a Big Little blog

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

2008-06-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

The time has come for Domonic and I to end our official Big Brothers Big Sisters match. While this is a sad day for me, I know Domonic will have new and wonderful experiences and learn so many things with his next mentor. Domonic and his family have been amazing over the last five years and I am so happy to have had the privilege of being part of your lives! You are truly like a second family.

My passion and career are taking me to our nation's capitol, Washington, DC, so I will be learning new things as well!

Although Domonic and I will no longer be officially matched, you better believe I will be keeping up with Domonic and all of his milestones including his thirteenth birthday - today!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

I can't wait to hear all about how things go this summer and the 8th grade next year and beyond! Domonic is a great kid and I expect great things.

Congratulations to whomever gets to be his next Big. I am truly jealous and you are one of the luckiest folks around!

All of the very best and future success,
Debby

Snow Cones and Golf

2008-06-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

Peter Pan Mini-Golf is one of the most awesome things that Domonic and I get to do together. Whenever I ask Domonic to pick an activity for the week, it's always top of the list. So for your last outing together, that's just what we did!! A couple of delicious snow cones (one blueberry and one grape) + mini-golf + a sunny day = the best summer day ever!

Swimming in Fun!

2008-06-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

Barton Springs is a the perfect summer dip. It's so cold you just have to jump in feet first, no testing the water or you are sure to chicken out! So here goes!

Before:

After:

Best way to cool off on a hot summer day ever!!

Mango Fever

2008-05-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

Domonic and I cooked up a storm this weekend in preparation for the Rising Mango Star Video Contest. We tested out several original recipes and Domonic chose his favorite which he will demonstrate via YouTube in just a few weeks. Get ready to be amazed; he is quite the chef!

Update: The event where was Domonic was to film his celebrity chef debut was cancelled, but we had a great time making out recipes anyway!

Camp Mabry for American Heroes Day

2008-04-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

Camp Mabry is so cool! Domonic and I saw some really neat stuff on American Heroes Day. Planes were parked all around us and helicopters took off as we watched. We saw a re-enactment of the Revolutionary War, artifacts from the war in Vietnam and even rode in a Vietnam-era military vehicle. The search and rescue dogs did their stuff sniffing out humans and contraband too. We were going to dig a foxhole, but permission was denied, soldier!

Domonic & Debby Visit Whoville

2008-04-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

The wonderful children's book turned feature film Horton Hears a Who was on our agenda this week. It was pretty great for both Domonic and me. I would love to see my two favorite Dr. Seuss books, If I Ran the Circus and Horton Hatches an Egg, make it to the big screen!

Domonic, being the library book aficionado that he is wowed me all the way home with factoids about the real life of Theodor Seuss Geisel, the real Dr. Seuss. What a kid!

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate

2008-03-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

This week, Domonic and I rode a sugar high all the way home from one of Austin's most delicious festivals, the 3rd annual Austin Chocolate Festival. We tried truffles, chocolate veggie dip, hot chocolate, chocolate mole sauce, German chocolate cake, chocolate gelato... the list goes on. We left with a box full of delights and smiles on our faces. Thank you Austin Chocolate Festival!!

The Wizard!

2008-02-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

This weekend Domonic and I were lucky enough to attend probably the most supremely awesome film screening of all time: The Wizard presented by the Alamo Downtown. The Wizard was one of my favorite movies as a kid and avid Nintendo player so I was thrilled to be able to relive and share the love of the Power Glove with Domonic! We were also priviledged to get to meet in person two of the film's stars, Fred Savage and Luke Edwards. Director Todd Holland was also present to answer questions and finally explain that complicated back-story. Mario and Luigi themselves even made an appearance. Domonic asked Fred what his favorite game is and it turns out he digs Guitar Hero 3. It's no Super Mario 3, but a fine game nonetheless!

We Love Dominoes!

2008-02-11T18:54:00.000-08:00

Monopoly Night

2008-01-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

Last night proved to be an epic battle for financial dominance. Domonic (the top hat) and I (the thimble) played a friendly but fierce game of Monopoly with our friends and hosts for the evening, Mary Anne (the shoe) and Jason (the wheel barrow, banker and auctioneer).

