Making it a "Home Sweet Home"

the first thing I "cooked" in the house--hot tea in the morning :)

December 5, 2010

Sunday dawned bright and COLD. *brrr* Evidently the bottom floor, where our bedroom is, does not heat as well as the top floor. Geez, who decided heat should rise? That's just silly.

After lots of furniture assemblage and unpacking, we had our first meal at our kitchen table (KFC) and bid farewell to the Pharr's. Then we headed out to the other Pharr's to pick up the rest of our belongings...and then onto the grocery store.

We settled on the Walmart down the street from us. It was an exhausting shopping trip: I'm telling you moving is the best workout ever because all you do is pack and move boxes and walk up and down stairs and run to the store for things you need and never eat because there isn't time or you don't think of it.

Zach did procure a pineapple, which symbolizes hospitality and blesses one's home. :)
[I picked out a good one! It's tasty. :]

Home Sweet Home

December 4, 2010

Saturday morning we got up E-A-R-L-Y to head to Bentonville. It's usually a three-hour-and-45-minute drive going through Y-City, but, with our huge moving truck, we had to take the Interstate. It was a lovely, uneventful drive and really didn't seem like it was as long as it was.

My poor mama woke up with the stomach bug that has been going around, so she didn't get to go with us. :( At least she is feeling better now. :)

After some stops and lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Alma (Emily's country!), we made it safe and sound...and began the process of unloading. Thank God for dollies.

With Uncle Chuck's help, we finished ahead of schedule--even getting the kitchen set up!--and got to go eat at Ruby Tuesday. *MMM salad bar*

This is our home! I am in love with it. :)

dining room

HALF of the kitchen

looking in from the balcony

looking outside on the balcony

view of the front door

the stairs (We moved the mantel to go over the fireplace.)

the future office

my vanity :)

our bedroom

Zach's Lego room :)

the other bathroom downstairs

Budget Moving

December 3, 2010

We woke up in Hot Springs Friday morning and began the process of organizing all of our belongings to be transported by this Budget truck. It was HUGE, so we were certain we would have room left over.

Then we started loading in all the furniture and got a little worried. Next boxes came, and it was a flood of cardboard with no room to move. Finally we shoved in the odds and ends here and there so it was crammed...in the rental truck, Don (Zach's Honda), Beverly's CR-V, and the Buick I'm now driving. (Speaking of that car, it has no name, so maybe that's why it's misbehaving?)

This is what you call a caravan.

BUT there was room left over. *whew* It was nice to be able to rest that night and not have to worry about driving and/or unloading that day. It wasn't the smoothest day, but it was a lot smoother than some I've had when it comes to moving (and I've had A LOT). We definitely get better at packing and loading each time, but, Lord, please let us stay here for at least two years!

A special thanks to Bobby and Beverly, Momo, Josh, Kevin and Bree, and Jeannie and Chuck for making our move go smoothly! We are so thankful for you guys. :)

~*~birthday pie~*~

August 24, 2010

Tonight we had my birthday pie (chocolate chess). I had to wait for it because my birthday fell during thesising, graduating, and moving, then I didn't know what kind of pie I wanted, and finally I hate to wait until everyone else's birthdays had passed so the house was empty of dessert. It was worth the wait. :) It was yummy! Beverly did a great job.
I've never known someone to have a birthday go over three months. ;)

Can you see the 25 spelled out?

no ocupado

May 22, 2010

Zach rigged up an "Occupied" sign since we didn't have one on our door; Brian translated it into Spanish.

As soon as I woke up, I started packing and cleaning because it was Moving Day. :(

I was sad, not to leave Baridon, but because I HATE, LOATH, and DESPISE moving. I believe this is my fifteenth (15!!!) time to move in seven years.

Zach and I really felt like we had got a lot done and didn't have a lot of stuff. We were wrong on both accounts.

(bookshelf before)
This was the first thing I packed up. My books, once compiled, are probably the biggest thing I own.

bookshelf after

His parents saved us. They are moving pros. Three vehicles and a U-Haul trailer stuffed to the gills, we moved to Hot Springs. We put most of our stuff into storage today, where it will remain until we move again. Le sigh.

our first official home

view from the door of the empty living room

our very small kitchen made bigger by being emptied

no longer where we hang our knickers :)
(That would be a post-colonial poetry pun.)

Thanks, guys, for helping us! We're so lucky to have a place to stay with you guys...moreover, a place that is almost big as our apartment was. *lol* The last thing I moved was the wedding cake we're saving for our first anniversary. As we forget to pack it in the cooler, I placed it in two garbage bags that I filled with what ice was left in our freezer and kept it at my feet on the ride home. :)

wedding cake pre-garbage bags