Hard To Believe It's Over

Ok. How on earth did Christmas come and go so quickly? I'm still having a hard time believing that summer is over - and here it is 4 months into the school year and a new calendar year about to start. I spent some time with Andy and Sarah on Christmas Eve in SLC and then went to Layton to spend the rest of the evening and Christmas day with Aaron and Cyndie and their darling little family. Having little kids around certainly makes things more exciting. I came home Christmas night and have been lazy ever since. Aaron and Cyndie were such great hosts and so good to me and I sure enjoyed my visit there. My children and spouses gave me a new wardrobe for Christmas. Andrea, Anneke, Anna, and I also went to the John Schmidt concert on the 18th, compliments of the girls and that was just wonderful. So entertaining and we enjoyed it a lot. We went out to eat too. Anna got to go for a present for her birthday that was on the 4th. The only thing that would have made that day more fun would have been to have Amy, Cyndie, and Natalie there with us. What a lucky mom/grandma I am to have such a wonderful, loving family, who are good to each other and good to me. Love them!!!!

Being Thankful

It's that time of year when we officially think about our blessings. Where do I even start? First of all - the gospel. And my testimony of it. And my precious, precious family. We've had the blessing of adding 3 little girls to our family this year. They are healthy and beautiful and I'm in love with them. Yes siree - my family. What a blessing they are to me. I'm thankful for my job and the wonderful people I get to associate with every day. I have a good class this year that I enjoy a lot too. I have a lovely home, a car that runs, plenty to eat and would have plenty to wear if I didn't have plenty to eat. I live in a beautiful corner of the world in a great community. And in spite of all the sickness that has gone through the school, I've stayed healthy. yay. So the next time anyone hears me complain about anything, tell me to hush up and count my blessings.

Words of Wisdom from 3rd Graders

Today one of the girls in my class left this note on my desk:

The only thing that keeps you going is knowing somewhere in the day you may find the key of life.

Well. That's certainly a deep thought, huh? She also wrote me this other note:

Happy Halloween!!!!
Dear Mrs. Bayles,

I think that you should give us kids your addres tomorrow. Why you ask? I'll tell you! If you give us your addres then we can go trick-or-treating to your house! If you do give us your addres then I will surly come to your house! I bet if you do give us your address then a bunch of other kids will go trick-or-treating to your house too! Plus since you won't see our costumes here in shool, you'll be able to see our costumes right in your very own doorway!

One day my friend, Amy, substituted for me and she noticed that one of the girls kept disappearing to go in the bathroom, so she got after her for it. A while later, the girl wrote this note to her saying: I'm sorry. I'm the person who has to buetify myself, so I went to fix my hair.

For some reason I got lots of notes and pictures today. I have such a cute class this year. When they earn 100% of their Accelerated Reading goal, they get a bag of microwave popcorn and get to pop it in our classroom. I had run out of popcorn when one little girl earned hers and I forgot to take some the next day. In a very serious voice she said to me, "You know, if I was a teacher and I needed to remember to take popcorn to school the next day, I would write a little note and stick it on my bag, then when I picked up my bag I would see the note and remember to take some popcorn to school." I said, "Wow! What a great idea. I'll try it." And you know what? I remembered the popcorn the next day. :)

Fun With Amy and Maiya

Look at that cute little fat face. Little Salote Maimoa Levatau and her mom, Amy, came to Utah/Idaho for a little visit on Friday - Monday. We had a family get together on Saturday at Aaron and Cyndie's house and were real sad that Anneke and Tom and girls couldn't come because of sickness. Ammon's girls weren't there either, because Paige was sick too. And Natalie was working. And Maiya's daddy, Sam, wasn't able to come because of work. BUT everyone else was there and we always have fun when we get together. I loved having Amy and Maiya here Saturday night until Monday morning.

Aaahhhh .

This is Amy and Sam's little Maiya. She was born on the 10th of September. This is my favorite look of her's. Isn't that the cutest little scowl?

Aaahhhh again.

This is Anneke and Tom's newest little bundle of joy, Kara. She was born on September 29th. Oooo kissy cheeks.

Thanks for the dikchunery.