Domonic started the game off by quickly aquiring the North Carolina monopoly. Good move! Mary Anne gathered all of the railroads which many players rode frequently to our detriment. Jason gained the Oriental Avenue monopoly, but in the end, it was my Ventor Avenue monopoly (improved with hotels) that helped me gain the advantage and pull out a win.

A lovely time and chips and queso were had by all.

Amboise in Popsicle Sticks

2007-12-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

This week saw the beginning of a masterpiece; Domonic began engineering a French castle out of popsicle sticks! This is a project for his French class and should be completed by next week. I can't wait to see the finished project!

Fred Claus at the Alamo

2007-12-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

Pizza, cookies 'n cream ice cream and Vince Vaughn saving Christmas for millions of children around the world: What else could we possibly need to put us in the holiday spirit? We love the Alamo Drafthouse! Bring on the holiday cheer!

Oh So Good.

2007-11-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

This week, Domonic and I decided to indulge in our love of ice cream. We did what we always do when the urge overcomes us: headed to our favorite, Amy's, for the finest ice cream in town. As usual, ice cream was flying through the air as the energetic crew engaged in delightful dairy acrobatics. Domonic had a Mexican vanilla root beer float and I tried the white chocolate macadamia nut with strawberries. I think I found a new favorite ice cream concoction!

Pizza, Baby!

2007-11-07T17:17:00.000-08:00

This evening, Domonic and I decided to partake in one of our favorite activities: eating! It's practically a tradition now; we take a trip to Whole Foods for the finest ingredients and then cook up a fresh, hot pepperoni pizza. Tamika, Domonic's sister and always a welcome addition to our adventures, joined us for the feast. It may have been the best pizza we've ever made. Yum!

Check it out:

2007-11-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

Domonic and I were featured on the cover of the BBBS Central Texas quarterly newsletter!

Rockin' and Rollin'

2007-10-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

We just can't get enough of our favorite roller rink, Playland Skate Center! And with their newly resurfaced skating rink, the place is even better than ever. We had our usual: several gummy hamburgers and then commenced skating. Inspired by the speed skaters from the Texas Speed Club on the rink, we skated faster than ever before and even practiced skating backwards. We got skills! Domonic didn't fall down even once, although I fell twice. Ouch!

Merci de cette délicieuse soirée!

2007-10-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Domonic and I embarked on a culinary adventure at Chez Nous, which offers some of Austin's finest French fare. Never one to be timid, Domonic decided we should start the evening with an appetiser of escargot. "Magnifique" was the verdict. Already hooked on the French language, Domonic may well become a lifelong aficionado of French cuisine! Thanks to the generosity and kindness of the staff at Chez Nous, it was truly a memorable experience.

Bowling Extravaganza, Part II

2007-10-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

Today was a really awesome day! Domonic and I went to Highland Lanes to flex our bowling muscles again, but this time with his brother and sister D'Andre and Tameka and their Bigs, Paul and Megan. We were also joined by reporter Kaitlin who is writing a feature story on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas for Tribeza Magazine's December issue. The balls were rolling and the pins were dropping all over the place and we didn't even use the bumpers! Then the troop converged on Chuy's Restaurant for some absolutely Flan-tastic Tex-Mex. I can't wait until we all get together again!

Crown me!

2007-09-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

This school year Domonic has opted to study the beautiful French language and in honor of his emerging interest in both the language and culture of France, we decided to partake in some of the offerings of French cuisine. La Madeleine was today's lunch destination. Domonic declared their potato soup the best he'd ever had and also enjoyed croissants and crêpes. It was quite the feast! Afterwards we made a trip to the Austin Children's Museum to see the newest exhibit entitled "The Big Game". This was one of my favorite exhibits ever! Domonic played (and won) a giant game of checkers and got some fancy origami paper to enjoy at home.

Sunday Morning Strikes

2007-09-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

I just have to tell you, Highland Lanes is the place to be on a Sunday morning! Thanks to their bargain rates, this week was all about the strikes, spares and splits. We were knockin' 'em down and pickin' 'em up; those poor pins just never saw it coming. It was a lot fun and I am sure we'll be back soon, especially since we looked so good in those fashionable bowling shoes!

