#heightsdatenight

I have to say I am so thankful for a church that promotes dating your spouse. On June 6th, the Heights held a church wide promotion for its monthly date night. They provided a list of restaurants with free goodies and even a list of fun questions to ask your significant other. It was a fun way to spend a night out with your love. As a part of our special night out, they also asked for you to go to the place that you got engaged or a place that represents your engagement night.

While a drive to Oklahoma was a bit out of the question, we used the bench at the church to reenact our engagement. It is amazing to think that next month it will have been five years since this glorious day where my husband dropped to one knee at a bench to ask me the most important question in our lives and thirteen years of dating. He still has my heart!

 For our date night, we asked for a few suggestions and were told to go to Casa Milagros in Richardson. It was really good. While we dined in, it had an adorable little outside patio. We even got this cute little picture taken for us. I do have to make a little side note that Ray is wearing the same shirt that he proposed in. So fun! After dinner we decided to stop at a yogurt shop for some more conversation and hand holding. Then we were back to church to pick up our little beauty. I am so thankful for this sweet night with my love. I'm thankful for a church that shows just how important it is to have this time away and for the ladies that loved on our little lady until we returned. Here's to more date nights in our future!

Food Truck Fun and Dinner Date Night

 

With only a few weekends that stand between our little family of two and our new little lady on the way, the husband and I decided to check some things off of our "couples to do list" before baby. It  was also the weekend that followed my birthday which usually went hand in hand with a fun weekend of outdoor activities.

 

This weekend we found ourselves at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas for some Food Truck Fun. Ray and I both love everything that goes along with food trucks and cooking. I had heard such great things about this great park above the freeway with lots of food truck options. So we thought it was a beautiful (but hot) weekend to do so. With amazing parallel parking skills, Ray found primo parking and we quickly made our way to the rows of food trucks. We first did a tour of the park and all the family fun activities.

 



 An adorable playground 

After touring the park filled with families, delicious food, and outdoor fun, we made our way around the trucks and found several great options. This prego mama loved the homemade grilled cheese truck. And of course once I found out the offered cake balls, I was totally on board.

 

 

 

We also ordered food from the Vietnamese food truck called Nammi. It was a mint lemonade and a delicious sandwich of tofu with Vietnamese spices and topped with a vegetable slaw. I of course thought it was chicken, but after I was informed still thought it was super good. (I probably wouldn't have ordered it on my own, but love that my husband had me try it)

 

I will have to say our first food truck experience was a huge success. I made it over an hour in the heat and even have a bit of a sunburn to show for it. I was actually a bit sad when I knew it was time for us to call it an afternoon, but I cannot wait to go back when it's a bit cooler to try some of the other options. 

 

 

For dinner, we got all dressed up and enjoyed a date night out to Savory Bistro in Bartenville from a recommendation from a friend. It was so nice to have a fancy night out with this cutie.

 



 

I am truly so thankful for these moments, away from our work days and to do lists. I just want to enjoy these special moments with my best friend as I know our lives will change when we welcome our beautiful baby girl. 





Date Night on the Square!

This Friday the husband and I enjoyed a date night in downtown Mckinney! We walked around the square, took in all the fall festive decor...

and finally made our decision for dinner. That night we dinned at Greggory's Bistro, a BYOB french restaurant on the square. While it was a bit pricey... it was absolutely delicious.

After dinner we even stopped at Paciugo for some tasty gelato.

What a special date night out on the square with the love of my life. While these past weeks have been extremely busy it is so important to take some extra time just for us:)

Rudy's Dinner Date Night

Ray and I have been extremely excited for Rudy's to open in Allen. I have never seen anything built and open so quickly. Rudy's is one of our favorite BBQ eateries since college. This past Friday in celebration for the opening of Rudy's as well as to celebrate the end of my first ESY Summer School Session, Ray and I decided to make a fun dinner date night out of it. Believe me it did not disappoint. Oh and I would absolutely recommend the banana pudding as well:) Eat up and enjoy!

Shops in Allen & Buca Celebration!

Saturday after returning home from the hair salon, Ray and I decided to enjoy this beautiful day by having a Freebirds lunch outside at the Shops in Allen. After a very delicious meal including free chips and queso if you provided their preferred customer card, we ventured around the shops and enjoyed the happenings around the area. What a perfect Saturday with the husband. I am definitely one lucky girl:)

After our adventure around town, we returned home with full tummies. That afternoon we enjoyed a few shows and relaxed with our sweet fam of four including our two furbabies. That night we then decided to enjoy a date night out and celebrate at Buca! More will be discussed in the very near future but I couldn't be more excited and know that this was definitely a Godly decision about my future career path.

