We are BACK DOWN SOUTH!!!
It all still seems a bit surreal, but here we are already a month into this next chapter, and I have to say- it does feel nice to be back!
As I mentioned previously, we got the the rental house about a week before the moving truck would arrive with our stuff. It was kind of nice to not be surrounded by cardboard for a few days...
...one of us enjoyed using our living room as a track for her plasma car- ha!
Aside from sleeping in our unfurnished home, we decided to jump in with both feet and enjoy our friends...
Since it was the weekend prior to the 4th, there was quite a bit going on around town.
First stop: our old digs!
Central Park had a neighborhood party, and seeing that we're Central Park alum, its ok we attended- right?! HA!
Thanks for inviting us, Niki!!
More food then I have ever seen at any single function. Lawns full of people and blow up houses. And fireworks...
lots... and lots... of fireworks.
Harper was in HEAVEN when she learned that she could stay out late with Mommy to see the firework show.
...and the excitement continued when she got to join me for a night in a HUGE HOTEL BED!!!
Thank you, Mom for treating she and I to a night in an ACTUAL bed- ha! Minus an air mattress for a night was AMAZING and the perfect pre-birthday gift;).
Next we were able to enjoy a fun night with the Harrison's!!!!! I was so excited to see these sweet friends, but then I saw this on their calendar (she actually put our move-back date on her family calendar;)), AND made 3 dozen cupcakes to celebrate with us- THE SWEETEST!!!!
We had so much fun playing, visiting, chowing down, and making up for lost time!!
Love you, Kassi!!
Thank you for making us all feel so special!! We've missed you all so much!!
Next we decided to tackle a bit of our own NW Arkansas bucket list!
Lunch at Taziki's.... LOVED EVERY BITE...
...and cutting the heat and humidity with a visit to the splash pad!
Smiles all around- so fun!!
We also got in a morning at Daddy's fav... a walk on the trails of Crystal Bridges followed by brunch at the museum's restaurant, Eleven.
{Sweet sisters}
Daddy was IN HIS HAPPY PLACE!!!
I think it was this day, that he finally felt like he could let his hair down a bit and enjoy being back... LOVE.
...moment over- LOL as the truck arrived with ALL OUR STUFF.
We quickly realized that either #1: our rental home was a little small or #2: we had a bit of a hoarders situation- lol!
...I mean SERIOUSLY!
I pledged this year would MOST DEFINITELY be the YEAR OF THE PURGE- HA!
We weren't quite sure how long we would be in the rental, so we decided to leave as much boxed up as we could... which makes this crazy organized mama a bit crazy. The amount of boxes was insane. The intense urge I had to just tear into boxes and organize it all was almost too much to bear...
So I just closed the door to that garage, and decided to do fun things OUT of the house and enroll Evelyn in FULL-TIME school through the summer- hehe (that child is queen of getting into things she isn't suppose to- there was no guessing what she would discover in that garage;))...
As always... I LOVE the pictures preschool sends of the fun times she's having at school.
Harper, Mags, and I saddled up and enjoyed the Arkansas summer days...
The Amazeum.
So cool!!
I had only been once before we moved as it was brand new, but this year- SIGN US UP FOR A MEMBERSHIP!! We have been multiple times already and STILL haven't done it all- ha!
One of the sweetest parts: the lift they put in so Maggie can enjoy one of the sweet exhibits that is two stories!! I (and Maggie:)) enjoyed being included in ALL the fun!!!
Harper got to meet up with Ms. Berkley at her Daddy's restaurant- best fish in NW Arkansas {Fish City Grill}- YUM!!
High Rise!!
This place is AWESOME!!! ALL of my girls LOVE this indoor trampoline park!!
Playtime made sweeter with meeting up with the Pate family and a surprise run-in with Ms. Rebekah and her cuties!!
These two are the best of friends- SO SWEET!!
Thanks for all the cuddles and love you give little miss, Jen- love.
