Dumbo at Disneyland

Ellie wanted to wait in line for very few rides at Disneyland.  Although the line at Dumbo she was thrilled to wait her turn.  Just the two of us waiting in the serpentine, winding line to get in a big ole elephant and go a few rounds using the controls to go up and down.  She thought it was wonderful.  And when she's so happy .. that makes us happy too!

Christmas at Disneyland

The cool thing about being in Disneyland this time of year is that they were already decorated for Christmas!  Music and decorations everywhere.  This was outside our hotel ... poinsettias filled the plant boxes and colored lights brightened all the greenery!

And there she sits with her animal-print Mickey ears - ready and waiting to get going!

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Ellie's teacher this year is Shawna Freeman, and I'm not sure who loves her more - Ellie or ME?!  She's an amazingly patient, kind and wonderful with her class.  She's been a huge supporter of Ellie - nominating her for School Board representation and happily accepts her help in the classroom.

And of course how wonderful to receive this note home as Mrs. Freeman gave each student a note telling them why she was thankful each one of them!

"Ellie

I am thankful for you because you give the best hugs, and you have such a kind heart.

From,
Mrs. Freeman"

Believe me, I'm thankful this year for Mrs. Freeman for being an amazing teacher!  We're very grateful to have her for 4th grade!

As we get ready for vacation ..

As we prepared this weekend for our vacation, the one thing we didn't do was fill the fridge full of food.... as we're leaving in two days!

So we had our traditional Saturday lunch out .. which led to Sunday lunch out too.  Don't worry I'd like to to try a different burger place on Monday, but that is still up for debate!

Sunday's lunch after a few more errands, was Fuzzy's Taco Shop for fish tacos!  The place was downright hopping at Cowboys game time with lots and lots of people in and out.  Families, football watchers and couples all looking for these awesome tacos.

Ellie's favorites are the fish tacos, while I prefer the Shrimp Tacos, Bill tried the Spice Beef Burrito this time.  I'm not sure if it was just that my blood sugar was low, or this was the most amazing taco!  We finished our lunch and headed back home to get the task of unpacking Christmas.  We are convinced that we will appreciate the pre-work when we return from Disneyland with less work to do.

In the meantime it gives us a wonderful feeling to being Christmas to our home as we await the vacation to the happiest place on Earth for Thanksgiving!

Burgers, Burgers, everywhere ...

Buffalo Bill burger with Parmesan Truffle fries!

I suggested we use our Saturday to check out a new burger place that a co-worker and I visited this past week.  We are determined to continue to find the very best burger in Dallas.  Not the one determined by any magazine, but by us!

On Saturday we visited, Hopdoddy in Addison.

So you must know that Ellie and I have a variety of categories on which we judge each location.  The burger is just one of them.  The components of the burger count too.  Taste of the burger, burger bun, and choice of toppings all play a part.  And there's the rest.  How are the fries?  Do they have Coke?  Do they have the good ice?  And were the people nice?

This place was a 4 and half stars out of 5 for us!  We loved the burgers .. we loved the fries .. and the rolls were darn amazing!  They bake them onsite and that's the smell when you walk into the place.  They have a cool condiment station and neat decor.

They only thing keeping them from 5 stars is that they don't have Coke.  They have Maine Root products.  Somehow we survived.  And loved, loved, loved the burgers.

And then Ellie finished off her meal with a Red Velvet shake ... that without a doubt qualified as dessert!

We'll be back for sure .. we just loved it here!

Wolf Howl

Ellie introduced the song giving thanks for the hero in our lives at school this morning!  It was awesome!!

Ellie and Mary Kay

We had a mother-daughter skin-care and make up afternoon while Grammy was in town.  Robin and Dawn joined us to make it even more festive!  Ellie and Robin learned about skin care, and the proper way to put on and care for make up.

This is the result of Ellie making a wish list from all the Mary Kay products!  YIKES!  Some of those colors scare me and I don't even know if it's lipstick or nail color!

I just love that she got as excited as we did to have an afternoon of pampering and laughter with just the girls!

Wylie Cup Weekend - 2nd Place!

Ellie kicks the ball for a clear from her end.

Ellie with Kirby and Lea

Ellie and Grace - the super star goal scorer!

Ellie getting her 2nd place medal in the Wylie Cup!

Uncle Julio's for table side GUAC!

Ellie and Grammy

Jude, Ellie and Bill waiting for our table....

Pretending it's a date night ...

Blue Bell Returns

If you don't live in Texas, you don't really understand how good ice cream can really be!  Blue Bell had some troubles this year with a listeria outbreak, laying off hundreds of people while two huge plants closed for many months (like 6 months!) and all the while Blue Bell stayed above water.  They have an amazingly loyal fan base, of which we belong.

These are actually half gallons .. not somewhat shy of a half gallon ... but an actual half gallon filled with wonderful, ice cream goodness.

No, Stewarts isn't better, no Haagen Daas isn't better.  You have to be here to truly understand the impact of Blue Bell.  So the first day it was available Ellie and I went to get some.  And there was a two gallon limit.  So we went to two stores, silly!  That's what I call problem solving.

I can honestly say I've never had 4 half gallons of ice cream in the house at once, but THIS was a special occasion!  BLUE BELL WAS BACK!

And Grammy was coming to our house ....

Soccer Family

Seems like we spend quite a bit of time with our 'soccer family' in the Spring and Fall.  These girls are fierce!  They play hard, and don't like to lose!

In the back:  Coach Mario and Coach Cheryl (each with a daughter in the crowd)
2nd row: Grade, Caja, Ellie and Marian
3rd row: Katie, Jade, Jackie, Leah and Kirby
Front: Hannah, Lea, Iona and Jenna

What a proud and happy group - when they are winning!  Thank goodness they had a season filled with lots of wins!

Halloween!

Robin and Ellie
Ready to Trick or Treat together!

The entire Trick or Treat crew at Robin's house
Too many to remember all their names
Two additional girls and three boys - two more families!

The front of the Schuler's house!
So cool how they made their doorway into a monster!