.

                   Results of the cider still moonshine

 Clark's 

 Erik's

 Scott's 

the Indian and the laundry lady

We ate after pictures were taken.  There was enough food for the ward.  The conversations went on and on.  We love it.

The most favorite game is the donuts on a string.

The best thing about the night was it was Hailey’s 18^th birthday.  She is such a pleasure.  She can do most anything and loves to serve others.  She has earned her YW medallion 2 times.  Not many young women do that.  We are so proud of the many things she does.  She was a great soccer player for South Summit.  We loved going to some of her games.  She loves her family but can’t wait to graduate and move on.  We love her so much.  She will be a great missionary.  For a surprise her family (dad) made a DVD of her life.  We laughed our heads off it was so much fun.

 How we love being with our family.  We just miss Kristin’s and Tiffani’s but they are in the far away places.

 How many Bayles men does it take to change a light bulb?

Dad took his sons to the lake while Shanelle and I took hers and Scott's to the PG Carnival. 

 Erik and Dad

The men had a great time trying out Dad's new boat and having dinner while on the lake and Shanelle and I had fun with the kids.  

Scott and Erik joined us when they

were through with the boating.

Halloween we went to PG to watch the boys in their school parade.  

After we headed to Kamas to watch South Summit in the state quarter finals.  Rily got to dress. 

 They won 28-14.  They play South Sevier next week.  We left Roscoe some slop and picked up our tiller so we can fix the garden for the winter.  We got home in time for some trick-or-treators.  Scott and Beth brought Ava and Nixon by for some fun.  It was a great day.  We're on line for Thanksgiving, which is one of our favorite holidays because it gives us an opportunity to dwell on the blessings we have been given and the love we have for our family.  We love the plan of salvation.
November started off with a Saturday of football.  We headed out at 8:30 to watch Parker in his semi final game.  they won something like 52-14.  As soon as it was finished, Kolton had his final game.  They won 46-6. 

We left there to go home and watch BYU beat Mid Tennessee State 27-7.  What a great football day.  The BYU game got over just in time for us to meet Niki and Curt Brown (Lets Logo) at Out Back for dinner.  What a great day.
Great news was that Kristin and the kids are coming to Utah for New Years.  We are so excited.  These last two weeks have been extremely full but joyous.