We Screamed for Ice Cream

2007-08-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

The afternoon was hot but the first annual Austin Ice Cream Festival was so cool. There was an ice cream eating contest (Can you imagine the brain freeze?), a screaming for ice cream contest and piles of popsicle sticks for the artistically inclined. And of course, there was ice cream which we gobbled with abandon. Plus Domonic got a new hairdo and learned a few magic tricks. What do you think? Pretty cool, huh?

What a Weekend!

2007-08-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

Domonic and I packed this weekend full of fun activities. First we went for some of Amy's delicious ice cream (Domonic: Mexican Vanilla with Oreos, Debby: Malted Vanilla with strawberries) and then to see the latest installment of the Harry Potter movies and finally we faced off on a pretty intense Connect Four battle followed by a fun game of Upwords. Next week is the BBBS annual Hobie Day and we are so excited -- I've already got the sunblock ready!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

2007-07-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

If you were at Playland Skate Center last night, you may have seen us. Then again, if you blinked, you may have missed us! That's right, we were pure speed on 16 wheels and it was a blast from answering Chubby Checker's eternal question: How low can you go? to the black lights and fog machine. So Jack be limbo, Jack be quick... We'll be back for the limbo stick!

Library Raid!!

2007-07-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

This week Domonic and I decided to have a good look around Faulk Central Library exploring all three floors including the large kids' section, the magazine and newspaper area and the over-sized books section. We took full advantage of the lovely library admiring the great view from the third floor and checking out a whole mess of books and movies including my first choice, Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and Domonic's pick, the 2006 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Circus is in Town!

2007-07-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

For Domonic's birthday this year he said he wanted to go to the circus, so that's exactly what we did! It was hard to choose a favorite act, but the elephants and the motorcycles were real showstoppers... The acrobats and tigers were amazing too! It was a darn good time and Domonic is now twelve years old! Happy birthday!

A Soupie Excursion

2007-07-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Since Domonic and I both love cooking, I thought it might be fun to go check out a unique Austin operation called The Soup Peddler, my favorite local food delivery service. I thought perhaps we could get a tour of the facilities and learn a little about being an entrepreneur in Austin. Well, when I contacted them with the request, David Ansel, the soup magnate himself, offered to give us a tour and even invited Domonic to bring his bike and make deliveries with him! Very cool! Together they delivered soup to the Bouldin Creek neighborhood and even made a stop to see some beautiful peacocks and artwork. Afterwards Domonic and I cooled off with our favorite -- root beer floats from Sandy's. It was a well deserved treat!

Many thanks to everyone at The Soup Peddler!

Ratatouille

2007-06-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

When was the last time a movie about rats made you hungry? Probably never. Well, get ready because Ratatouille is here! Domonic and I were lucky enough to catch a free sneak preview thanks to the Austin Film Festival. The movie was great and the animation was really cool. Overall it was a blast! Thank you AFF!

A Summer Dip

2007-06-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

Deep Eddy swimming pool and bathhouse, Texas' very first outdoor pool constructed in 1916, had it's grand re-opening this weekend after a major renovation and restoration project. Domonic and I were among the first to take a dip in the cool waters. We practiced our swimming techniques, managed some wobbly underwater hand-stands and generally had a really lovely afternoon. It was a beautiful day and the improvements to the facilities were evident!

A Senator in the Making!

2007-05-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

Today Domonic was an honorary page in the Texas Senate. Thanks to our senator, the Honorable Kirk Watson, who sponsored Domonic for the page program, and Ms. Judy Roach who helped get Domonic suited up for the occasion, he learned all about senatorial proceedings and was able to accompany a messenger on the floor to view the senators hard at work and conduct some official business (deliveries). Domonic even met Senator Watson and had his photo taken with him.

This was a very special day and I can't help but think Domonic might make a fine member of Congress one day. You have to admit, he's already got the look down. Next thing you know, he'll be shaking hands and kissing babies!

A Hole-in-One (or two)!

