IHS Tennis 2025

Baylie was selected as varsity team captain for tennis this year. Unfortunately, she was having a lot of groin pain so we ended up taking her to an orthopedist. They ordered some x-rays and some MRIs. In the meantime they told her to only play doubles.

She got to play with her sweet friend Sarah Doherty. But after being #2 on the ladder, it was hard for her to drop to the bottom of the ladder. 

After further labwork and a contrast dye MRI, it was confirmed that she has arthritis and has no soft tissue in her hip. Five different doctors agreed that she needed to stop playing tennis altogether. It was devastating. They're not sure why someone her age has arthritis. It's not rheumatoid so they don't know how she got it or why it's so bad.

She had a huge steroid shot in the hip joint, which was very painful, but helped with the arthritis pain a little bit. She continued in her role as team captain and supported the other girls throughout the season. We were really proud of how she handled the adversity.

The Seniors - Zulia Markley, Nitya Cherukamalli, Baylie, Nina Thurber, Jahara McNair, Danny Lawrence

Senior Night - so fancy (eye roll)

End of year banquet

Back - Zulia, Zahara, Coach Stan, Christian Brown, Sarah, Baylie
Front - Nina, Irene Su, Cadence Guynn, Danny, Nitya 

Seniors

with posters

Sixth year lettering in tennis

Baylie has been playing tennis since she was four years old. The fact that her tennis career has ended this way has been really hard for her.

IHS Cross Country 2025

 First day of school - check out the Christmas jammies!

Jalen started practicing for cross country over the summer. He worked all summer long. He participated in the car wash fund raiser. And got a t-shirt!

He tried to run, but had so much pain. He kept trying and kept having to go to the trainer. He ended up being diagnosed with patellar tendenitis. We were told that if he kept running, he'd end up needing surgery to screw his tendon into his shin. So he quit running.

Cheering at the one meet he competed in.

Coach Balogg, Coach Farr, Alexa, and Baylie

Lexington is actually a bad luck course for him because he got hurt there last year as well.

He went with the team to work the carline at Irmo Elementary. A lot of the cross country kids went to IES so it was a fun reunion.

End of year banquet. He got the paper plate award for Karaoke King. Very fitting.

Jalen actually hates distance running, but he loves this team.

Halloween 2025

We always like to have the elders over to carve pumpkins. It's something they don't always get to do on their missions. Elder Carter was with two missionaries we hadn't met before.

We combined eating and carving. Not sure what's going on with Jalen here.

The kids went with a 6-7 theme. This may not mean anything in the future, but this year it was a big deal.

I have no idea what the elder's theme was.

Porch pumpkins

Baylie and Rachel dressed up as ???.

I can't remember if Jalen dressed up. What I do know is that our family theme Halloweens are officially over.

Blythewood Rodeo - October 25, 2025

On October 25, Baylie and David had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the Blythewood Rodeo. I had submitted a video of them and they were selected. So cool!

Cute kiddos

Cute parents

Waiting to sing

The actual performance is too long to upload, but you can listen HERE.

The rodeo wasn't as good as Strawberry Days, but we had a good time and it was fun for David and Baylie to sing the anthem together.

Colearn Fieldtrip - Native American Living History Day

We went on a fieldtrip to the Native American Living History Day. It wasn't very well organized, but it was interesting and they had a lot of cool handicrafts and hands on activities.

Jalen and Samuel joined a group trying to grind acorns with rock on pestle.

Jalen trying out his archery skills.

Cool handicrafts

Teaching them how to do a circle dance.

By the time we were finished, it was hot and everyone was a bit tired. But it was an interesting fieldtrip.