Happy New Year. Hope you have your Blackeye Peas!

"Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is thought to bring prosperity.

The "good luck" traditions of eating black-eyed peas at Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, are recorded in the Babylonian Talmud (compiled ~500 CE), Horayot 12A: "Abaye [d. 339 CE] said, now that you have established that good-luck symbols avail, you should make it a habit to see qara (bottle gourd), rubiya (black-eyed peas, Arabic lubiya), kartei (leeks), silka (either beets or spinach), and tamrei (dates) on your table on the New Year." However, the custom may have resulted from an early mistranslation of the Aramaic word rubiya (fenugreek)." (Source - Wikipedia)

What's Up.. dog?

Christmas Poinsettia in Play-Doh

This is a photo of a Poinsettia I made out of Play-Doh during a Christmas party at our church for the youth group.

A little history about the Poinsettia from WorldOfChristmas.net

"Bright, flaming red, star-shaped Poinsettias are known as 'Flower of the Holy Night' or 'Flame Leaf' in the United States. One of the most popular flowers in Central America, it was brought here by Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first US ambassador to Mexico, over a hundred years ago. Still most of the supply of this famous beloved Christmas flower in American cities is said to come from California and the folklore attached to it comes from Mexico. Like Christmas Rose, this flower also represents the deep love for Christ and great devotion of a pure innocent human being to baby Jesus."

My wife gives blood.

The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas has a mobile bloodmobile. Our church (The Kyle United Methodist Church) hosts a Blood Drive every couple of months. This was at out latest one (December 5). If you're in the area and would like to find a place to donate blood... go here - https://www.inyourhandsonline.org/.

If you're not in the Kyle, Texas area... find a place to donate here - https://www.givelife.org/index.cfm

Playing Catch-up again. Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. Here's mine in a few photos.

We attended the "kids service" at the Kyle United Methodist Church
Marlee is here getting ready to help w/ offering

We had a really great Christmas Eve get together
Even SANTA made an appearance

Cookies and milk for Santa.. and carrots for the reindeer.

Marlee was a little excited to get "JUST DANCE" for the Wii.

Merry Christmas from the Claes4!

We made graham cracker houses... and then ate them.

We went to my wife's family for Christmas (in Kosciusko, TX) on 12/26.
My nephew serenaded us on horn. Nice.

The "dancing lights" at the Kyle Pool

For the last three years, the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department has decorated Kyle with lights that move and groove to music. They call it Lights Spectacular. I know the photo doesn't do much justice, but below is a video I took.

If you live in Kyle (or are passing through), come by the Kyle Pool at Gregg-Clarke Park in the next few nights (until 12.29.10). Tune your car radio to 100.1FM and enjoy the show. It really is neat.

Kyle, Texas is such a cool place to live. Take this for example. The Kyle Fire Department spends the week or two before Christmas driving Santa Claus all over the city, winding through neighborhoods.

Last night, Santa came by our house.

It's a great memory. Thanks Kyle Fire Department!

They've even created a Facebook Page so people can share their photos and videos.. and to let folks know where Santa has been spotted.

Perched atop a Kyle Fire Truck is Santa!

The kids wave to Santa

My oldest w/Santa at the Kyle United Methodist Church 12/12/10
She got her cast off Tuesday (broke arm on monkey bars)

Sorry everyone.. I've been REALLY swamped. I've got photos.. just haven't been by to post them.
So... here's a bunch. We'll call this the Christmas Catch Up Post.

The manger scene at the Kyle United Methodist Church

My 3 year old talks to Santa at the Kyle United Methodist Church

My "trash can Christmas Tree" I built in our front yard.

Our actual Christmas Tree in the house.

My Play-Doh Poinsettia from the Youth Christmas Party at KUMC

The Children performed several songs on 12/12/10 at Kyle United Methodist Church

There.... I should be caught up now. Hopefully I'll start posting daily again.

Los Vega Restaurante - Kyle, Texas

Los Vega - 721 N Old Highway 81 Kyle, TX 78640-9451 - (512) 268-8570

Hands down, my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area.  It's pretty small inside (only about 12 tables) but its a fun family atmosphere. And, as you can see by the red truck there, they have a drive thru. Do yourself a favor if you'd like to do the drive-thru - take the number down above and call in your order. They make the food when you order.

I thought I featured them before on KDP... so I looked it up. Yup. In 2007 and 2009.

Why do I always want to eat here on Sunday after church?