At Buca di Beppo the line was unexpectedly short for a Saturday and we were even offered a spot to sit at their world famous kitchen table. It was so fun to be able to watch the crew make some of our favorite dishes and of course to hear the line repeated over and over "this is our famous kitchen table." We felt so special and even were given free garlic bread:) We ordered so much tasty food including chicken Parmesan, fettuccine pasta, and of course this delicious mammoth of a sundae for dessert. Oh and please know we took home most of it as left overs. Ha. Here are a few pictures of our celebratory date night out!

What a special afternoon/night with my husband. I love these moments as it is a time to remember the path that God has put before us. We truly are blessed! Happy Saturday:)

Heart Day Dinner Date!

Saturday night Ray and I enjoyed an early Valentine's Dinner Date Night. This year we decided to have a low key night in. We dinned on Buca Di Beppo's very tasty spaghetti and meat balls and watched a romantic comedy at home. It was so nice to have a relaxing date night in with my hubs. Happy Love Day a few days early:)

Dance Dance Date Night & Chisled Paths!

After a few weeks of being couped up in the apartment with random symptoms of sickness... it is pretty amazing to announce that both Ray and I are back to our typical healthy selves. So Saturday night after Ray's frisbee games, we decided to celebrate and enjoy a dinner for two at Pasados!

But before we left we had to have a small dance party in the apartment to celebrate!
...

Sunday morning, we started our day at church and enjoyed a wonderful bible study with our ABF and 10:50 service. After church, the hubs and I decided to enjoy this beautiful January weather (the whole two days of it:) and took a walk by our old apartment and park. It is amazing to think that our first moments of living in Dallas were standing right there before us...

...

... and it was amazing to revisit all the memories and moments we shared. Almost 4 years ago this August Dallas became our home. I am so thankful for this path as it is the path that God has laid before us. It is a path that has been chiseled long before we stepped foot down it and will continue all the days of our lives. I am thankful for his paths and these journies as they are greater than anything we can ever realize.

Zellner Friday Night PJ Party!

Take Two



Friday Night Ray and I were both feeling under the weather. Sadly we had a fun double date night planned with our sweet friends from church, the Zoutendams... or "The Other Z's" but we took a raincheck as we are definitely looking forward to spending time with them soon. So as a means to enjoy our Fun Friday in... we decided (or I decided... ha) that we should enjoy a PJ and pizza night with our cute fam of four. We picked up a few necessities including two Blockbuster movies and some snacks and were ready to enjoy our night in. I don't think the pups enjoyed our pj night as much as I did... but it was a great family time none the less. These truthfully are my favorite moments in the entire world. So here's to unexpected and wonderfully perfect nights with those you love.

How did you spend your Friday?

Here is How We Buca!

Tonight the Hubs and I celebrated with a fun date night at home.

For Christmas we had received a few gift certificates to Buca di Beppo and thought it would be a wonderful night to order some amazing food to go! Thank goodness we decided to stay in as it seemed that almost all of North Dallas had the same thought we did about Buca. The place was absolutely packed. Yay for curb side service!

What a fun date night in... we enjoyed great food, great movies, and a great time with my cute family of four!

Just Because Dinner Date Night!

I love my husband... and I really enjoy some Buca di Beppo. I love nights where we are honestly both too lazy to cook and really just want an inexpensive night on the town.... and since I had yet another $10 off coupon to our tasty eatery of choice... why not!

... and with meals that look like this...

Chicken Saltimbocca

Chicken Fettucini Alfredo

... I don't know how anyone could blame us:) This week has been a good one... a busy one... but one that I am anxiously waiting to pass as our one year anniversary is only a few days away. I am so thankful... thankful for such an amazing husband... and thankful for just because dinner date nights!

Friday (almost) Hallows Eve!

Happy (almost) Halloween Friends!
What a week. A week filled with so many activities... sometimes being overloaded of course... but now I could not be more excited it is Friday and the weekend is FINALLY before us. I also am so excited and cannot wait for all the fun Halloween-esque activities coming up!

Where's Waldo?!?!
This Friday, Ray's company, PFS, had their annual Halloween costume contest. I personally think he makes a fantastic Waldo myself:)

My favorite Waldo:)

At school we have participated in Red Ribbon Week! Our themes included wearing team jersies, sun glasses, sweats, the color red, and of course our Friday was spirit day as always. Many adorned our black and gold... which was pretty fitting for the upcoming holiday. Today was also a very special day as today was our Halloween Celebration with some music ladies... including our very favorite one... Miss Libby.

This Friday was also the fourth grade field trip to the Outdoor Learning Center in Plano. We learned about the black land prairie, animals and their habitats, as well as dug for fossils. Let's just say that this was a very interesting outting... but did end with a LOT of laughs, a good time:) and some yummy cupcakes for my efforts.

After a very LONG week, Ray and I decided to enjoy a wonderful date night out!

Dinner and a Movie Date Night!

