January 2022

Jan. 6 - I got to go celebrate Nikelle's 30th birthday with Michelle, Kayleen, and the kids. We had pizza, and the best Soda Mix cookies! We didn't have any birthday candles, so we improvised with a scented one. 

Hallie and Paul loved playing under the end table and hearing stories.

Jan. 8 - Hallie is thrilled with her new booster/car seat! 

Ryder and Molly got to go to an Articles of Faith Primary party, Jared and Nikelle got to go also because they are Primary teachers, so that meant Hallie got to go as well.

All the Idaho Purcell's met at Wingers in Pocatello for lunch, then went to Lava Hot Springs indoor pool.  Maden, Annie, Brian, Jared and Randy had fun playing basketball and swimming in the deeper water.

Clark and Ryder went down these slides a bazillion times! Molly and Hallie went down a lot, but then would move on to other things and come back.

It was a fun day. All the kids seemed to enjoy it.  Blake, Courtney and I were good onlookers!

Jan. 12 - Hallie gets to hang out with me a couple of days a week because Nikelle has started substitute teaching.  She thought she was way cool to sit in Grandpa's chair and use his blanket, and watch his TV.

Jan 22 - I got to go watch Maden and Annie play some more basketball. It's quite fun to see the improvements they have made.

Jared and Nikelle and girls met us at Texas Roadhouse, Annie and Molly were so cute playing their clapping game.

Jan. 27 - Hallie really enjoys her time with us.  I think she ate 3 different breakfasts, had good times snuggling with Grandpa and playing games with Grandma.  We got to pick up Ryder after school and he surprised Molly by coming to her house.  They were so cute reading Molly's book. 

Ryder got to spend the night with us in our townhouse. Then, on Friday we took them to Leo's Place, but I didn't get any pictures.

Now, for a report of the New House! And there is a lot to report!

Jan. 8 - Jared, Blake and Randy are putting in can lights, ceiling fans and outlets!

Jan. 10 - Blake putting some can lights and some outlets in the basement.

Jan. 11 - Door knobs and the beginnings of the stair railings.

Jan. 12 - Cabinets have arrived, and the tiling process has started.

Jan. 13 - Some cabinets are installed, and more delivered.

Jan. 14 - Cabinets are all installed, including the granite. 

There's a bench in the shower.

Jan. 15 - They've started on the siding! 

The shower in the basement is done, and flooring has begun. 

The master shower tiling is looking good.

Jared, Blake and Randy installed the vanity lights, more ceiling fans and more outlets.

Jan 17 - The little granite backsplash is in on all of the bathroom counters.

Jan 18 - More tiling in the master shower, and more siding!

Jan. 19 - Flooring!

Jan. 20 - The siding is coming along nicely. 

The tiling is done in the master shower, the flooring is all in and the grates are on the window wells.

Jan. 21 - The siding is looking great. 

We have garage doors! 

The window that was backward is now corrected.

Jan. 22 - Blake and Jared installing the lights in the garage! The appliances have been delivered!

Jan. 25 - The pillars on the front porch have been framed.

Towel racks, closet rods, and real door knobs!

There's crown molding above the bookshelves, the stair railing is done, and the edges around the island are done.

Jan. 26 - We have a handrail!

Jan. 28 - We have water heaters, a water softener, toilets and shelves!

Jan. 29 - We now have backsplash in the kitchen, dishwasher installed, rock is finished in the front, and the ceiling of the patio is done.

Jan. 31 - Jared and his cute little helpers put the outlets in the island. We sure do appreciate Jared and his knowledge, expertise and time! 

 

December 2021

Dec 1 - My first visit to the Pocatello Temple.  I found the peace I need!

Dec 2 - I got to spend the afternoon this this guy, for his pre-birthday outing.  Maden chose to go to Game Stop for shopping, then to Olive Garden to eat.  He knows exactly what he wants to order, and loves to eat there.  He was surprised when the servers brought him a brownie lasagna with a lit candle and sang to to him.  I laughed at how he really didn't know what to think of all that attention.

Dec 3 - I decided that I needed to do a little Christmas decorating, so I found this cute little tree and Nikelle found my nativities in the shed, so I put a few of them out.  Now, it feels a little more like Christmas time.

