Chris will be home from Iraq

It is official! Chris will be returning from Iraq in the next week or so! It has been a long 15 months but he and the others will be home!

Chris promoted to Sargeant in Iraq!

Congratulations to Chris! He has passed the testing and is being promoted to Sargeant. The paperwork will take about a month and it will then be official.

We are very proud of you Chris and pray daily for your safety and that of all the troops!

Chris in Iraq!

UPDATE (01/04/07): Chris is in Iraq - they have been told it could be for a year. Each deployment gets harder than the one before. Please continue to pray for the soldiers and all of their families. THANK YOU!


Dec. 29, 2006
We were blessed to have Chris home for the holidays. Last year he was in Iraq during Christmas.

The dreaded call came for him to report back to Ft. Bragg. After he is back they will be deploying within a few days.

Please keep Chris, his wife, Julie and their daughter Calli in your prayers as well as our family and all of Chris' friends in prayer during this time.

We are proud of Chris, James and all the other soldiers' who are serving their country. Thank you!

Merry Christmas!

Calli visiting Santa!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year from the Bayer family!

Jeff and Bucky are unable to get home :( for Christmas, but Christopher is home for a couple of weeks. Aimee and her two children arrived home last night for a week. They picked Ben up from school and brought him also!

Donation Drive to be held 10/23 - 12/02/06

Clarence Public Library & Soldiers' Angels
2nd annual donation drive to support our soldiers!

Drop off items every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (during regular business hours) from October 23, 2006 to December 2, 2006 at the Clarence Public Library 1 Town Place (Old Goodrich Rd) Clarence, NY 14031

Items needed:

Bath towels (new, unwashed, any color)
Twin size sheet sets (any color/design, unwashed)
Beef jerky
canned tuna/chicken
breakfast bars
hot chocolate
instant oatmeal
sleep/lounge pants (small to large)
white tube socks (men/children) all sizes
SNACKS - goldfish/wheat thins/etc.
fruit snacks or any individual snacks
Pillows/pillow cases
Deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste (travel sizes)
Toothbrush/mouthwash
Sweat pants (gray, black) men/women/children - all sizes (no elastic in ankle)
T-shirts (s m l adult, children sizes)
Slippers (men, women, children – all sizes)
Crossword/puzzle books
Paperback books
Phone cards
Hand-held games
Pens/stationary (stamps NOT needed)


Letters/Cards – Our heroes consider any letter/postcard better than GOLD! As we ship out the needed items to the various units we will include the letters/cards. Make sure to include your name and address (they may not be able to send you a letter right away so give it time).

Thank you in advance for your help!

Ben injured in football game!

Well, the season for Ben is over. He tore his ACL and is out for this year. He will be coming home around Thanksgiving and having surgery at that time. There is always next year.....

Ben's surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 22 in Albany. I will be there with him and then driving him back home that day to recover (and stuff him with turkey)!

There is an actual picture of the moment Ben was falling to the ground when he was injured! Check out the link http://www.sportspagemagazine.com/images/college/football/2006/shu-albany/IMG_0014.html....

My poor boy!

Nate goes hiking in the Adirondacks

Aimee and her children, Nathan and Bella, are living in the Adirondacks. This picture she gave me cracked me up! They had gone hiking and Nate was getting tired. He told his mother to leave him!!

Bucky Back in the States!

WELCOME HOME!

Finally, after 2 years, my son is back on American soil! I could not believe the feeling of relief and pride I felt when I saw him. It is so good to have him back here!

We were able to get together last night and have Bucky's favorite meal - my homemade lasagna! Bethany, Brittany, Julie, Calli, myself, Bucky and his wife, Lauren were together.

Bucky and Lauren are busy packing today and are leaving for Ft. Benning GA.

University of Albany Football

University of Albany is in the national top 25 for the first time (division 1-AA level) -

Well, they won another game this weekend. UofA beat Central Connecticut 19-14. Their record is now 3-1.

The picture here is from the week before (9/16) when UofA defeated Delaware. Ben is #45.

The weather was great (no rain) and it was not too chilly. Aimee, Bethany, Brittany, Bella, Nate, Rachel and I were in the stands to cheer our boy on!

The next home game is not until Oct. 21. We will be there!!

Update on Bayers

Bucky is coming back to the states! He will be stationed at Ft. Campbell KY. He and his wife, Lauren, will be moving there shortly after he returns on October 10. It will be great to have him so close to home!

