Golden Family

Golden Family Sid and Dottie

Holliday

It’s not every day that you get to sit down and learn about the history of the place you live and treasure, from a couple who has seen that place grow, change, and become what it is today. Sid and Dottie Holliday have not only lived in Canyon Creek for more than 47 years, they are also one of the first members of Canyon Creek Country Club. While visiting them in their home, they talked about the rich history of Canyon Creek. One sentimental change to the Hollidays has been watching the tree they planted in their front yard (pictured below) grow into a beautiful, 50-year-old oak tree. They also mentioned how II Creeks, which used to be an empty parking lot, was once a Tom Thumb. And not to mention, the fields that allowed them to see for miles from their back yard, are now filled with homes. But as the Hollidays will tell you, the one thing has not changed is the great people who inhabit Canyon Creek. Whether original owners or first-time home owners, Canyon Creek residents are top notch.

Retired Moment with Sid and Dottie Holliday

CCL: How Long have you lived in Canyon Creek? Hollidays: Since 1967

CCL: How Long have you lived in your current home? Dottie Holliday: 47 Years. We are the original owners of our home and built it when our boys were nineand six. As Sid says, the only thing the boys had to bring with them when we moved in was a desk chair for each of their rooms. Their beds, desks, and dressers were all custom built into their rooms.

CCL: What positions/volunteer positions have you held? Dottie Holliday: I started the neighborhood school patrol for mothers at the Custer railroad crossing.

CCL: Which Canyon Creek schools did your boys attend? Hollidays: Rick, now 56, and living in Canyon Creek. Attended Canyon Creek Elementary. Hunter, now 53, and living in Atlanta. Attended Prairie Creek Elementary. Both attended North and Pearce.

CCL: How many grandkids do you have and names/ ages? Hollidays: We have Erin Holliday,age 21, attending UNT. Hunter jr., age 20, attends Colgate University. Caroline Holliday,age 18, attending Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

CCL: Do you have any pets? Dottie Holliday: We love our precious rescue Shitzu, Kelsey. She goes everywhere with us and we love her!

CCL: How many grandkids do you have and what are their names/ages? Hollidays: We have three beautiful grandchildren. Erin Holliday, age 21, attends the University of North Texas. Hunter Jr., age 20, attends Colgate University in New York. Caroline Holliday, age 18, attends Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

CCL: What was your career and where did you work? Dottie Holliday: After my children were grown and in college, I earned my Masters of Science at the University of Texas Dallas, and then accepted a position as a special education counselor/ teacher at J.J. Pearce High School. Sid was a Manufacturers' Representative of commercial cooking equipment for more than 40 years--he owned his own company, Reynolds, Holliday and Snyder, with offices in Dallas, Houston, and Oklahoma City. He has been retired since 1995 and now enjoys golfing at the country club.

CCL: What’s the biggest change you have seen in Canyon Creek? Hollidays: The expansion of Fall Creek to the east past Grandview as well as the development of houses to US 75. We became members of Canyon Creek Country Club during its first year, 1964, and we have seen, during these 50 years, the many friendships develop among the Canyon Creek families.

CCL: You were most excited when what store opened in/ near Canyon Creek? Hollidays: The Tom Thumb grocery on the property that is now II Creeks! CCL: What’s your favorite holiday tradition at your house and/or in Canyon Creek? Dottie Holliday: Celebrating our own Christmas traditions with family and hosting a holiday buffet dinners for friends. I enjoy baking my very special Dutch cookies that my friends DEMAND!!!

CCL: Anything else you’d like to add in regards to the Canyon Creek neighborhood? Hollidays: We especially enjoy the young families who have returned to their childhood area of Canyon Creek to raise their families. Strollers, bikes, and young pet walkers once more are in our neighborhood.

Hunter in his Cub Scout uniform in front of our beautiful tree we planted in 1969.

CREEK KIDS

Early this fall, the Canyon Creek Mom's Club dedicated a bench to Canyon Creek park. On a cold September day, several members and families came together for the dedication and enjoyed another play date. The bench symbolizes the spirit of all mothers that have raised kids in the Canyon Creek community.

Fitness Matters The Anytime Fitness Personal Training Staff & Kathy Slupski Owner/Operator

Question : How do I manage my food intake during the holidays, especially with all the cakes, cookies, and other goodies seemingly everywhere? Help!

Answer : I thought we were going to skirt by without addressing this, but I’m glad you asked. Interestingly enough, the answer depends almost entirely on you. Assuming you’re susceptible to sweets and other treats, you really only have three options—go all-out and worry about the ramifications later, avoid them at all costs, or take a reasoned approach and indulge to a modest degree. I think most people would argue that the third idea is the best one. After all, why not treat yourself to a few holiday goodies, especially if you can limit yourself to one or two here and there. And don’t forget to continue with your workouts during this time as well. Restricting foods that you truly enjoy will only increase your cravings for them, and make for an unhappy holiday season. Bottom line—it comes down to choice, and you can choose to make healthy decisions or not, but you have to be realistic. Keep variety, moderation, and balance in mind, and reward yourself for being active all year long! Question : Several friends are using websites to track their nutrition and fitness, and they’re trying to get me to do the same. Do you think these health and wellness websites are worth the time, money, and effort?

Answer : Ultimately, it depends on the individual. However, research has proven that consistent monitoring and added accountability can pay off in the long run when you’re looking to make lifestyle changes. This can come in many forms, but one of the most popular these days is certainly through the use of websites. They can be a great tool as you try to change your behaviors, and may be just what you need to maintain your motivation. There are a number of options out there, from basic nutrition or fitness tracking sites to others that offer a wide variety of capabilities in all areas of health and wellness. I have to admit that I’m biased when it comes to this discussion. Anytime Fitness has created one of the most progressive, comprehensive, and fun websites to use if you’re looking to facilitate your own health and wellness. It’s called Anytime Health (anytimehealth.com)! The site has a diet tracker, an activity tracker, a workout planner that uses over 300 high-definition videos, as well as a robust community with a Q&A section, support groups, a contest page, and a site blog. And these features are just the tip of the iceberg. If you get a chance, check it out. You can sign-up for a free account that gives you somewhat limited access, and if you like what you see, you can join for a nominal yearly fee.

About the author: Kathy Slupski is the club owner and operator at Anytime Fitness in Richardson. To submit a question for future articles, please contact the author at richardsontx@anytimefitness.com. By The Training Staff and Kathy Slupski, Owner/Operator