2007-05-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

The weather was just lovely this weekend: perfect for a couple of rounds of putt-putt at Peter Pan Mini-Golf. Apparently we weren't the only ones with this idea as most of Austin joined us on the course! There were brightly colored golf balls flying everywhere including a green one we lost to the McDonald's parking lot... Fore!

I got off to a good start taking the first 18 holes while Domonic dominated the second (and more challenging) course. He scored two perfect holes-in-one, conquered a rather obstinate Blue Whale and eased past a fierce looking but mild mannered T-Rex. Then we topped our successes off with a root beer and called it day. Thank you Peter Pan for a wonderful afternoon (as always) and the great discount you give to Bigs!

A Lucky Visit

2007-04-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

It was a truly memorable day. This weekend Domonic and I attended the annual "Open Farm Day" at Pure Luck Farm. We were given the opportunity to tour the gorgeous farm, sample their wonderful and varied hand-crafted cheeses, play with the baby goats, cavort with their mamas and even milk a real live (and incredibly patient) goat. Domonic became an old hand at the milking very quickly (perhaps there is a farm in his future!) and we both decided that goats are our favorite farm animals by far. I can't wait to go again next year!

We're Back for More!

2007-04-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

We just had to check out the second installment of the Texas Rollergirls season this weekend! When Domonic's little brother D'Andre heard how much fun we had last time, he wanted to come along too. The more the merrier I say (especially since kids under 12 are free!) We sat in the very front row cheering as loud as we could and just iching to be rolled into or over by a rollergirl... There were some close calls, but in the end, we left with all our toes and fingers still attached. Oh, and I finally got that action shot that eluded me last time!

A Trip to the Museum

2007-03-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Going to a museum is generally a pretty good bet if you want to have an interesting afternoon. But going to the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture is a sure-fire way of having a very groovy afternoon! We checked out their fabulous poster collection and a lovely circa 1970's mural as well as the amazing car turned planter and shrines to various notables in popular culture. We even took a peak at some of the work in progress that real artists are making today. Cool, man.

Texas Rollergirls Rock!

2007-03-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Texas Rollergirls have two new fans! Domonic and I went to check out a roller derby bout at the Playland Skate Center and it was so much fun. Thrills and spills abounded quite literally. Ever seen an athlete in a pair of skates crash full speed into a crowd of people holding extra large sodas, hot dogs and other refreshments? We have and we highly recommed it! We saw the Hell Marys versus the Hustlers and the Hotrod Honeys versus the Honky Tonk Heartbreakers. These gals are awesome. I wish I had gotten some better action shots for you but frankly, the girls were just too fast for my camera. I guess you'll just have to go and see them for yourself!

Two Incredible Kids

2007-03-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Absolute Incredible Kid Day at the Austin Children's Museum so I took two absolutely incredible kids over there for some fun activities and yummy cake. We also enjoyed some of the new and really neat displays. One cool one is a projection that can be manipulated by the viewer's shadow! The museum is always one of our favorite places to visit, but yesterday's festivities were extra special and it was great hanging out with Domonic and his sister too. And on the way back to the car we stopped for a photo-op with one of those crazy 10 foot guitars and gawked at all the SXSW'ers wandering around downtown Austin! Don't you just love living in the Live Music Capital of the World?

Beautiful Boggy Creek Farm

2007-03-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

Domonic and I visited the delightful Boggy Creek Farm this weekend and boy was it a treat! We followed the chickens around, checked out the rows of flourishing vegetables as they were being harvested, bought some choice organic produce (which we ate shortly thereafter) from the on-site farm stand and had some delicious ice cream made from goat's milk (a big hit on a sunny and warm afternoon). It was a beautiful day and we'll be sure to return very soon. I can't wait to try some of that cauliflower!

Dragons Dragons Everywhere

2007-02-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend, thanks to a very generous Big Brother, Domonic and I and a bunch of other Bigs and Littles went to see the movie Eragon, a story of courage and folly packed with dramatic action - from high flying fire breathing dragon rides to fierce battles fought with strength of will and magic. At the root of it all are the efforts of a young man destined to save his oppressed countrymen. It was a great event and it is always wonderful to see other Bigs and Littles having a good time as well!

