Bayles Family Reunion 2024

We don't usually travel over Christmas because the flights are so full. But this year there was a Bayles family reunion so we went for it. We flew out the day after Christmas - December 26. Amazingly, we made it out and back pretty smoothly.

We got up at 3:30 a.m. to catch our outbound flight.

I booked us in First Class because I knew it gave us a better chance of making it.

I love the view of the mountains when we come in Utah.

Traditional airport shot.

It was wonderful spending some time with Grammy and Grandad during the holiday season. Grammy and Grandad had been working on a puzzle and Baylie helped them finish. (She discovered several pieces that had ended up under the table.

Tiffani's family arrived later that evening Tiffani's family came. I'm so glad our kids love each other so much. The kids took over the basement.

Ashley planned a fun-filled reunion. Friday morning, most everyone went to the Provo Rec Center to swim. I hadn't realized we would be swimming so we didn't have suits. Fortunately, others shared with us. I stayed home with Grammy and Grandad while the kids and David went swimming. I helped Grandad start undecorating from Christmas. When we had helped them decorate, I noticed that things were a bit unorganized, so I made sure to organize when undecorating.

Clara, Baylie, and Lauryn

That afternoon, we did baptisms at the Mt Timpanogos Temple. The kids did the work and when it was over, they had 40 relatives baptized. It was a beautiful thing doing family baptisms as a family. 

Erik, Shanelle, Asher, Clara, Baylie, Jalen, Lauryn, Jonny, Grandad, Riley,
Me, David, Kristin, Kolton, Jessa, Parker, Cameron, Tiffani

Afterwards we had dinner at Clark and Di’s catered by Olive Garden. Delicious! We ended the night with ice skating at the Peaks Ice Arena. I watched. I am an ice skating disaster.

Jessa, Parker, and Asher

The Skaters

The Observers

Cameron, Clara, Baylie, Jalen, Jonny, Lauryn, Me, Riley, Asher, Grandad

The next day started with a scavenger hunt at University Mall. Hailey made the mistake of trash talking. She obviously doesn't know me and Tiffani well enough to know that after that, we would win at all costs. The younger kids made a team and made it clear they didn't want any of us "old people." Me, David, Tiffani, Dave, Grandad, and Grammy in a wheelchair were the champions! Even Grandad said he knew once Tiff and I were on the same team, no one would beat us.

We then went to a church in Pleasant Grove and had Mo'Bettahs Polynesian food for lunch. Fantastic! For the first time in a long time we took family pictures. Sadly, Scott's family didn't join us. They were missed.

Back Row: David, Kolton, Shanelle, Parker, Jessa, Dave, Cameron, Bailey, Riley, Molly, Jayden, Tyler, Rosie, Hailey
Middle Row: Kristin, Erik, Tiffani, Grandad, Me, Clark, Di, Ashley (with Simon and Bea), Will
Front Row: Jalen, Asher, Baylie, Clara, Lauryn, Jonny

The Grands and Great-Grands

There were games to play. Pushup contest.

We learned about Gator Ball. Apparently it is a combination of rugby, soccer, and who knows what else. It's truly crazy. 

Simon as goalie

Cheerleaders

More Cheerleaders

Grammy and Will

Card Games

We also watched the BYU Alamo Bowl where they defeated Colorado in a big win. That night the teenagers had a sleepover at Hailey’s house. The rest of us enjoyed a little quiet.

Sunday we went to Church with Grammy and Grandad. The locals went to their own wards. Afterwards we all went to Clark and Dianne's for tacos. After lunch, we put together cancer bags for Tiffani to take back to Vegas. She has really appreciated getting these bags when she has gone in for treatments.

After that, Tiffani and family drove back to Vegas. Our family flew home the next day. David and the kids got out of Salt Lake, but there wasn't enough room for me. I spent several hours by myself in the airport.

I did make the next flight to Chicago. By the time I got there, the rest of the family were on their way home. I took a gamble and tried for an overbooked flight to Columbia instead of an open flight to Charlotte. Fortunately I made it and was home that same evening. It was pretty remarkable that we were able to travel with so few hiccups. And it was such a blessing spending so much quality time with family. We don't get a lot of that because we live so far away.

The day we got home was December 30. We didn't really have plans for New Years Eve so we were happy when the Baileys invited us over for a low-key evening. They are such good friends and we feel so comfortable with them. I didn't take any pictures, but there are a couple of videos.

Alee schooled David in Rubik's Race.

Our very mild celebration.

What a wonderful holiday. It was hard to get back to reality. (Especially since I ended up being sick most of January.)