Santa bought us exactly what the kids wanted this year.

Nana and Papa with all the grandchildren.
Christmas at the in-laws.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I wish everyone health and happiness in 2009. I am looking forward to a wonderful year.

Til next year,

Bayou

Merry Christmas from the Bayou.

Ok, it may be late, but it still is the Christmas season.

We went to Christmas Eve church at FUMC. I love the contemporary service. It is up beat and geared towards a younger (am I still young?) crowd. The message is the same but delivered a little different.

The Bayou family had a great Christmas. We started off the day bright and early here at our house. Santa brought the family a Wii. The kids really wanted one, so we are happy he brought us one. After showers, we were off to my parents house with everyone. It is a tight squeeze getting all 19 of us in the living room. It was tough to watch the kids open gifts with the other grandkids gathering around the one opening the gift. It may be time to re-think Christmas morning at my parents. It might be time to look at different times for each family to spend quality time with nana and papa at Christmas.
After Christmas morning we were off to Teresa's parents. We ate, opened gifts, ate and played the Wii. We headed back home around 10pm.
The day after Christmas, we hit Toys R Us. B and K bought DS games with gift cards. We did some unpacking and clean up around the house. We are planning to take down the tree in a couple of days. But, the Christmas lights will stay on until I return to school.

Til next time, Bayou.

Beignet Breakfast 2008

Dig in!

As in years past, we eat beignets for Christmas Eve breakfast. We have past the tradition on to K's teacher this year. She had asked her students some of their family traditions and K told her about eating beignets. I hope she made some and enjoyed eating them this morning.

We have a busy couple of days, just like most of you. Tonight we will attend church and watch The Polar Express. Hopefully, after the movie the kids will be ready for bed. B had already informed us everyone will be up at 7am tomorrow morning.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Today I took the kids to Atwood. We left T behind to do "Christmas stuff", if you know what I mean. It was about 24 degrees, so we did not stay outside too long at any one time. We checked on the camper and it looked fine. We walked to the shoreline. They lower the water level down 10-15 feet during the winter months.

Lot 667 is our summer home, but in December it is a vacant lot.

In the summer the kids would be under water.

These are our steps to our dock. The dock is in storage for the winter.

The kids "helped" T ice the cookies tonight.

Yesterday, I went to Columbus to watch the basketball Buckeyes. It was the first time I saw them play hoops since the Final Four in Atlanta. My buddy Rick called me about 11am and invited me down. It was a good time. The Buckeyes defeated UNC-Ashville.

Happy Festivus from the Bayou.

Christmas vacation and it feels like Christmas. It was 8 degrees this morning when I woke up. The wind chill was in the -15 degree range. We have a light dusting of snow on the ground. I am not sure we are going to get measurable snow fall before Christmas, which is too bad. I enjoy having the white stuff on the ground at Christmas time.

Some things from last week. The annual MHS Talent Show was the best in the recent years. I stayed in Mogadore and took pictures of the basketball game. The Cats are better than last year, but have a long long way to go before they become a .500 team. But, with basketball it is tough to win if you don't have some size and we don't have it.

Saturday night I went to the Winking Lizard to watch the Cowboys game. The game was on the NFL network and I don't pay to see that channel. I met up with Jeff, Liz and her dad (both are Cowboy fans). We had a good time until the fourth quarter. Somewhere I thought the Boys would pull out a victory in the last game at Texas Stadium, but I was wrong. I am glad I didn't spend the money on a ticket to the game.

Sunday, T had to work. We stayed at home and watched football. As it works out, the Cowboys will make the playoffs if they beat Philadelphia next week. I am not sure that will happen, but it is nice to know they control their own playoff fate.

We have a few things to do before Christmas Eve, Day, Day after. Tomorrow, I am taking the kids to Atwood to check out the camper. If the weather is warmer we may take a short hike. T had things to do (wrapping) and she wants the kids out of the house for a few hours. Christmas Eve morning we will enjoy a "Beignet Breakfast". It is our Christmas Eve breakfast tradition. K told his teacher about it and she is going to make some beignets over break.