I know.. it looks like a graphic.. but it's a photo I took at Chick-Fil-A in Kyle, Texas.

Kyle City Hall - November 2010

40 Pounds of RAMPAGE!

This is my 3 year old. The name on the hat fits... it's been her nickname since she was 6 months old and knocked me over. Crazy kiddo... I love her.

Katherine Anne Porter House in Kyle

"The childhood home of Pulitzer-prize winning author Katherine Anne Porter now hosts a literary reading series unmatched in all of Texas. Meet writers such as former Poet Laureate Charles Simic and Irish novelist Roddy Doyle, author of The Commitments, in a small, intimate setting. The events are free, anyone can attend, and we always have treats from the Texas Pie Company.

The house is also a writers residence for former creative-writing students from the MFA program at Texas State University.

Find pictures and a schedule of events at: www.english.txstate.edu/kap"
(Got the information from the Katherine Anne Porter House Facebook page) 

Postcard? Kind of.

DSCF7886
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is a sign in Gregg Clarke Park right now for the holidays... Pretty neat. I took this pic... and the Hays Free Press picked it up and it's in this week's paper.

Apparently I've been on holiday. Been busy... sorry daily photo world.

Blank Billboard in Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Really... this blank billboard which is facing South on the Southbound side of the IH-35 access road (meaning folks driving Northbound or on the access road can see it... not those driving south) can be all yours for a price... The number is on the board (so small that you can't really read it unless you stop).

But if you do stop... you should get a great deal on this billboard that will pretty much only be seen by the folks in the Milt's Pit BBQ parking lot (which is what is right in front of the sign). You should pick up some BBQ too.

ADVERTISING WORKS!
*sarcasm*

Close to a month of Mustache.

The update. I'm just 2 days away from growing my mustache for 30 days. Yes, Movember is almost over. I've talked to many people about men's health concerns such as prostate cancer and I've grown quite the "classic" mustache. I was going for the "Rollie Fingers" but I know now that I can't grow that in 30 days. 

What I was really attempting to do was get 100 people to donate $5 on my "MoSpace" page, thus reaching a hundred people and raisng $500 for my team, TEAM AUS. As of today 6 people have donated a total of $53. I've got 2 days to reach 94 people. Can you do me a favor and at least go on my MoSpace and "rate" me so I know people are going there? If you feel compelled to donate, I'd appreciate it. Here's the link - http://us.movember.com/mospace/568742/

The money goes to the The Prostate Cancer Foundation (www.pcf.org) and LIVESTRONG (WWW.LIVESTRONG.ORG).

Happy Monday all.

Black Friday... Did you find your bargains?

Shot from Kyle's Flea Market... where you don't have to wait until Black Friday to get bargains.

Turkey's fighting hunger

Two turkies fighting hunger
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This was 2 years ago... but they still have the same mission. The Hays County Food Bank helps a lot of people (who normally wouldn't be able to) have a happy Thanksgiving.

http://www.turkeystacklinghunger.org/

They help people all year-round. This photo was taken at my church (Kyle United Methodist) where we have a year-round canned food drive.

May God be with you this Thanksgiving.

Top Gun BBQ Team

Top Gun BBQ Team
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Mmmm Smoked BBQ.
(From the Kyle Fair and Music Fest)

Concrete-Related Mechanism, full moon
Old Post Road

I want to eat here EVERY Sunday.

Kinetic Art of La Paso

This kinetic sculpture is in front of the Motley Menagerie in Kyle. The artist's name is La Paso, who also is a Kyle Resident. A double Kyle Daily Photo whammo. The Motley also used one of my photos on their Website. Yea.

Chris Halenza, owner of Lone Star Kettle Corn

It's my blog co-contributor's birthday. If I could I'd send her some Kettle Corn from Lone Star Kettle Corn for her special day. Happy Birthday Annie "Hobbledog" Downing! Thanks for playing this "Kyle Daily Photo" game with me.

This photo was taken at the Fall Festival in the Plum Creek neighborhood in Kyle, Texas in October 2010.

Jeff and The Jumptones

Here's a shot of the Austin band Jeff and the Jumptones, the last musical performance of the 2010 Kyle Market Days on November 6, 2010. The next Market Days will be held on April 2, 2011 as is occurs the first Saturday of the month from April - November.