Superbowl XLI

2007-02-05T08:41:00.000-08:00

This weekend was Superbowl weekend and Domonic and I decided to see the big game on the big screen, well the silver screen actually. We went to the Alamo Downtown where they showed the game in the movie theater. Domonic was rooting for the Colts and I was all about the Bears. What an incredible game! We also loved the commercials and there was even a spot promoting Big Brothers Big Sisters so we had to cheer for that one!

A Winter Walk

2007-02-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, Domonic and I visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for their plant sale and winter walk with professional arborist Guy LeBlanc. We learned lots of things about native trees, made some arts and crafts, saw lots of beautiful plants and even bought a few to take home. And Domonic took lots of pictures of the lovely winter day.

Public Service? Nope. Pancakes!

2007-01-19T06:48:00.000-08:00

So Domonic and I planned on doing our little bit to make the world a better place in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We were going to plant a garden at an East Austin elementary school. We got up really early on a Saturday morning to do so. But unfortunately the torrential rain doomed our intentions from the start. So what did we do instead? We went out for a big yummy breakfast at Star Seeds Cafe where Domonic got the biggest plate of pancakes I have ever seen in my life. Take a look; that's a stack of three pancakes, each bigger than Domonic's head. They were delicious!

The Catherdral of Junk

2007-01-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

All we could say when we first saw the aptly named Cathedral of Junk was, "Wow!" It was mesmerizing, incomprehensible and oh so cool. Some may ask, "What's it made of?", but a better question would be, "What's it not made of?!"

Domonic and I climbed the three stories several times tried to take it all in. We identified some really neat stuff, a moss-covered Barbie lounging in a swampy fountain, the back end of a Yamaha motorcycle, several basketball hoops, a Darth Vader mask, lots of CD's, aluminum can tabs, hubcaps, a plastic pony, bicycle parts of every kind, a megaphone... While the whole may be greater than the sum of its parts, the parts are really really neat to look at. Bravo Vince!

Dear Governor: Nice House!

2006-12-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

This week was our first post-Christmas outing and as you can imagine, Domonic and I couldn't stop talking about all our Christmas loot. Here's the lowdown: Domonic got lots of video games and some regular games too (including a chess set from me). He got two puzzles, some lovely pots for planting and two watches: one stop watch and one regular. He also got plenty of new clothes; he was looking pretty sharp that night!

Then we were off to take a free tour of the Texas Governor's Mansion. Domonic put the stop watch to good use throughout our evening excursion. It took us twenty minutes to drive to the Governor's mansion, find a parking spot and get in line for the tour. It took us forty-four minutes to get through the line for the tour and it took us seven minutes to actually take the tour. We stopped for a nice shot in front of the Capitol Christmas tree and then after a quick trip to McDonald's for some ice cream, that was it for the evening. Can't wait until next week!

Some Pig!

2006-12-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Domonic and I saw Charlotte's Web and it was so cute. I love that darn Wilbur! And Domonic finally conquered the quarter gobbling crane machine that tempts you with stuffed animals and other elusive prizes. Go Domonic!

It's Sushi Time!

2006-12-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

Domonic and I decided to try something new this week: sushi! We watched as the expert chefs at Sushi Sake created some beautiful dishes, tried some very interesting things (it turns out that Domonic is a big fan of barbecued eel!) and practiced our chopstick maneuvering techniques. It was a lot of fun and we left very full and happy, so the evening was a success!

In other news, Domonic made six A's and one B on his latest report card! His teacher has informed him that he will soon be moved to pre-AP classes! Congratulations Domonic!

Stitch! A Crafter's Dream!

2006-11-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

What a show! Domonic and I went to a very cool event this weekend: the Stitch fashion show. It was so very neat seeing all the original handmade designs (and as you can tell, we staked out a front row spot to do so!) Since both Domonic and I love to sew and craft, we were very inspired.

When I asked Domonic after the show if he would be moving on from making pillows to creating some cool outfits like the ones we saw that night he thoughtfully said, "Probably." Watch out Austin, we have a future fashion designer in our midst!

