BARGAS BLOG

SVAA Basketball - Hoosiers White

2012-02-05T22:46:00.002-06:00

I tried to sign up Jonathan to his old team with his old friends on the last day of sign-ups. It turns out I was too late and all of the team positions were filled. So the SVAA overlords placed Jonathan on a new team. Turns out he was placed on a team consisting mostly of his new Lake Highlands Jr. High friends. And his coach is great and the team is currently tied for first place! Jonathan has had been a leading scorer in several games and has really stepped up is play this season. Everything worked out perfectly!

PHOTO ALBUM

Hoosiers White vs. Hoosiers Red

LHHS Winter Formal 2012

2012-01-22T21:21:00.000-06:00

Madison's winter formal dance was this weekend. All of the LHHS varsity cheerleaders, bellboys, and their dates met for pre-dance photos at Wilshire Baptist Church which resembled some kind of scene from the red carpet at the Academy Awards. The flash photography was blinding! After an hour or so of every possible pose and combination grouping of friends, they loaded onto a chartered bus which took them to the dance. It is my understanding a good time was had by all at the dance.

In the meantime, Melanie, myself and six other parents headed north to Mel's family ranch where the post-dance after-party was to occur. The funnest part of the night was hanging out with the other parents for the 5 hours or so before the kids finally arrived around 2:30AM. I think I finally got to bed at 6AM. Like last year when we hosted, I confirmed that I am too old for this, and that sleep is very important for my ability to physically and mentally function. Nevertheless, I was up about 3 hours later for a good breakfast and general lounging around. The last guest left at about 2PM and Mel and I were back on the road to Dallas by 3PM.

Click the link below for direct access to the photo album containing over 60 photos from the event...

PHOTO ALBUM

LHHS Winter Formal 2012

LHHS Basketball vs. Jesuit

2012-01-13T22:53:00.002-06:00

Mel and I attended a great district match-up between Lake Highlands High School and Jesuit at the Wildcat's home court. The Cats took an early lead and extended it up to 16 during the third quarter. Jesuit came back and chipped away until taking a two point lead with about 1:30 left in the game. The lead changed back and fourth a couple more times until the Wildcats secured the win with time running out. A very exciting game! Of course, we really game to see our varsity cheerleader...

Christmas Day

2011-12-26T17:10:00.000-06:00

For Melanie and I, December 25th has morphed into a three-part extravaganza. It went down as follows...

PART #1 : We slept in. The night before was a late one. Since the kids prefer to sleep at their mom's house, this leaves Melanie and I with a free evening. We have discovered that restaurants/bars in fancy hotels are one of the few places open on Christmas Eve. This year we decided to raid the Rattlesnake Bar at Fearing's in the Ritz for some cocktails and appetizers. Three hours later we departed with full bellies and high spirits. Six hours later we awoke to an anxious Labrador Retriever who was ready to get busy with some gift opening. So we started with going through our overstuffed stocking while still under the sheets, and finished in front of the Christmas tree among a mountain torn wrapping paper and newly revealed gifts. We both received more than we ever imagined.

PART #2 : Melanie and I got dressed, got packed up, and got on over to Amelie's house for blended family gift opening and brunch extravaganza. While a lot of ex-spouses prefer to 'keep 'em separated' (thank you The Offspring), Amelie and I like to keep it together. You could say we put the 'function' in dysfunctional. Melanie and George get all the credit too for this dynamic. Anyway, it was ALL good. Maddie got a new iPhone, Jonathan got a fancy new TV for his video games, and I got to see my kids open their presents in their pajamas... like it should be. After the last present was opened, we all enjoyed a wonderful breakfast together.

PART #3 : Melanie and I drove back to Lake Highlands to quickly load up the truck with hot dishes and gifts for an afternoon with the Fredrick Family. We quickly swung by Amelie's to pick up the kids and then were off to Irving. Mel's parents, sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and grandmother made for a pretty large and energetic crowd. Only two hours after eating breakfast, we found ourselves eating a HUGE lunch. It was an incredible meal complimented by fun conversation. Then it was on to more gift opening (third time in the same day)! I am so blessed. Finally, the guys went to the back den to watch the second half of the Mavs game while the ladies chatted it up.

All in all a great day. And a long day. It was nice to finally get home and crash knowing that an alarm clock would not be ringing on Monday morning.

lynbrook tree

the loot

new pj's

say what?

that's better

surprised mama

madison, amelie, jonathan

three sisters

john and sue

sue, alexandra, mackenzie, john, madison, elliott

sue, alexandra, john, madison, elliott
campbell, mackenzie, wynn

campbell, alexandra, mackenzie, wynn, john
madison, elliott, jonathan

mama fred

wynn and jonathan

brewer family

Bargas / Younger Christmas

2011-12-18T13:45:00.000-06:00

The immediate family descended upon the little casa in Lake Highlands for an early Christmas celebration. We packed a lot into about 8 hours, including some football watching, basketball playing, skateboarding, ginger bread house making, cooking, eating, gift opening and much more. It was a whirlwind, yet super fun good time!

LHJH Winter Dance

2011-12-10T14:15:00.001-06:00

Lake Highlands Junior High held it's formal winter dance on Friday night in the school lunchroom. This was Jonathan's first "official" date. Melanie and I got a front row seat since we served as their chauffeur. All of his nervousness came to a head when we pulled up to the Nobel residence, he took a deep breath and said "here we go". Mel and I watched him turn a corner and walk out of sight. A few minutes later he popped back into view with a very precious Madison Noble. I could see relief in his eyes that the hard part was over and he could now really enjoy the rest of his evening.

We drove to his basketball coach's house for a pre-dance photo session complete with risers set up in the cul-de-sac for large group photos. It looked like a scene from the academy awards where the celebrities (kids) were being mobbed by the paparazzi (parents). About an hour later we dropped the kids off at school for the dance, then Mel and I attended a parents party where we got to meet some great people. Later, we picked the kids up and drove to El Fenix for an pre-planned late night dinner with about half of the 7th grade class. Mel and I sat at a table in another part of the restaurant with a few other parents and enjoyed some very bland texmex munchies. Finally, around 10:30, we left the restaurant so Jonathan could drop off Madison at her house where her parents were waiting.

