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. :)

Newfy Golf

November 28, 2010

I won Newfy Golf!
Woo! I'm getting pretty good at winning games. Part of this win had to do with the fact Zach passed his luck onto me. Thank you, baby!

Now to find some people to play cards with...

Happy Birthday, Mama Pharr AND Happy Anniversary to my Parents-in-Law!!

November 17, 2010

Happy anniversary to my Pharr parents!
And happy birthday to Mama Pharr!

I hope you guys had a great day. :)
Love, your crazy children
(See photo for proof we are crazy.)

Hot Potato

[photo courtesy http://fotobank.ru/image/SF17-6827.html]

November 14, 2010
You know the game "hot potato?"
Well, it wasn't a hot potato last night that caused all the trouble.
(I definitely wasn't playing.)
It was hot soup.

At Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Chuck's Sunday School soup night, I had fixed my loaded baked potato and headed over to the white chili with chicken.

*sets paper plate with potato and soup bowl beside soup Crock Pot and starts to lift lid*
Zach: "You got that?"
Me: "Yeah."
*as lid lifts, ladle flips out onto plate, knocking it and all contents to the floor*

Not only did I lose my potato, but I also lost my piece of cheesy bread AND covered my jeans in sour cream, butter, and potato. AFTER I had put our laundry on.

Gives me a whole new perspective on playing hot potato and on enjoying soup night.

P.S. I made those potatoes--scrubbing them clean, rolling them in oil and seasonings, and wrapping them carefully in their foil cocoons to grow and bloom...er, cook--and then I killed mine, not with the fork, but with the floor. What kind of potato-mother am I?

Autumnal Falling

November 9, 2010

I just LOVE autumn!!

Lily decided she was a lap dog after Erin and Josh "surprised" us with a visit!

Life Goes On...Thank God for Friends

October 29, 2010

These are our friends, Mister and Missus Billy Bob (or Billy "Rob," as I called him ;) Trashy McTrasherson. They keep things classy.

Thanks for coming to see us and keeping us company. I'm so sorry we were not in costume, but I don't think you guys would have been nearly as hilarious if everyone else had been dressed up.

the body parts fruit salad the McTrasherson's brought

Hobie being held hostage

Zach Galifianakis in The Hangover and a pirate wench

My mama was a SCREAM!

So was Bobby!

Billy Rob likes the demon dog.

Hobie pouts

*~*the loveliest couple in the world*~*

We had lots of yummy food and spiced apple cider!

the fall decorations I rigged up

my sister

Pharr siblings

We also had fun with the Pharr's, my mama, Erin & Josh, Nathan, Kayley & Johnny, and Genis & Hayden.

He was tired, so I was tired with him.

My Mechelle Belle!

Cream Puff!

I wish we could have seen the rest of our friends before we left, but that's why the holidays were created, right?
[See pictures for proof.]

Best Dishes, Y'all!!!

October 18, 2010

Bobby and Beverly went to Savannah during the last week of their vacation, and they brought us back Savannah gifts.

This one is mine. :)
I LOVE Paula.
And I already know which recipe is going in here first!

Northwest Arkansas

October 13, 2010

Zach and I headed out of Hot Springs early this morning for Bentonville and the rest of northwest Arkansas. It was a beautiful and scenic drive up. Here is the best shot I got of NWACC as we were heading down the road for some celebratory drinks and dessert at Ruby Tuesday. (Zach thinks his interview went well *prayers going up*) It was a pretty campus, and I was amazed that they have a parking deck--and UCA doesn't. (Now, I know that a UCA parking deck would probably sink into the swamp that is Conway, but you would think the University would maximize the use of their land in other ways since they can't build a parking deck...)

Anyway, our journey has also included a lovely dinner with Zach's Uncle Chuck and a cool--nay, downright cold--autumn night in NWA! I'm going to have to knit me a sweater overnight!