January project to keep us busy

Autney and Tim found a house to buy... so it was bye-bye Mt.Oak for them.

So... we had fun giving the little house a face lift w/a new paint job & a little tlc. Because we are getting a little slow, it took us most of January. But what else would we do if we weren't working??

Christmas time is a great time

How fun to send
& receive the
messages of love
& hope &
thoughts concerning
the birth of our
Savior Jesus
Christ from
friends & family.


We always look forward to that tradition each year.
Ah, then there's Christmas morning!!!

And all the
great gifts we recieve. Some surprises.

This is a great one!!!
Christmas day was very relaxing!!!


Yes, Christmas day was very relaxing!!!

Saturday we served up soup for all the
family that was around. It was great to get together. One might say a souper day!!
Surely do love our family!!!

It snowed!!! Then snowed some more!!!

In the middle of
December we had

a snow storm!!!

How fun!!

Merrill had to

work at keeping
the driveway

and sidewalks

cleaned off.
It was slow work

so he fixed himself

a super scooper.

He even had to move

snow on Sunday as

he had appointments
here at house!!!

Well enough is enough

and if you know

Merrill

you know that

he needed to call

in the reserves

He is now ready!!
Let it snow, let it snow!!

A Notable November........

I did my part to the stimulus package by donating my gall bladder so the health care people could have something to do.... and Brian did his share by giving up his appendix to the cause.

My sister Reta, passed away but I didn't make it to Mesa to the funeral much to my disappointment. But we did have fun Thanksgiving guests


Linsey, Austin, & Carson came from Rexburg.
The Lucore's & Miller's also attended.

The party got wild at times





Especially when grandpa sang to the boys.

October is about History

We had a fun visit with Heather, David & Carter













Carter went on the 4 wheeler with great grandpa and REALLY seemed to like it!

We spent a couple of weks in Las Vegas helping Steven & Erin get ther house ready to move into. We painted it throughtout. This is the loft @ the top of the stairs.... one of the many recieving a new look.













Merrill hung a few lights & did a bunch of other maintance work to get it brand new looking.













plus laid tile in 2 bathrooms & in a big closet area.









Then there was the--cleaning,
cleaning the kitchen,


& the kitchen,hallways,
& entrance tile & grout....

We left as Erin started finding
places for all her kitchen items

And the big moving day on the 23rd

Raegan was starting to feel @ home in her own back yard going in or out as she felt like it. Before long they hope there will be grass back there even. It was so fun playing with her & Brock... he's quite the 1 year old.

Now its trunk or treat @ church & October will bring on November!!!!

End of September--End of Summer!!

How sad to think that Summer is almost over. It has been soooo good!! These last few days have been focused on the wind up of the activities of Summer time. We went out to the orchard & sorted pears.... brought some of the ones that didn't make shipping grade & bottled 32 quarts of pears. We still have a whole bunch of grapes to juice.







And what to do with bucketssss of tomatoes and 8 of these big guys!!!!!!

Merrill has been trying to get in a

few more rides before the snow flies.

To recap September......

At age 94 Uncle Claud joined the rest of Merrill's Aunts & Uncles on the other side. Left now is only Merrill's generation of Mangum descendents. It was good to see many of the cousins & families at the funeral of Aug 29th. It was another one of our one day trips to Salt Lake. It was a beautiful day.

Kent & Jill Jolley (cousins)

Austin & Linsey stopped by on their way to Rexburg so Lanae brought her new 'friend' over to visit for a few. (Deb too)

Look out food network...... we have a new star on the horizon!!!

Merrill gave a bread making demonstration for a Relief Society Enrichment night. About 35 sisters showed up for tastes & fun. Merrill made 4 batches of his whole wheat bread recipe. It makes 6 loaves each..... however he baked some in small loaves so there could be "take home" bread too..... It was a delightful night cause people think it is fun to party at the Bastians....

Speaking of parties.... one of Merrill's councilors is moving out of the ward so we had a 'good-bye' dinner for him & a 'welcome to the labor' to the new councilor/family night on the 21st.

We are grateful for family, friends, good health & happy happy days of Summer..... and I guess Autumn will be a great time too.......

Lots of visiting & happy reunions

Linsey and Carson came for a fast visit on their way to Washington

We went to Provo..... Merrill's brother Lewis passed away due to injuries sustained in a biking accident. Pictured is Gerry and their family at the mortuary

Family assembling at the cemetary. There was a bagpiper as part of the services.

Congratulations to Anne.... She graduated from BYU!!

Roger threw a pizza party to help her celebrate.........

Reed, Erin, Brad, & Trisha waiting for the goods......

Gerry & their family enjoying the meal...........

More eats..... more family.... Stan, Kathy, Merrill,

Richard, Gayleene, Michael, Kim, & Roger

We went to the "This is the Place" monument and checked out the "John Clark Dowdle" tree that is planted near the parking lot by the pioneer village. It is doing well..... Looks healthy & is nicely shaped!!!

We were able to visit Bob & Linda and had a great visit..... thanks again!!

Also Sid & Louise, dear Santa Rosa friends, such great people!!