All and all a very cool night. Jonathan was a perfect gentleman and as far as I know did everything right as he was taught and coached. The next day we asked him again if he had fun and he said "it was the best night of my life". So there you have it.

Family Christmas Card Photo

2011-12-03T22:31:00.001-06:00

It was a very windy and on/off rainy kind of day. We started at the neighborhood park on the other side of Plano Road. But it was muddy and some idiot (a friend to the wild animals) had scattered pieces of bread everywhere... an irresistible temptation for the silver dog. So after some initial frustration (mine) at the park, we drove back home and ended up in our neighbor's back yard. A tall and dense Photinia hedge made for a nice, simple background. It sort of looks like we are sitting on a very low, invisible bench! The camera is on a tripod and I have a wireless remote in my right hand. We just got lucky that Ellie was looking straight ahead. Melanie's hair has that 'wind-blown' look because it is indeed windy. This is the end of these random thoughts.

I thank God for my beautiful family and I thank Melanie for her patience with me. :-)

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot

2011-11-25T20:46:00.001-06:00

Melanie and I set the alarm clock for an early start to Thanksgiving Day in foggy downtown Dallas. We walked the course with Ellie and even saw some friends along the way. It was a great start to a great day!

Pappa Fred

2011-11-22T17:56:00.001-06:00

John Pink Fredrick was laid to rest today in Celina, Texas. And while I have only known Melanie's grandfather for eight of his 98 years, I can certainly say without hesitation that he was an extraordinary man and one cool dude. I can see a lot of his character in Melanie and that is a wonderful thing for the kids and I to be exposed to and influenced by on a daily basis.

Pappa Fred's obit is below and the photos were taken at the graveside service on my iPhone (b&w and grain added in post).

JOHN PINK FREDRICK, died Saturday, November 19, 2011 at home in Irving. He was born in a log cabin on a farm in Mead, Oklahoma on January 19, 1914 to John Granvel Fredrick and Suda Ann Gwin. He was the youngest of seven children all of whom have preceded him in death. He attended public schools, graduating from high school at Sugden, Oklahoma. Leaving the farm, he moved to his mother’s home state attending Business School in Dallas, Texas and East Texas University. Returning to the farm in 1936, he worked for the Department of Agriculture wrangling cattle to be vaccinated during the anthrax epidemic. In 1941 he was offered an opportunity in Washington DC where he was employed by the Veterans Administration. Working his way up from clerk to Chief of Supply Services, he progressed from stations in Waco, Dallas, Bonham, Shreveport, Austin and Temple. He retired from the Veterans Hospital Temple, Texas as Chief Supply Officer in 1974 after 37 years of meritorious government service. He was a member of the Church of Christ where he served as an elder and inspirational Bible teacher in 5 cities over a span of 50 years. An avid sportsman, he loved to snow ski, water ski, and to fish and hunt, making his last elk hunt on horseback in the rocky mountains at the age of 92. He is survived by the “love of his life” his wife, Dorothy, of 77 years and three sons: John, and his wife, Sue of Irving, Stan, and his wife, Judy of Flower Mound and Craig and his wife, Brenda of Decatur. He was known affectionately as Papa Fred to eleven grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday at Donnelly’s Colonial Funeral Home. Service is 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 22 in the funeral home Chapel with Mr. Phil Evanson officiating. Burial will be in the maternal family plot at Cottage Hill Cemetery, Celina, Texas.

Flocked

2011-11-22T17:48:00.001-06:00

I have been many things over the years, but this is the first time have ever been flocked. The senior class fund raiser landed in our yard Sunday night and it made for some pretty cool pics. But the birds didn't hang around too long, though. Maddie relocated them to the yard of another unsuspecting (check-writing) Lake Highlands resident.

Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T17:42:00.001-06:00

We had a little family and ex-family (I still consider them family) gathering at Amelie's house to celebrate and give thanks for our neat little modern family. These are a couple of pics I took of the girls preparing our dish contribution the night before.

Aledo Sunday

2011-11-13T18:39:00.001-06:00

We all headed west to Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mark's house for our annual gathering to take Nanny's Christmas card picture with all of the grand kids. After the official photo shoot, I snapped a few of my kiddos.

maddie and kameron

awkward family photo re-enactment. ellie was really into it.

LHHS vs. Richardson Pep Rally

2011-11-05T17:36:00.001-05:00

Madison has her last football pep rally on Friday. These are some pics of her and her friends before the festivities began, and then some pics of her doing her thing. It's pretty cool that she is the center flyer in her first year ever of cheerleading. I'm proud of her.

Lake Highlands vs. Skyline

2011-10-28T23:51:00.003-05:00

Melanie and I ventured into the south part of town to watch Madison cheer in the chilly October air. The football part didn't work out too well for the Wildcats, but I was able to get on the field for some fun pics of Maddie and her friends.

LHHS XC District Meet

2011-10-28T23:44:00.003-05:00

Madison ran in what she thought was going to be her very last cross country meet of her high school career on a crisp, chilly Friday morning. The varsity girls finished third in the annual district meet and unexpectedly advance to regionals. So maybe it wasn't her last meet!

Paint Ball Bday

2011-10-28T23:44:00.001-05:00

As has become tradition, the four musketeers celebrated Jonathan's birthday together... this time going for a paintball war at Official Paintball near Forney. The weather was perfect and a good time was had by all.

LHHS XC @ Lewisville Lake

2011-10-15T16:46:00.002-05:00

Maddie did her cross country thing again this morning along the shores of Lake Lewisville. A cool, crisp morning provided the perfect atmosphere for an XC meet.

LHJH Wildcats Football

2011-10-15T16:39:00.001-05:00

Jonathan saw some good action in a tough game against Liberty on Tuesday night. Special teams and wide receiver were the positions du jour. The Boneyard did not yield any passing plays this night, but the position was played well.

LHHS XC Jesuit Invitational

2011-10-10T22:34:00.005-05:00

Maddie posted a great time considering the prior evening's late night homecoming activities. Perhaps it caught up to her a little right after she crossed the finish line.

