waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overdue post

First off, we are all fine. I've just been waaaay too lazy to post. Talking to my sister yesterday, she was a bit worried. I told her I'd post...

Anyway, best news, of course, is our new granddaughter, Joy!

Joy is saying "hi!"

 

Joy Elise was born at 6:16 pm on November 15th, weighing in at 8 lbs 14 oz, and was 21" long. Apparently Henry really loves her. :) I'm hoping to go see her soon. Congratulations Andrew, Heather, and Henry! We are so happy for your little family.

Thanksgiving was great. I didn't take a single picture, though. Like always, it was delicious food and plenty of games, friends, and family. Good times.

Tennis is old news, but I haven't posted in so long that I still have some blog-worthy info to write about.

FYI-I doubt it's an official term, but a bagel in tennis is when the final score is 6-0 (or 0-6). So to be bageled means that you didn't even win one game.

When Alex plays his tennis matches, I never hear any of the names of the other teams' players...except for Haas. Haas is the man to beat. Alex played him and the fact that Alex managed to win one game off of him and didn't get totally bageled is a BIG deal.  A fellow teammate even made cookies for Alex in order to celebrate the accomplishment.

Congratulations Alex!

It took almost the entire tennis season before Sam was approved to play, so he was only able to compete once--against the team that later won at State. He managed to win one match. (Alex didn't win any that day; Sam was playing doubles, though, which means Alex and him were not playing the same opponents) Since only a total of 4 matches were won by our team (and the other 3 by the doubles team of Miles and Blake, who then went on to state), that was quite exciting. Congratulations Sam! Sorry you didn't have a chance to play more.

Sam and Alex with their coach at the tennis banquet

Sam, Danny, Ryan, and Alex

Last Sunday seems like such a long time ago!

We invited the family over to meet Sam and Danny and since it was Sam's 17th birthday, we served cake and ice cream, plus everyone had the chance to eat some of the Korean and Thai candy that the boys had brought for us.

Hannah bought the candles that don't blow out...much to Sam's surprise

The boys did not come empty handed

Sam giving Alex a boxing lesson the first week here...this is shortly before Alex gave Sam a bloody nose

Monday was Sam's first day of classes. Danny got his vaccinations on Monday, so Tuesday was his first day. They've both had schedule changes, but I think they are now all settled in that regard. Sam and Alex have US History together. Sam and Danny have 3 classes together: Photography, Video Productions, and English.

It turns out that there are 8 foreign exchange students this year...usually there are about 4. We have 3 from Thailand, and then one each from South Korea, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Germany. They all have Senior English together, even though they range from 9th-12th grade. The class they are in is small with Mr. Nelson teaching. Should be good.

In other news this week, today at church Ryan was released as the assistant ward clerk and put in as the 1st counselor in the Elders' Quorum Presidency. It'll keep him busier than his previous calling, but I'm sure he'll do great. He started classes this week. He has 4. It sounds like that should work out well as the teachers seemed to pick different days of the week that their assignments are due. Good luck, Ryan.

In tennis, Alex had a hum-dinger of a match on Thursday that we got to see. He finally won in a tie-breaker. Phew.

Alex on the far court

Glen's napping, Danny's doing homework

Hannah capturing the moment (Thomas was on the court next to Alex)