The Preston Elks Lodge and Rotary Club give a dictionary to every third grader each year. It's an exciting time when they walk in with those boxes and hand the kids a dictionary that they keep for their very own. I had my class write thank you notes to them and they were really cute. Here are a couple of cute things they wrote besides saying thank you:

. . . its speshal to me cuz i love words.

. . . may all your wishes come true.

. . .p.s. I'm a girl.

. . .I really couldn't believe my little eyes when I saw those dictionaries.

And then on the back of one, a little girl made an invitation to the Back to School carnival and listed all the information about it. I just hope that all the members of the Elks and Rotary Clubs remember to come to the carnival. :)

A Third Grade Memory

When Aaron was in third grade, his teacher was Mrs. Hoffman. One day she wrote his name on the board for talking and that made him mad because he was not the one who was talking. (For once he was an innocent victim.) His punishment was to have to stay in from recess. Well, he wasn't having anything to do with that, so at lunch time he took his lunch box and headed home to Franklin. Yes, 6 miles away. But - he didn't stick to the main highway. He turned south at the first road to the right after leaving town which eventually took him out on the road that passes Little Mountain. So he REALLY went the long way. (Maybe he was worried that Mrs. Hoffman was going to come after him.) Actually, what she WAS doing was looking all over for him, along with the prinicpal, Jerry Waddoups. She called me to let me know that he hadn't come in after lunch recess and I probably ought to go up to help look for him. At that time Anneke was in the 6th grade, Ammon in the 4th, and Andrea was in Kindergarten. Amy was a baby and I was probably expecting Andy. So anyway, we searched the field of corn by the school and all over town. Hans was delivering mail and I called him and said he better come because we just couldn't find him. By then school was over and some of the teachers who were commuting to Logan looked for him on the way home and called me from Franklin saying that he wasn't there.
But all that time he was hiking along the back roads and even took a lunch break and sat down in the gutter to eat his lunch. We decided we better call the police for some help and I decided to take kids home so that Anneke could watch them and then I'd go back to Preston. Yes, all kinds of horrible thoughts were going through my mind by this time. Hans stayed in Preston to keep looking around and I'm sure that Marilynn Hoffman was getting pretty sick about it all. When the kids and I walked into the house, there Aaron was - sitting on the floor, eating a snack, and watching cartoons! I was so relieved and so angry at the same time I didn't know whether to hit him or hug him. So I just went in my room and cried like a baby. When Hans got home, he hugged him and had a good talk with him. Hans was good that way. It took me a while to get over it all. But I was thankful that my Aaron boy was okay.

School Started!

Wednesday, August 26, the students arrived. So far I think I have a great class. They are so cute, and we've had fun getting to know each other. I gave them a paper to fill out that has 3 questions on it. I wrote down some of my favorite answers:

1. What I like the most about being in the Third Grade:

• My techerer :)
• Recess
• crs of riting (cursive writing - isn't that cute how he sounded that out?)

2. What makes me nervous about being in the Third Grade?

• Evryteng about 3rd grad
• ther might be bullys in the class. (Don't worry, I'll make sure there aren't.)
  
• I don't now anyone. (student is new to Preston area)

3. One thing that I hope to be able to do in Third Grade:

• Paint
• go on fill drips (field trips)
  
• pass
  

I think we'll throw in a few spelling lessons too while we're at it. I have two granddaughters in 3rd grade this year and it has really made me look at the kids this age in a different way. They are still so young and innocent. They are precious and I'm so lucky to be able to spend 5 days a week with them and hope that Anna's and Kylee's teachers feel the same way about them.

Good To Be Me

Not everyone can say that they truly love their job, but I can, because I do. And one of the main reasons is because there are so many wonderful teachers at the school. I love and appreciate them so much. The kids aren't so bad either and I'm looking forward to getting to know a new class next Wednesday. Yay!

Check it out.

You are invited to visit my other blog

cookiesbythedozen.blogspot.com

Another Reunion

Yesterday I drove up to Marysville, (east of Ashton) to my grandpa's farm for the Marvin and Laura Hillam reunion, my grandparents. My heart just gets full of warm and fuzzy feelings when I'm around my mother and her sisters and brother. They are good people. I'm so proud of my heritage. It was great to see so many of my cousins. But I can't figure out

HOW
DID
WE
ALL
GET
SO

OLD???

