Girls Day Out!

Ellie and I can always find fun things to do!  We love to do the same things - go to book stores, stop to enjoy lunch and find adventure wherever we go ... and boy, did we GO on Monday!  It was the first of three days we will enjoy together.  Feels like we've been long overdue for some 'girl time' .. and we made up for it, that's for sure!

We shopped at Ulta with coupons.  We browsed Barnes and Noble in search of nothing in particular - we found sale tables, new kids' books and lots to things to enjoy along the way.  We found our way to Liberty Burger for lunch and came home to work on our Dream/Vision Boards for 2015.

It was a very full day!

And then we had Ellie's end of the soccer year celebration with trophies and sprinkle cupcakes .. at Main Event in Plano.  Boy, was she exhausted by the end of the day!

My beautiful girl at Liberty Burger!

Group shot at Barnes and Noble

Sprinkles Team with their Trophies at Main Event

Ellie's Dream Board for 2015

My Vision Board for 2015

We may have found it!

The outside of St. Jude's Parish

An inside view of the church.
No, I didn't take this photo -  I used the one on their website!

As our search for not only the best burger in Dallas continues, so does our search for a church we can call our own.  We've been here over seven months and tried three different churches.  Each was nice enough but didn't feel right.  And I know that if it doesn't feel right, it's not going to be somewhere we look forward to going and therefore it will fall off our priority list.

I drew the circle a little wider from our house this time and found two more churches to try.  One is in Allen and one is in McKinney, Texas.  About 25 and 35 minutes respectively.  And although that didn't thrill Bill, it is worth it as a family to find the right spot for us - and for Ellie's continuing Religious Education.

Today was the day we began with the one in Allen - St. Jude the Apostle Church.  How could we go wrong, right?

The drive was pleasant and reminded us how easy it is to get to Allen - where Ray's BBQ, Liberty Burger,  Top Golf and lots of shops to choose from are located as well.  And easy to find.  When we drove up it was big, spread out and inviting.  Ironically the car that parked right in front of us had a New York State plate.  When we got out I checked the license plate holder to find they were from Syracuse, of all places!

So we were off to a good start.

They begin each mass with Family Rosary half hour before each mass.  Ellie would really like to bring her rosary beads for next time as they go through the prayers together - and she really liked following along.  Additionally, it's setup like St. Peter's with the pews on all three sides of the altar.  It's bright and open - and best yet the people are friendly and we fit right in.


We look forward to continuing our journey.  If the road stops here, then we've found our home.  If it continue to a different location next week we'll keep you posted.  At first polling of the family they both enjoyed today's adventure - so the journey may have found its destination!

Diners, Drive Ins and Dives

We watched an episode of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives this week and knew we'd make time to visit this local burger pub.  Today was the day!  I've often commented here about our love of burgers - and I mean each of us loves them!  So the quest for the best burger in Dallas is like an adventure for us... and even when we feel we've found it, we'll continue the adventure just to be sure!

We were fortunate to find Maple and Motor  in a section of Dallas we hadn't visited before.  Bonus for us as we got to experience a whole new area.  Getting in and out of Dallas is a lot easier and more enjoyable than it was 6 months ago - and truth be told, I'm not afraid of driving 75 any longer!  I needed to be pulled from my comfort zone and it worked!

Here's the photos from our experience today!  Great thing is that they have a brisket sandwich that we'll order in addition to a burger and split!  Today was not a splitting day.  It was a burger day!

sign on the side of the building
no, the building is nothing to speak of
but the burgers are what counts - and they are phenomenal!

This was my burger.
Gorgeous with cheese, mustard, ketchup, lettuce and sweet relish

Here's my girl enjoying her burger.
No cheese, no mayo, no nothing but burger and ketchup - old school style!

Christmas 2014

Best. Christmas. Ever
the year of the iPod Touch for our girl

Christmas Morning
Under the tree

She is loving her new device!

Christmas Treats

Yes, Santa had plenty of cookies to choose from this year.  Bill and Ellie decorated lots of Sugar Cookies, Bill made his famous cheesecake and I made cinnamon hazelnut biscotti and caramel pecan rolls ... And they all need to be gone by December 26!!

Christmas Eve

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Saturday

You may recall I take my turn working every 6th or so Saturday.  I actually like Saturdays as it allows  me to see folks I don't normally see during the week and let's me enjoy the energy of our 'game day.'

