Christmas Eve at our home

Fayrouz Hancock prepares a Christmas Eve feast for our family at our home in Plano on Friday, Dec. 24, 2010.


photos © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com


Michelle Moe and William Hancock unwrap gifts from relatives.


Fayrouz talks to her in-laws Suellen and John Moline on Christmas Eve.


Deviled eggs made by Cindy Hancock, tiger shrimp and other appetizers await the family on Christmas Eve in Plano.




Mark's handmade guacamole and tiger shrimp await Santa (if he shows up quickly).




The Moline family of Plano poses for a portrait.




William Hancock and Michelle Moe try to sneak a kiss when they think nobody is looking.


The deserts were a big hit with our family. It included Suellen's Harvest Pie, Fayrouz's pineapple upside down cake, several flavors of Richard's fudge, a fruit tart, pecan tart, a seven-rum fruitcake from Wisconsin, and more.




A fruit tart, and a seven-rum fruitcake from Wisconsin await anyone with some room left in their belly after Christmas Eve dinner at our home in Plano on Christmas Eve.

Highland Park vs. J.J. Pearce volleyball

J.J. Pearce senior Katie O'Brien (16) spikes the ball against Highland Park during a 4A volleyball game at J.J. Pearce High School on Sept. 21, 2010 in Richardson.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Highland Park junior Malia Williams (7) bats the ball down as junior Elizabeth Lee (14) watches during a volleyball game at J.J. Pearce High School.



J.J. Pearce sophomore Lauren English (5) fires a ball at Highland Park junior Logan Vanderslice (12) during a volleyball game in Richardson.



Highland Park senior Caroline Culwell (1) makes a dig as senior Margeaux Mendenhall (13) watches during a volleyball game at J.J. Pearce High School.


J.J. Pearce senior Sophie Orlich (17) fires the ball through the hands of Highland Park senior Brittany Fersing (5) during a game in Richardson.


J.J. Pearce sophomore Lauren English (5) makes a dig as coach Jason Nicholson and senior Katie O'Brien (16) watch during a 4A volleyball game against Highland Park at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson.

McKinney Boyd vs. Garland Lakeview football

McKinney Boyd senior Wrangler Anson Wilson talks on the phone before a homecoming high school football game against Garland Lakeview at Ron Poe Stadium on Sept. 17, 2010 in McKinney.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


McKinney Boyd players take the field before a football game against Garland Lakeview at Ron Poe Stadium.


McKinney Boyd junior Allison Brusa makes noise before the high school homecoming football game in McKinney.




Garland Lakeview senior Ceasar Brown Jr. (22) turns for yards after receiving a pass during a game against McKinney Boyd in McKinney.




McKinney Boyd senior James Driskell (1) catches a touchdown pass over the head of Garland Lakeview senior Robert Charles (3) during a football game at Ron Poe Stadium.


Garland Lakeview senior Davonta Black (1) scrambles away from McKinney Boyd senior Michael Ricchi (33) during a football game at Ron Poe Stadium.


McKinney Boyd senior quarterback Jonovan Griffin (3) passes the ball to sophomore Bryan Driskell (5) during a high school football game against Garland Lakeview at Ron Poe Stadium in McKinney.

Lake Lewisville boat wreck

© Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

A Texas game warden leaves the Lakeview Marina Gas Dock after air ambulances evacuated injured boaters on Lake Lewisville in Lake Dallas on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010. Eight children and four adults were injured in the two-boat accident.

The game warden refused to talk at the time. Much was/is strange and unresolved about this story...

Please read, "Lewisville Lake crash under investigation" by Kerry Solan / The Dallas Morning News.

St. Ann Community Carnival

photos © Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

Visitors partake in the food and rides during the St. Ann Community Carnival at St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010.


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Visitors partake in the food and rides during the St. Ann Community Carnival at St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell.

Named in this slideshow are: &nbsp Alison Major, Audrey Major, Abigail Major, Ashlynn Jones, Karl Vanzant, Eileen Littel, Faith Ayres, Frank Rusch III, Radu Cernat and Matt Cook.

Plano West vs. South Garland football

South Garland senior John Lacour gains yards against Plano West's defense during a high school football game at Homer B. Johnson Stadium in Garland on Sept. 10, 2010.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Plano West sophomore Tim Okposin struggles for additional yards agains South Garland during a high school football game at Homer B. Johnson Stadium.



Plano West senior quarterback Nick Glogau scrambles out of the pocket against South Garland's defense during a high school football game in Garland.


South Garland senior quarterback Stephan Turner (1) runs against Plano West during a high school football game.


