Winter 2010 - PRAY BALL

Winter 2010 - PRAY BALL
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Team photo after the last game of our season on 1/31/10.
This is the Kyle United Methodist Church adult kickball team. We played in the Kyle Parks and Rec winter 2010 season. We've got the tournament next weekend.. then that's the end of the season.
It's been a GREAT time.


L-R
front : Ting, Sean, Tari
Middle: Jessica, Michelle
Back: Chris, Erik, Lori, Allen, Joshua, Christy
Not pictured: Art Chad, Nick, Amanda John T

The kids on their way to school

The kids on their way to school
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

The way I get my 2 year old (far right) up in the morning is by telling her she ca give her sister (second from right) and the neighbor kids she walks to school with a hug good bye.

It works well. They posed for a photo a few days ago.
Happy Saturday!

The Mooning Gnome I own.
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

There's a moon out tonight.
At my house... there's ALWAYS a moon out.

You can get one.
http://www.amazon.com/PrankPlace-com-The-Mooning-Garden-Gnome/dp/B001DTPAAC

Adult Kickball League in Kyle Texas

Adult Kickball League in Kyle Texas
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is from the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department's Adult Kickball League. This woman plays for the Alcoballics... and this kick resulted in a home run.

Here's another shot by Bill Gallaway

This is the Claiborne Kyle Log House

Claiborne Kyle Log House

Mississippi Senator, Claiborne Kyle and his wife Lucy Kyle’s home, built in 1850.

The Claiborne Kyle Log House was built in 1850 by slave labor for Claiborne and Lucy Bugg Kyle and their nine children.

Kyle was a Senator in Mississippi. He went on the bond of an old friend, Robert Graves, the State Treasurer, who was accused of embezzlement. A short time later Graves disappeared and the forfeiture of the bond was so financially disastrous to Kyle that he sold his remaining property and came to Texas. The story goes that he told his slaves, some of whom had been sold, that he was leaving early the next morning and anyone who wanted to go with him to Texas to be at the dock. An undisclosed number of slaves came with the Kyle family.

The log house is built of cedar logs, square notched at the corners and secured by wooden pegs. Alternate courses of log and rock grouting and caliche were used. The 10 by 6 dogtrot opens between two double room sections. The Kyle house is a most unusual type known as the “Linear four- pen dog trot.” It is listed in the Terry Jordan book Texas Log Cabins and a picture and story appears in the book, Nineteenth Century Homes.

(I wrote/edited this for the Kyle Chamber last year. Not sure if it's been published)

PRAY BALL!

PRAY BALL is the kickball team the Kyle United Methodist Church formed to play in the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department's Adult Kickball League. Here's Pray Ball's Joshua Steubing kicking a home run against a team called "Got Balls."

It's a lot of fun... a bunch of adults playing a kids game. We decided to form the team as both a way to exercise and get to see other church members outside of the church... and as a way to get out in the public and share the Word. We begin and end all games in prayer and invite the team we play to join us. It's pretty fantastic.

Happy Birthday Neil Diamond

He turns 69 today.

Last night my wife and I attended the Brown Family's Annual Neil Diamond Birthday Bash.

It was awesome.

Here's a shot from the karaoke part of the night.

GUEST PHOTO.
I was on Flickr looking for photos of Kyle and I found a really awesome one... so I asked Bill Gallaway if I could share it on Kyle, Texas Daily Photo. Interestingly, he ends up beig the photographer who took the photos that are the official postcards of Kyle (I picked my pack up at the Kyle Chamber last year).

Anyhow.. here's his photo taken at Fonzie'z Cafe, which unfortunately closed down a few years ago.

He's comes to Kyle about once a year to visit his grandkids. I'm looking forward to meeting him when he comes down next time.

Today marks a momentous occasion at the Claes household.
For it is today that My 5-year-old daughter tried Cap'n Crunch w/ Crunchberries for the first time.

*sob* I'm so proud.

Do you remember the first time you tried your favorite cereal (or in my case shared your favorite cereal with one of your kids)?

Caught by the train.

aTrain9142.jpg
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

That's what I'm going to use as an excuse when I don't get a new photo up.

Trust Texas Bank
On Kyle Parkway adjacent to the Plum Creek subdivision
www.trusttexasbank.com
(512) 268-3732





Every Tuesday in January Trust Texas Bank, a brand new bank in Kyle, hosting free lunch.... from 11:00a - 1p. I decided to check the place out (for this photo blog... the free lunch was a bonus.. hee hee)



The lobby was nice and big... and there were Trust Texas folks at the ready to help people who came in... or just greet them and point them in the direction of the free food.


And the free food was some yummy Milt's BBQ.


Also.. if you see the sign...you can register to win a home theatre system. I registered so I really don't want you to... more chance for me to win. I may just go back next Tuesday.



Trust Texas Bank
On Kyle Parkway adjacent to the Plum Creek subdivision
www.trusttexasbank.com
(512) 268-3732

Is there a probleM here? Mmmm?

Is there a probleM here? Mmmm?
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Apparently soMeone really needed the letter "M"
Hometown Kyle is now Hoetown Kyle.

