Our Great City

Say hello to the Carden family: Daniel, Vivian, Gabriella and Julianna.

Daniel is currently computer programmer at Southwest Airlines located near Love Field in Dallas. Originally, from San Antonio, Daniel grew up in the DFW area and graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets.

Vivian graduated at the University of Sao Paulo, in Brazil, with a degree in Physical Education. Since arriving in the United States, Vivian has focused on her passion, gymnastics. She has coached pre-team thru team level 6 gymnastics and coordinated several successful recreational gymnastics programs/special events throughout the DFW area until she "retired" after the birth of their second daughter, Julianna.

Daniel and Vivian met in 1999 at a Coppell outdoor volleyball event by luck and a bit of fate. The relationship blossomed and they were happily married in 2000. Vivian and Daniel spent their honeymoon at Disney World. They’ve also travelled to Brazil, Miami, and Memphis several times to visit family. Other fun trips include Cancun, Portland, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Traveling is such a fun way to help the children learn about so many different things! The Carden’s love to travel and have the most fun as a couple and as a family on vacation trips. They moved to Keller in 2006 to buy their first new house in the fast growing north side of Keller. The reputation of the school system, safety of the area, location, beautiful parks and having some family and friends close by made the choice very easy.

Daniel and Vivian are blessed with raising two beautiful and fantastic daughters, Gabriella and Julianna. Being able to take dance, gymnastics and swimming classes in local businesses is also an added bonus to living in Keller! On any typical day you will see the Carden girls singing and dancing...all of the time! The girls also enjoy swimming. Julianna's passion is gymnastics, and Gabriella's biggest passion right now is movie making. In 2010, Gabriella received 2 awards at the Keller ISD Film Festival. One of our favorite phrases is "the best way to have a great idea is to have lots of ideas"...we love brainstorming and being creative! On their "mommy and daughters" date, you can find them taking lots of pictures (that is one of the girl’s favorite activities!)

In the 2009-2010 school year, Vivian was the team manager for Independence Elementary "Destination Imagination" teams and is committed to doing it again. It was a great experience for the kids and for Vivian.

Other lucky family members are their poodle "Princess" who came from Brazil, and their lizard "Obi-Wan Kenobi"

As a family, you will find the Carden’s taking pictures, fishing, playing at the nearby park, walking their poodle, going to Fort Worth Zoo, running around Six Flags, or dining at their favorite restaurant, Brio in Southlake Town Square. They also love going to the movies as a family and visit Harkins Theaters in Southlake frequently. At home, the girls love playing on the Wii, dress-up, board games, making art, baking chocolate cupcakes, and playing on the computer.

So when you see the Carden's at school or at one of their many activities around Keller, say Hi to our Family of the Month and tell them that you heard about them on OurGreatCity.com!

Say hello to the Patton family - Robert(Bob), Kathryn, Rachel, and Clay. They moved to Keller in 2002 from Annapolis, Maryland. Bob is a former Air Force pilot and is currently a captain for American Airlines. Kathryn, a former American Airlines flight attendant and accomplished artist, raises their two kids and runs the shuttle service between kids activities.

Carolyn and Jeremy Booker met in 2002 when Jeremy started working for the City of Keller as a Plans Examiner and Carolyn was a Librarian at the Keller Public Library. His office was in the Keller Library for two weeks before the new Town Hall opened. Though they were able to meet, they didn’t start dating until several months later after co-workers and bosses gave them several opportunities to talk and get to know each other better. One month after they started dating, Jeremy’s Marine Corps reserve unit was called up and sent to Iraq for the first five months of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This gave Carolyn and Jeremy a good opportunity to learn more about each other through letters and by the time Jeremy returned, they had fallen in love. They married on July 2, 2005 and bought a house in Shadowbrook Place in Keller, Texas. Their commutes to work couldn’t be any better since Jeremy’s is under 1 mile and Carolyn’s is under 2 miles. Carolyn is now a Public Services Manager for the Keller Public Library and Jeremy is Keller’s Building Official.

Jerry and Cindi met while working for TWA in Chicago in the late 70’s. Their careers took them through numerous jobs at the airline and just as many cities. Their jobs took them from Chicago, to Kansas City, to New York, to Connecticut, to St. Louis and finally, when American Airlines bought TWA, they landed in Texas. Both Jerry and Cindi say this is their favorite place to live. Even though American Airlines brought the family to Keller, Jerry decided that it was time for a change and after 32 years in the airline industry, he took an early retirement and is now a successful Financial Advisor.

Tom and Amanda Cawthra found Keller in 2000 before their first child was born. Keller's family-friendly economy was perfect for them and now all four Cawthra kids call the Hidden Lakes neighborhood their home playground. The city and the schools were a good mix since both Tom and Amanda enjoy running and training for marathons. There are plenty of trails in Keller and not many cities around here make it possible to actually stay on a trail to get to the schools in their high school feeder pattern!

Tom is a Keller City Councilman and was recently informed by the Mayor that he is apparently the first Councilman in the city's history to have a baby while in office. Tom and Amanda welcomed CallieAnne Renee to the family December 8, 2009 and now the "Cawthra Quartet" of children is complete. Amanda is a teacher and a sports mom. She is easy to spot at the Keller Sports Park or at school with the kids. She also volunteers for the Community Storehouse in Keller.

All three older siblings play the sport of the season and it's a family rule that everybody goes to each others games unless it's physically impossible! Aidan recently joined the Keller Lacrosse team and Cooper shoots hoops with the KYA second graders. Both boys love baseball and are thrilled to return to KYA's spring season. MollieRuth loves her soccer team and believes her brothers are actually her coaches. They love that part, too.

Aidan and Cooper are students at Hidden Lakes Elementary and MollieRuth loves her purple classroom at Building Blocks Preschool which is inside First United Methodist Church in Keller.