LHHS Homecoming Pep Rally & Game

2011-10-10T21:43:00.000-05:00

Nanny and Paw Paw drove in to see Madison do her cheer thing. We all met at the house and then drove to the high school for a pep rally in the gym. Afterward, we hung out at the house, grilled some steaks, and had a great meal before heading to the game. The Wildcats won!

Lake Highlands Oktoberfest

2011-10-01T15:09:00.001-05:00

Jonathan and I stopped by the inaugural Lake Highlands Oktoberfest to watch Madison and the varsity cheerleaders do their thing. The weather was perfect and the crowds were present. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. We even saw our across-the-street neighbors, Shane, Angela, and Sienna.

LHHS CC Rowlett Invitational

2011-09-24T11:47:00.001-05:00

Maddie and her varsity girls and boys team did very well this morning. Sarah Shaw had a second place finish with the other girls on the team coming in not too far behind. The boys team had three finishers in the top ten, including first, third, and fifth place! All and all a pretty good morning for Lake Highlands Cross Country.

The photos below are in chronological order as the varsity girls and boys races unfolded.

LHHS Varsity Cheer

2011-09-24T11:45:00.001-05:00

Madison and her squad participated in a pep rally at the LHHS Tailgate BBQ before the Samuel game at the Boneyard.

Casey and Rachel

2011-09-20T23:29:00.004-05:00

My cousin Casey was married to beautiful Rachel last weekend in a very nice ceremony at St. Louis Cathedral with a super fun reception a few blocks down the street at The Royal Orleans. It's been a while since I last attended a traditional New Orleans wedding and this one was great! Seeing family and friends all weekend long was a real treat.

Below are some pics I snapped from my aisle seat about 10 rows back. They are, for the most part, in chronological order starting from the seating of the wedding party families through the end of the reception. My pics were a little blurry and the color (white balance) was off, so I decided to go with a black and white documentary style in post processing. You can click on any of the photos to open a larger version and scroll through them all.

Thanks Uncle Alvin and Aunt Carlisa for having us down to NOLA. Melanie and I had a blast!

NOLA

2011-09-18T22:06:00.002-05:00

Melanie and I spent a long weekend hanging out in the French Quarter while in town to attend my cousin's wedding. It has been a while since I have visited New Orleans and I suppose it is pretty much the same as it was back in HS when we would visit just about every weekend. Mucho fun! These pics were taken from an unauthorized location on the roof of the Omni Royal Orleans.

Lake

2011-09-11T18:05:00.000-05:00

I thought last weekend was going to be the final trip to the lake, but no. This day was too perfect to NOT go. So we went. And it was good!

LHHS CC Southlake Inv.

2011-09-10T10:59:00.001-05:00

A very early start to our Saturday morning lead into an awesome sunrise over Lake Grapevine at the Southlake Carroll Invitational. The rolling two mile trail twisted back and forth along the lake shore. 60 degree temps topped it off. Maddie and her varsity team blazed the trail as usual.

LHHS vs. Garland

2011-09-10T10:45:00.002-05:00

Perfect weather for the first 'away' game. Not so perfect outcome of the game. Overall... perfect.

PHOTO ALBUM

LHHS Cheerleading 2011 - 2012

Seasons of Gray

2011-08-28T07:25:00.021-05:00

About 18 months ago Melanie and I were sitting in Watermark Community Church one Sunday morning when our pastor, Todd Wagner, spoke about a new ministry called Watermark Films and their first feature film project, Seasons of Gray. Todd then introduced a man named Paul Stehlik, who went on to explain the vision and mission of Watermark Films to our church body. As we listened to Paul discuss the ministry's new project and all they would need to pull it off, we learned that they needed a cattle ranch location to shoot a significant portion of the film. Melanie and I immediately turned to each other and thought of her family spread in the Red River Valley. I contacted Paul and over the following weeks, a couple of location visits, and several meetings with Mel's dad, an agreement was worked out to lend the ranch for a week in June 2010 and another few days at the end of July that same summer.

Melanie and I were so excited to be a part of this project in even this very, very small way. The cast and crew were so gracious and thankful the entire time they were there. We had the honor and privilege to see an early edit of the film last spring and became even more excited about it's eventual release to the public. Melanie volunteered to be an extra at a cocktail party scene that was shot at a large home in University Park and absolutely killed it with a solid performance and a few seconds of screen time in the film. Insiders tell us that she may be nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Supporting Extra! Pause the movie trailer video above at exactly 1:44 and see if you can spot her. All of the scenes in the first :57 seconds of the trailer were filmed on the ranch property and inside the main ranch house.

Mel and I have met and become friends with some really awesome people through this project and it was really fun for us to watch it all develop over that last 18 months or so. We are so thankful to Mel's dad, uncle, and the rest of the Fredrick family for allowing so many people to take over the ranch those days during summer prime time when we are all wanting to spend our weekends up there. Also, special thanks to Melanie's brother, John, Jr., for coordinating with Watermark Films and the many hours he spent physically preparing different aspects of the property. But mostly we are thankful to our God for providing this opportunity to us to do this small bit in His calling for ALL of us to further the name of Jesus Christ our Savior.

CLICK HERE to see my blog post from last summer when they were filming and to see some BTS photos I snapped while we were hanging out with the cast and crew.

CLICK HERE to watch a video of our pastor, Todd Wagner, talk about the heart of Watermark Films and why our church decided to make a movie.

Click the following links to see some behind-the-scenes video that was taken while the cast and crew filmed various scenes at the ranch... Day One, Day Three.

If you want to see other various videos associated with the production, check out Watermark Films' YouTube Channel and Vimeo Channel

LHHS CC Greenhill Relays

2011-08-27T10:32:00.002-05:00

Thanks to one of the hottest summers on record and almost two months with hardly a drop of rain, the Greenhill Relays were not very green. The course was parched, but Maddie ran her leg of the race in Varsity A Team style and clocked a great time.

LHHS vs. Mesquite

2011-08-27T09:39:00.008-05:00

Friday night lights started with an afternoon pep rally at the Lake Highlands gym and ended with a 34-27 victory over Mesquite at the Boneyard. This was Maddie's first big gig with the varsity cheerleaders and it was obvious that this is going to be a fun year for her (and us). ;-) Click the link below to see all of the action.

