Eric and Kelly Featherston moved to Buffalo Creek in November 2016 with their one-year-old daughter, Ellie Jane. We first introduced them in August 2017 through our “Meet Your Neighbors” column. Now, nearly 10 years later, we’re catching up with the Featherston’s to see how much has changed since they became Buffalo Creek residents.

 

But first, let’s step back in time. Kelly and Eric were college sweethearts, meeting at Arkansas Tech University. Eric played football and Kelly played volleyball. Kelly is a Spring, Texas native, while Eric grew up in Arkansas. The couple married in 2007. Now, the Featherston’s are a family of five, with Ellie, who turns 11 in November, daughter Lila Rae, 8, and son Rhett Patrick, 6.

 

Ellie is a fifth grader at Pullen whose favorite subject is writing. A voracious reader, she especially enjoys mysteries, fiction, and historical fiction, including the “I Survived” and “The Babysitter’s Club” series. Her parents describe her as creative, with a love of art and drawing and is now mastering the lost art of cursive writing! Ellie has served on the school announcements team and is currently running for student council secretary. Like her parents, Ellie is athletic and plays volleyball for “The Dolphins” at the Y. She has also played softball, lacrosse, and pickleball. Outside of school and sports, she has taken piano lessons for three years and enjoys “finger knitting.”

 

Lila is a third grader at Pullen who loves the color green. Math and reading are her favorite subjects, and like her sister, she is active and athletic. She plays soccer on the “American Girls” team, appropriately outfitted in red, white, and blue jerseys, and has also played softball, with plans to play volleyball in the spring. An avid reader, Lila enjoys graphic novels, the Emily Windsnap book series, and “The Babysitter’s Club,” just like her sister. She also loves animals, a perfect fit for a family that has always had dogs. Their newest addition, Dolly Barkton, a sweet rescue, recently joined three year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback Maverick, and Lila has been instrumental in caring for her. Lila takes piano lessons and enjoys playing games and cards. Despite their busy, active lives, both girls still love playing with Barbie dolls, with Ellie often designing their clothes.

 

Rhett is a six-year-old bundle of energy who loves sports. So far, he has played soccer, baseball, and lacrosse, and you can often find him riding his bike around the neighborhood with friends. A first grader at Pullen, Rhett’s favorite subject is math, while building with his thousands of Lego bricks is a favorite pastime. Like his sisters, Rhett is being introduced to music through guitar and ukulele lessons. He is also a big fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks—or “Hogs”—and looks forward to watching them play this fall with his dad. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Rhett did not hesitate: “A firefighter like my dad.”

 

Eric has been with the Dallas Fire Department for 17 years, spending most of his career at firehouses in South Oak Cliff. Kelly is an Adapted PE consultant for Region 10, working with students with disabilities around the Metroplex.

 

For this busy family, free time is family time. Between sports, music, school, and other activities, they make time for family swims, neighborhood bike rides, dinners, game nights, and movies. They enjoy cheering on Dallas sports teams and attend a few Rangers games each year. Last year, Eric treated each child to a Stars game for their birthday. The family also enjoys road trips to Houston and Arkansas to visit relatives.

 

A lot has changed in the 10 years since Eric and Kelly made Buffalo Creek their home. We wish the Featherston’s many more years of making wonderful family memories in our neighborhood!