Ellie's tribe

This is what middle school looks like.

Ellie's tribe.  They surround her and make her smile.  They also ensure she is part of something much greater than herself.  They don't shame or embarrass one another.  They hold up, cheer on and stand behind one another.

As a mom I could only hope that she finds what she needs to feel supported and whole.  She does this by being a good friend.  Being the person others rely on and talk to for comfort and support.  She is a good friend with a kind heart and an old soul.

Images from the weekend

What a message for a storefront window!

Role models not male models.

We were doing a bit of walking, window shopping and coffee sipping when we encountered this message on Saturday.

These days we hear a great deal about how women should not be treated differently because of how they look - what a tremendous message to reinforce with men.  Its not about how you look, but who you are!

We visited the Starbucks Reserve in Legacy West as well.  This colorful drink is Ellie's Zombie Frappachino made specially for this time of year.  Apparently it's very good.  Yet I was able to pass on an offer to try.  Looks much too sweet for me.  What mattered is that Ellie loved it!

And this gorgeous cup is how they serve the special drinks at Starbucks Reserve.  A special menu and great care go into each drink.  You may be wondering if there's also a special price - and no, the prices are the same!  Bonus!  What a cool place to visit.

It happens every year.

Baseball season ends each year to the same feeling.  WOW!  what a run, and this will not look the same at the beginning of next season - that's for sure!

So the Cubs and the Yankees both made it this close to getting to the World Series.  Yet, this wasn't their year.  It was predestined. It wasn't dumb luck.  They were each beat fair and square by a better team.

And so it goes.

Changes will be made over the next couple of days and weeks.  Players, Managers, front office personnel will come and go.  What will not change is our love of the game.  Baseball is the lifeblood in our house.  Even Ellie wanted to stay up late to watch games this year.

And as the saying goes, 'there's always next year....'

First Term complete - 6th grade

Ellie and Theo have become good friends.  They trust one another, they play together and sometimes even snooze on the couch together.  Today though is not about Theo its about Ellie.  Today is the end of the first term at school.  That means that grades are available and we hold our breath to see the outcome.

Not Ellie.  She knows.

Advance Placement English - 98
Advance Placement Math - 90
Advance Placement Science - 98
Social Studies - 97
Choir - 98
PE - 100

HIGH HONORS!  She is a phenomenal student, and an amazing person!

She shared with me that Math is not hard this year.  In fact, none of her classes are hard to understand.  But her challenge is keeping track of everything.  The assignments, the in-class and take-home work, the projects - that's the part she has to work at.

We talked about how awesome it is that she's recognizes that.  Her work this year is to get better at that part.  And if she is able to become good at the organization and having a process for studying she will be so much more successful in the years to come!  Which makes for good grades and better choice for college.

SO proud of her!

Girls' Day out

Our day together began with some TJMaxx shopping and a Starbucks to get us going!

Followed by makeovers at Marilyn's ... we had facials and updated out makeup!  Ellie wanted to learn how to contour and highlight.  And we both ended up looking beautiful!

It wouldn't be a Girls' Day Out if we didn't have burgers for lunch.  This was a new place for Ellie to try called Royale Magnificent Burgers.  They are served on silver trays!

Dessert was the worth waiting for ....

This was a peanut butter cut shake to share.  So many parts, so much goodness!

Anniversary Dinner

Saturday night we celebrated our anniversary with a dinner date.  Now, at our age our reservation was for 6pm at SixtyVines in Plano.  This way we could celebrate and be home to still enjoy an hour of a show together before we feel asleep!

SixtyVines is the place were they have wine on tap from the barrels.  They also feature locally brewed beers.  So it satisfies many different tastes - including ours!  We split a cheese, chutney and bread board with our favorite roasted head of cauliflower and smaller plates for dinner.  The pasta below was mine with shrimp and arugula and parmesan.

It's casual and friendly, with great food and drink.  Even the water glasses used to be wine bottles.  Who wouldn't love that!?

Seeing eye to eye

This is us after the soccer game on Saturday.  Ellie's team had a tough loss to a team of older girls.  The game ended with a 6-0 score.  The girls were disappointed and sad.  Each one of them sat on the grass listening to the post game coaching with tears and long faces.

As we were walking away Ellie teared up.  I asked why.  She said she knew that the girls gave up after the first three goals were scored against them.  I explained that sometimes that happened.  Today was a day that the score showed they lost.  They are allowed to be disappointed.  And they need to pick up their chins and start planning for the next game.

We stopped at the taco place across the street from the high school to get lunch to take home.  Bill was in line paying while Ellie and I waited.  I put my forehead to hers - sweaty and all - and kept it there until she smiled.  I knew she could do it.  And she did too.

Theo loves baseball!

He stares intently at the television screen to make sure he doesn't miss a pitch!  It's the most wonderful time of the year - baseball playoffs!  Since he's less than three months old this is his very first baseball season .. and to have the Yankees and the Cubs in the running makes him very happy!

15 Years and counting ...

October 2002

We look at each other and wonder, how could fifteen years have possibly gone by since we began this journey together.  We are blessed, happy and proud of the life we've built and the love and family we share.  We wouldn't trade a moment - the laughter, the tears, the fear and the accomplishments!

2017

Tiki Time

We met Jeanine and Michael for dinner at a new place for all of us called The Keeper.  It was all fresh seafood and cook Tiki drinks.  We sat outside and watched all the people walk by.  We shared oysters, mussels, lobster mac & cheese and spicy glazed Brussels sprouts!

