Tuesday, October 26, 2004

SURPRISE!!!

Well we got them good. My parents that is. This weekend was the surprise anniversary party we had been planning for 5 months and we actually pulled it off. I wasn't so sure that we were going to get them to the bar before they realized something was going on. We made it to Chicago on Friday night and Alan, Tracie, and Kate picked us up. We spent the night there and then headed to Milwaukee. The look on my mom's face was priceless when we walked up the steps to the TV room. They thought that that surprise was good enough. Then we went out for dinner and it just all fell into place there. It was good to see everyone. There weren't as many people as we thought were going to be there, but there were a good number of people. We all had a good time, so more than others. They seemed to be very surprised and thankful that we went to all the trouble. They got to see some people who they hadn't in a long time. We were hoping more of the old schoolers would have been there, but they were surprised enough. I got the luxury of spending the rest of the evening with Joel and Chad at the bar until bartime. I think Chad was looking for someone to hang out with and just have a good time. That both, Joel and Chad did. I have to say Chad much surpassed his reign as Three Beer Queer. Sunday was a long day, but we didn't do too much. We spent most of the day lazing around, watching football and sleeping. Chad's family came over in the evening for pizza and visiting. We didn't get any games in, but just hung out for a bit. We came home yesterday after, Amy, Joel, and Ben dropped us off at O'Hare and we took the "El" to Midway. I don't think Chad was to keen on the idea, but it was fine and we got there in plenty of time. The flight was good and it was good to be back home. No work for me today, so that helped, but right back to basketball practice. I am looking forward to next week, when I can have the JV girls by themselves and we can start working on our own things. Now the week is almost half over, so that is nice. This weekend Luke Kasten will be here for Isaac's baptism and so I think we will be going out after football on Friday. Which is when Concordia takes on Luther North, which is where Pete teaches. Then just a few weeks to Thanksgiving and just a few more till Christmas. It was nice to be home this weekend and see everyone and we can't wait to see you at Christmas. I hope that everyone has recovered from the weekend. I hope that everyone had a good time this weekend and can't wait to hear or see you all soon.

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Just Another Week

Well it was just another week here in Texas. Monday was the Concordia Golf Outing, so Chad had the day off of school and got to golf. He was in a group of four and I think he was the only one who golfs more than twice a year. He had a good time, didn't win anything big, but I think it was nice for him to get out on the golf course. That is only the second time since we have been down here. Monday was just another day of work for me. Tuesday brought a nice day of not having to go to Athletic Period, so that means that it was a true day off. I spent the morning cleaning and doing some laundry and the afternoon with Christa and Isaac. We decided to venture out for lunch and then to Target to pick up a few things. It was a good time, I think Christa enjoyed getting out of the house for more than an hour. Wednesday it was back to work and then a nice relaxing night at home. We watched some baseball and just relaxed. Thursday it was back with Christa and Isaac to hit the Trinity rummage sale. It was pretty big. They even had a boat and two cars for sale. I didn't buy either, but I got a bunch of books. Christa managed to find some books and also a tool set for Isaac when he is a little older. Friday was work and football. Before I got home, I had to help set-up for Family Fun Night at work. I didn't attend, but it looked as if they had a lot of fun. Football was pretty exciting this week. It was a big game and we weren't suppose to win, but we did pull it out. We left early and we still didn't get home until like 10:15. Saturday brought a basketball meeting with all the coaches. It looks as if I have the JV for sure, I am kind of in free reign with what I do with them. So it is basically like what plays I want to run is what we do. Today brought church, going over to Kieper's, to learn how to take care of their dogs (i get to for the next couple of days). Going out to lunch with the Greibings(spelling is wrong) but those are Barrett's mom and dad, who is Ben's roommate up at St. Paul. Then we went over to Joel's house to watch the Packers wail on the Lions. Of course, Chad was looking for that Lions victory and just didn't get it. Chad has to leave for teacher conferences this afternoon, but they are not staying, because they are just in Houston. So he has that tonight, all day tomorrow and half the day on Tuesday. Basketball starts on Tuesday. So our lives are going to get a little bit busier. I hope everyone is good and I will hopefully talk to you all soon.