Still marvelous looking, but old.

A Great Story by Amy

In October 1993, when Amy was 7, she wrote this story for me. It is on paper about 5x7 in size and she put 5 staples down the left side. On the front is, I have to say, (sorry Amy), one of the funniest looking trees I've ever seen. :)

A Leaf and A Boy

One day a boy's mother told him to go rake up leafs. So he did he didn't realy want to but he still did. And he found lots of pretty leafs. And he found a realy pretty leaf and ran inside as fast as he could. And he showed his mom. He kept it and one night when he was going to bed. It started to talk. And the boy said who's there. And the leaf said me. Who's me. The leaf. A leaf is talking to me. I can't believe it. You better boy. And he ran up stairs. to his moms room as fast as he could. Mom you know the leaf I found. Yah. It was talking. Now don't tell lies. I'm not mom.
Now go back to bed now. But mom. Don't but me. Now go to bed now. Ok ma!
In the morning. He said are you still there leaf. My name is Bart. What's yours? Peter. That's a nice name. So is yours. Thanks. Do you want to go for a walk. Sure. That was fun swinging. I'm an airplane flying in the air.

The End

Andy

Yesterday Andy and Sarah came up to visit and to get some things out of the storage shed. It was fun to have them. Andy was looking through his baby box and it brought back some of the most tender moments. He was such a cute little boy and always had such deep thoughts. Like this one when he was 4 years old, on Mar. 25, 1992:

Andy: Mom, if a bull stepped on me, would I be dead?
Mom: It depends on where it stepped on you.
Andy: Yea. If it stepped on my blood vessel, I'd be dead meat, huh?

He used to love to lay on the bed by me and just talk. After his dad died, he seemed to have such an understanding of where his dad was and was so matter-of-fact about it all. He's such a sweetheart. Love ya, Andy.

Myers Family Reunion

July 17-18, 2009. We had the Myers Reunion in Soda Springs at Ron and Lorraine's house. Paul and Elaine were the hosts this year and we all had a great time. From my own family, Anneke and Tom and their girls, Anna, Abbie, and Kate came, and also Andrea and Brad. It was fun to visit and play. This is who was there:

Grandma and Grandpa Myers
Paul and Elaine Myers
Michael Myers
Brent and Linda Myers
Nathan and Heidi Myers, Porter and Sophie (Friday evening)
Marie and Doug Hadley
Doug and Heather Weber, Justin, Ryan, Hannah, Emma, Jacob
Kathy and Mark Sanders
Brian and Debbie Sanders, Hailey and Nicole
Nick and Laura Johnson, Cali, Paige, Cade, Brock
Joyce Bayles
Anneke and Tom Lindhardt, Anna, Abbie, Kate
Brad and Andrea Frandsen
Don and Darla Romrell
Dustin and Danie Romrell
Danae Romrell
Ron and Lorraine Myers, Lisa, Telford
Dustin and Tauna Carney, Jaxon
Rachael Huntsman

Not as many as last year, but it was still lots of fun. I don't enjoy anything more than being with family.

Glad we did it...

I've always been thankful that there was at least ONE thing I've done right and that was to make sure that we had Home Evening when the kids were growing up. I have so many fond memories of Monday nights. Reading in the Book of Mormon together, all the treats, singing, sharing stories and lessons and playing games. My favorite game was when the kids would take turns going out of the room and then come back in acting like some kind of animal. One time Ammon came slinking into the room and we guessed every kind of slimy, crawly thing we could think of. He finally told us he was a lightbulb. Huh? Another time we had kind of a spur of the moment talent show and Andy spent several minutes doing tricks on a kitchen chair. That was just the funniest thing ever. My kids all remember that and how funny he was. We kept a minute book of our home evenings and they are fun to read and they are proof that we actually had some good lessons and discussions. Sometimes we had a lot of contention and one or two or more of us would end up crying and wondering if it was all worth it, but yes, it was. Definately worth it. It never crossed my mind to stop having Home Evening when Hans died. In fact, it seemed to be even more important than ever. Over the years we had different kinds of charts that we used to rotate the responsibilites - conducting, opening prayer, song, lesson, activity, closing song and prayer, and our favorite: treat. There is so much going on in the world these days that we need to shield our families from and spending one evening a week together really is an inspired program. Strengthening our families - there's nothing more important. Nothing.