PHOTO ALBUM

LHHS Cheerleading 2011 - 2012

First Day of School

2011-08-27T09:33:00.002-05:00

With all that they have going on, I couldn't even get them together on the same day for a photo... but it's all good. I guess this is the last "first day of school" pic I will take of Maddie... unless I show up next year on her first day of college classes... which probably wouldn't be cool. I still have five more years for Jonathan, though. YES!

Last Day of Summer

2011-08-21T21:57:00.004-05:00

Melanie and I spent the last day of summer vacation at the lake. The temp was 106 but it really didn't feel that hot on and in the water. It was the perfect end to a perfect summer.

Family BBQ

2011-08-21T21:26:00.005-05:00

Melanie and I had the opportunity to spend some time with my uncle, aunt and cousins that I haven't seen in a while. It was sweltering outside, but the company was cool. Thanks Paul and Kara for hosting and it sure was great to see everybody.

August Ranch Trip

2011-08-15T18:08:00.005-05:00

Our last summer trip to the ranch was most excellent. Saturday was relatively cool due to the morning sprinkles and clouds. Sunday morning we took the kids to shoot, and then made a bee-line to the pool after we finished and the heat cranked back up. The winery and tasting room look amazing, and Pat tells us they are planning a Labor Day weekend opening. Click on the link below to check out some pics.

PHOTO ALBUM

August Ranch Trip 2011

LHHS Media Day

2011-08-15T18:07:00.001-05:00

Maddie asked me to come to the media guide photo session to snap a few candid pics. The morning rain forced the show inside instead of a bright, day lit stadium... so my photo ops were more limited. Anyway, here are a few.

Cape

2011-08-07T21:48:00.003-05:00

Melanie hand-made a costume cape for a our neighbor's 2 year old daughter's birthday party. She made a custom pattern from newspaper, then busted out the sewing machine. It was fun watching her from across the table. Then Ellie modeled the cape in the driveway for a photo shoot under soft, late evening natural light.

LHHS Cheer Camp 2011

2011-08-03T17:17:00.004-05:00

Madison attended cheerleading camp this week to prepare for the upcoming school year. The parents were invited to attend on the last day to see what they have accomplished. Maddie said she had the time of her life and was chosen to be a "flyer", which apparently means that she is one of three or four girls on the squad who gets hoisted up into the air and does stunts. Amelie took a video with my iPhone and a link to that is below.

VIDEO

LHHS Cheer Camp 2011

Gulf Shores 2011

2011-07-28T15:54:00.003-05:00

Best beach trip ever! Amazing house, incredible weather, awesome food/drink, and a wonderful time with old and new friends. I can't wait for next year!

Click on the photo album link below to see over 200 photos that capture the feel and spirit of our seven days in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

PHOTO ALBUM

Gulf Shores 2011

Pool Weekend

2011-07-10T22:41:00.008-05:00

Me, Mel, and Ellie @ the pool near St. Jo, Texas. 104 degrees eventually gave way to cool breezes in the evening.

PHOTO ALBUM

Pool Weekend 2011

Fredrick/Day Family @ The Ranch

2011-07-03T23:57:00.007-05:00

The John Fredrick, Sr. and Day families descended upon the ranch for a weekend of relaxing and catching up. To escape the 100+ degree temps, most of us hung out around the pool. But when the sun started to lower and that evening breeze kicked up, it was ideal for some back deck barbequeing and vineyard/winery touring. It was great to catch up with family and friends. Click on the link below to see all of the pics!

Photo Album

Fredrick Family @ The Ranch 2011

Father's Day

2011-06-24T21:48:00.002-05:00

Melanie and the kiddos really outdid themselves this year. After a nice sleep-in morning, we woke up and attended the late service at church. After an awesome lunch at Big Shucks, we drove home a pile of gifts. Then we hooked up the boat and enjoyed a day on Ray Hubbard. Busy and fun... just how I like my Father's Day!

Fredrick Ranch

2011-06-05T23:16:00.008-05:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS

#1 Blue Ostridge Vineyard & Winery

#2 Melanie

#3 Ranch Headquarters

#4 Silver Dog

#5 JMB

#6 Ranch Kids

#7 Airborne

Our second trip of the summer involved some of our close friends and their families as we all headed up to Mel's family spread in the North Texas Hill Country. And the activity of choice when the Texas sun starts blazing is to chill down by the pool. Mixed in with the pool time were the other standard ranch activities including BBQ/cooking, target practice, basketball, card games and relaxing on the back deck while enjoying the cool evening breezes and various cocktail concoctions.

Mel's brother, John, was on the property tending to the latest Fredrick Ranch project and he gave us a tour. John and his cousin, Pat, are heading up the establishment of Blue Ostrich Winery & Vineyard. Three acres of vines were recently planted with plans to expand to 11 acres. They have converted the old ostrich hatchery barn into a winery and tasting room, and I must say it all looks pretty amazing. Check out the pics in the photo album to see how the vineyard is shaping up!

So all in all, a pretty killer trip. Can't wait to get back there for July 4th weekend!

PHOTO ALBUM

Fredrick Ranch : June 2011

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-30T22:27:00.005-05:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS

#1 Maddie

#2 Jonathan, Paw Paw, Maddie

#3 The Good Stuff

#4 Slalom Rippin'

We pulled the boat and our family to Nanny and Paw Paw's house for a three day lake extravaganza. Mostly it was kicking back and relaxing. Amazing food, amazing lake time, amazing family time. Check out the photo album to see some of the highlights.

PHOTO ALBUM

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:14:00.004-05:00

We all slept in, the showered Mel with gifts, then visited WRL for some pics, then ate at Rusty Taco, then watched the Mavericks kill the Lakers. Pretty good day!

