The artist

Ellie has spent the last several weeks reading, writing and creating art.  Yesterday and today she was watercoloring.  When I came home she presented me with this gorgeous watercolor of a cardinal.  I asked what was the inspiration and she said she'd done some research online.  No tracing, just inspiration!

So amazing her talents - singing, soccer, painting... She certainly is her own person.  Reminding me once again why God blessed me with a girl on that cold March evening twelve years ago!

National Ice Cream Day - 7/15/18

What a great celebration at Humpty Dumpty yesterday, Saturday July 14th to celebrate 50 years in business and the third generation of ownership!  The photo above is one of the commemorative t-shirt they are selling!

Shirley and Pete - Ron's parents
Ron and Jean - who I worked for during my time
Brenda and Jason - Ron and Jean's daughter and her husband

The ice cream swirl is filled with all the names of those of us who worked the window over the years! What an honor to have been included in the celebration and on the  t-shirt!  Brenda contacted me when she found out we'll be in town in August to ask for my size and color so she can put one aside for me!

How many families does it take to make a life?  I was part of the HD family for many summers and grew to appreciate hard work, laughter, upside-down banana splits and how to perfect making a swirl cone!

Here's to the best part of summer - ice cream!

Pecan Lodge BBQ

Pecan Lodge is known throughout the state of Texas as some the best BBQ around!  In our four years here I've only been one other time for lunch - and during the 'winter'.  Saturday Ellie and I agreed to take Bill to enjoy some smoked meat.  And no better place than an adventure to Pecan Lodge.

It's located in Dallas, within an area known as Deep Ellum. Its a fun, artsy, food-loving area.  The parking is sparse and the people are, well interesting!  The line forms early here and you hope to get to the counter before they run out.  Especially for the coveted beef ribs.  That's what Bill is holding in the photo below.

It was delicious!

Ellie is a ribs girl all the way.  Always orders pork bbq ribs no matter the place.  I'm a beef girl so the brisket is my order of choice.  Bill was determined to get there in time for a beef rib and a taste testing of the brisket and burnt ends as well.  We rounded out our meal with smokey collard greens and a vinegary cole slaw.  WOW!  It was amazing.

The photo at the bottom was the line behind us.  We were only at the front door with another 20 minute wait in front of us to the counter.  It was about 40 minutes in line total.  It was hot.  There was a cooler with cold water and cups to make the wait easier.  There was an overhang we walked along while making out way to the door.

The day couldn't have been more special for Ellie as she found her first famous person in line!  One of the You Tube stars that she and Bill are both familiar with for making basketball plays was in line with the wife.  She was star struck.  And then Bill went up to the fountain soda for a refill and ran into him.  They chatted for a moment, Bill pointed out Ellie and they waved to one another.  Today she began following him on Instagram and found out he and his wife are expecting twins!  So exciting!

In any event, another Saturday adventure in the books.  Last week was the country, this week was BBQ in the city!  Who knows what next week will bring ....

SaveSave

Ham's Peach Orchard

There are just some places that feel like home.  Not home because it's where you grew up, but home because there's an ease and a comfort in being there.  Off the beaten path in Texas I often find the feeling.  Its in the country.  Its with the trees and the birds.  Its what looks like America to me - flag-waving, kids with ice cream on their faces, parents smiling, BBQ on the grill and sharing.

That's how our day was today.  We talked to many people in passing.  It was a community even if you didn't live nearby.  There was a community in sharing a meal, keeping you fork for dessert kind of meal.  We shared among the three of us, and shared a bit of story and some smiles with others sharing the picnic table where we sat.  And after we finished we found a few wooden rockers facing the field and sat down for a bit more.  There was a breeze and we were under cover.  Texas summer.

This may be our only visit to Ham Orchard this summer.  If that's the case we're sure glad we had such a great day today!

View from the orchard

This is us.  Us in Texas during the summer.

Peach Pulled Pork.  Unbelievable!

View from the the road.  Its 35mph - a slow kind of day in Texas during July :-)

Me and my girl as we snapped some pictures to remember our trip!

Ellie's Summer Camp

 Ellie attended a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) camp two weeks ago.  This was no sit around the campfire camp!  It was a week long and 8am -5pm Monday through Friday.  There were 3 field trips to include local colleges that teach engineering and to a local manufacturing plant of  computer chips.

As you can see she loved the welding and metal work.  She has wonderful works to show us her new talent.  The best part was that like-minded, adventurous girls spent the week together.  Ellie found a kinship in some of the older girls - a sophomore and a senior this coming school year.

End of Middle School

Here is the beginning of 6th grade next to the end of 6th grade.  What a difference!

Our little girl is now a pre-teen with all that comes with that territory - moods, likes, giggles, SnapChat, too young for coffee and wants it anyway ....

She finished the year very strong!

Science:  91
History:  94
Choir:    97
English:  97
P.E.:      100
Math      90

What a great way to end the school year!

Mother's Day

Ellie and I had a wonderful Mother's Day that began at XO Coffee Company for breakfast.  Ellie loves their Nutella Stuffed French Toast and I opted for the gouda and spinach quiche.  You'll see her iced caramel coffee and my wonderful latte to round out our meal.

We read our books and relaxed as Bill was out of town at Josh's Siena graduation.

Mother's Day love!

The parents

As I have learned over the years parenting and marriage are not always easy.  Who told us either would be easy?  No one.  They both involve listening, compromise, comforting, lots and lots of love.  In a nutshell they are both relationships that continue to evolve with time.  Here's my strategy.  You gotta be all in.  As Bill would say, 'pot committed.'  That's it.

"All in" may you look different for every situation.  To me it means you can't expect anyone to read your mind.  You must put the other ahead of you for the good of the relationship - knowing that they will do the same for you.

Here's what I learned this week.  Bill and I must be doing something right.  And by right I don't mean making sure there's food in the house and we remember soccer practice.  I mean the way we show up for one another every day.

All three of us were in the kitchen the other night after dinner and she said, "Mommy, I can't wait to have a relationship like you and Daddy."  WOW!  So I asked, "why do you say that?"  She responded, 'because you guys really like each other."

That was enough for me.  Just keep showing up for one another.  Speak kindly.  Remind each other that you are in this together - no matter what comes you way.

Sunday afternoon Manicures

We found a hopping little place near home on a Sunday adventure this week.  We both got a manicure and pedicure.  It was our first ones of the Spring and well worth it.  These pictures are actually from the Starbucks across the street where we stopped afterward for a quick drink!

Easter Weekend

We were so fortunate to spend Easter weekend in Houston with family.  Aunt Di and Uncle Bruce welcomed us to the annual Easter festivities with all their amazing neighbors.  Here we are pictured at the San Jacinto Monument very nearby their home.  This is the place where Texas won it's independence from Mexico.  From there it became it's own country.  But that's a whole other story!

From last year to this

2017 - Destin, FL - Spring Break

The changes we're seeing from age 11 to 12 are by far the greatest so far.  Our little girl (above) is growing up (pictured below).  We spent time on this Florida vacation recalling the days of Ellie throwing pieces of bread to the seagulls, while we watched her walk along the edge of the ocean with grace this year.

All the beauty and poise of a young woman right in front of us.  She is smart and funny, quick-witted and sarcastic.  She cares about animals, her friends, doing the right thing and the environment.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing young woman in our lives!

2018 - Destin, FL - Spring Break

Springtime in Texas

Spring in Texas.  Cool and then warm.  Hot turns to cold.  Storms to include wind and hail.  And yet its beauty abounds.  This is the walking trail just a couple miles from our house.  Lots of birds to watch and people running the path.  We always enjoy our time together here!