Sunday, October 10, 2004


Mr. Schlicker even got a mum from one of the girls in choir.  Posted by Hello


Here is a Sader Belle (dance team) mum that they got from their coach, it is small Posted by Hello


This doesn't even come close to what the girls' look like.... Posted by Hello

Homecoming Mums, I still don't get it

Well Homecoming has been and passed here in Tomball. I figured, it would be like anywhere else. Well, not to my surprise, it wasn't. Here in Texas they don't give the standard garter and corsage to each other. They give each other over-sized mums that they wear. The girls wear them around their necks the Friday before Homecoming, then some wear them around their waist for the actual dance. The boys wear them on their arms also the Friday before Homcoming. It is a big thing and they just kept getting bigger and bigger as the day went on. Chad had said that in one of his classes they were talking about their mums and no one in there spent less than $50 on the guys mum. Now what you do is get the school colors in ribbon and make it all fancy. Then they all put these little trinkets on there to really make it individual. I saw teddy bears, baseballs, bells, whistles, charms, and even a flashing light. So for all of you up north, be glad that all you have to get is a garter or corsage. Besides watching all the mums go by at the football game, I did manage to watch some. We won 14-13 and it was a nail-biter to the end. They had a wide open guy in the end zone that dropped the ball, and then they were going for the field goal and fumbled the snap, so it was a pretty exciting night here in Tomball, but now it is back to the work week. This is the last week before basketball starts and now I am going to be the JV head coach, so I am really looking forward to that.

Sunday, October 03, 2004


Chad has conquered the ShockWave Posted by Hello


Chad's first loops Posted by Hello


Only in Texas, they love the "W" Posted by Hello

I can do the loops, it is the drops I don't like

Well we have survived our days with 13 high school students at Six Flags. It was last Thursday and Chad was saying how we needed to be at school on Saturday morning at 5:30, now I was thinking that was pretty early to get down to Astroworld, which is just on the southside of Houston. So I asked him about it and he said, "oh yeah, we are going to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington". So our weekend was in Arlington, but we had a really good time. We left at about 5:45 and stopped along the way and got there right as Six Flags was opening and stayed until about 8pm. We stayed at a nearby hotel and left this morning to come back home.

Now as many of you know, Chad is not an avid fan of the roller coaster. (He has never been on one that goes upside-down) So we headed toward one that doesn't go upside down, but has some pretty big drops, like 120 feet. It is a wooden one, called the Texas Giant. we went on and he seemed to do great. He said that is was okay and that he could go again, so instead we kept on walking and just looking at all the other roller coasters. The kids and the other teacher, had to go to the rally for the Key Club (which was at the park) so Chad and I rode a smaller wooden one, much like the Eagle. While waiting in line I told him that I would bet a video game of his choice that he wouldn't go on an upside down roller coaster. Well he did. After much deliberating and watching the roller coaster go, he finally got on and went for it. Now I like roller coasters, but this one was even making me a little leary, not because of the hills or loops, but it has two loops right in a row (picture above) and you don't wear a shoulder harness, it is just a lap one. Needless to say, I didn't mention that to Chad after we got off of it. This is when Chad has realized that his fear of roller coasters is not the loops, but the big drops. We then went on the Batman, which is like the Batman at Great America, where you hang from the track. By the end of the day, there were many exhausted kids and adults, so we all decided to go on one more ride. It is the Titan. Now this ride goes 85 miles per hour and has a drop of 225 feet. Chad got on it and actualyl survived. We even had to buy the picture they take of you while on the ride. He was a real trooper and now knows that roller coasters aren't all that bad. We had a pretty uneventful day so far. Chad is actually up at school and will be for a while, it is the beginning of Homecoming week, so everyone is up there decorating their hallways. Then there is a youth activity that he has to be up there for. It is back to work tomorrow and football on Friday. I hope everyone is good and we will talk to you soon.