We tend to have a theme each Saturday - and this week was Ugly Christmas Sweater!  So I had the pleasure of hosting, photographing and judging the contest this weekend! Here's the amazing results of such a wide variety of entries ...

AM Representatives showing their style!

PM Winners happy to have their sweater be seen!

Chicago-style pizza - DELIVERY

There are many things that I miss about living in the Midwest.  The convenience, the middle America sameness and yet most of all - the people.  I've known for some time now that my very favorite people are from the Mid-west.  Two of my greatest teachers - Pfitzer (American Studies Professor at Skidmore) and Rod (Former owner of Carlson Travel) were both from the Midwest.

So when I lived there I was surrounded by all that Midwest goodness and people, I likely took it for granted in the flatness of the Plains.  Fast forward to Dallas - the South - and yes, the people are friendly, and the food is delicious.  Truth be told, most of the people I've met and learned to love are not from here originally.  Dallas a melting pot too.

And with that melting pot, and moving for State Farm comes with it lots and lots of State Farm friends and neighbors that moved from, you guessed it - the Midwest!

Friday was a day that Santa came early for me - a friend at work ordered multiple Chicago-style pizzas to be shipped to Dallas... and I was 'gifted' one of them!  Amazing!  I'll consider it a Christmas Miracle - 1) because it took three times for the delivery to arrive, 2) it brought back memories of the Mid-west and 3) it was just so amazingly delicious!

Before going into the oven ...

Wow! Hot and delicious right out of the oven!

New burger place!

Yes, we love our burgers.

And we take recommendations too.  We've visited Twisted Root, What-a-burger, In-and-Out Burger and now Liberty Burger!  Mine was brisket chopped into the hamburger .. and Dr Pepper BBQ sauce .. it was good.  And I really like the place itself .. the colors, the decor, atmosphere and the crushed ice dispenser!

Here's the little Miss with her dessert before her meal.  A Peppermint Shake!

Polar Express Day

Friday was Polar Express Day at school for Ellie.  She was very excited about having hot cocoa with candy canes for breakfast - a treat rarely enjoyed that early in the day at home!

She's excited about Christmas coming and all the activities at school and Lighthouse before the big day .. she was excited to do her own shopping for the family at school this year!  And everything came home wrapped to!

In her pjs and reindeer ears ready to go to Polar Express Day at school!

Christmas Tree continued ....

Here she is in all her glory .. and the lights of the Christmas tree!

She loves her tree lit and decorated!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Ellie was so excited to get a real tree this year she hugged it goodnight the day we got it!  And its been a hit every since.  When we moved from IL to TX we disposed of the artificial tree we had in hopes that we'd find exactly the right tree when we arrived.

This year we have a REAL tree - and boy is it tall!  And yet, it fits exactly right into the spot.  It can be seen from all the best places - and it looks just amazing!

Hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner - the music plays, the decorations hang and the presents are almost wrapped!  It's almost here!

Welcome December!

December is the month of miracles.  I recall that each year when December first sneaks up on me.  And, yes, it did this year too.

December is the month when the royal son is born in a stable, the time when the oil burned for eight nights and when light returns after the darkest, longest night of the year - each and every December.  The month of miracles ...

I had the day to myself having worked the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Just a couple of email and conference calls to attend to from home - and in the meantime some time to regroup the house after a holiday.

A bit of grocery shopping, laundry, floors and I did a bit of Cyber Monday shopping too!  And when the spirit moved me from the house again, I stopped for a Chai Tea and spent some time in Ross and TJ Maxx to continue the Christmas journey.

So much planning for gifts, cards, parties ... and it doesn't feel too soon to put carols on the radio, and hum them in the store.  It was perfect sort of day.

And all of that in addition to an awesome catch-up phone call with Jody first thing this morning.  Whew - an hour both of us had free - that was a Christmas Miracle for sure!

Back to routine tomorrow .. and that's okay too.  Many plans made today, orders placed, and packages to await next week.

Christmas spirit abound!

Adventures in Dallas

Bill & Ellie took Papa on lots of adventures during his time in Dallas.  One place they wanted to show him was where the Cowboys play in Arlington.  AT&T Stadium is home to the Dallas Cowboys, and within line of sight is the stadium where the Texas Rangers play baseball too!

Papa and Ellie outside the stadium

Happy Girl at yet another stadium on her whirlwind tour this year!

