Saturday

With an afternoon game on Saturday we got lots done in the morning - stopped for lunch - all before the soccer game.  This team was a bit intimidating .. which seems like how we feel each game.  They came on strong in the beginning, and before long we scored once, twice, three times.  And by the end of the game we had scored 6 times - and they hadn't scored at all!

What a season we're having so far!

Can only hope the rain holds off better than it did last spring!

Daddy and Daughter Dance

Daddy and Daughter posing at the school.  So many fathers and daughters arrived with each one looking as wonderful as the last.  Sparkley makeup and adorable dresses!

She was so happy to be there!  She waited all week. 

The theme was a Night in Paris complete with Parisian backdrop and pink lemonade to go with all the snacks!

The two lovebirds danced the night away!

A fun photo at home outside the front door started the night!

Cousins!

Ellie loves to remind us that she has lots of cousins.  And by cousins she means lots of people who 'in the spirit of the definition' qualify.  That includes second cousins and third cousins too.  And especially if they are little people like her!

On Saturday night we met up with AJ, Bryan and Garrett for dinner in Plano.  They were in town overnight for a birthday party on Sunday.  We were fortunate to get to spend time with them at one of Ellie's favorite burger joints!

Kenny's is an old standby of ours.  We don't go nearly as often as we'd like - which we say each and every time we go there!  We left the house a bit early to get a few errands done so we arrived at the restaurant early.  We found a few old friends, and enjoyed the Grey Goose on tap for cocktails.

Garrett and Ellie had a wonderful time together with their side-by-side chairs and crayons!  So, so cute together!

Saturday

Grace carrying the ball and Leah with the hat on.

Saturday's game was tough.  This was the second game of the season with only few more practices than that under their belt.  Seems each year the other teams get stronger and we're finding our way to catch up.  This season we also had a very strong forward not return.  She's playing in the highly competitive team with her older sister.

Saturday we traveled to Plano to play their fields.  It was cloudy and we were sure it was going to rain - even though we haven't seen rain in weeks.  The clouds made it a bit chilly, especially when the wind blew.  And this field in Plano was torn up and rough.

Grace is the most talented youth girls' soccer player we've ever seen.  She's fast, strong and has amazing footwork.  She's good because she practices.  A lot.  She scores the vast majority of our goals.  Last season between Grace and Kirby they had the offense under control.  Fast forward to this season. No Kirby.  How would we keep up with Grace?

That's where Leah comes in.  She's small and oh, so quick.  And she's smart and tough - which makes up for any lack of height.  She's amazing to watch.  And Saturday she scored our only goal.  Which is why we won 1-0.  Phew~ a tough-fought victory with a new star!

Happy Birthday Bill!

Last weekend Lyndsey and Grant came for dinner and brought a delicious box of cupcakes as a special Valentine's treat for Ellie.  We fell in love with them and decided to order more to celebrate Bill's birthday.

Melissa from ConfectionPerfection lives in the Woodbridge development just across 78.  She runs this cupcake business in a very organized and wonderful way.  I met her whole family when I picked up at her front door on Friday afternoon.  Her daughter just turned 10 last week and was off to a dance event.  Her son was meeting another family for soccer and her husband was going out the door to drop them both off - bags in hand.

We chatted for several minutes exchanging stories.  She spotted my State Farm access badge and I shared that is what brought us to Dallas.  She said, "this is probably a long shot but there's a State Farm family two doors down that we adore.  Do you know the Shaver family?"  And of course I said, 'yes I do!"

All these wonderful things that happen - by chance or by choice - continue to remind me that life is about connection.  Each day brings a new opportunity.  And I welcome those chances!

President's Day ... OFF

Today Ellie and I had the day off together.  Her school and daycare were both closed for Teacher Education Days.  We rose early and got our groceries done.  After a bit of breakfast at home we were back out for a bit of shopping.  Macy's was our prime target today.

There were lots of clearance racks, and we found ourselves in the dressing rooms more than once!

She's grown to appreciate shopping, especially when it involves her picking something out for herself.  She continues to remind me that, "Mommy, I have different taste than you!"  Which usually begins the conversation as she's holding up something with sequins, sparkles, animal print or feathers!  She's a character when it comes to fashion.

Today we found a couple of treasures AND the dress she will wear to the Daddy & Daughter Dance later this month!  She's been itching to get something, but nothing was quite right.  Today was the day we found a dress we both liked.   

And you'll see from the photo above that you're going to have to wait until the dance to see it.  Today's photo is all about our weather.  We had fun getting out and getting things done when the sun was shining and the temperature was warm.

We finished out shopping trip with lunch at Houlihan's - were we split two appetizers:  Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Spicy Shrimp over Cilantro Slaw.  She turned down a chance to look at the kids' menu - wanting to order with me.  And it worked out just fine!

A good day was had by all!

Happy Valentine's Day

We celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday evening when we had friends, Grant and Lyndsey over for dinner.   We grilled marinated skirt steak, to go with asparagus and oven roasted potatoes.  They're easy, really.  No rush kind of people that don't require many choices or courses.  They brought wine and dessert .. and of course a special treat for Ellie!