I LOVE MY FAMILY

I just spent two fun days with the family. Sam and Amy had come up for a couple of days, so we all got together at Tom and Anneke's house for a combined birthday party for Andy - June 13, Andrea - July 8th, Aaron - July 10th, and Sam - July 25th. We had a washer toss tournament too. The little girls did some swimming and we all did some eating and we all did a lot of laughing and enjoying being together. Ammon had a rodeo in Nevada, but Natalie came anyway and we're glad she did. Ammon and Paige and Makenna and Natalie's boys were the only ones not there. Fun time had by all. For some reason half of the pictures I took didn't even record on my memory card. Maybe it's too full. But here are a few that actually showed up. Just know that there were lots more. Ok then. I guess there won't be pictures after all because I'm losing patience with not being able to make it work. So just imagine a bunch of wonderful, handsome, beautiful, cute, fun people.

Going Private

Dear Friends.

I have decided to make my blog private (in about a week), so if you would like to be invited to view my blog, please send me your email address and I will invite you. It's not that my blog is so special or anything, I just would feel better knowing that only people I know are looking at it. I LOVE blogging and I hope that you'll keep wanting to visit my blog so that I can visit YOURS. Thanks so much!!!!

Cleaning the closet and finding treasures.

Ok. I'm cleaning out my craft closet because ever since I moved into this house 2 years ago, I've just stuffed things in it and have never organized it. I'm finding some fun things. Like a box that has some pictures of Hans when he was little and a bunch of pictures of our cute little kids. And... since it is close to the 4th of July, I thought it was appropriate to post this cute little essay I found that Anneke wrote when she was almost 6.

"I like America because it's just a special place. We have a pretty flag with pretty colors. I want to always live in America."

Such deep thoughts about our country, huh? I'm glad that she's still living in America.


And then I found a story written by Ammon and I'm so mad that I don't know when it was written. It's written in his own handwriting and looks like maybe 2nd grade. He even uses quotes so it's impressive.

The duck and the mess

My Duck Has a Big beak! it is Big for a Duck. "my Big beak," said The Duck. it is Big. Man. I must finD a way to make a Big mess. my oh my my oh my my my my my.
I must find a Sharpener. I must.! "ok it is ok my my it is ok. I can't" said the Duck. then said all of the Ducks "please" said all of the Ducks. To find this is all of the Ducks. I must find a mess. Said the Bigest Duck oh yes wait wait No said the littlest Duck no no said chiken with The chiken posks (pox) I will make a Big fase oh oh oh my my oh my my oh.

from Ammon,
To GranDma and GranDpa Bayles.

All I can say to that is HUH? So funny. But it's written so neatly. Oh my oh my.

Ok. Back to cleaning out the closet.

The Oakwood Synchronized Swim Team

For the teachers' talent show at the end of the year, the 3rd grade teachers did a synchronized swim routine. Okay. WE thought it was hilarious, but you know how that goes. The ones doing it always have the most fun. Our students seemed to get a kick out of it though. The practicing for it and making the shorts one evening at Ilene's was great. Gosh I love my school sisters.

Yup.

This is why I love living in beautiful Franklin City in beautiful
Franklin County in beautiful Cache Valley.

My Girls (Minus Cyndie and Natalie)

Good-bye Old Chief :(

When you have a pet for 19 years, it's hard to not have him around anymore. Our fun little cockatiel, Chief, died on Thursday, June 4th, just after I got home from a class. I'm glad I was here to say good-bye to him as he took his last breaths. When I got home he was swaying in the corner of his cage, but he rallied enough to tell me good-bye by climbing up on his perch, whistling for me, ringing his little bell, and then putting his head through his rings and shake them around a little bit. Then he fell off the perch and died. I haven't cried so hard in a long time. I have really missed him. When the family was here for Amy's baby shower that Saturday, Ammon dug a hole and we buried him in the back yard. We all said something that we loved about him and would miss about him and then because things could have gotten pretty heavy, we all chirped or whistled one last time for him. A little while later, Makenna was outside trying to tape some paper on the ground over the grave. Tape doesn't work so well on dirt, so Andrea went out and helped her find some rocks to hold it down. Makenna has always been tender towards Chief, so she thought he needed some kind of a headstone. Cute little girl. It says, "Dear Chief, from Makenna. You will always be by me. I shure love you. You always looked forward to be nice."