LHHS Red White Game

2011-05-07T17:46:00.004-05:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS

#1 Maddie

#2 Maddie and Mel

#3 Varsity & Junior Varsity

#4 Maddie and the Bell Boys

#5 LHHS, LHFC, LHJH, FMJH

The annual LHHS Red White Game was today which honors the outgoing seniors of the football team, cheerleading squad, the dance team, and band members. It is also the "official" beginning of Madison joining the varsity cheerleading squad for the 2011-2012 school year. Formal photographs were taken for this fall's All-Sports program and I managed to sneak a few shots in while standing behind the official photographer. Be sure to to click the link below to see all of the photos.

PHOTO ALBUM

LHHS Red White Game 2011

Mel and Ellie @ WRL

2011-04-17T21:25:00.004-05:00

We hopped in the Jeep and headed to White Rock Lake for a stroll and some pics. Perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Highlandette Revue

2011-04-17T12:01:00.003-05:00

Madison had her first performance as a new cheerleader in the annual Lake Highlands High School Highlandette Review. The Highlandettes is the school dance team and this show is one of their fundraisers. The cheerleaders were invited to participate in the show and Madison looked great! I wasn't' allowed to take pics during the performance so the ones above are from right after the show.

Hoops In The Highlands 2011

2011-03-26T20:44:00.004-05:00

Jonathan participated in Hoops in the Highlands, a kids, three-on-three basketball tournament benefiting Lake Highlands schools. The team handily won their first two games before regrouping a few hours later to be handed two straight losses... the last game lost by one point in overtime. Nevertheless, a good time was had by all and we are looking forward to next year! Be sure to check out all of the photos by clicking the link below.

PHOTO ALBUM

Hoops In The Highlands 2011

SVAA Wildcats Basketball

2011-02-27T09:26:00.003-06:00

The Wildcats sealed their division championship today with a win over the Hawks. Jonathan contributed 10 points to the 36 total scored by the team. After the game, Coach Dodgen gathered the players and parents together where he called Jonathan out and gave him special praise and season MVP honors. Next week begins the playoffs!

Cotillion Final Dance

2011-02-24T19:55:00.003-06:00

Six weeks of cotillion training came to an end Sunday evening. The final class was held at the Westin Hotel and parents were invited to see how far the kids had come. Jonathan surprised Melanie with a single red rose and the first dance of the night. Afterward, we joined several other families for dinner which capped a great evening.

LHHS Favorites 2011

2011-02-23T22:32:00.006-06:00

Madison and twenty seven of her closest friends rendezvoused at Maggiano's for diner before heading to their formal dance at the Dallas Trade Mart. After the dance ended at midnight, the kids loaded onto a chartered bus that transported them ALL to the Fredrick Ranch. It was 2AM, and when I saw some of the kids drinking Red Bull as the walked off the bus, I knew it was going to be a long night. Even the dog stayed up all night! The kiddos partook in the usual ranch activities, watched the sun come up, ate a hearty brunch, and then were whisked away back to Dallas by their parents. All of this happened in less than eighteen hours. The photos (click the link below) are from the meet-up at the restaurant before dinner. Sorry, no pics from the ranch... never was a good time to do that.

PHOTO ALBUM
LHHS Favorites 2011

Forty Three

2011-02-13T19:33:00.002-06:00

The fact that Melanie went WAY above and beyond to make my birthday a super fun three day extravaganza softened the impact and reality of turning forty three. Thank you my Sweet Angel.

Saints vs. Jets

2011-02-13T18:57:00.002-06:00

Jonathan's flag football team had a huge win vs. the Jets. We were late getting to the game because his basketball game went into over time (see post below) and didn't arrive until half time. On the first play of the second half, Jonathan got the hand-off and sprinted the entire length of the field for a touchdown!

SVAA Wildcats Basketball

2011-02-13T18:48:00.002-06:00

Jonathan and his team had a double header this weekend vs. the Suns and the Timberwolves. The first game vs. the Suns was, well... a massive loss. However, in the second game, the Wildcats redeemed themselves vs. the Timberwolves in a very exciting, overtime victory. Above are some pics from both games.

Ellie the Snow Dog

2011-02-06T22:14:00.001-06:00

She loves it!

Snow Day 2011

2011-02-04T17:14:00.006-06:00

The forecast on Thursday night said we had a good chance to receive a couple of inches, but we awoke to at least six inches of the white fluffy stuff. Maddie, with her friends Jessica and Maggie, joined us for breakfast at Barbec's before we all headed to the best sledding hill in Dallas. We came equiped with two snowboards, one sled, and even an old pair of skis... just so I could say I have snow skied in Dallas. It was a great morning with my wife and daughter.

PHOTO ALBUM
Snow Day 2011

Saints vs. Cowboys & Texans

2011-01-29T22:15:00.004-06:00

Jonathan's flag football team kicked off the new winter season on a gorgeous 75 degree January afternoon. The Saints split the double header and are poised for a pretty good run. Today Jonathan had an interception for a touchdown, and a 2-point conversion catch in the end zone.

PHOTO ALBUM
Saints Flag Football - Winter 2011

Ladies Ranch Trip

2011-01-16T16:18:00.004-06:00

Melanie hosted a gal's trip to the ranch (sons in tow) for a weekend of, well... you can only imagine. From what I understand, even the boys were somewhat shocked! Jonathan and his buddies hung out in the hot tub, played airsoft wars, and basketball.

LH Cotillion

2011-01-09T20:38:00.004-06:00

Jonathan started a multi-week program where he will learn to sharpen his social skills, etiquette, table manners, and dancing. I think he was a little nervous before we arrived at the KC ballroom, but then recognized many familiar faces from school. Mel's Manners and More herself (Melanie) spearheaded this effort and spared no expense outfitting our young man for the class. Jonathan said he had a great time and is looking forward to next week!

Wildcats vs. Cougars

2011-01-09T18:14:00.003-06:00

Jonathan and his new Lake Highlands Wildcats team started their basketball season on Saturday with a victory! The boys looked pretty good and we can't wait to see how the season unfolds.

Christmas 2010 : Part 4 of 4

2010-12-27T17:36:00.010-06:00

Our final phase of Christmas 2010 actually happened on the 26th. Different Fredrick family schedules required us to convene a day later, which is a good thing... extend the fun and happiness, right? So we all descended upon Fredrick Central and enjoyed a great meal together and, of course, more gift exchange!