Bethany is having surgery on Sept. 21 to remove the brackets from her gums, some stitches in her mouth and a metal bar that has been holding her top jaw together. She had the wires removed a few weeks ago and was able to start eating soft foods. She has put a few pounds on and looks fantastic! Her face is healing well and in a few months she should be all healed and able to have her teeth fixed and cheek implants.

Benjamin is doing great in Albany at school and football. They won the first game, lost the second and won the third. Aimee and her children (Nate and Bella) and I went to the home game in Albany on Sept. 9. It was great to see Ben and his girlfriend, Rachel (who goes to school in NYC). It was fun to be at a football game again. Last year was the first year no one was playing football in my family since 1986 (approx). I missed it so much!

Chris has been able to fly home for a weekend. Beth, Britt and I were able to go over to Chris and Julie's this past Sunday and watch the Buffalo Bills demolish the Miami Dolphins! Chris is scheduled to re-deploy to Iraq sometime in March unless they are called up before then.

Jeff and his family are enjoying SC and were lucky to escape the hurricane that was supposed to hit Myrtle Beach but went up to Wilmington NC instead! They had rain but were not washed away!

Recent Birthdays: Kayla turned 8 on Aug. 3, I had my birthday on Aug. 16, Aimee turned 26 on Sept. 3, Calli turned 8 on Sept. 13, and Julie turned 27 on Sept. 18!

Keep checking back for updates, pictures, etc. Remember to support our troops!

All my boys are home! (July 10)

This has not happened in many years - all my boys together in one room (even if it is a hospital room). Bethany was so excited to see all of them together!

From left - Jeff (B-Lo), Ben, Chris, and James (Bucky). It only lasted a couple of hours because that same evening Chris and Julie left for their honeymoon and Ben went back to UAlbany that afternoon. But for a short time we were together!

I am so thankful they were able to see each other and were able to brighten Bethany's day!

Bethany in car accident!

My daughter, Bethany (23), was a passenger in a vehicle that was hit head on by someone who crossed the center line. The accident occured on June 30 around 11:15 pm.

Bethany fractured both of her wrists and broke every bone in her face. She had surgery on July 6 to repair the broken bones and has her jaw wired shut for the next 6-8 weeks. She is still in alot of pain but each day the swelling goes down and she looks more like herself! She was finally able to leave the hospital on July 14.

She may require more surgery in the future to repair her nose and put cheek implants in.

Thankfully she has no permanent injuries!

We love you, Bottan, and are praying for your recovery.

More wedding pictures (July 9)

My youngest daughter, Brittany, and her boyfriend Andrew.








Julie and Chris arrive at the reception!








Bucky and his wife, Lauren.









My son, Ben, and his girlfriend Rachel.

Chris and Julie's wedding on July 9

Julie, Chris, and Calli praying before the meal at the reception.








The happy couple!

Bucky on vacation in S Korea!

Buff Bucky posing on the beach (he said the water was frigid but he still went in - you have to when you are on vacation)!





Bucky and his buddies eating out at a S Korean Restaurant!

Battalion Activity Week (Korea)

This message is from Bucky:

these are some pics i found from our battalion activity week. to strengthen the relationship between korean soldiers(katusas) and us soldiers. this is me and my company level tug of war team with HHC 2X 2ID. we took 1st place.

Bucky is the first one in gray above (left picture) and the 3rd from back (right picture) - He looks great!!!

Christopher and Julie are ENGAGED!!

Congratulations to Christopher and Julie (and Calli)!! The wedding will be held on July 9, 2006 in the Buffalo NY area!

Join me in congratulating the happy couple!!


(Keep posted for a picture that will be here soon)!

Bucky getting his EIB award!

Bucky received his EIB award!!!

Happy 21st Birthday to Benjamin!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Benjamin is still in Albany at school for a couple of more weeks. I can't wait for him to come home so we can celebrate this milestone birthday!

We miss you and love you, Ben!!

Bucky earns EIB and promotion!

I received this email from Bucky (stationed in Korea):

this is a picture of me at one of the 35 stations for the expert infantry badge at camp casey. The week after this i did end up getting my EIB. i am recovering a claymore mine. this picture was taken and put in the stars and stripes news paper. talk to you all soon. keep in touch. EIB baby!!!!!i also get promoted next month... move out and draw fire!!