Thanks for all the memories, Chief.

How much fun can I have???

It seems like the last week was just one continual round of fun. A great baby shower for Amy, Paige and Makenna and Andrea spending the night, Ammon and Natalie coming the next morning to get them, a visit with Aaron and Cyndie's family, a fun hour and 1/2 in the car with Andrea and Amy while we waited for them to clean up a wreck off the freeway, and then a 2-day road trip with Amy to Mesa, a visit with my brother, Paul's family, seeing Sam, flying home on Wed. evening, then spending a day with Anneke's family before coming home. The week before that I spent in a math class which wasn't too bad because my friends, Chelsie and Sunnie were also there, so they made it fun. I'm so lucky.

Memorial Day 2009

New Rules For School :)

A cute little girl came to school today with a 3x5 card in her hand and said, "My cousin came over last night and we made up some rules for school, so if you want to use them for our class, then you can have them." So she read them to me and I thanked her for her concern and she was really proud of them. Here they are:

1. If you hang out in the hall you will earn hall duty.
2. No running in the halls.
3. No teasing and puching and kicking.
4. No cheawing gum in class.
5. No talking back to your teacher.
6. No saying bad words.
7. Don't go out of class without permision.
8. No screaming and yelling.
(and my personal favorite):
9. Never Ever walk on your desk.


Gosh. There's only 3 weeks of school left. I hope that before they leave me and go on to 4th grade, I will be able to teach them not to walk on their desks.

Thoughts of Hans

17 years ago I lost my very best friend and the love of my life. May 2nd in 1992 was a beautiful, sunny, warm Saturday that changed my life. It has been quite the roller coaster ride. As a family, we've made it through 6 high school graduations, 3 college graduations, 5 weddings, 1 divorce, 3 missions, losing Grandma and Grandpa Bayles, Uncle Don and Uncle Dennis, wearing out several cars, selling the old home and moving into a new one, the birth of 8 beautiful little girls, and many happy and sad times. We all still love and enjoy each other and I'm grateful for that. My children and their spouses are my best friends and the greatest joy and support in my life. They are so good to me and I love them dearly. Yes, Hans, we are doing okay.

Love 'em

This is the main reason I'm okay with spring being here. I'm always a little sad to have winter leave, but tulips and daffodils make it all okay. SOMEDAY I'm going to go to Holland in the spring. It might be Holland, Michigan, but I'm going. I'm tulip crazy.

Little Miss Sunshine

I have this little tiny girl in my class who cracks me up sometimes. She asked me if she could go to the library to get some new books for A.R., so I told her she could go if she hurried back. The kids were getting called out in small groups for dental screenings and I knew it would be her turn soon. So, no surprise, she was gone too long and came meandering back about 15 minutes too late to go out with her group. I told her it had taken her way too long, to which she replied, "I know, but I ran into some old friends and you know how that goes!" Hmm. What a kid. Then later she came up to me pointing to a word in a book and said she couldn't remember what that word was. I asked her to sound it out and she said, "Well I took a little tumble on my head this morning and it jogged my memory and now I can't remember some of the words." Sometimes all I can do is look at her and smile.

I'm just a slow learner, I guess.

So - it's been 2 weeks since my car broke down and died. I have stressed, cried, complained, and looked at so many cars online and in person that I'm SICK OF IT!!! And actually it all came down to the fact that I can't afford anything that I looked at anyway. Brad spent hours helping me and so did Anneke, so I thank them (and all the other family members and friends who patiently listened to me) so much for the help and support. In the end I got an old car from some people I know in Preston. I think it was the right thing to do, because I feel a lot calmer now.