Plano West junior Carlos Wiggins (12) pulls down a pass and avoids South Garland junior defender Brice Brooks (24) during a high school football game.



Plano West junior Carlos Wiggins (12) gets hit near the goal line by South Garland junior Dequincy Anderson (23) during a high school football game.



Plano West senior Kameron Haddock (48) is buried under a pile of South Garland defenders during a high school football game at Homer B. Johnson Stadium in Garland.

FC Dallas vs. Toronto soccer

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

FC Dallas' George John (14) and Zach Loyd (19) go up against Toronto's Maksim Usanov (33) and Josopeh Nane (15) during a Major League Soccer match at Pizza Hut Park on Sept. 4, 2010 in Frisco.


FC Dallas' David Ferreira (10) takes a shot at the Toronto goal during a Major League Soccer match in Frisco.



FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham (9) takes a pass as Toronto's Adrian Cann (12) reacts during a Major League Soccer game at Pizza Hut Park.

Rockwall Heath vs. Frisco Wakeland football

Frisco Wakeland junior Brad Sicula (14) leaps past Rockwall-Heath junior Mario Henderson (4) during a high school football game at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium on Sept. 3, 2010 in Rockwall.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


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Frisco Wakeland battles Rockwall-Heath during a high school football game at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium in Rockwall.

Named in this slideshow are: &nbsp Taylor Short, Tyler Kirkindoll, Austin Eddy, Devaughn Childress, Santino Shepard, Seth Nunnally, David Robason, Brad Sicula, Mario Henderson, Amaris Fields, Turner Smiley, Ross Hudson, Malcom Redmond, Kris Calvert, Paris Fallo and Sunil Charania.

Epic Roadtrip Recap

For optimal viewing/sound, please pause play to allow the slideshow to buffer some information before resuming play.


photos Mark M. Hancock / © DFWmark.com 
music "Campesina" © Tekumbe / Tekumbe.com

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We toured Texas during the week of July 15 to 22, 2010.

We logged about 1,100 miles inside Texas during a five-day roadtrip. We drove a triangle from Dallas to San Antonio to Houston and back.

To see more of what she saw, please follow the links below.

In one week we hit these cities:
Addison - dinner at Magic Time Machine served by the Mad Hatter
Dallas – Dallas World Aquarium, Sixth Floor Museum (JFK), West End Marketplace
Mesquite – Mesquite Championship Rodeo along with an all-you-can-eat-and-drink BBQ
Waco – lunch at Collin Street Bakery
San Marcos – Wonder World caverns (a waste of time)
San Antonio – Sea World, The Alamo, walked and took a river barge tour on The Riverwalk, Mexican dinner on the river and late-night burgers at the Hard Rock Café, San Fernando Cathedral and plaza
Schulenburg – lunch and fresh cinnamon-glazed pecans for the road
Galveston – Moody Gardens Aquarium, dinner at the Rainforest Café, drove along the seawall, coffee on The Strand with a dear friend
Clear Lake – toured and dined at NASA's Space Center Houston
Kemah – dinner and shopping on the Kemah boardwalk
Plano – shopped at Willow Bend Mall, several meals

Kimball vs. Madison football

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Kimball's Austin Franklin (4) leaps over Madison's Jamal Johnson (24) during a high school football game at Sprague Stadium in Dallas on Sept. 2, 2010.


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Kimball and Madison high schools battle during a football game at Sprague Stadium in Dallas.

Named in this slideshow are: &nbsp Royal Lancers honor guard, Austin Franklin, Jamal Johnson, Derrick Edwards, Justin Edwards, Isiah Norton, Brandon Hines, Kenneth Lynn, Takadrick Williams, Michael Jones, Xzavier Alexander, Lapatrick Payne and Marcus Edwards.

Denton Guyer vs. Waxahachie football

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Denton Guyer junior Leo Garcia (45) runs backwards into Waxahachie junior Michael Veail (10) during a high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton.


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Denton Guyer and Waxahachie battle during a high school football game at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton. Guyer won the game 45-7.

Named in this slideshow are: &nbsp James Mann, J.W. Walsh, Robert Lowe, Jr., Quintavia Gardener, Don King III, Terrance Hawkings, Aaron Wright, Gideon Mazara, Kamrhan Jones, Brooks Teeter, Devin Chandler, Leo Garcia, Michael Veail, Cameron Hunter, Alec Willis and Corey Culton.

Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum

Fayrouz Hancock poses for a portrait at the Dallas Arboretum on White Rock Lake in Dallas on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010.

photos © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com
music "Suenos De Libertad" © Tekumbe / Tekumbe.com


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Flowers bloom at the Dallas Arboretum during a visit with Fayrouz on White Rock Lake in Dallas on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010.