A box of beautifully decorated and delicious cupcakes done by a local baker special for Valentine's Day.  She loves being special!

They are fun to get together with because they've been married about a year and a half.  Oh, the energy of youth - but the wisdom of age!  Wow, they are the age Bill and I were when we were married just a year - mid 30's.  And how the little things caused friction ... maybe now we understand what really matters, maybe now we focus on Ellie and living a good life, or maybe we're just too tired to disagree most days.  Whatever the case it made me grateful that, in our 13th year of marriage, we remember at the end of every day what really matters!

Happy Valentine's Day to all those we love!

Day Two - Herons

These are the Blue Herons at the nesting tree.  There about 12 - 15 nests that we can see.  Today we brought Bill to see what we found.  These pictures are taken from a distance, yet you can see these amazing birds at their nest.

Not as much activity today.  Perhaps it was the time of day.  Although the sun was shining, they were quiet and not flying around like they were yesterday.  Although the couple that made a lap were enormous and beautiful!

Great Blue Heron

Today we saw something we've never seen before.

As I was enjoying the beginning of my 4-day weekend, I took care of some errands this morning.  On my way I saw some activity atop a very large on a road we often travel.  To get a better look, I pulled off into a clearing near the local golf course.

What I found was about 10 herons at the top in what appeared to be nests.  One at a time they'd fly from that tree into surrounding trees and return with something in their beak.  At first I though they were getting food - perhaps the male doing the hunting while the female sat on the eggs.

But after some research I found that not the case.

I arranged for Ellie to be a walker today at dismissal so I could walk to school and pick her up.  When I arrived in our conversation walking home I asked if she was interested in seeing the birds I found.  She was game, so off we went to the same spot again.  These birds are enormous in flight!  She was very impressed.  So impressed that she's talked Bill into going back with us tomorrow to take another look.  He'll bring the telephoto lens on the camera so we may have more to show for our adventure then!

Nesting: Nesting colonies are typically found in mature forests, on islands, or near mudflats. Great blue herons do best when they are free of human disturbance and have foraging areas near by.

Great Blue Herons typically breed in colonies containing a few to several hundred pairs. Nest building begins in February when a male chooses a nesting territory and actively displays to attract a female. The large nest is usually built high up in a tree. The male gathers sticks for the female who constructs a platform nest lined with small twigs, bark strips, and conifer needles. The female lays 2-6 pale blue eggs, then both parents incubate them for 25-29 days (4 weeks) until the young hatch. The parents bring food to young at the nest for two months before the young can fly and continue feeding the birds for a few weeks after fledging (leaving) the nest.

Did you know?

• Great Blue Herons look enormous in flight, with a six-foot wingspan
• Both parents incubate the eggs for 25-29 days (4 weeks)
• In flight, a Great Blue Heron usually holds its head close to its body with the neck bent.
• The young can first fly at about 60 days old

Donuts with Dad

Today was Donuts with Dad at school.  From 6:45 - 7:15 this morning the students got to have breakfast with their Dads in the cafeteria.  Ellie loves these days.

They sat with her friend Annie and her Dad, and saw Jamy and Robin too!  Ellie loves to show off her friends, and her Dad too!  So this was a great day for her.  No all-district choir practice this morning while Mrs. Soudress is in Austin - which made the perfect opportunity for this.

Monica, my Monica

This is my Monica.  She is my BFF, for lack of a better grown up term.  You may find it hard to believe but we've only known met two years ago and have seen each other in person only four times.  Yet we couldn't be closer if we lived next door to one another.  We talk often on the phone.  Of course we email, text and even send packages in the mail to one another when we find something the other will just love!

She lives in Atlanta.  Which sounds far away, but we don't let that get in our way!

Her brother-in-law and his family live in Dallas so Monica and her family spent this past week here.  And we were lucky enough to spend their very last night in town together.  We met for burgers at Hopdoddy - which was just a couple miles from their hotel in Addison.

This time our visit included introducing our families - both husbands also work for State Farm, and both daughters are happy, bright and love to have fun!  Carter and Bill got along just fine.  And the girls!  Well, these two had so much fun together you'd think they were sisters!

Ellie and Madison (age 4) had so much fun together.  And all we did was sit at a table for six at the restaurant.  Madison was a bit shy at first - talking only about her food and her age.  Ellie is experienced with other kids from lots of helping at day care - so she let Madison take her time and warm up to her.  Boy, did that pay off.  By the end of the meal you can see Madison was on Ellie's lap and they were giggling up a storm!

I am so glad we got our families together.  It has intensified her family's desire to move to Dallas.  When we got to the car Ellie said, "Mommy, if they lived in Dallas we could go on lots of adventures together!"  And the next day I got a message from Monica saying how much the WHOLE family liked spending time with us.

Carter even said, "wow - it would be great if we lived in Dallas - we could hang out with them and have so much fun."

And isn't that what life is all about.  Spending time with people who make you happy.  Seeing your kids happy.  And sharing good burgers, of course!