Of course tomorrow is Festivus and I would love to post my "airing of grievances". It would be a nice long list, but in the spirit of Christmas (which, according to someone I have none) I will let things in the past stay in the past.

I am off to relax and enjoy my vacation.

---Bayou

Merry Christmas from our little SAND-tas!

I did some work on to our pictures and couldn't wait til Christmas to post one of them.

I did forget to mention, B had strep throat last week. She wasn't feeling well on Wednesday night. She stayed home on Thursday and went to see her doctor. He comfirmed she had strep and told her to stay home from school on Friday. I stayed home with her on Friday as T had to sub at Lohr Elem. She was feeling better Saturday and she went to school today. I hope she did not spread it to anyone else.

It is Monday and only 5 days left til Christmas break. This year we have 2 full weeks off school. I am sure T will be happy to get me and the kids out of the house on Jan. 5.

I am in a little better mood today. The Cowboys won last night. It always makes my Mondays better.

Saturday was a long day. I was up early to drive to Mogadore and pick up the junior high wrestling team. We were at Fairless Middle school. We had a couple of guys do really well. The newer guys are working hard and will develop into solid wrestlers as the season advances.

Saturday was also my sister's Santa party. T had to leave B's baton Christmas party, so B could sit on Santa's lap. It sure beats standing in line at a mall. I will add some pics later.

Speaking of B's baton party, she earned a huge (3' tall) trophy for marching in 20 parades this year. She was a busy little girl. I know she enjoys it, even though she will complain about it being too hot or too cold to march. T was asked to be a marching mom. We will see if she does this.

The family Christmas cards went out on Saturday. You should be receiving one shortly. I did not included a Christmas letter because I write this blog. If you want a review of the year, go back to January and start re-reading my posts.

One last thing, the Bayou Steelers lost in the MNFFL playoffs. We lost to the Pimpin' Pioneers again this year. It look like we will be playing the Basement Boys for 3rd place.

Blog you later,

Bayou

Do you ever wonder what people think about you or your family? I would think we all wonder about it, but really don't care if we ever knew it or not. Remember, the movie, 'What women want' with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt? Mel's character gains the ability to hear what women are thinking. Now, I am not going review the movie, but imagine if you had that power. You could hear what other are saying about you, your family, your spouse, your kids, your house, your car, your clothes, etc... First, would you want this power? Second, what would you do with the information you heard? Third, would you treat people different bases on what they think about you? Interesting things to think about. Don't forget to look at it from different points of view. People only like you because you have money. Or, they only like you because they have to.

Just something to think about.

Well, a week has past since my last blog. The routine here has not changed much during the last week. T and I put up most of the outside Christmas lights. We put up a "light" tree in the front yard complete with light up presents under it. We put up the tree last night. We still need to add lights and the trimmings. We would have done it today, but B had an overnighter last night and did not return til after 5 today. My brother came over to watch the Cowboys-Steelers game. his friend and children come over as well. It was tough to watch the 'Boys give away a 10 point lead and lose on a pick 6. We hope to decorate the tree tomorrow, in between B going to baton.

The Buckeyes are heading to AZ again this year. They will play in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas. It is the 4th straight year they are playing in a BCS bowl. Go Buckeyes----Hook them horns!

I have a busy wrestling week coming up. I am taking the junior high to Streetsboro. I have my van driver's certificate and we only have 7 wrestlers, so everyone fits in the school van. The other coaches will drive themselves to Streetsboro. It save the athletic program from paying a bus driver. I am trying to help out the wrestling team as much as I can this season.

The varsity is at home on Thursday. I will stay and take pictures.

It is my Christmas prayer that those who see $$$ at Christmas time, take a moment to realize what is the true meaning of the season.