Next to the 'football players' in the Pro Shop

AT&T Stadium in Dallas

Arlington Stadium where the Texas Rangers play baseball

Black Friday begins with a list

Ready to go to church on Thanksgiving morning!

Ellie's Christmas List .. of course ...

I've been asking her to keep a pad near by when she's watching tv or flipping through a catalog so that she can make a note of all the things she randomly shouts out as potential Christmas gifts.  I thought the list was funny so I'm adding it right here!

Christmas Wish List
1. Twin Lava Lamps
2. Goldie Blox and the Movie Machine
3. Follow Your Nose game
4. Mr. Root Beer home brew kit
5. Purple Sparkle Shoes - size 13
6. Make Your Own Hot Sauce kit
7. iPod Touch
8. Dr. Dessert Science Experiment Kit
9. DIY Bubble Gum Kit
10. A family Christmas ornament
11. American Girl doll - Isabelle
12. a puppy
13. Headphones (purple Dr Dre Beats) Don't even think about it .. they are $199!!
14. Fit Bit - to track her steps )I told her to just count as she steps.  She didn't laugh ..
15. Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet
16. Screwdriver for Daddy
17. Syclone (puzzle)
18. PicWits game
19. Mine for Gems science kit
20. Fizzy Drinks Science kit
21. Rootvue Farm (see what you've planted!)
22. Candy Chemistry
23. Just Dance 2015 for Wii
24. Just Dance Kids for Wii
25. Cook it in a Cup kit
26. Pairs in Pears letter game
27. Yoga mat for Mommy and me


Isn't she funny?  She loves her MindWare catalog .. which is great because it focuses on science and learning.  Truth be told she takes right after her mom and loves Barnes and Noble and Michaels.  So gift cards are always a good thing!

Thanksgiving!

The twenty pound bird finished up in a tidy 4 hours ... leaving time before serving dinner to get the rest of the sides in and out of the oven!  You could certainly say it was a feast .. for the four of us!

Some old favorites and added new to round out the offering.  Couldn't consider it Thanksgiving without the mashed potatoes, corn casserole and dressing.  Added in a new recipe for sweet potato casserole and roasted brussel sprouts with dark cherry balsamic!  The gravy turned out magnificently and the pies were delicious as well!

I'd say it was quite a success!

And here's the photos to prove it ...

Happy Girl with the turkey!

Family shot as I was discovering that the bird needed to go back in the oven!

Papa and his right-hand girl ... on the left!

Mariano's La Hacienda

We tried a new Mexican restaurant over the weekend actually in Dallas - and we were very pleased with our visit!  Lots of sharing at our table of brisket tacos and fish tacos, Mariano's Special Queso and chips!  Both the inside and outside of the restaurant were charming - filled with lots of interesting authentic Mexican decor.

Happy to have another win under our belt - along with our lunch!  We'll put this one on our list to visit again!

Brave one

Ellie's back is to us in the center of the video.  The 4th graders are all in their Whitt Wolf t-shirts, and as a 3rd grader she is with them to perform at the end of the assembly!

Ellie had the opportunity to sing again at school.  On Friday they had an assembly, which they call the Wolf Holf - because their school is the Whitt (Elementary School) Wolves.  And the 4th graders were there to sing a thank you song to their teachers before going on break.

Ellie got to sing her solo!

Since I was out of town in Bloomington last week, this was my opportunity to hear her sing in person.  And wow, did she sing!  She is an amazingly brave girl!

Leaving the stage with the 4th graders after singing her song!

The season comes to an end

Yes, these two crazies all bundled up in hats, coats and gloves to watch Ellie's soccer game in Texas!

As with everything else, there is a beginning - a middle and an end.  Ellie is not good at endings.  You may recall I'm reminding her pretty often to "smile because it happened, don't cry because it's over!"

Some things just don't change easily.

Her team, Pink Sprinkles finished the season 8-1-2.  Eight wins and two ties through yesterday.  Until today.  They lost to a team from the next age group up from hers.  And one of their strongest offensive players was home with a hurt foot.  They were at a huge disadvantage.  And yet they played on.

They are tough these 8-year old Pink Sprinkles!

Oh, and did I mention how stinkin' cold it was??  It was 38 degrees with blowing wind and spitting rain.  And they played on.  And all three of us are likely to get sick!  But they stuck it out until the very last whistle!

What an amazing season they had!

Yes, it does get cold in Dallas

Yes, she played with her hat, gloves and leggings all day!