OK, so I was experimenting with some new settings on my camera and didn't discover most of the pics were out of focus until I uploaded them to my laptop. So I decided to just play that up and the final Lightroom result is a kinda grainy, sepia tone image that you see above.

Christmas 2010 : Part 3 of 4

2010-12-27T17:35:00.003-06:00

After a lovely morning at Amelie's house, Mel and I headed back to Lake Highlands so we could exchange our gifts to each other. A diamond necklace, iPod, North Face jacket, and a fancy L-series camera lens were unwrapped, among other things. Not bad at all!

Shortly afterward, Mel and I went to see True Grit at the movie theater, then hunted down an open restaurant (Hacienda on Henderson) for a Tex-Mex Christmas dinner.

The best part of the day, though, was just hanging out with my wife. :-)

Christmas 2010 : Part 2 of 4

2010-12-27T17:24:00.006-06:00

Melanie and I woke up Christmas morning and made a bee-line to Amelie's house so we could watch the kids open their gifts together as a 'modern family'. My best gift, who has been gifting it since 2001, is a great ex-wife that welcomes Melanie and I into her home so we can share these awesome memories together (pardon me... I'm a little verklempt... please talk amongst yourselves... there, I'm better now...) which is cool!

Anyway, I think the kids had a VERY satisfactory Christmas!!!

Christmas 2010 : Part 1 of 4

2010-12-27T17:16:00.008-06:00

We loaded up the food/presents and headed west to Aledo for a Christmas Eve celebration with Nanny, PawPaw and the Younger Family. Yeah... the gifts were excellent, the food was awesome, etc, etc, etc... My favorite part of the whole day was just hanging out with my family at the table telling stories and jokes, putting a jigsaw puzzle together, and just laughing. Super fun!

The pics are from the cookie decorating session. Thanks Mark and Jenn for hosting!

Healdsburg : Sonoma County : California

2010-11-30T14:07:00.030-06:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS
#1 Raisins?
#2 White Oak Vineyard
#3 Zichichi Vineyard
#4 Goat Rock Beach
#5 Goofing off in the barrel room

PHOTO ALBUM
Healdsburg : Sonoma County : California

This trip was definitely spur-of-the-moment. About two weeks ago we decided it was time to get out of town. Too late for a beach visit and too early for a skiing adventure, Melanie and I decided to do something different this time. We thought "how about a trip to wine country?". When it comes to wine knowledge, I am the most novice of all novices. The only thing I really know is that I like red wine more than white. But we also decided that we wanted this to be a romantic getaway rather than a trip to educate ourselves in all things vino. Anyway, a trip just for the two for us in Northern California wine country over the long Thanksgiving weekend sounded like the perfect place.

With no idea where to start planning, we consulted with our good friends and wine country experts, Peter and Lene. Over lunch at Snuffers one Thursday afternoon, the Godat's gave us the rundown on what to do and where to go for that romantic getaway Melanie and I had envisioned. We wanted a slower paced trip that wasn't hurried. We wanted to visit smaller, boutique wineries with character and charm... not huge, industrial operations with generic, cheesy "gift shop" tasting rooms and nickle tours. Our expert advisers directed us to sleepy Healdsburg, California in the northern end of the Sonoma Valley and a list of small, family-owned wineries that lie within the Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, and Alexander Valley. It was on!

We departed DFW on Thanksgiving morning at 7:30AM and arrived in San Jose at 9:30AM. This gave us plenty of time to make several stops along the way to Healdsburg. We stopped at Stanford University, Fisherman's Wharf, the curvy part of Lombard Street, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Yes, very touristy I know... but I haven't been to San Fransisco since college and well, it was fun! About 3:30PM we jumped back in the car and arrived a couple of hours later at the brand new, ultra-cool and modern h2hotel. Following is the itinerary we followed for the next three days:

DAY ONE : DRY CREEK VALLEY
Michel-Schlumberger Wines
Passalacqua Winery
Lunch at Dry Creek General Store
Zichichi Family Vinyard
Dinner at Healdsburg Bar and Grill
Visit shops around the town square

DAY TWO : RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Scenic drive along Russian River to Goat Rock Beach
Drive south along Pacific Coast Highway
Lunch in Graton at Underwood Bar and Bistro
Iron Horse Vineyard
Porter Creek Vineyards
Matrix Winery
Dinner at Willi's Seafood and Raw Bar

DAY THREE : ALEXANDER VALLEY
Scenic drive to St. Helena
Lunch at Taylor's Refresher (Gotts)
Hanna Winery and Vineyards
White Oak Vineyards and Winery
Unti Vineyards (back in the Dry Creek Valley)
Dinner in our room (sandwiches/salad/chocolate/wine)

Words/phrases spoken in unique, specific, trip-related circumstances and currently incorporated into our daily vocabulary...

1. chasm
2. over-swirler
3. resurgence
4. spa-(robe, bed, comforter, products)
5. smell the cheese
6. taste good to me

Bargas & Younger Kids

2010-11-27T23:00:00.003-06:00

Some candids from Nanny's annual Christmas card shoot.

LHHS CC District Meet

2010-11-03T22:09:00.002-05:00

Madison set a personal record time and came in 3rd place on her varsity team. Another great year!

Lady of the Lake

2010-10-28T09:01:00.007-05:00

I really have nothing to say at this point...

Jonathan's 12th Bday

2010-10-24T21:03:00.005-05:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS
#1 Regrouping
#2 Plan of Attack
#3 Sniper
#4 On the Prowl
#5 Before the War

Airsoft wars at a public park = good times for 6th graders. This was probably the easiest, least expensive birthday party we have ever thrown. Basically we parked the truck at Flag Pole Hill, unloaded and set up a folding table, plopped down a cake, cold drinks, and three pizzas, and allowed seven kids to chase each other around a thickly wooded area off Northwest Highway. Who knew such a simple plan could provide massive entertainment for 12 year olds?

TIP : Even though Airsoft guns have bright orange markers at the end of their barrels to signify they are NOT real guns doesn't automatically put the general public at ease.

