Valentine Sweet Treats: Donuts with Dad!

So many Valentine's Days in the past have been spent alone...this year it was a family affair. Daddy and Will got up early and surprised Stella and Mommy with Fresh Donuts and cards. UMMMMM so good! And Stella and Will enjoyed a new book each that we snuggled around the kitchen table in our PJ's and robes with milk and coffee to read to each other on a frigid wintry morning. Next we bundled up and drove to Fort Worth to the Nature Science Museum and had a blast. Fun Times!

The Child In Us All....

Dallas was blanketed in 10 - 12 inches of snow (depending on who is counting) last week. I was in Miami all week for a National Sales Meeting and managed Ts anxiety from afar over School letting out early and School Closings, not to mention getting 2 kids out the door every morning by himself by 7:30. Fortunately, the new job allows him to work from home in these situations. But for a "new at this 9-5 thing" Dad, by the time I walked in the door on Friday night he was frazzled and bewildered. There is a system & a schedule when working from home with kids. Wear 'em out early, long naps and carefully orchestrated t.v. and craft time. T has been with Davita Rx as an IT support analyst for 3 weeks and I have already been out of town 2 out of the 3. Whew! We have relished him being home and have begun to settle in to a routine family life.

Christmas Vacation and Happy New Year!

It has been a busy 3 weeks hosting family and taking a much needed and overdue family vacation. Gramma Susie and Grampa Bud spent nearly two weeks with us in Dallas, and Cousin Jason was here for a week. We celebrated with cooking and baking, and a few new cocktails and of course lots and lots of wine. Stella and Will decorated their first Gingerbread House (sans the baking). I was adventurous this year but opted for homemade risotto, christmas cookies and a twist on the French Cassoulet courtesy of Cook's Illustrated magazine with a shortened version of the French pork and beans casserole - yum! I even turned my dad into a fan. My three weeks off from work was almost glorious! I rifled through my cooking magazines, read a book, watched so many movies I can't recall them all, and took some naps with Will. T and I took Stella to ride The Polar Express with the Texas State Railroad, which all of us enjoyed dressed in our P.J.s, despite the down pour of rain. Stella even learned how to ice skate with Mommy & Cousin Jason. On Christmas Eve we were treated to a steady snowfall, yielding 2 1/2 inches of snow and a very White Christmas. We traveled to Nashville for the week following Christmas and visited with all of our close friends - Jannette & Marvin, Jacquee, Con-Con,Nick & Nikki, Beth & Bill, Felicia & Brian. I needed some overdue girl time with my friends. Stella had fun bowling with all of her friends from The Gardner School, going to the movies to see The Princess and the Frog and romping and playing at the home of our dear friends, Jacie & Brad with their children, Cole & Maren. We ended the vacation with our annual New Year's Eve dinner with Jacie & Brad at The Patterson House. Wow, it was amazing! My soul has been refreshed from great conversations with the most amazing friends. Happy New Year!

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