The Simple Life at the Badger's

Beds made up on couches with Paige and Bridger.

Cooper relaxing with his mom.

Eric sweeping the floor. He took over after Skyler left. We didn't realize how much sweeping you did until you were gone, Skyler!

Lots of dishes to do by everyone! Thanks to all those who worked so hard in the kitchen to keep it functioning. We certainly had some great meals!

Everyone did loads of laundry. I think that our machines did a whole year's worth in two weeks. It took me 24 hours just to process bedding after everyone left!

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

I was amazed at the organizational skills of my children and spouses who managed to arrange places for 45 people in our family room!

Here is a view of presents from the entrance hallway. The Fowler family presents, then Stephen's family, T.J.'s and my brother David's to the far left.

Chairs had presents with the names of the occupant and there were even trash bags under some chairs to control wrapping paper clutter. This side was for Rosalia, Jessica and Skyler, Mark and Tracy, and further on down David and Jana and their families.

Here is the view from the kitchen. The largest families were opposite each other in the room with singles or couples inbetween. All the grandparents sat on a sofa and the children were on the rug by their parents' chairs. This view shows where the Haddock family will sit on the left and Grandad on the right.

Christmas Day

The excited chaos of Christmas morning.

Breyton goes through his presents.

Drew unwraps a gift.

Jessica and Skyler look tired, but happy.

Three of our college kids unwrap presents in their corner.

Christmas in Louisiana

Here is Ted getting ready to cook on Christmas day. Since I lost my camera for most of this Badger adventure you'll have to see other blogs for other activities.

I see that I have loaded these pictures backwards, but this one was taken when we went out to lunch after our picture taking session.

Here are all the girls at the studio.

And the boys, minus their beards. Like Olive Oyl, I like a clean shaven man.

Here's the beard picture I took. I personally felt that T.J. had the Most Creative, David: The Most Theatrical (Shakespearean), Stephen: The Most Historical (the day before he looked the most like Abe Lincoln), Eric: The Most Melo-dramatic (great villain), Skyler: The Best Ninja, and Mark: The Sportiest.

Picture taking in LA

I have decided on colors for the picture of our nuclear family. I am going to wear the jacket I bought in South Carolina with the large stylized flowers. You can wear black and white or the warm colors in this jacket. Check the blog on Charleston to see this jacket. Getting ready to see everyone!

Midsummer Night's Dream in DeRidder

Here I am with my tech girl (Kirsten Rudy) and stage manager (Logan Brown) for A Midsummer Night's Dream. We are all happy that everything went well.

My parents came to support their daughter and it was even Daddy's 85th birthday! His son-in-law took him out to eat and to buy a cool tool at Stine's.

Here are Kelsey Manning as Helena, Tim Moseley as Demetrius, Ryan Hitchens with the afro wig as Lysander, and Danielle Gonzalez as Hermia. That's the rented backdrop and the old Homecoming Bridge painted and turned to the forest side.

Titania (Anna Arceneaux) and Oberon (Adonis Lewis). Adonis is currently undergoing heart surgery, but I don't know what kind or how he is doing. One of his friends said it took longer than expected, but I haven't heard since. He delayed the surgery to do the show!

Here are all the fairies with Puck (Levi Martinez) in the background. I thought Nancy's tie dyes looked great. The fairies were the running crew. I am, of course, exhausted, but happy that all went well and the audience was pleased with our performance. We even got a standing ovation! Now I just have to figure out something for next year!

Quick Trip to High Island

The cottage is timeless.
My father and brother fixing the tripod for a picture of all of us that should be on his (Grandpa's) blog soon.

I took a trip to High Island to see my parents and sisters who had come in to help with clean up after Hurricane Ike. My parents' friend Houston took us down the Boliver Penninsula that leads to the ferry to Galveston and it is all but wiped out. What struck me was the brown landscape because the storm surge of salt water killed all the vegetation. As you go over the rise from High Island to the gulf it changes from green to brown. It looks blighted, like a moonscape or a war zone. Power poles are leaning over or broken and only piers are left from the houses there. Cars are sunk in sand at crazy angles where they were abandoned because the water rose so quickly the people had to wade out ( just before you get to High Island where the road dips down and the water claimed it early). There are no more dune barriers. They were flung to the other side of the highway. Huge barrier tubes of sand are exposed like beached whales along the coastline. A few homes remain, but not many. Houston showed us a lot that was formerly listed for a million dollars. Probably worth next to nothing now without a town to go with it. Houston's father-in-law had a hardware store that was completely swept off its foundation and crushed. I didn't have the heart to take pictures like a gawking tourist. Your grandparents' home is fine since High Island lived up to its name and the sea did not claim it.