Chalupa Plate at The Palm Cafe III

Friday night the family wen to dinner at The Palm Cafe that recently opened just outside the Plum Creek neighborhood. The food was good Mexican faire, the place was REALLY clean, and we ran into some neighbors. Good times. This is a shot of my 3 year-old's dinner, a chalupa plate. She ate both of them, and asked for chalupas for breakfest this morning. I think she's a fan. I had the fajitas and they were good as well.


The Palm Cafe 3
101 Hall Professional Ctr,
Kyle, Texas 78640

Here's Your Signs. On voting day11/2/10

My Movember Mustache. Taken in my Kyle, TX livingroom.

"In 2010 tragically more than 32,000 men will die as a direct result of prostate cancer."

Have you heard of Movember? I hadn't until this year. It's a worldwide movement to raise awareness of men's issues and funds to  support organizations who are working to eliminate them. The visual way this is being done is by men growing a mustache during the month of November. This photo is me on day 8. It's coming along nicely I must say so myself.

I'm a member of TEAM AUS, the Austin team of individuals participating in this movement.
If you'd like to donate ($5 will go a long way), visit my MoSpace Page - http://us.movember.com/mospace/568742/.

Fall Gardens
Atlantis, Kingdom of Heaven

Daddy's Diaper Duty Tools from Big Hug Gifts

Saw this on Saturday at the final Kyle Market Days of 2010. Pretty great.. it's a fun thing to buy for any expecting father.

What's in it? I looked it up at their Webste - http://www.bighuggifts.com

Daddy's Diaper Duty Tools Apron
Ingredients
4 Pampers Swaddler Diapers size 1-2 (up to 15 lbs)
1 Cotton Bib Tool Apron for Daddy
1 Huggies Baby Wipes 40 pk
1 Yellow Pacifier (3-18 moths)
1 Bottle 5 oz
1 Johnson's Cornstarch Baby Powder (1.5 oz)
1 Desitin Diaper Rash Cream (1/8 oz)
1 First Keys Toy (0+ months)
1 Pair Kitchen Tongs
1 Mask Filter
1 Pair Nitrile Gloves (latex/powder free)
1 Pair Safety Googles
1 Instant Hand Sanitizer (2 oz)
1 Instruction Sheet
1 Daddy's Diaper Duty Tools Poem

It goes for $43.95. 

Saw about 6 bee nests in the awning about this bell.. which is at the square in Kyle (next to the "old" city hall)

My youngest at Chick Fil A today.

I've got to say Chick Fil A is my favorite fast-food restaurant. There are many reasons... but here's my latest. They CATER to the kiddos. This place mat in the photo is available at the restaurant, free. They have sanitizer-wipes available for free. The Cheerios were there at the restaurant.. free.

PLUS...
The playground is behind glass so you can see but not have to hear the kiddos (screaming). They brought the order to the table. The manager came by to ask how we were doing.

How many fast food places can claim ONE of these.. let alone all of them?

Chick-Fil-A in Kyle: 5289 Kyle Center Dr Kyle, TX 78640 - (512) 268-6741

Helen Soja circa 2004 in Kyle

October 3, 2010 marked four years since my Grandma Soja passed away. She was an amazing woman and I have fantastic memories of her. Unfortunately, towards the end of her life she developed dementia, a condition that is very similar to Alzheimer’s.

Tomorrow I walk in her honor in the Hays County Memory Walk in San Marcos, Texas. Hence this photo today.

For another photo of Grandma Soja w/ me.. and perhaps to make a donation to Alzheimer's Research, visit my "page"- http://www.memorywalk.kintera.org/hays10/seanclaes

I share this sunrise with my 3 year old every morning on the way to dropping her at daycare. God is good.

Traffic is a MONSTER.

Traffic is a MONSTER.
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Was pulling out of HEB PLUS! the other day and I saw this Tire Spinning,Gear Grinding,Clutch Burning,Backfiring,Paint Trading,Red Linin,Overheatin Throttle Stomping Truck Driving Man waiting at the traffic light at FM1626.

(Yes.. I used "Phineas and Ferb" lyrics for this post)

Today I voted. Did you?

Happy Halloween (yesterday) from my front porch to your computer.

Tomorrow (10/31) is the last day of the pumpkin patch. EVERYTHING MUST GO.

Come on by and pick yours up. We'll make you a deal you can't refuse.
 How does $5 any size sound? If you find me (Sean Claes) and ask.. that's the deal you get.
Sunday noon-4p
Kyle United Methodist Church
408 W. Lockhart
Kyle, TX
Directions? http://www.kyleumc.com