Saturday, November 27, 2004


me, Jill and Elsa Posted by Hello


Jon, Jay and Chad Posted by Hello


Jay after the green chile pepper Posted by Hello


My First Turkey(a little dark on top, but NOT frozen in the middle) Posted by Hello


Our Thanksgiving Picture Posted by Hello

The First Texas Thanksgiving

Well it has come and passed, the first Texas Thanksgiving, and it was good. It all started out with no school on Wednesday and just enjoying a day off from everything. Chad took the car to get an oil change and to get it inspected for new license plates and found out we needed some brakes, so we took car of that and it is running great. We went to church on Wednesday night, sorry no Lyle Lovett. Then we just relaxed the rest of the evening. Thursday morning came quickly and we were getting ready to start preparing and the Minnesotans arrived. They left Eagan at 1:15pm on Wednesday and got here at 9:30am on Thursday. They had an extra person with them and had to take her to Sugarland which is on the complete opposite side of Houston from us, so they actually arrived at our apartment at about 10:45. We started the day with going on a tour of Concordia, which Chad so wonderfully made the alarm go off, but don't worry we had it under control. Then we went back to finish cooking. Everything was done at about 3:30 and we ate. I was told that the turkey was good, but of course I didn't eat anything. I was proud of myself for cooking the whole meal and nothing went wrong. We had the four northerners, Pete, and Becky (a teacher from CLHS) over for dinner. It was amazing that everyone had a place to sit and eat. Dave (another teacher from CLHS) came over later and we played some dominos and the boys were playing video games (Jay brought his X-Box). We turned early, because everyone was tired. I had basketball in the morning and it was okay, only 6 girls were there. The rest of the day we just hung out at the house, watching tv, playing video games and napping. We ventured out to have some BBQ for dinner and Harris County Smokehouse. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, especially Jay when dared to eat a green chile and he did. We went bowling after for 2 games and then home to play Phase 10 until 2am. Today was much more relaxed, but soon it was time for the northerners to head back home. They left here about 2pm and were on their way back north, hoping to be inbetween both storms coming through. We had nice weather all week. It finally has stopped raining and it is about 70. Tonight Chad and I are looking to just relax and clean up a little bit and then it will be back to work on Monday. Only 3 weeks and we will be home fro Christmas. Chad has two weeks of classes and then finals and so that means that I actually only have 8 and a half days of work. Basketball will keep me busy for three weeks. We finally get to play on Tuesday this week after having two weeks of no games. We are looking forward to the break coming up again and hoping to see most of you while in Wisconsin.

Saturday, November 20, 2004

With the Rain, Comes My First Win

Well it has basically rained nonstop for the last 3 days and it is suppose to keep going for 2 more. It is nice to think that if we were up north, this would all be snow. We would for sure not have had school yesterday, if it was all snow. When it rains here, people start driving like it's 2 feet of snow, then you also have all the trucks who think that can zoom by you and a mile down the road, they are the ones in the ditch. The rain also makes work drag on too, because then that means that we can't take our kids outside and that can make for a long day. Well enough about the rain.

Tuesday and Thursday this week, we had games. Tuesdays game was at the all-girls catholic school, think DSHA, but not as nice facilities. We got our butts kicked, because we can't play defense. We are getting better, but it is still a long way to go. Thursday was the first home game against Lutheran South. That we played well and came out with the win. It was 29-12. We played a lot better defense and that helped a lot. Now we don't play again until the 30th. Our game next week got cancelled, so that means a easy week, with only one day of work, practice Monday, off Tuesday (basketball and work) and then we will have practice on Friday morning.

I am beginning our preparations for Thanksgiving. I am a little nervous, I know that something will go wrong, but what are you going to do. Adam is coming down tomorrow for the Packers/Texans game. Then Chad just has two days of school this week. He is really looking forward to the break. He will then just have two weeks of class and a week of finals before Christmas break. Today we are going downtown with Diane (another teacher) she is taking us, and her student teacher out for dinner and to see some Houston things. She has been meaning to take us for awhile, but it has been busy, because she is the volleyball coach, so that should be fun tonight. Not too much else going on here. Just trying to survive until Christmas. Got a few presents bought. Christa and I went to the mall on Tuesday and I found some good deals. Chad still hasn't started his shopping, but he has some ideas that he has for people. So it is just a matter of getting him to the mall to get them. I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Don't eat too much.


One of many signs around town Posted by Hello

Saturday, November 13, 2004

First Football Season Closes

Well, we have survived our first season of Texas High School football. There were a few times when I wasn't sure if we would. CLHS played their last game last night, they lost 36-6. It actually felt like a football game. It was cool and windy. I even got to wear a sweater and a jacket. Chad even had a hat on, to keep his ears well. Football down here still amazes me. It is like everyone says. This morning I was even watching the High School Football report and it still amazes me to see some teams have nicer stadiums than some colleges. Some have astroturf, seating for thousands, and a team that could easily wail on CURF any day. I did enjoy the season for the most part, the games did get kind of long some weeks, but I don't think I'll be turning into one of those pyscho people who live and die Texas Football.

