Coach Jared

Jared has been helping his friend Nate Kunz coach a 5th & 6th grade basketball team. They are a really young team, with very little talent or attention span. It has been fun for Jared though to try to help them have some fun playing ball.

Silly Brian

Celia's mom sent a little mixer type thing to Brian and Celia. Brian was totally enthralled with it! He brought it with him last night and played and played with it. He whipped up milk, chocolate milk and then had to try beating an egg white. Thanks Grace for sending a toy for Brian!

Thanksgiving Tennis

Blake, Brian and Celia entered another tennis tournament at Apple Athletic over the week end. Blake played singles and doubles with Brian. Brian and Celia played mixed doubles.

Blake played much better in his singles match on Friday afternoon than he did in the previous tournament, but ended up losing. The score didn't reflect how close the games really were, he gave his opponent a good run for his money. He was sad that it was a single elimination tournament.

Blake and Brian didn't play extremely well in their match later on Friday, but were able to pull out a win in 3 sets.

Brian and Celia played even later on Friday, they ended up losing in 3 hard fought sets. Brian was pretty upset!

Blake and Brian played their second doubles match on Saturday afternoon. They weren't playing very good again, but took it to three sets, and then lost. But they each got a trophy and $20.00 for getting second place. One thing Blake has learned is that it is a lot harder to play in a tournament situation than just playing for fun. Maybe he'll understand better when he's watching Jared play school tennis.

After Dinner Activities

After stuffing ourselves silly with Thanksgiving dinner, we were playing games when we had another visitor, Courtney Fairbanks was in Blackfoot visiting her Grandparents and came by to see us!

We taught Courtney how to play Egyptian Rat Screw. Of course, Brian won all the time, and I got out first every time.

Brian decided to try on Courtney's "half coat"! Doesn't he look cute?

Then, Jared and Brian had to arm wrestle. Brian won on both arms.

Thanksgiving

We had a nice surprise on Wednesday evening, Michael Packer came to visit! I feel really bad that I didn't get a picture of him. He looked the same, acted the same except one thing --- he brought a young lady with him! Her name is Kristen, she is from Texas, he met her at BYU-I. We need to hear more!
On Thanksgiving morning Brian got the idea to play the trumpet, so he and Blake "played" a concert for us for awhile. After that, Brian and Jared went to play football, and Blake and Celia went to play tennis. It was a really nice day outside, about 50 degrees.The table all set for the big meal. We just had Blake, Jared, Brian, Celia and I, and Maryanna (a girl attending BYU-I from Celia's home town.) It was a nice meal and we were all stuffed!

Sunrise

Last Wednesday on my way home from Curves, the sunrise was so beautiful that I ran in and got my camera and drove down the road to take some pictures. I absolutely love sunrises and sunsets in Idaho! (or any where)

Fishing

Blake's brother, Terry had a wonderful idea to plant fish in a pond he uses for irrigation. Terry's kids and grandkids have had a great time fishing all summer. The problem now is that the pond is going to dry up soon, so all the fish need to get caught. So, on Friday because Blake was off work and Jared didn't have school, they decided to go fishing in Terry's pond. Brian met them after class and away they went. The only problem was that it was misting, not really raining, but just misting and it was cold. They didn't catch any fish, but thought it was fun to go in a private pond. Then on Saturday afternoon, Blake and Jared went back for a little while. Grandma Purcell and I rode with them and watched from the car. Terry was there with some of his family. They had caught some fish before we got there, and we watched two more get caught. Thanks, Terry for letting us "try" to catch some of your fish!

Brian and Jared fishing on Friday.

There was a little ice on the pond on Friday.

This is how Terry fishes! He sticks his pole in the ground, then goes and lays on the bank and talks on his phone!

Blake had a couple of nibbles both days, but didn't bring either of them to shore.

Terry, Jared and Blake, talking and fishing.

Spiritual Cat

Twice last week when we were reading scriptures our cat "Baby" decided she needed some scripture time.

One day she climbed up on Jared's lap.

Then another day she got up on Blake's lap. Silly cat.

Tennis Tournament or Marathon?

Apple Athletic and Tennis Club in Idaho Falls sponsored a week long tournament starting Oct. 25th through Nov. 1st. We have practically lived there this week. Blake decided to try playing in a tournament, his very first experience playing like that. Blake played singles, he didn't win either match, but had a good time playing someone besides his kids. Brian played singles and won the championship. Celia played singles, she lost her first match but won her second (she was thrilled because that was her first win in singles!), her opponent didn't show up for the consolation championship match so I guess Celia won that! Brian and Blake played men's doubles and they won the championship! Blake was pretty pleased with that! Brian and Celia played mixed doubles and won that championship too! Jared played mixed doubles with Megan Dalley, they have only played on match and lost it, but they played really well. They will finish up sometime this week. There were too many people in the tournament to get it all finished on time.

Brian's first match.

Brian and Celia in their first match.

Megan and Jared in their match.

Blake and Brian in one of their doubles matches. They won in 3 sets.

Blake played this match at IF High School. His opponent was Dr. Gary Wallace that he used to work with at Idaho Eye Center.

Brian had to play 3 difficult sets to win this singles championship.

Brian and Blake in their Championship Match. They won in 3 hard fought sets.

We even got Grandma Purcell to come and watch some matches, she was even figuring out how to keep score by the end. Brittany Cook came and watched Blake and Brian play too.

Celia serving, she played really well in this match!

Brian and Celia hustling around the court. I love how Celia's hair is flying! They won this match in 2 sets!

Brian serving. He won all three of his Championships on Saturday, November 1st. He's probably pretty tired!

Warming up to begin the Championship match!

Now this is how to rake leaves!

The leaves have finally started falling off the big tree in front of our house. They didn't really ever change colors, just started whithering up and falling off. Blake went out yesterday and "raked" up about 2 dumps of the lawn mower, then he went out today and "raked" up twice that many. We need a big wind to come and blow them all across the street into the field.