PHOTO ALBUM
Jonathan's 12th Birthday

Steelers vs. Packers

2010-10-17T19:12:00.002-05:00

The day finally arrived for the team to play at SMU. The set up was perfect... the only undefeated teams in the league would pound it out for 1st place in front of a record sized crowd of family and friends in a huge college football stadium Madison even convinced a few of her guy friends to paint Jonathan's jersey number on their chest! And the final result... a tie... and no tie breakers allowed. Since we had two touchdowns called back for questionable penalties, we considered it a win! ;-)

LHSS CC @ Lewisville Lake

2010-10-17T19:09:00.002-05:00

Made and her varsity teammates ran Saturday morning thru the cool morning breezes coming of of Lewisville Lake.

Steelers vs. Colts

2010-10-10T11:34:00.004-05:00

Finally the day arrived when Jonathan's team was scheduled to play his buddy Brendan's team. These two played for many seasons on the same team during the flag football years, so there was a little different mood prior to the game. Jonathan's touchdown streak finally came to a close, the Steelers were scored on for the first time this season, yet Jonathan's team managed to win the game in the end. It's totally coincidence that they both wear #80.

LHHS CC @ Jesuit Inv

2010-10-09T11:31:00.001-05:00

Madison and her varsity teammates tore up the trail this morning at Norbuck Park. The weather was perfect!

LHHS Homecoming

2010-10-06T21:51:00.004-05:00

Madison and Matt celebrated the weekend festivities starting on Friday with the mum exchange and football game, followed by the Varsity Review and the actual Homecoming dance on Saturday night. Click on the album below to see all of the pics.

PHOTO ALBUM
LHHS Homecoming 2010

Steelers vs. Dolphins

2010-10-06T21:44:00.004-05:00

Jonathan kept his touchdown streak alive and is now four TDs in four games. As a bonus, the MacGregor Clan showed up, including PawPaw Mac who flew in from New Orleans to watch Jonathan play. He didn't disappoint!

LHHS CC @ Wylie

2010-09-27T21:57:00.002-05:00

Rain was the name of the game.

Nanny & PawPaw Visit

2010-09-26T10:00:00.004-05:00

Nanny and PawPaw drove in from east Texas Friday afternoon to visit Bargas Blog Headquarters, and to watch Madison and Jonathan play their respective sports on Saturday morning. After a very nice fajita feast on Friday night, we awoke early the next morning to monsoon weather conditions. No worries... we donned the umbrellas and headed up to Wylie High School to watch Madison capture third place on her varsity team of seven. It was a total mudfest and the girl's times averaged about 2 minutes longer than usual, but that is to be expected. After Maddie's run, we headed to Richardson to watch Jonathan play his game in the pouring rain. As a wide receiver, Jonathan has had touchdown catches in each of his previous games so we were hoping he would deliver again for his grandparents. He did!

LHHS CC @ LH Invitational

2010-09-18T21:50:00.000-05:00

Madison's school hosted today's meet at Norbuck Park and she ran very well.

Labor Day @ The Camp

2010-09-06T11:01:00.003-05:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS
#1 Maddie
#2 Sweet Angel
#3 Me and the Offspring
#4 Jonathan
#5 Nanny, PawPaw, Madison

Our little family unit spent Labor Day weekend at Nanny and PawPaw's place on Lake Bob Sandlin. The task was to burn a full tank of gas in the boat (about 40 gallons) and assume that by doing so would result in good times and fond memories. It worked! Check out the complete photo album by clinking the link below...

PHOTO ALBUM
Labor Day 2010

Steelers vs. Bills

2010-09-04T22:43:00.001-05:00

Jonathan's first official game of his tackle football career started with his reception for a touchdown to mark the first score of the game/season. The Steelers fought on to win the game 20-0.

SVAA Scrimmages

2010-08-29T20:54:00.002-05:00

Jonathan had his first opportunity to play other teams in his league this fall. The Steelers played three, 20 minute scrimmages and both the offense and defense looked pretty strong. Should be a fun season!

Greenhill Relays

2010-08-28T11:02:00.003-05:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS
#1 Before the race
#2 Trucking along
#3 Alone in the field
#4 Teammates cheering her on
#5 Reflecting

This morning was the first cross country meet of the season and Madison was chosen to anchor her team of varsity girls. She had a great run and was the fastest of her group... as the anchor should be! ;-)

Ranch with Friends

2010-08-22T20:48:00.005-05:00

Our last ranch visit of the summer was short but sweet. The ill-conceived timing landed our trip on the last weekend of the summer before school starts. Various school and sports related commitments abbreviated everyone's stay, but the 28 hours we did spend together were super fun and relaxing.

Steelers Practice

2010-08-20T22:00:00.002-05:00

Jonathan was issued his helmet and pads last night and this evening was his first ever football practice in full gear. Let's just say it was a lot different from his flag football days... and I think he would agree. The heat, the restricted movement, and of course the hard hitting made for an interesting experience for him. Afterward he said that he loved it!

Haircut

2010-08-15T18:10:00.003-05:00

Today the "mop", as I like to call it, was reduced to a more stylish cut with just a week to go before school starts!

Cowboys Pre-Season

2010-08-15T18:04:00.003-05:00

In the past I would have declined my father-in-law's invitation to see the first Cowboys preseason game of the year. The old Texas Stadium was just too stinkin' hot to enjoy mediocre football. However, now we can enjoy mediocre football in wide, cushy seats in 72 degree temps, thanks to Jerry World. Sure, Tony and the Boys only played the 1st quarter. But the people watching was good the entire game!

Maddie's Mustang

2010-08-09T20:42:00.008-05:00

INDEX OF PHOTOS
#1 Her first reaction
#2 She is still in shock
#3 Sitting in the pilot's seat for the first time
#4 Ready for takeoff
#5 And there she goes... (my heart beating very fast)

Milestones don't seem to come as often as your children get older. First words, first steps, first day at kindergarten, etc... all of those major milestones just seem to come one after the other during those early years. Well, we hit a major one today in the form of Madison receiving her first car. After a couple of weeks scouring the internet, driving all over the metroplex looking at different things, we surprised her today with a car that she saw at one of the lots we visited, but a car I quickly dismissed as impractical and too expensive to insure. Impractical? Nah.. she's a high school kid... not like she has a bunch of children to haul around to play dates (thank God). Too expensive to insure? Believe it or not, about the same as a Civic or Corolla. And how am I doing? Well, all I can say is that if you have never watched your child drive off by themselves for the first time, there is no possible way you can understand that anxious feeling... :-|

Special thanks to Amelie, Melanie, Nanny & PawPaw, and PawPaw Mac & RoRo for their emotional and financial support.