Besides football we do have basketball down here. We had our first game this week. We lost by 16. We were losing by 3 at half time and then just pooped out. It also doesn't help that I only have 8 players. But I was pretty proud of them. They hung in there and gave it everything they had. We have a pretty solid team. We need to do a bit of work on our defense, but if we get that down, we will be alright. Chad was nice enough to do my stats for me. I am still waiting on my digital scout palm pilot to do stats on. We'll see if I get that before Christmas break. We are doing a freethrow-a-thon and I am hoping that the money that we get from that can purchase the palm pilot. It will make things a lot easier for my games, plus having to do stats for the Varsity games.

We are both looking forward to Thanksgiving break coming up. That also means that we will have visitors. Chad and Adam are going to the Texans/Packers game on Sunday the 21st. Chad said that he would have a sign for you Joel, I'll hold him to it and make sure he follows through. Anne is coming in on Tuesday, so we will get to have all day Wednesday to just hang out. Then that means only three weeks till Christmas after that. I have purchased one Christmas present. I think that Christa and I were thinking about going this Tuesday to check the mall out. Since we are doing small stocking gifts with my family, I have decided that Chad needs to get his own things for everyone and he has even begun to write things down that he has come up with. I am looking to not bring too much stuff home and just shop once in Milwaukee.

Chad is at boys basketball practice helping them out with their "retreat" for the day. We might head to the movies to check out Ray, but we will see how tired he is after staying up late playing video games. Joel we bought you a football t-shirt from school for them winning the District, so I'll try to send that this week. If not it will have to wait until next week.

Sunday, November 07, 2004

Basketball Can Be A Long Season...

Well we had our first scrimmage on yesterday for basketball. It was quite an interesting experience. We scrimmaged against two of the larger public schools around here. It was Magnolia and Waller. They both have like 2000 kids in their schools and both have freshman teams, so that means their JV teams have been playing together for a year, where we have been playing together for 3 weeks. I was proud of my girls, they did hold their own, even through the cursing and threatening of beatings from other girls. It was a good experience for them and I think that they learned a lot. I also thought we did rather well considering I have nine girls, eight of who can play (the other is both ineligible and not at the skill level as the other girls). I mean her dad has already come and talked to me yesterday about the treatment of her from the other girls. I have to say that if I was on her team, I wouldn't be as nice as the girls are being to her. Chad got a run for his money yesterday too. He came with me, because either the JV coaches were suppose to ref on our off games or bring someone to ref for them. So I brought Chad, well the refs they had for Varsity never showed up, so he had to do all of the Varsity games, which were 6- 30 minutes running clock games. Let's just say he was pretty tired at the end of the day. He did however manage enough strength to go to the Texas vs. Oklahoma State game in Austin with Pete. He said that it was a really good time and that it was cool to be at a game like that. That did mean however, he got home late and was not a fun person this morning when it was time to go to church. This week brings on our first basketball game. I think that we will do fairly well, we have improved just in the last week. Next weekend I think we are actually free. I think that the football team made it to districts and I think they play at home, so I guess we would probably be going to that. I hope that everyone had a great weekend. We are looking forward to our company at Thanksgiving and really looking forward to coming home for Christmas. I hope everyone has a great week.

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Sorry It Has Been So Long

I guess the only person I am really apologizing to is Joel, because he is the only one who will get on my case about not updating my blog. Well it has been over a week and not to make excuses, but basketball has started and so by the time I get home, get dinner together and eat, I am ready for bed. So it really is just my lack of motivation that has not kept up with this in the last week. Last weekend was full of football. Luke Kasten was here also for Isaac's baptism. So Friday was the big game against Concordia and Lutheran North (which is where Pete teaches), Concordia ended up losing in the last 3 seconds when North kicked a fieldgoal, not after numerous opportunities to stop them. So of course Pete was a bragging machine for the next 4 hours. We all went (Chad, Pete, Luke, myself, and Lisa another teacher at North) to Molly Malone's for some food. Then the rest of the Kasten guys came out after Paul was done at school. Saturday brought the Michigan/Michigan State game, of course not being shown here on ABC, so we went to BW-3's for the entire game, we were there for 4 and a 1/2 hours. Good thing I brought a magazine. Kim and Odie showed up, so Kim and I played the trivia game for the majority of the afternoon. Pete came right at the end of regulation. Pete, Chad and I decided to see a movie, Friday Night Lights. It wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be a go-get em' type sports movie, but it isn't, but it is very real-life of Texas football. Sunday then was the Lions/Cowboys game, which of course again was not on here, but we at least didn't go anywhere to watch it. We instead watched the Texans game. That night was Isaac'a openhouse for his baptism. We also got the be the lucky ones who handed out candy for trick or treaters, that was only because we were sitting in the front room, closest to the front door. So our weekend was full of football and that was about it.

Basketball is now in full swing, we have our first game on Tuesday. I only have nine girls on my team, but they are good girls and I am really looking forward to the season. I think that Chad was talking about coming to practice today to be my 10th, because then I don't have to play and I can just watch what is going on. We are also looking forward to Thanksgiving with everyone coming. We talked to all the Minnesota people on Monday and Jay got off work on Wednesday, so they are able to leave a lot earlier and now they will be here on Thursday morning. Anne is coming on Tuesday night, late. And Pete is just always here.

There will be more football this weekend, but you can leave me out of it. Chad and Pete are going to Austin for the Texas/Oklahoma State game on Saturday. I have a scrimmage in the morning and then nothing. I hope that everyone is doing well and we can't wait to see you at Christmas, which is only like 53 days away.