The Hubs and I:) 10/29/10

We decided to dine at OTB... as I was really in the need of some tasty Mexican Food and a house strawberry margarita. Yum!

I know it's sad but I really do think I could eat Mexican every day of my life. After a very wonderful dinner and being totally stuffed, we then decided to go see Saw 3D. I mean come on... first day out and last of the Saw series. And as Ray would say... what could be better than in 3D!


Saw in 3D!

The Zellners and the 3D glasses

Well as an avid Saw fan I have to say that this final one was not all I had envisioned it to be. As specified all the lose ends would be tied up and all questions were supposed to be answered... pretty much I was left with more deaths, a lot of blood as always, and a twist that was thrown to us within the final few minutes of the movie. I was left (sad to say) with disappointment.

... but while the movie was not all it was cracked up to be... I had a great night out with my papa bear. I love have special evenings out with my love:)

HAPPY FRIDAY and let the Halloween hours begin!

Chick-fil-a, AMC, Joyland, Fall Festive Weekend!

Our weekend was filled with wonderful activities from dinner and date nights out to Fall Festival work days to working several nights in Joyland at the church. It was definitely a busy but fun-filled weekend.

With very little food options in the fridge and with a gift card in hand (won at Minute to Win It), Friday night the hubs and I decided to grab food from Chick-fil-a. We dinned on the usual; however, I will have to say that this really is one of my favorite fast food joints... if you can call it that.

It was definitely a nice night to catch up with the hubs and to RELAX!

Saturday morning, the pups let us sleep in until 9AM. I mean this is huge. Toby's internal clock had kicked in ever since the move and since he was no longer sharing a bed with us. Typically between 6:30AM-7AM he greets us with his whining and impatience but on this morning we were given a gift of two extra hours. Hey I'll take it.

By that afternoon, with our other Minute to Win It gift card we left for AMC to see Hereafter starring Matt Damon and directed by Clint Eastwood. This film discusses death and of course the "hereafter" as described by the title.

After our matinee movie at Stonebriar, we spent a few more hours with the pups before it was time for me to head to the church to work with my kiddos in Joyland. But before I left for work I had to take a cute picture.

Zellner Family of Four

Tonight I worked with children from kindergarten through fourth grade. We colored pictures, put a few puzzles together, and watched a movie. I received the cutest comment from a second grade girl. She looked at me with a questioning face.

girl... "Um Miss Alicia. Do your lips hurt?"
Me... "No sweety. Why?"
girl... "Well you keep putting stuff on your lips and I didn't know why."

I absolutely love this age. They are so cute and inquisitive... and she was right. Sadly I don't even notice anymore.

Sunday morning, Ray and I met upstairs with our ABF and enjoyed a great small group discussion on the book "Radical" that we will be studying over the course of the next few weeks. It definitely will give us a lot to think about and to discuss. By 10:30 we went downstairs to our room in Joyland. Every fourth Sunday of the month, my husband and I teach a class of 3 1/2 year olds. I absolutely love it and am so thankful that we are able to share and serve children together. In class we told the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. We discussed Joshua's army ... as our class portrayed this portion of the story and marched around the room saluting and tooting our horns... Joshua was so loved by God that the walls came tumbling down. In our craft project we discussed how God loves his people. The kids then colored pictures of themselves adding buttons, clothing, glitter, and so forth. In the very center we placed a red heart sticker. We relayed the message that God loves us! What a special message!

Upon finishing church, Ray and I quickly... well not exactly quickly as we waited in line for what seemed like forever... we grabbed some Great Outdoor subs... and returned to the church for our Fall Festival Work Day.

The Heights is providing a free Fall Festival that will be taking place this Wednesday, October 27 from 6-8PM. The theme this year is Once Upon a Time... and as you may be able to see... our ABF is doing The Wizard of Oz. More details and pictures shall be posted shortly. Just know that you are seriously in for a treat!

After our work day, I had a few hours at home then I would once again return to the church to assist with child care. Tonight I worked with the older children from second to fifth grade. From 4:45- 8:15PM we made mosaics, colored worksheets, played on the playground, and watched a movie. Within a short time I've already made so many sweet little friends.

Tonight I received the cutest picture. My little friend Matthew who I work with on Wednesdays gave me this picture to keep and to put on my refrigerator. I am unsure if you remember my first day in Joyland. We discussed being servants to God and the cleaning of feet. His picture says... (just in case you may be unable to read)

I like Alicia
Thank you for liking me Alicia!

Within the picture, he thanks me for painting his feet!

Uh Oh I guess the hubs has a little competition. Ha. But seriously this may be the cutest message ever. I absolutely love what I do and each day am so thankful for the change I made only a few short months ago. God really does have such wonderful plans for us. I am so thankful and look forward to all he has in store.

Love,
Alicia