Happy Sweet Sixteen, Maddie. I love you!

SPECS.
2000 Ford Mustang
One previous owner from Allen, TX
86000 miles (low for a 10 year old car)
V6 (not a GT... what, do you think I'm crazy!?!)
Super duper clean inside and out!

BONUS VIDEO
Mustang Surprise

Family Lake Day

2010-08-01T20:28:00.004-05:00

This was a day at the lake for the immediate Bargas Family. No friends of the kids tagged along this time.... it was just us. An awesome afternoon.

BONUS VIDEO
Family Lake Day

Maddie's Sweet Sixteen

2010-07-24T19:57:00.007-05:00

Even though it's been over a month since the actual day of her birthday, Madison and her closest friends joined Melanie, Amelie, and I at the ranch for a weekend celebration. We arrived Friday evening and did our usual ranch activities thru Sunday afternoon. The pool was a very popular spot this sizzling summer weekend!

Photo Album
Maddie's Sweet Sixteen

Bonus Video
Maddie's Birthday Song

Friends @ Fredrick Ranch

2010-06-28T21:35:00.003-05:00

Seven families descended upon the North Texas Hill Country to enjoy good food, good drink, and good times. Check out the album below to see ALL the pics.

PHOTO ALBUM
Friends @ Fredrick Ranch

Seasons of Gray

2010-06-24T21:26:00.005-05:00

Watermark Films spent the past week at the Fredrick Ranch filming scenes for the upcoming movie, Seasons of Gray, scheduled to be released in the fall of 2011. Melanie and I were lucky enough to be able to watch from behind the scenes how Hollywood (via. St. Jo, Texas) makes movie magic. It was all very interesting. The WF cast and crew was very gracious the entire time they were there and I can't wait to see them all again at the ranch in late July to film the final scenes of the movie.

Mel's Bday

2010-06-20T14:00:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Melanie's birthday on June 13th in this manner...

1. We all went to church together.
2. Visited the Northpark Apple store and spontaneously purchased iPad for Melanie's birthday present.
3. Ate lunch at Maggiano's.
4. Spent the afternoon at the lake together.
5. Made dinner and a gluten free cake for the birthday girl.
6. Went to bed after a long day and Melanie proclaiming this day as one of the best birthdays ever!

Lake Weekend

2010-06-13T22:11:00.002-05:00

The Bargas Boat made two trips in as many days to Lake Ray Hubbard. I told the kids at the beginning of May that if we didn't use the boat a lot this summer (I think last summer we got on the water maybe 4 times) I would sell it. I think we are already up to about 8 trips and it is only the middle of June. My plan is working! ;-)

Stonewall Flag Ceremony

2010-06-09T20:53:00.003-05:00

The last day of the school year and Jonathan's run at Stonewall Jackson Elementary was today. Each year, the entire student body and parents gather by the flag pole to mark this momentous occasion. Jonathan was one of three graduating 5th graders chosen to give a short speech during the program. Click on link below to watch his speech.

Jonathan's Speech Video

Lake Bob Sandlin

2010-05-17T21:54:00.003-05:00

This weekend we took at trip to Nanny and Paws at Lake Bob Sandlin. Me, Mel, Jonathan, Brendan, and Ellie loaded into the truck for a three day lake extravaganza. Uncle Karo and Aunt Kathy joined us on Saturday for a crawfish boil. Good times!

PHOTO ALBUM
Lake Bob Sandlin - May 2010

BOOT CAMP @ WRL

2010-05-17T07:46:00.011-05:00

COST: FREE

WHEN: M, W, F, 5:30AM-7:00AM. Rain or shine.

WHERE: Sunset Bay @ WRL (click and print map above). Meet in the parking lot @ 5:30AM sharp. Take Buckner to Poppy to Lawther to Sunset Bay.

WHAT TO BRING : beach towel or yoga mat, and large water bottle. Dress in running gear (t-shirt, shorts, running shoes). Optional: flashlight/headlamp, bug spray.

A group of friends have decided to meet at the lake for an early morning workout. No expensive gym membership or fancy machines required, as we will be grinding it out in the dirt. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ALREADY BE IN PRIMO PHYSICAL SHAPE. ALL FITNESS LEVELS WILL FIT INTO THIS PROGRAM. We will follow the same/similar routine taught to us by Chief Instructor Howard (Ret.), who started the boot camp craze in Dallas over a decade ago. Folks, this is about having fun and whipping our butts into shape. TRUST ME... it works. The more people who come the more fun it becomes, so PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS and pass the word. The power of peer encouragement and accountability works! See you in the A.M.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T22:05:00.003-05:00

Melanie and I spent the afternoon with her sisters and parents in Irving. It was a very enjoyable afternoon full of good food and conversation.

Watermark Service Day

2010-05-03T21:08:00.004-05:00

Instead of regular Sunday services, our church sent out about 3000 people all across the Dallas area to serve. Our little community group hopped on a bus bound for an elementary school in West Dallas. About 100 of us descended upon this particular school to take on many chores that will, without a doubt, be noticed when the kids, faculty and staff show on on Monday morning.

Longhorns vs. Red Team

2010-05-03T20:58:00.003-05:00

The Longhorns handed the undefeated Red Team (I don't know their mascot name) their first loss of the season in an epic battle to the end. This was also the last game of the season, the last game Jonathan will play on this team, and the last game he will play flag football. Next year he will start tackle football in the SVAA league for 6th grade. Mel's parents made the trip out to watch him play and the boy did not disappoint. Jonathan scored three touchdowns in the game matching his performance of the prior two games (9 touchdown in three games, 16 touchdowns for the season).