"Hometown Kyle is a Ryland Homes and Pulte Homes community. Hometown Kyle offers all the charms of small-town living, with the benefits and convenience of Austin. All homes are built on cul-de-sacs for spacious yards and quite living."
(From hometownkyle.com)

I'm not sure what Hoetown Kyle offers.
:)

I recently found out that the husband of Rev. Suzanne Field Rabb, the pastor who married my wife and I in San Marcos in 2001, died from injuries he sustained in Haiti. The Rev. Clinton Rabb (pictured here) was a Mission Executive for UMCOR in Haiti. Please keep the Rabb family and everyone who has been effected by the earthquake in your thoughts and prayers.

The church I now belong to, the Kyle United Methodist Church, is collecting donations to send to those devastated in Haiti through United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

This past Sunday KUMC raised $1,400 and will be collecting through next Sunday. It is requested that those who would like to donate make checks out out to Kyle UMC, and place UMCOR-Haiti in the message line.


Checks can be donated during business hours at 408 W. Lockhart or during the 9:00 or 11:00 service this Sunday.



Here's a photo from the Kyle United Methodist Church... as this is a Kyle Daily Photo.

This is the children praying at the end of Children's Time.

There was an assembly on Friday at My daughters school (Negley Elementary)...

Here's the sea of kiddos.

My little one got perfect attendance... rock on.

Flamingos Strike Again!

Flamingos Strike Again!
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This flock is in the Plum Creek Neighborhood.

Yes.. they are my Flamingos. This flocking was in honor a friend's birthday last Sunday. Happy Birthday Ting!

Mind Your Bees..

The Jumpy Place in Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

At the "under 3" section at The Jumpy Place in Kyle

Hard freeze. We're so spoiled. Until May when the five months of 100 plus temps flatten us all and have us begging for mercy.

Here is a link to Central Texas Gardener for solutions. I cannot recommend this website enough EVER.
What should I do about my frozen plants?

My Little Groucho

My Little Groucho
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

She got this at the doctor for being such a good patient when she got her shots.

Tweet!

Bird on a Tree
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

I walked into my backyard last week and came across this bird playing "king of the tree" Thought it made a good photo. I think I was right.

It's not a partridge and that's not a pear tree.. but it's still pretty cool

The Jumpy Place in Kyle

The Jumpy Place in Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Some friends of ours came to town to visit and suggested we try out The Jumpy Place. It's an indoor play area with inflatables, toys, a TV (for the adults) and a couple of play areas for different ages. We hung out ther about 4 hours. It was a good time.

I only got into trouble once.


The Jumpy Place
241 Weldon Johnston Way
Kyle,TX 78640
512-262-1600

www.thejumpyplace.net/

Another Flamingo line-up
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

So... about a year ago a bought a box of plastic flamingos in order to "flock" someone on their birthday. They sat in a box until our church got a new pastor.. so we decided to welcome her to our flock via flamingoing... her birthday was last week so we flocked her again... then the flock has been moving to other friends lawns (in Hometown Kyle and Plum Creek). If you me and know someone who needs to be flocked... let me know. It can be arranged.

This photo is the flock with some human flamingos at the end. The humans are my family (I'm at the end) alongside Pastor Barbara and her husband Karim. The line-up was Karim's idea.

Beware of pole...

Beware of pole...
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Apparently we care a lot about low-flying birds in Kyle. This is exactly what it looks like... a traffic cone poised atop a pole that probably should have a stop sign on it.

It's in the area that has yet to be fully developed into a commercial zone (on I-35 access road behind Dairy Queen).

Old Town Gift Emporium - Closed
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Christmas Eve was the last day of business for the Old Town Gift Emporium. It's a shame... such a neat addition to town. It added a big splash of color and owner John Hawn added a big splash of personality to downtown Kyle.

It's been promised in the note on the door (next photo) that it'll open up as another venture. I hope so.

If you'd like to read the letter... you can see it here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanclaes/4248054000/sizes/l/

Wyatt Cox Baptism 1/3/10

Wyatt Cox Baptism 1/3/10
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Best. Baptism. Ever.

If you were in the audience during the 9:00 service at the Kyle United Methodist Church this morning you witnessed the most fantastic baptism ever. OK... maybe not "ever" but it was pretty sweet.

After Pastor Barbara baptized young Wyatt here... he decided to see how it felt to baptize himself. Then he said "yea!" and clapped. Such a happy young man. The whole congregation was laughing and smiling. What a wonderful celebration.

POLAR BEAR SPLASH @ The Kyle Pool

In all there was about 80 people (including me) who jumped into the pool. I don't have a shot of everyone because I was participating. Luckily Chad Benninghoff (who jumped in at the same time as me) wanted to be the last person to get out of the pool so I was able to get this shot.

I was the 2nd person who swam the length of the pool to get out. The 47 degree water was not a friend of mine... but it's totally worth doing once a year.

Looks like the "Old City Hall" is getting a new roof. Wonder what it'll end up becoming? I guess we'll find out in 2010. Oh... and the sign? I participated in the Polar Bear Splash by jumping into the Kyle Pool at 1pm today and swimming across the pool. My wife jumped in too... and I met a cool guy named Josh that apparently visited Kyle Daily Photo for awhile before deciding to move to town. It's good to hear that people are enjoying this fun little blog.

Happy New Year all!