Not Gone Yet

I know I have been MIA for the past, well, month or so. Not too much going on here. We are pretty well settled into the house...minus the office. It is one big mess of paper and picture frames and craft supplies; basically it has become our catch-all. Going from a 2-wall massive built-in desk to nothing kind of hurts a bit. Currently looking for storage solutions, it would be much easier if my husband was OK with me shopping at IKEA. Different topic different day.

We had a low-key Halloween. Our little cul-de-sac is above our age, so not too many little kiddos running around. NO trick-or-treaters, but I did play a little game to the movie Hocus Pocus. More info on that here: Little Baby Garvin: It's Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus

I did manage to paint a few pumpkins and place them outside. No carving this year. I am still on the job hunt, a few prospects here and there but it all takes time. I know if feels like years to me, but I have been on the other side of this job hunt and it goes so fast when you have a million other things on your plate so I am just trying to be patient and enjoy my low-key days organizing and snuggling with the pup.

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall season; I am loving the leaves! I will leave you with a little photo dump on this rainy Tuesday.

Kyle and I at the Kansas City Chiefs game with Jason and Sally.

Roasting marshmallows! (the ones that Blake hadn't eaten already)

Kyle is loving the hunting in the new state so far!

Traveled up north to Fargo for a good friends wedding.

Spent some much needed girl time with some of my besties while in Fargo.

Visited another bestie (now that we are driving distance!) and went to a Canvas & Chardonnay class. Just look at her concentration!

My finished product.

The two pups had a time together! Sniffing butts, wrestling, and fighting which usually led to separation. Sometimes they did get along, though. :)

Another trip for a friends wedding! Kyle was an usher.

At the wedding!

Loving fall temp and colors. So is this pup!

Out exploring the new city bright and early on a Saturday morning. 

 

Hopefully in the near future I can have some more updates and pictures of our new life in Kansas!

St. Louis

A few weeks ago my little sister had a volleyball tournament in St. Louis, MO. Since my dad was headed south for a hunting trip, mom caught a ride to KS and from there we ventured over to St. Louis. The 4 hour drive reminded me A LOT of the drive from Fargo to the Cities...lots of highway and not much other than farmland to look at ;)

I can see Kyle and I venturing over to St. Louis for some weekends of exploring- seems like a very fun city! (lots of breweries, too) :) We went to the Arch, and I saw the place where my high school band class played- brought back lots of memories. I somehow conviced my mom to go up to the top of the arch as well; for future reference, it is not nearly as bad as it looks! Anyone can do it.

Here are a few snaps from the weekend. So nice to be able to be closer to family and to do things with them again! 7 hours is WAY better than 20!

Mom had never been to Red Robin before and since it was right across the street from our hotel, we had to go!  

 

Mom at the top of the arch!

Us at the base of the arch, standing at the same spot where my high school band played!

We visited a chocolate factory. It was very interesting AND delicious!

We kept getting reminded of the I Love Lucy episode where she keeps eating the chocolates off of the line....and kept giggling!

Watching the Beavers!

My lil sis- #10!

SO excited and happy that I finally got to see her and her team play! Can't wait for the next time :)

4 Years & Counting

Today is our 4 year anniversary. It does not seem like 4 years ago today we were standing in the church, surrounded by friends and family, sweating because MN decided to have a randomly hot day in mid-September. It was such a happy and beautiful day.

In the last 4 years a lot has happened. We moved across the country together and I truly believe that has made our relationship stronger than ever. We are now in the middle of a second move, half way across the country, and I have only good feelings about this move as well. We are moving into our rental house this weekend (address will be shared soon!) and I am ready to start our next chapter (in a little less hot and humid environment). I am excited to see the seasons change (to actually have multiple seasons!) and to be closer to friends and family.

I have a feeling this year is going to be another great year!

(Above: One of my favorite candid photos from our wedding day & flowers the hubs sent me today)

Transition

Well, I am officially here in Kansas. Kyle is back in San Antonio, (for a few more weeks) and I am on the hunt for a house. Or a duplex. Or..well, I would take anything at this point! I know it's only been 3 days, but ALL I have been doing is house hunting (we are renting, not buying right away). So, I am about done! Anywho, I am sure the right one will pop up at just the moment when I start to pull my hair out, so I have not lost hope yet.

The weather has been amazing, (ok, a little hot) but it is just as warm as San Antonio was! I am learning the area, turns out the streets here are actually on a grid here so I am getting the hang of them VERY fast. (Yesterday I drove around without my GPS...for some of the time).  ;)

I really don't have much to report on other than I am here, safe, and searching the ins and outs for a house. Hope everyone has an amazing Labor Day weekend (is it REALLY that weekend already?!)

I leave you with a picture I took...of TALL trees. Funny, things you miss you don't realize until you have them again. Big, old, tall trees that provide natural shade. Love.

Closing Day

The day is finally here! It came WAY faster than it should've. I can't believe last time I blogged has been over a month, but in my defense we have been busy. Kyle and I moved our entire home into a 10x20 storage unit. We moved our necessities into a friends place for the time being. Needless to say, we are slightly homeless with all our possessions shoved in a unit which are all baking in the 100 degree heat. Fun times!

Today we close on the house we have made our home for the past 2.5 years. It has been a great home for us and Tucker. The golf course, neighbors, kitchen space...it will all be missed.

A week from today is my last day at work. Then next Friday I move up to Kansas. It's for real folks. This is really happening...

Last picture in the Selma House.

For Sale

  
Sorry for the lack of posts lately. You see, our lives have been a roller coaster lately.

About a month ago, Kyle got wind of a position opening in Kansas with his same company. Basically it is the same job, same company, just a different state. We weighed our options and decided to take it!

