Sunday in Calhoun

Carrie and I drove south from Collegedale Sunday mid-morning after I changed the oil on the Grand Prix. We enjoyed the day with her relatives. Before we headed out we took a few self-portraits on Saturday evening.
My parents took off for another vacation around 7:30 and just before they left Jim and Betty came over and picked up Carrie and I and took us out to eat at PF Chang's China Bistro.
Then Jim blow-torched the lock on the tongue of my jet ski trailer because I thought I had left the key at Highland. After he torched it off (it took about 10 seconds or less) he pulled the jet ski back to my parents house with his mower, which was a lot easier than me dragging it down by hand on the way to his shop!

The official review during the Gentlemen's Final Sunday at Bobby and Joy's in Calhoun.
Ella watched the match a little bit I think. Maybe she will be the next Serena Williams!
Carrie tries to help Ella put away all the toys she dumped on me while I was watching the final match between Nadal and Federer.
Carrie got Evan to smile!
Evan comes out of the tube!

Ethan attacks Carrie while Ella watches Wimbledon!
Harley decided she liked me. She just jumped up on the couch without me even trying to pet her. She barked at me a lot last time when I tried to pet her so I left her alone this time.
Evan tries to make his best impersonation of Carrie when I try to take her picture sometimes!
Carrie and Evan having fun. It was a fun weekend. It just flew past as all vacations do. Tonight if the downpour stops and the fields dry off we will be heading to Hendersonville for Carrie's 2nd night of the softball tournament.

Tennis Marathon

After we went boating from 9 a.m. 'til around 1 p.m., we ate a quick Taco Bell lunch and headed for the tennis courts. The first set Carrie and I played Eric B. He pulled it out after we had the early lead. It was fun and also very hot and sunny.
Then Carrie left for awhile and Eric left. Andrew then came and I quickly fell behind 0-2 before rallying for a 4 games to 2 lead. I then held Andrew off to win the set 7-6 with a 7 points to 4 tie breaker win.
During the final point of the set against Andrew, Carrie got back with some water and Gatorade and her camera!

Xavier had been warming up for about 45 minutes and was ready to play me after I had already played 2 consecutive sets against 2 fresh opponents.
Xavier jumped out to a quick 4 games to 2 lead.
I rallied to take a 5-4 lead.
Xavier then tied the set at 5 games all.
Then I pulled out a last burst of energy and resolve and took the set 7 games to 5.

Xavier hits a backhand.
Carrie got me this Blue Jays hat over 2 years ago and I bought this Jays t-shirt in St. Petersburg, FL, this Christmas Break.
Marathon tennis has turned into my favorite activity in the past year.

Two pictures above I am hitting a 2-handed backhand. In the picture above, Xavier waits for a forehand shot. If you had the chance to watch the Men's Final Match at Wimbledon yesterday, you got to see the best match in Wimbledon's history according to the television analysts. Nadal ended Federer's 5 year win streak at Wimbledon in a 4 hour & 48 minute match that included 3 rain delays. Nadal won the first 2 sets 6-4 and then lost the next 2 to Federer 7-6. Nadal had 2 match points in the fourth set and lost both. Federer won the 3rd set tie breaker 7 points to 5 and then won the 4th set tie breaker 10 points to 8! In the 5th set, after enduring the 3rd and final rain delay, Nadal battled back from down 6-5 and 7-6 (there is no tie breaker in the final set) to beat Federer 9 games to 7. There was barely enough light at the conclusion of the match that is already a legend in its own time. If you missed the game, it will be aired again tonight on ESPN Classic at 7 p.m. Eastern. Of course there will be more tennis in Gallatin this week. Tuesday vs. Aaron and Wednesday vs. Randy. Good times.

Wakeboarding Friday the 4th at Harrison Bay

On Thursday evening we got to Collegedale around 7:30 p.m. and after supper at the Knight's, Ryan and I headed over to the tennis courts for my favorite past time, tennis!
I was ahead of Ryan 5 games to 2, then he rallied back and took a 6-5 lead. At that point we left for the fireworks in Collegedale, so we will be finishing the set this Thursday evening 1 week later when Ryan and Jaclyn stay the night before flying out to Denver.

On Friday we took off to Harrison Bay around 9:10 a.m. I found a great pair of sunglasses on the boat!
My dad prepares to tear it up!
Getting ready to approach the wake for a jump.
Jaclyn's turn.
My mom captures the memories.

Carrie got lots of good pictures from the day at the lake. I pulled off a tail grab here.
Toe side jumping.
A good spray from this jump!
Carrie had a good run with a lot of good carving and long jumps.
Here she is carving again!

Carving in the relatively smooth water for Independance Day! It was probably a lot rougher on Canada Day on Tuesday. They were setting off fireworks on Canada Day in Hendersonville at Carrie's softball tournament.
Carrie getting ready for a back flip!
There she goes!
Gone!

Sabbath Hike & Carson

On Sabbath, June 28, we took an afternoon hike.
We walked up Butler Rd.
Carrie decided to lure the horses over with her ring tones on her new cell phone.
Then we walked further up the road and saw some cows, a donkey, and the cemetary.
Then after we got back home, we went over to Chadd and Nikie's to watch "For the Love of the Game" and eat some good food.

I made pancakes on Sunday morning starting at around 11:15 a.m. I made about 6 cups of batter, which turned out to make about 25+ pancakes! I worked frying them and then clean-up solidly until 1:15 p.m. I never guessed it would be 2 1/2 hours straight.
During the process. The kitchen was very smoky from using the cooking spray since we ran out of canola oil.
Here are all the pancakes cooling. Carrie was brave enough to eat one. I ate about 20 in the next 4 days!
On Tuesday night Carrie started her tournament for softball. Of course she got to hold Carson before the games began!
Carson was intent on getting Carrie's Red Sox hat. He wanted to replace it with a Toronto hat. Carrie's team lost the first game and then won the 2nd 16-5. I got a ton of good pictures during the games that Carrie has posted on her blog. The highlight of the night was Carrie's 3-run homer in the top of the 1st inning of the 2nd game that sent a statement to the opposing team early as Carrie slid through both the catcher and pitcher trying to cover home plate! The tournament is double elimination so the next game is Monday, July 7 @ 8:30. If they win, they will play again at 9:30.