Please also see Fayrouz's photos.

Because I don't have time to tone or crop these images and Halloween is this weekend, I'm doing something I have never done before: I'm posting shots straight from my camera. I'll tone them when I come up for air later this year. So, for now, y'all get to see my actual framing and exposures.

Garland vs. Flower Mound Marcus football

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Flower Mound Marcus senior Dagan Newsome (27) looks at Garland senior Dale Anderson (20) and junior Kendre Bridges (7) during a high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton.


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Flower Mound Marcus and Garland high schools battle during a football game at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton.

Named in this slideshow are: &nbsp James Allen, Morgan Nasser, Evan Williams, Dagan Newsome, Dale Anderson, Kendre Bridges, Dawson Hadnot, Joe Sikes, Tanner Watkins, Deion Sanders Jr., Harvey Giddens, Taylor Smith, Dylan Powers, David Beamon, Ty Ty Green, Rufus Mason, Todd Henderson, Cale Shriver and Sirderrious Caldwell.

Sync rally

photos © Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

Mark Hart motivates youth to read the Bible during Sync, the Dallas Diocesan back-to-school kickoff rally, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Richardson on Sunday, August 22, 2010.


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Rally attendees participate during Sync, the Dallas Diocesan back-to-school kickoff rally, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Richardson on Sunday, August 22, 2010.

So. Grand Prairie vs. Arl. Lamar football

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Arlington Lamar senior Tracy Smith (2) pulls down a touchdown pass in front of South Grand Prairie junior Reggie Davis (10) during a high school football game on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 at Cravens Field in Arlington.


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Arlington Lamar and South Grand Prairie battle during a high school football game at Cravens Field in Arlington.

Named in this slideshow are:   Haley Westbrook, Jessie Sprinkle, Abraham Hall, Cameron Napoleon, Tracy Smith, Reggie Davis, Demetrius Ransom, Brad Bader, Ricky Pratt, Jared Johnson, Barry Ward, Cody Redrick, Nicholas Cooper, Will Boyette, head coach Trent Fuller and Marquintin Grant.

FC Dallas vs. Philadelphia soccer

Philadelphia's Danny Califf (4) deflects a header past FC Dallas' David Ferreira (10) during a Major League Soccer match at Pizza Hut Park on August 8, 2010 in Frisco.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham (9) controls the ball past Philadelphia defender Danny Califf (4) during a Major League Soccer match at Pizza Hut Park. Cunningham scored twice in the second half of the game.


FC Dallas' George John (14) gets a header as Philadelphia's Juan Diego Gonzalez Alzate (3) pulls on his jersey during a Major League Soccer match in Frisco.



FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham (9) scores the his second goal against Philadelphia's Chris Seitz (1) during a Major League Soccer match at Pizza Hut Park. FC Dallas won the game 3-1.

True Romance high school sweethearts

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Belinda and William Hill pose for a portrait at Plano Senior High School in Plano on July 24, 2010.


Belinda and William Hill pose for a portrait at Plano Senior High School. The couple dated while attending the high school, lost touch and reunited last year.



Belinda and William Hill pose for a portrait at Plano Senior High School.

Mass for people with disabilities

photos © Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel anoints the hands of attendees after an annual mass for people with disabilities and their caregivers at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Farmers Branch on Saturday, June 26, 2010.


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Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel celebrates mass during an annual mass for people with disabilities and their caregivers at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Farmers Branch. An Anointing of the Sick followed the mass.

Also named in this slideshow are:   Maria Ferrer-Miralles, Rafael Ferrer, Juanita Hoelscher, Roy Hoelscher, Dallas Diocese sign interpreter Don Jones and Deacon Michael Weston.

"Festung von Erinnerungen"

Lela Bell performs during "Festung von Erinnerungen" by Ewert & Company at the Studio Theatre in the Addison Conference & Theatre Centre on Friday, July 23, 2010.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Lela Bell performs with other dancers during "Festung von Erinnerungen" by Ewert & Company at the Studio Theatre in Addison.


Dancers perform during "Festung von Erinnerungen" by Ewert & Company at the Addison Studio Theatre.


Blair Lawrence, Jennifer Mabus Cook and Rebekah Caffey perform during "Festung von Erinnerungen" in the Addison Conference & Theatre Centre.



Ewert & Company artistic director Anna Marie Ewert-Pittman performs during "Festung von Erinnerungen" at the Studio Theatre in Addison.



Rebekah Caffey, left, and Rachel Cummings, right, perform during "Festung von Erinnerungen" by Ewert & Company at the Studio Theatre in the Addison Conference & Theatre Centre.