BillNyeTheScienceGuyWouldBeProud

Friday was the Great 3rd Grade Science Fair! What a day. 3rd Graders take their science seriously and there were some really cool projects. They brought their projects on Thursday and so that afternoon we moved the desks into a good circular pattern so people could walk around in our room. Then they set up their projects and we spent an hour going from project to project while the kids explained what they were about. Then we were all ready for a whole day of it on Friday. So cute. When Kris brought his salt and sugar crystal project Thurs. morning, he said, "I don't know why my grandma and aunt want to come to the science fair. So if you see some ancestors walking around, that will be my family." And then he said, "I'm just so excited - can I do a headstand?" Yes, his ancestors came, and yes, he did a headstand.

Bye Bye Car

Ok. Now I have to get a different car. It hurts my heart. Mine bit the dust on the 12th of March. It needs a new motor which I'm not going to replace. So if anyone who happens to read this, or knows of someone, who wants to buy a perfectly good Ford Focus with just about new everything on it (tires, struts, water pump, timing belt, spark plugs, windshield, to name a few) minus a motor :), let me know. It's for sale. It's sitting in my driveway hoping for a new home. I'm asking $1,200 or best offer.

Happy One Month Birthday to Sophie!

Aaron, Cyndie and girls came up on March 13th for the weekend so that Aaron could play in the PHS Alumni Basketball Tournament. Fun, fun, fun. It was great to see Larry, Clint, Bryan, Mike, Matt, Chris, and Aaron play together. They won 2 and lost 2. On the 13th baby Sophie was 1 month old. She is such a little doll and so fun to nibble on. I just enjoyed having the whole Bayles family here for 2 1/2 days. Larry came for Sunday dinner and it seemed almost like old times having him here. The only problem with having someone come visit is that they have to go home. :(

Friday, the 13th - No bad luck for us!

Little tiny baby Sophie Grace was born this morning, and we are so thankful that everything has gone well for her and her mother. Proud parents are Aaron and Cyndie. Can't wait to hold her and do some nibbling. 34 years ago today, I too was giving birth to a beautiful baby girl with dark hair and long fingers, like her dad's. No mother could be any more proud of a daughter than I am of Anneke. She has truly been a joy to watch grow up and become a mother of her own daughters. She is very precious to me, as are all our children, and I'm thankful for her good husband and the way she has lived her life. Happy Birthday, Anneke!!!

Greetings

Just want to say Happy Valentine's Day to my family (and any friends) who read this. I have so many people who I am thankful for and love dearly. Will you all be my valentines?

35 Things

I saw this on Amy's blog and thought, "That would be fun." So here goes:

TYPE ONLY 1 WORD.
1. Where is your cell phone? coat
2. Your significant other? Chief
3. Your hair? short
4. Your mother? funny
5. Your father? funnier
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? weird
8. Your favorite drink? Water
9. Your dream/goal? wisdom
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your fear? mice
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
13. Where were you last night? bed
14. What you're not? rich
15. Muffins? usually
16. One of your wish list items? Money
17. Where you grew up? Ashton
18. The last thing you did? eat
19. What are you wearing? pants
20. Your TV? old
21. Your pet? bird
22. Your computer? Compaq
23. Your life? good
24. Your mood? frustrated
25. Missing someone? family
27. Something you're not wearing? shoes
28. Favorite Store? Stokes
29. Your summer? anticipation
30. Your favorite color? yellow
31. When is the last time you laughed? today
32. Last time you cried? today
33. Four places I go over and over? Oakwood, copy center, home, bed
34. Four of my favorite foods? popcorn, potatoes, meatloaf, pizza
35. Four places I would rather be right now? movies, New York, Utah, Mesa

My Big Red Bowl

Here are the reasons that I love the big red Tupperware bowl that Anneke and Tom gave me for Christmas Felding:

1. It is a beautiful color.
2. It holds as much as my big stainless steel "popcorn" bowl.
3. It fits inside the sink.
4. It has a nice, tight-fitting lid.
5. It is so styling when I take a treat to school.

Shining Stars

Wednesday night, the 21st, I went to Layton to go to Kaydence's Shining Star recital. It was so fun and entertaining. She's quite the performer and is a good singer. She was the very best one in the whole program!! We went to Arby's afterwards, then I came home. It was such a nice evening with Aaron and his darling family. Thanks Kaydence!