WE ARE MOVING!

We proceeded to contact our realtor, put our house on the market, and low and behold; a WEEK later and an offer is placed! We gladly accepted and are currently in the middle of our 7-day option period.

Between living in a show house, wrapping things up at work, packing, and looking for a place to live so we are not homeless has taken up some time of mine lately. So, I will try and post as much as I can to keep you as updated as I can, they might come far and few in between for a bit. Hang in there with me, I promise I will be back someday!

Until then, if you have the number of the moving fairy, I will gladly take that off your hands! ;)

This and That

Kyle and I were tied up doing house stuff over the weekend, sadly nothing fun to report on. It did reach 108º on Saturday...which was not fun. So glad I didn't have to work THAT day!

A few pictures to show some odds and ends things we are doing around here.

We were looking over our house the other day and realized our tree in the front needed a SEVERE haircut. The chipper services was coming to get some other branches, so we just added to the pile. Tucker supervised while Kyle trimmed!

I know I talk about my flowers a lot, but I have never had the greenest thumb so I am extra proud of these beauties! Although this is the PERFECT climate for them to grow in, and they are super easy, I take full credit ;) Love seeing these when I look out my window!

This guy might as well just enter into a photo contest. Seriously. Look at him. He is totally ready for the Fourth rockin this bandana! (Kyle may or may not agree to this for an entire DAY, but we will see) :)

So, before everyone gets ready to hit the lakes and boats and set up their blankets for fireworks, I wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth!

Frio Rio

Has it really been over a week since I posted last?! I apologize. I can't believe how fast time is going lately...

So. Over the weekend Kyle and I went on a little get-away to the Frio River near San Antonio. It is a 100% spring-fed river, so it was impressively clean and cool (I didn't feel like I was in bathwater all weekend!) It was a GORGEOUS river, and I have pictures to prove it! We took Tucker along with and he had a BLAST. Seriously, I have never seen that dog swim so much. The pictures pretty much explain the weekend, so I will let them speak for themselves!

This is where we spent most of our time, sitting on and around these rocks in the cool water.

I still can't get over how crystal-clear this river was. That is about 5-6 feet deep.

The puppy dogs LOVED it.

Texas' largest tree was right where we stayed for the weekend. It is 96' tall. Circumference of 438". Crown spread of 112'. Seriously HUGE.

The pups look so tiny!

Our group for the weekend.

We were quite impressed with the set-up behind us. Do you see that tent? Those chairs? They had obviously done this a time or two. Don't worry, I took notes.

When we weren't sitting on our rocks, we were floating! .

So relaxing and so refreshing

 Overall it was a super fun weekend outside the city with some great friends! I would definitely go back in a heartbeat. It still was not quite like the lakes in MN, but it was as close as we are going to get I'm afraid! Cheers to the summer!
 

Mulch.

On Monday night I experienced cruel and unusual punishment. Ok, not exactly, but I don't think anyone in their right mind would do what we did. And we did it.

We had 6 cubic yards of mulch delivered to our house. We then carried it back to the backyard, a wheelbarrow load at a time, and then proceeded to spread the mulch along our property line. In 96º heat and 90-something humidity. Yes, we are insane.

This is how much mulch was delivered. It doesn't look like a lot, but that is why I had Tucker sit next to it. He looks TINY compared to that massive pile in our driveway. 

Of course one load with our garbage can to the back confirmed our thoughts. We needed a wheelbarrow. So, off to Lowe's Kyle ran, and that is when I learned how to assemble a wheelbarrow.

I didn't even know they came diss-assembled!

Here are a couple before/after pictures. What do you think, does the black mulch make it look better?

Before

After

After

 And, of course, Tucker did his part to help. He sniffed the mulch here and there. Jumped from shade spot to shade spot, and found the coolest section of freshly laid black mulch to supervise us from. He literally runs this house.

And, to accent the fresh black mulch, my flowers are blooming! Seems like everyday a new one opens!

Hibiscus.

My car has finally read 100º a few times which confirms that summer is here officially. How is YOUR summer going? Hopefully no labor-intensive yard work in 90-something degree heat!

At the Lake

This past week there has been thunderstorms every few days (totally fine with me, fill up that aquifer!) so when the weekend was beautiful hot and sunny, Kyle and I took full advantage. Even though I had to work Saturday morning, we still got loads done around the house so Sunday was literally a fun-day.

Since summer has come later than past years, this was the first time we took Tuck to the lake. I swear he knew where we were going...he was whinning and barking the entire car ride (he usually just lays down and sleeps.) He was so excited that when he first ran into the water, he swam to the middle of the lake! Ok, not the middle, but for sure 300 to maybe 400 yards in the middle (with boats cruising around him). Let's just say I was freaking out, I could barely see his head, so I literally screamed his name and covered my eyes until Kyle said he was swimming back. The little stinker! 

So, without boring you with details, here are some pictures!

This dog can't get enough of the water, and I LOVE taking his picture! Canyon Lake June 2013.

He gets so much air going out after the ball!

When we stopped throwing the ball, he barked and whined until we threw it again. I think he liked it. ;)

Just keep swimming...

The lake is still super low, despite all the recent rainfall. It is the lowest I have ever seen it. So low, in fact, that it has a new "beach" that we hung out on. We had to wade in about 20 feet before the water got to our shoulders. So sad.

Despite the low water, it was still a beautiful day!

This wasn't exactly how we wanted to end the day, but a life-lesson on how to change a tire never hurt anyone, did it? Thankfully we found it on our driveway that night rather than on the side of the road headed to work in the morning!