Empanadas?!?

How did I live 41 years on this planet, over half of those in the Southwest, and NOT know about empanadas?!?  We wanted to try a new restaurant near our new location and we found Republica Empanada which is amazing and serves these delicious little pocket pastries filled with delicious fresh ingredients including two vegan options!  You know it is a good restaurant when you are leaving with a full belly and planing your return trip!  These little pot pie-like pockets are a wonderful comfort food - a flaky crust filled with many options -  I had two varieties one filled with garbanzo beans, carrots, onions, mushrooms and a sort of savory gravy and another with an achiote potato, both were amazing with their fresh green salsa.  Brother had a Greek one with spinach, feta, olives and sun dried tomato.  He enjoyed it so much we had to order a second.  Sister had a black bean and cheese variety, and Husband had a jalapeno popper variety as well as one with chicken.  We also tried a couple of the dessert empanadas - the family loved them, but they all contained dairy in one form or another.  If you are visiting Mesa, you have to try it out.  I suggest just ordering the empanadas a la cart instead of as part of a plate - just so you can try a variety!

I haven't written for a bit because, well, we have been living a full life!  In addition to meeting up with friends and going to parks, we bought a basketball and have been shooting hoops each evening.  This has turned out to be really fun for the family.  There is a ball court in our new neighborhood and like most parks in AZ it seems to be underutilized. 

Time seems to be passing differently than when we were living our life in suburbia.  Friday we had been in our new community for one week, yet it seemed like SO much had happened in that week, I had a hard time accepting we had only moved a week before!  When things are new and changing, you have to be present - you can't sail through your life on autopilot. 

Because I don't have any other pictures to share, I will share a pen & ink drawing by Sister.  She says this is a spaceship. It was a labor of love over two days.