A Pumpkin Extravaganza

2006-11-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

This week, Domonic and I were all about baking and carving. We decided to have a pumpkin themed evening by making a lovely post-Halloween Jack-o-Lantern and a delicious pumpkin pie. They turned out wonderful!

Domonic and his family also suprised me with a whole bunch of birthday presents! They are just the sweetest and I feel so blessed! Here is the teddy bear that Domonic got me for my birthday making friends with my favorite bunny.

Halloween Havok!

2006-10-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last night was the Big Brothers Big Sisters Halloween party! Woot! My stated purpose was to eat so much candy that I threw up. I tried to get Domonic on board, but he wasn't having any of it. Nope, he saved all of his candy for later. I am pretty sure he pays his brother and sister in Tootsie Rolls and Snickers to do his chores for him... Smart man!

There were games aplenty at the party and I cheered Domonic on (while munching Skittles and Reese's) as he pinned the eyes on the mummy, played a couple rounds of musical chairs and got a very crazy balloon hat and sword set. The games were fun, but I think Domonic was really in it for the prizes. And he got plenty of good ones, so it was a successful night for him! It was a success for me as well as I had a mighty good time, even if I didn't eat enough candy to throw up.

A Very Spooky Evening in Zilker Park....

2006-10-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend, in honor of Halloween, Domonic and I decided to go to Zilker Park to hear some ghost stories. We got their early to get a good spot and do some climbing of the lovely Zilker oaks before the show. Some good advice was given to me by a fellow tree monkey: "It's easy! Just pretend like you're a wild animal!" It was a great way to start an evening filled with the ghosts of wild wolves and goblins.

So Domonic and I hunkered down on our blanket with a thermos of home-made hot chocolate and caramel popcorn ready to hear the very spooky tales related by the raconteurs of The Central Texas Storytelling Guild.

We heard stories about a kiddie gobbling, lake slurping, forest eating witch, a headless hostess, a very persistent East Texas goblin, the ghost of a legendary Texas Frontiersman with a bit of a drinking problem, a fierce American Indian battle come to life and one very unwelcoming Bed and Breakfast... We looked up at the stars and over our shoulders as we sipped hot cocoa. When it was all over, we laughed it off. But, I'll admit, I had a teeny bit of trouble sleeping that night...

What We Did Today: My First Post

2006-10-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Today we went to a rib restaurant called Artz Rib House. We ate ribs and they were delicious. Then I had a root beer float. After we ate, we went to an art museum. We looked at all kinds of pictures. Then, after that, we went to a coffee shop called Spider House. There, Debby and I wrote a list of things we want to do together so we won't forget. Plus I had another root beer float.

Pizza Chef Extraordinaire

2006-09-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

Domonic was quite the chef this weekend. That's right, pizza (made from scratch!) was the order of the day and it came out great, if a tad bit burnt (I blame the recipe). At any rate, it made a delicious dinner. Yum!

Domonic is the winner!

2006-09-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

Update: The results are in and Domonic has taken the crown in the funny face contest! Funny Face number 5 took in the most votes and is officially deemed the funniest of all the faces. I knew those ears would drive the voters batty! It was a subtle yet confident move. What skill! What execution! Thanks to all those who participated!

Blendin' it up at the Dairy Queen

2006-09-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

It was all about ice cream this week. Well, a Blizzard of ice cream, M&M's, Oreos and chocolate sauce that is. And Man was it delicious! The guys at DQ were kind enough to give us a behind the scenes look while the magic happened.

Our fabulous treat went from this:

To this:

In no time!!

The Best Book Signing in the Universe!

2006-09-19T07:12:00.000-07:00

Domonic and I went to a book signing and met Maddox, my favorite humorist and the author of The Alphabet of Manliness. That's right, we ran in the rain to buy this book:
Maddox was kind enough to settle a little debate that Domonic and I had: Who is more manly, Superman or The Incredible Hulk? You guessed it! It's The Incredible Hulk! (Score one for me!) He also told us that Teddy Roosevelt was the manliest president (case in point, he was once shot in the chest but instead of rushing to the hospital, he delivered his speech!) and that Tabasco is the preferred hot sauce of the arbiter of all things manly. I am pretty sure that Maddox thought Domonic was the real fan and had dragged me there for the signing... little did he know, I also have a teenage boy's sense of humor!! I love Maddox!