Maggie started at a new barn for hippo therapy!! It is SO COOL!!! Maggie is still adjusting to her new horse, Ring, but Ms. Codi is amazing and so sweet with her! Harper has LOVED being at the barn with me for therapy. This kid LOVES the horses, dogs, barn cats, and occasional turtle she finds- ha! SO FUN!!
Harper and I even got to sneak in a bowling and pizza date while Mags was at therapy. Awww, enjoying the sweet one-on-one moments I can soak up with her before she's back to school!
SO. HOT.
We LOVE Arkansas, but the HEAT in the summer is incredible.
Incredible in that you are in a full sweat from loading your kids in the car, 3-shower-a-day, outside activities must include water kind of incredible.
HA!
Thankful for friends with pools at their homes, water ballon fights, time spent on the lake, neighborhood pools, and splash parks... or heck- we've been known to just play in buckets of water on the back porch... attire for the summer when you're in Arkansas is MAJORITY swimsuit attire;)
...This is the first time we've lived in a neighborhood that has a pool! Double bonus: the pool is on our street. Load up the stroller, grab the pool bag, and away we go... grateful!
..TRIPLE BONUS: when your bestie snatches your whiney three-year-old from your arms and plays in the water with her- AND HER OWN KIDDOS for an hour. She is sent from Heaven, I swear;).
Luv ya, Jen.
When Daddy is home on the weekends, we've been sure to enjoy some picnic lunch dates and outside time (on those cooler days of course;)).
Maggie finally LOVES these swings!!! How quickly can we build a swing set before the cold weather hits?!
{Cheese!}
One of those HOT days!
We were able to FINALLY make it out to Beaver Lake as a family!! Friends of ours bought a home there this past year and we were able to see what Lake Life is all about. Our kiddos approved FOR SURE {well, maybe Harper would have appreciated a life vest that was more her size- hehe- oops!;)}
Thank you, Wilkinson family, for having us!!
Beautiful home. Beautiful lake. Smiles all around.
We were SO happy to be back for some of the summer birthday parties!! Olivia turned FOUR and Riley turned SIX!!!!
Cannot believe how quickly all the babies are growing up, but LOVED being able to celebrate with them and their sweet families!
Pete and I have been able to enjoy a couple concerts this summer! Love living close to such a fun venue... and being able to chat with all of Pete's sweet work-family too!
{Peter Frampton;)}
...and then Kassi and I were able to go to our first concert together!!!
So fun!!
{Rascal Flatts;)}
All in all, it's been a nice end to the summer!!! Trying to soak in some fun moments with this little lady before she's back in school...
...and get my mind wrapped around the idea of participating in my FIRST half marathon!! Thanks to my sister for this energizing package I received- new outfits for the runs and a play-by-play of training and tips to get ready for the big day!!!
Indy Monumental Marathon here we come!!
Abby, THANK YOU for the sweetness- cannot WAIT to run alongside you and Anna this Fall!!!
But the BIGGEST news this season, is that we found our {hopefully} forever home!! Bit of a long story, but instead of building a home from scratch, we came across this one- a month from completion- built as an accessible home and PERFECT for our family!! We cannot WAIT to plant our roots here August 25!!
The first couple weeks, being back here was a bit surreal. We were here- the places we ventured out to seemed so familiar but new, there was an excitement about being here in this place we love, surrounded by our "family of friends" that seemed so amazing.
Who would have thought, 7 years ago this October, when I came to this state kicking and screaming, that we would fall in love as much as we have. Life is a journey. We have grown to appreciate all the parts of this journey... the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. They make us who we are. Our journey as a couple and a family has shaped our children and us into who we are. We wouldn't change any of it. But I mean it when I say, being back here... all the things that happened to get us to this place as a family- a place of contentment, gratitude, and happy, is something worth celebrating for us. We have grown to appreciate this pocket of the earth and the incredible people we have met more than ever. God knew what he was doing when He led our path here 7 years ago, and back again 6 years later. He knew how our life would unfold, and if we had to choose somewhere other than Indiana to raise our munchkins, THIS would be the next best bet.
THIS is home
... and it feels SO GOOD.