NEISD coach brings community together through family tradition

With more than nineteen years of experience as an educator, it’s easy to see why Matthew Friesenhahn is loved as a coach at Barbara Bush Middle School.

“My passion is being with kids, coaching, and being around the kids. You really get to know them and it brings out the youth in me still,” Friesenhahn said.

Though, many might be surprised to know the unique way he has been bringing ‘Joy to the World.’

Coach Friesenhahn has been turning his home into a winter wonderland for the past fourteen years, but he says the idea started long before that.

“It started thirty years ago, roughly about 1980. My grandpa retired and tried to find a hobby and he always loved Christmas and he built a deer, which is the centerpiece in my yard, and he built that for my grandma. It kind of went from my grandpa to my parents and now I am third generation with the lights,” he said.

It’s also become a family affair.

“My wife is a teacher at Madison; my brother is a teacher and coach at Nimitz Middle School; everybody comes. My parents come and we get involved in setting it up and tearing it down after Christmas time,” he added.
Coach Friesenhahn said their home usually receives roughly five to six thousand people a year, not including the cars that simply drive by to view the lights themselves.

His family set up an outdoor movie, gives out candy canes, home-made hot chocolate, and even has a selfie sled for anyone in the community to enjoy.

The Bush Middle School coach advocates for his students, his school, and the community by bringing them together through his family tradition.

“I just think the unity of being around each other and communicating and talking each other and getting to know each other’s likes and who we are and where we come from, brings more to us. Something like this, with our education, connects each other and brings everybody joy and together as one. I have different pieces in the yard that different people connect to but we are all here for one reason, which is to celebrate and enjoy each other as a community. As an educator as well, that’s what we do,” Friesenhahn said.

Families who would like to visit and enjoy “the full experience" in his yard including homemade hot chocolate, candy canes, and fake snow, may do so starting Friday, Dec. 20 through Wednesday, Dec. 25.

The home is located at 25660 Indian Summer. The hours are from 5:50 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Anyone is welcomed to also drive by to simply check out the lights before New Year’s Eve which is when tear down will begin.

Discover the NEISD way, where our educators inspire students to be a positive light in their community.