One Sunny Afternoon

2006-08-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

On one especially sunny afternoon, Domonic and I were fortunate enough to get a tour of the lovely Sunshine Gardens, a large community garden. Our tour guide was the knowledgable Ila Falvey. The beautiful plots there are filled with fruits, vegetables, flowers and plenty of buzzing little insects and Domonic and I were filled with questions. "What kind of plant is that?" "How many seeds does it have?" "How long does it take to make compost?" And Ila answered them all. The part that tickled us the most (literally, those chickens will nibble on your fingers!) was the chicken coop. Chickens eveywhere! They ate right from our hands and flapped and danced all around us. I knew that chickens produced white and brown eggs, but who knew they came in hues of green and blue as well?! But after all that time in the blazing sun, we needed something special to cool us off. A couple of root beer floats sure did the trick!!

Austin: Windy City?

2006-08-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

Austin Children's Museum has a great exhibit going on now and it's all about air: it's the Air Fair! There's a vortex of air that swirls, tubes that will suck objects in and spit them out who knows where (across the other side of the museum it turns out), and fans that will turn you into a superhero. You can even make music with air! All of this in addition to the usual cool stuff to do. Austin Children's Museum was, as always, a breath of fresh air!

Bugs! = a buzzin' good time!

2006-08-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

We love Bugs! Did you know there are more than 20,000 different kinds of bees or that one kind of Australian cockroach sprays tear gas or that cicadas stay underground for 17 years before waking up or that fire flies aren't flies at all; they're beetles?? This weekend Domonic and I went to a great play and had a fabulous time learning about real bugs and watching all the kids in the Austin original musical Bugs!

Domonic's favorite bug was Guido the assassin bug from Brooklyn while I really loved the delightfully long-winded and oh-so romantico Castilian Fly Zalamera.

So congratulations to the kidsActing kids! Ya'll were great!

A Water Adventure

2006-07-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Domonic!! That's right, Domonic and I recently celebrated his 11th birthday together. For the special day we went kayaking on Townlake. Domonic is officially an adventurer!

Then it was off to the Hula Hut for some Mexican food and their famous birthday nachos. Never had a birthday nacho? It could be the best moment of your life. They are that good.

I hope it was as fun for Domonic as was it was for me!

Go Express!

2006-06-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Round Rock Express beat out the Nashville Sounds 4-3 this weekend! What a game! We saw two homeruns, a few great plays and some great pitching. But the Express weren't the only ones; Domonic tried his hand at it as well.

Domonic won MVP for the day in my book for allowing me to eat most of his cotton candy... so I bought him a snow cone.

Man, I love baseball, cotton candy and snow cones!

Ballet Austin presents: Romeo and Juliet

2006-06-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

So Domonic and I went to the ballet Thursday night. Neither of us had ever been before and it was quite a treat. We were looking pretty sharp so we had to take a few snapshots...

The ballerinas were so graceful we had to try a little twirling ourselves!

I sure was feeling like a prom queen that night! Thanks Lindsay for being such a great photographer!

A Big Little beginning...

2006-05-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

So Domonic and I met back in 2003. Meeting for the first time can be a little stressful since there is a lot of anticipation and one never knows what to expect. "Will my Little like me?" is a question that I am sure goes through every Big's mind... When I was gearing up to meet my Little, I knew he must be just as curious and I wanted to make a good impression. We got off to a bit of a rocky start... he was very quiet during introductions and when we were to go off to the park and get to know one another... he started to cry. Not exactly the impression I had hoped for! I'd never thought of myself as scary, but I guess I can be to an 8-year old boy! Change of plans, we decided to stay at his house and he gave me a tour of his room. After a little while of viewing his sweet collection of video games and class photos I was able to bribe him with ice cream to go on a little excursion with me. Forget the park, we went to Dairy Queen! And the rest is history...

The main purpose of this blog is to share our stories with others, to thank those who have played a positive role in our mentoring relationship, to help both Domonic and I to be more computer savvy and to give Domonic a venue to express his unique point of view. We also just want to create something really cool that we can call our own!