Nikelle sent these cute pictures of Molly and Hallie visiting with Santa, they were thrilled to be able to tell him what they want for Christmas.

Dec 4 - We got to go watch Molly in her dance performance.  She acted pretty nervous before it was her turn, but when she got out there, she danced very well.  I  think she has improved a lot this year.

Ryder lost another tooth! Now I guess he really does want his two front teeth for Christmas!

We got to celebrate Maden's birthday a day early.  We had pizza and then the traditional Bingo party! And Maden won the grand prize!

How can he be 12?

Randy and Jared and Hallie are checking out the Grand Prize! Ryder and Clark are playing a game, and everyone else is watching them play.

Dec 5 - Maden through the years! He's such a happy, intelligent. tradition loving young man! We love you, Maden

Dec 9 - I got to go watch Ryder's Christmas program or I should say "Christmas Concert" at his school.  My favorite part was when they sang "All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth".  He couldn't help but smile during that whole song.

Dec 11 - Hallie had to show off her beautiful curly hair.  It was the ward party, and Molly and Ryder got to sing with the Primary.  It was also Jared's birthday, and I didn't even get a picture of him! I guess the whole ward celebrated with him.

Dec 13 - Molly's Christmas program at the BPAC.  I loved her animation as they sang each song, she knew all the words and actions so well.  Hallie had to dress up nice for the program too.

Dec 18 - I got to go see Ryder's last Basketball game for this season.  He has improved so much, and reminds me of his daddy out there on the court.  I just can't get enough of his toothless smile.

Dec 19 - Such pretty girls all ready for church!

Dec 21 - Hallie came to visit for a bit, she wanted to put my ice contraption on her leg, then she told me that she was all tied down and couldn't help me.  I wonder where she got that idea?

Dec 24 - We woke up to snow! Cindy and Ken had 40 degree weather, nice enough to take Ruckus for a walk.

Most of the Idaho Purcell's went to see the movie "Sing 2". It was pretty cute.

After the movie, we went to Rupes! Always a good time at Rupes!

Christmas Eve! All ready for Santa Claus to come!

Dec 25 - We woke up on Christmas morning to a lot of snow! Blake shoveled, and then Lyle showed up with his tractor to help get more of the snow removed.  Jared took the 4Wheeler and plowed my parents driveway.

I got all the kids personalized blankets, I think they really like them.

I didn't take any pictures on Christmas, so I was glad that Blake took this one of Maden, Nikelle and I playing Maden's new game of SkyJo.  It was so nice of Randy and Courtney to host our Christmas dinner and afternoon.  Thank you!

Dec 26 - More snow!  Jared sent this picture of snowballs in his yard.  I found out later that they are called snow rollers or snow bales.  It's a rare weather phenomenon that has to have just the exact right conditions to make them.

Dec 29 - Molly is "making" the blanket from the kit that Cindy and Ken gave her for Christmas. It turned out so cute! Clark lost his first tooth, he looks so excited! Ryder got some cowboy boots for Christmas! He's been wanting some for a long time.

Dec 31 - New Year's Eve.  Blake went to help Brian put his snow plow on his new 4wheeler, he was excited to push all that snow with it.  We went over to Jared and Nikelle's for a little New Year's Eve Party, with treats, sparkling Cider, games and a fun countdown to 2022.  

Now for the update on the new house!

Dec 5 - the Trim crew has started their job!

Dec 9 - More of the trim work is done, the stairs off the patio are poured, and the cement slab coming out of the man doors in the garage.

Dec 13 - Moving dirt around in the yard. The door to the garage got switched so it opens the way I want it to.

Dec 14 - Just a few things the trim crew needs to fix.

Dec 18 - They've put some plastic up in the garage doorways so they can tape and texture inside the garage.

Dec 21 - Taping and mudding started in the garage.

Dec 21 - more mudding in the garage, and the shelves in the storage room are fixed.

Dec 28 - Painters have started the prep work, the garage is textured.

Dec 30 - Priming has started!

Dec 31 - More priming, the window above the front door is installed.