When you look back laugh, don't cry

Ellie - 2009
age 3-ish

She's still our funny girl, making funny faces.  Today she knows what she likes, what she doesn't, what she stands for and who matters.  Sixth grade is a funny thing.  It allows all the layers of childhood to be shed in preparation for making decisions, being responsible and taking a stand.

When I look back I certainly do smile.  Her adorable face makes me laugh!

Draper Choir Girls

Grace, Sailor, Ellie and Nia

Everyone needs a tribe.  This is Ellie's tribe.

They are all part of the Draper Intermediate School 6th grade Choir.  We cannot wait to hear what they sound like!  How can these smiling faces make any more joyous a sound than when they are altogether for a common cause?

You all know how much Ellie loves to sing.  And she proves that everyday.  At home, in the car, on the field, and now at school too.  Surround her with friends that she loves and the sound will heavenly.

Couldn't be happier for her, and for the friends in her tribe.  They'll need each other in the days ahead.  As sixth grade turns to eighth and then high school.  These bonds are so important for these girls.  So glad they have one another!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Happy Birthday Papa from these familiar faces!

A flashback from 2014 when Ellie was in 3rd grade!

Just in case you're wondering, Watch DOGS is a group of Dads that spend a day at the school following around their student/child.  DOGS stands for Dads of Great Students!

Bill has had awesome experiences doing this.  Mostly when a student yells, "Watchdog! Watchdog! Can you open my milk/yogurt/cheese stick"  or "Watchdog!  Watchdog!  Can you tie my shoe?"

He comes home exhausted.  And I remind him this is why we have ONE child!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA!  We'll see you at Thanksgiving!

Just having fun

It takes several tries for Ellie and I to take a good selfie.  I'm pretty sure that happens on purpose.  We end up with more outtakes than good shots.  So here are a few that didn't make the cut!

2008 & 2017

1st Day of 6th Grade

Here she is on the first day of sixth grade.  This will be her second year at Draper Intermediate School where they house both fifth and sixth grades.  She met all her teachers on Meet the Teacher night and was surprised to find she had two MALE teachers!  For her Math teacher, Mr Keisler, this is his very first year teaching!

She has three Advanced Placement (AP) classes this year:  Math, Science and English/Language Arts.  That's up from two last year.  She's excited about her classes and eager to learn.  It's awesome to see her look forward to it!

For the record several of her teachers are young enough (mind you I didn't say we're old enough) for those teachers to be OUR children!  And it's hard to deny when their first names are Austin and Reagan!  Seriously!

She's off to a great start and looking forward to all the awesome things to come!

Vacation Highlights

First Day of School - 6th grade

This amazing, funny, smart, spunky and brave girl began 6th grade last week.  She is in three, count 'em three, advanced placement classes this year.

Advanced Math
Advanced Science
Advanced Language Arts (English & Writing)

So, so proud of her!  And of all to come this year!

Then and Now

Lucas and Ellie

Then and Now

2011- Virginia Beach - holding hands

2017 - Saratoga Springs - no way we're holding hands

SMART Girls Tech Camp

Ellie's week has been full of science and technology as she attended SMART Girls Engineering Camp this week through Wylie ISD.  They've learned how to make a rocket, design a smart car and use soldering equipment and today is a field trip to an Engineering firm.

She's made new friends, learned about new careers and tried new things.  Its been a great way to prep her for the upcoming school year and all the options she'll have.  More to come on the field trip - and the grand finale to the week!

Mexican Sugar

Saturday night we tried a new Mexican restaurant.  Mexican Sugar.  When we were seating the server explained they had many Central, South American and Mexican dishes.  What a treat!

We shared a few, split a few and tried a few new beverages shown below.  It was warm, but even walking to and from the car to the restaurant was manageable.  Dallas is the melting pot for culture and cuisine!

Retreat

Several weeks ago I managed to get away for a long weekend in the Adirondacks.  I attended a women's retreat led by a life coach and business strategist.  It was more than I could have hoped for.  Girl time, me time, delicious food, great wine, time by the water, time in motion, meditation and even massage.

What a wonderful weekend!

These wonderful ladies below joined me on the journey.

Susan, Pam, Meghan, Lori, Avon, me and Jen.

Girls' Day Out

When Ellie and I have a few days together we always find an adventure.  We had the best day on Thursday with only a couple things on our list to do.  Bank drive through to deposit a check, Starbuck's (OF COURSE!) and get my glasses repaired at Warby Parker at North Park Center in Dallas.

That being said we left the house at 8:30am and didn't return home until 4:45pm.  Another stop and Bill would have beat us home!

From our first stop at Starbuck's, Ellie was excited to be out.  We had a bit of breakfast and headed to Barnes and Noble.  We found a book on Bermuda, a few novels and as always, checked the clearance table.  Feeling rather accomplished I surprised her with a visit to the nail salon for pedicures.  She was so much fun to sit next and watch her squirm as her feet were so ticklish!  She picked her own color and had a full spa pedicure!

We drove into Dallas, to one of her favorite malls.  This one is high end with Nordstom's, Macy's, Apple, Vera Bradley, every high end cosmetics place, shoe store and designer you could imagine.  For the first time Ellie held a pair for Christian Laboutin's ... and was amazed that pair of shoes could cost $895!  That's my girl.

Below we are wearing matching frames.  Mine are the ones I got fixed, and Ellie's are from the shelf.

We bought some vacation things in Vera Bradley, Nordstom's, H&M and even some amazing loose tea at Teavana to take home and brew over ice.  There were prizes for Ellie, for me and of course, for Bill!  What a wonderful day we had together.  Is it possible we have another full girls day on Friday?