Todd's visit Bentonville

Dave, Lisa, Brian & Kyle came through Bentonville on their way home from visiting the Groens in South Carolina for the 4th of July holiday. What a great last minute get-together!! We all ate at Dink's (of course) and Landon gave everyone the grand tour of the restuarant and the smoker, etc then I gave them the tour of my first home in Bentonville. Hopefully they'll make it back this way soon for a longer trip!! : )

God Bless America (and fireworks!)

4th of July weekend in Arkansas!!

What a good 4th of July weekend, 2010! I moved into my new house in Bentonville, Arkansas on Friday, July 2nd. Landon welcomed me to my new home with a cooler filled with tasty beverages -- best bottle of champagne!! We had a toast to my "one-way trip to Arkansas from Dallas"... what a good feeling after making the 712 mile round trip drive many a times! Saturday, we started the morning off right with some waffle house and then I jumped into my huge stack of mail while the cable guy set up my internet and cable... then off to a fun day of shopping for house furniture, decor and a new TV! We then grabbed some BBQ on the patio over off the University of Arkansas campus and then went to see Twilight: Eclipse.

4th of July!! Indie woke up to a spoiled birthday treatment of a belly rub from me, a back scratch from Landon and a romp around her new backyard - this was her *golden* birthday (4 years old on the 4th). Landon and I went to Atlanta Bread for my favorite Vanilla Nut coffee and then on to church. They had a good service including a presentation of the colors, an appreciation for all those that have spent time in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard and Coast Guard and even some red, white and blue confetti shot out into the congregation! That night we went back to the church for an AWESOME fireworks show by the water and the crosses -- it was seriously like a 20 minute straight finale tied in with music. Right before the fireworks show, 79 people were baptized!! We bought our own fireworks and shot them off outside my house for my new neighbors! : )   

..Bittersweet..

I'm always used to taking a new step in my life as everyone close to me seems to be doing the same thing. When I moved to Norman after graduating from High School, everyone else was doing the same. When I moved to Tulsa for graduate school at OU-Tulsa after graduating from OU, everyone else was moving on from college as well. When I moved to Dallas to start my career with Ernst & Young, everyone else was starting careers and moving along to new things at the same time. Now, I am the only one making a big step at this point in my life and moving to a new city (and state) and to a new house and to a new office and to meet new friends. Thank goodness for Landon and my parents being nearby!! : ) Today, July 1st, was my last day in the Dallas office, One Victory Park. I had my farewell lunch with all my work girls at Poblano's (Sam- thanks for introducing me to the yummy world of Poblanos fast food mexican!) I'm so used to setting up farewell lunches for the interns on their last days-- strange to have one for myself!! I cleaned my desk and packed it all up then went to Steel for some sushi with the 'rents, then of course Yumilicious frozen yogurt for dessert! : P

Tomorrow, July 2nd, is the BIG moving day! Start bright and early with a Rockstar roasted light coffee to pack up my 3-story apartment in uptown Dallas into the Uhaul to drive the 356 miles to my new house in Bentonville! I will unpack and get settled just in time to enjoy the 4th of July holiday weekend (and of course miss Indie's *Golden* birthday- 4 years old on July 4th)!

Going away party in Dallas..

Had my going away party last night in Dallas, twelve days before the big move! A few of my favorite girls took me to dinner at Gloria's and brought me unexpected gifts.. a fun goodie bag and a large 4 picture matted frame with some of our best memories and then everyone signed it at the party - thanks Morgin, Natalie, Jenn and Danielle! : ) After dinner a group of us went to 300 for some bowling and drinks (which later was free due to the broken AC in our area, ha!) We then went to Blackfinn for some drinks on the patio. I love my group of Dallas friends and will definitely be back to visit! : ) One more weekend here and then it's *officially* off to Bentonville, AR!!!

CLOSING DAY!!

Tomorrow is the big day...

If someone would have asked me 7 months ago if I thought I would ever be leaving Dallas to move to Arkansas AND be buying a house.... I would have said HA! No.. What a journey of changes these last few months. It is starting to become real to me now, especially after pulling out that cashier's check for the down payment, ha! It really is a learning process and I had no idea how much detail went in to buying a house.... putting an offer on a house and negotiating the offer, signing contracts, home inspection and a follow-up inspection, settlement statement, termite protection plan, getting home owners insurance, setting up the security system, house title, payment, getting furniture and of course moving! I truly am lucky to have my wonderful boyfriend and my amazing parents by my side through it all (I could not have done it all without you three!!)

My car is packed up with my first load from Dallas to Bentonville and I will be leaving in the morning to drive to Arkansas to close on my house -- 3:30 PM CST! What better way to celebrate than with a 5 day Memorial Weekend and to see my parents and Landon?! : ) .........36 Days left in Dallas!!!

Home Inspection Day..

Updated house pictures (thanks Landon!)