For the final weekend of soccer, Ellie had a weekend tournament.  And, remember, this is TEXAS.  Three games on Saturday and potentially two games on Sunday ... 11am, 4pm and 8pm games.  That may not seem so bad .. until it was 34 degrees and windy at the 11am game, misty rain and 44 degrees at the 4pm game and continued rain and 42 degrees at the 8pm game.

These girls were tired by that last game.  They had won the first (2-1), tied the second (3-3) and you could tell coach Tony was playing for the tie in the third game.  It had been a LONG day and a tie would get us into the next round on Sunday.  So as the seconds ticked down without a goal having been scored ..... we held our breath!

A tie.  No score.

The girls were so excited to be moving on to the next round on Sunday!!  What a team effort and what a team celebration when the game ended and they knew they would be moving on!

Veteran's Day concert

Here's Ellie at her school concert ready to sing her solo performance!  

It was in  honor of Veteran's Day .. with a repeat performance at the next Wolf Howl - Whitt Wolves' Elementary School Pep Rally!

 I was telling a friend in Bloomington how amazed I was of Ellie, and how I had no idea where she 'found her brave' that night to sing in front of all those people.  She asked me to look in the mirror.  I quickly dismissed the thought saying, 'but I wasn't brave at age 8!" 

My very smart friend said to me, "Here's the thing.  She didn't see you at age 8, she sees you now.  That's how she knows to be brave!"

I am so blessed to have smart friends AND a brave daughter!  I couldn't be prouder of her and her amazing ability to sign in front of the audience!

Joe's Station House

Joe's Station House
Italian beef roll

One of the great things about traveling to Bloomington is the feeling of going home!  As I flew in Tuesday afternoon it was this awesome feeling ... the streets were familiar, the people were familiar and it has a comforting feeling of knowing what to expect.

And, of course, the places we loved - when we lived there!

I enjoyed a new place that came highly recommended on Wednesday night, Bayern Stube the German restaurant about 40 minutes from Bloomington.  It was delicious!  I had convinced my Italian/German boss, Dean that it was highly recommended and he was all in!  We often swap stories of food and growing up in NY - even though we both live in Texas!

He was as thrilled with the restaurant as I was ... and we took a couple of my co-workers to enjoy the meal as well.  A wonderfully welcome dinner out away from the work and the noise of the meeting.

A trip to Bloomington wouldn't be complete with a visit to Joe's Station House for me.  The Italian Beef Roll is to die for.  And not to worry I got an entire one all to myself .. and I brought the leftovers back to my room just for the smell of garlic and beef!

Mommy takes flight ...

I traveled to Bloomington this week for an all leadership meeting in my department.  It was awesome to be able to meet my virtual peers in Atlanta, Bloomington and Phoenix ... so many awesome people in the same role with different people all over the country.  Lots of 2015 planning taking place in order to come back home and get ready to implement those plans in a little over 6 weeks!

While I was in Bloomington, Dallas as a bit cold too!  As you can see from this photo Ellie found her winter coat and made sure she had gloves for a cold Dallas morning!

Saturday lunch

Face still showing remnants of the delicious ribs she had for lunch!

On a Saturday trip to Allen we decided to check out Rudy's BBQ before going to the Shops at Watters Creek.  It had been recommended to me by a couple people at work, and most recently someone mentioned they have amazing breakfast tacos - brisket, eggs and potatoes!

Well, we went for lunch .. and Ellie had the ribs .. which she loves.  It was a great place with lots of choices, relaxed atmosphere and delicious BBQ!

The shopping expedition wasn't very successful, but lunch was amazing!

Making Pancakes

As I headed to the store this morning Bill and Ellie got busy in the kitchen making a week's worth of pancakes .. for breakfast and for breakfast every day during the week! They work well as a team, and there is so much yield from their efforts!

Without a doubt one of the prettiest faces you'll ever see!
And hungry too!

Awards Ceremony

We got notice that Ellie would be receiving an award at the Friday assembly and we were invited to attend!  Off we went with camera in hand, found our friends Brian and Natalie there to watch Kalayna also receive an award!

Ellie received three awards!  She is on the honor roll, Perfect Attendance through the first nine weeks, and being on-time everyday!

Zebra Student

Sitting at the assembly - waiting for her name to be called!

Ellie and Addison - such a sweet friend!

Brian, Natalie and me - watching our kids get awards!