Weekend Getaway {Dallas}

Over the weekend we took a short trip to the Dallas area for my cousins wedding - a beautiful wedding at that.  They were married on Grapevine Lake and it was a perfect day for it.  We made a little bit of a vacation out of the trip, of course.  My mom and Grandma traveled down for the wedding also so I'm thankful we were able to see and spend time with them.

Other than the wedding, we did a lot of eating.. drank some margaritas.. some fun pit-stops for the kiddo.. and of course a bit of shopping (IKEA, anyone?).

We headed to Parr Park to have some fun in the sun with Clara.. she really enjoyed the splash pad there - it's was super nice!

It's always nice to be back home.. but now it's Wednesday and I'm still not fully unpacked.. and we're headed back out of town this coming weekend too..

Veteran's Day Weekend

First, happy Veteran's Day to my  Veteran.  My sweet, handsome husband.  For everything he does for our family and for our country.  This weekend we took a little trip to go visit my in-laws because my husband spoke at their church (the church he grew up in) for Veteran's Day.  It was a sweet little speech, that brought tears to my eyes.  In a part of it, he thanked all the men that played an important part in his life.. that helped shape him into who he is today.  Well, I also thank those men... for helping to shape the husband and father that I know today.  A wonderful one he is.

Other than that we did a little walking around in Memphis.. and a bit of relaxing.  And we also went out to eat at Huey's, a super delicious local burger joint.  Also a fun place because they let you blow your toothpicks into the ceiling with your drink straw.  If you're confused, just look at the photos below.. ;)

Not sure why, but it's just their "thing".  It's entertaining to say the least!  I hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend.. and happy Veteran's Day..... don't forget to thank a Vet.

OKC Girls Weekend

Memorial Day weekend, my friend Sarah and I took a little road trip to visit our friend Karen in Oklahoma.  It was nice to "get out" of Arkansas for a couple days and see some place new.  And it was so nice to visit with Karen and her family, who I haven't seen since we left Korea last April.

On our first night there, she was sweet enough to take us out for cupcakes.  ;)  Not only were the cupcakes delicious.. they had a 'milk bar'.. white, chocolate, strawberry... and I just had to get strawberry.  It made me feel like a kid again, and it well with my chocolate cupcake.... I was actually craving some this morning.

We had fun doing a couple 'touristy' things... as well as just hanging out at the house, enjoying our time, and watching the kiddos run through sprinklers.  Tons of fun catching up, and just getting out of our every day routine for a while.

And Karen got one with her camera of all of us... and her cute pregnant belly (seriously.. the cutest pregnant lady!)..

Had such a good time with these ladies!  :)

the next adventure

I know it's been forever since I've blogged.. I've been incredibly busy.  Tomorrow early (like, before-the-birds-start-chirpin' early), we head out on the road for Arkansas.  Our new home for the next few years.  And our next adventure.

Life is always an adventure, isn't it?  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm hoping to be 'back to blogging' in a couple weeks.. after our move, and we're settled, and I'm maybe half-way kind of rested.  ;)

I snapped a photo this afternoon, while I was relaxing in the house.. after my husband and dad hooked my car up to the back of our truck.. and stuffed it full.  It's sweet, right?

hot air balloon fun

Last Friday, Clara's birthday, we decided to take a break from all of hustle and bustle of birthday party planning and last minute to-do's and head over to Galena to the Great Galena Balloon Race.  Hot air balloons are so pretty... and I would love to go up in one some day.

Clara kept pointing to the balloons as they were blowing them up and getting them ready to fly..  'pretty, pretty!' she would say.  :)

But of course, after a while, all the excitement go to her.  My mom and I went to go get some food and drinks.. and we came back to a sleeping beauty.  She had fallen asleep in Papa's arms.  Such a sweet sleeper.

gettin' ready to hit the road... again!

These last few days here in Arkansas (for now, anyway) have been fun visiting with family and friends.  Clara has been doing really well with meeting so many new people.. she just smiles at everybody.  ;)  I totally thought she would make strange, but nope!

 

Coleman with his girls!  :)

Him and Erin, our niece, made these cute tie-died shirts together when they had their 'date night'.. Luv them!

Then the other day we went out and took a little ride on the trolley in Memphis, to get Clara out of the house for a bit.  She loves being outside.. and in the 'daddy backpack'.. however, I think it's about time to retire the baby carrier.  She was trying to figure out how to bust out of it!

Today we are just relaxing.. I'm finishing up laundry, and packing up suitcases (again), and loading up the truck.  Tomorrow morning bright and early we will be on the move (again).. to go up north to visit my family!  I can't wait for everyone to see how much Clara has grown!

we made it.

Finally.  We're here, in the states.  We've been back for about a week now and are visiting my in-laws for a couple of weeks before we head up north to visit my parents.

The trip was long.  32+ hours of airports and airplanes... and Clara was nothing short of an angel the whole entire time.  I couldn't have asked for a better behaved baby.  ;)  It really made the trip that much easier.  She was a little cranky the first couple days after we got back, but I expected that.  It was a long trip and I figured it would catch up with her sooner or later.  That, and she's teething.  Bless her heart.. she has 2 more coming in on the top.

And we are all finally over the jet-lag.  Only took a week for Clara to get back on her schedule.

I can't even tell you how GOOD it feels to be in America.  There are no words.  And to see our family and friends.  And see our beautiful niece.. (SO fun to see her and Clara together!)..

And the weather!  Oh, the weather.  It has been absolutely perfect since we flew in.  Coleman has been in heaven, working on his new truck.  And we've been trying to get in as much outside time in as we can.  The other day we went for a little walk down by the riverside in Memphis.

 I hear that a lot of little kids hate the grass when they first feel it.  Not Clara!  She LOVED it.  She was pulling on it, crawling around... just adoring the fresh air and green grass.  And of course, she tried to eat it.

We had a fun time watching her 'discover' grass.. something she's never experienced before.  And she enjoyed watching the puppies walking by... and the barges on the river...

 I want to take her there again this week.. and perhaps next time we'll pack a lunch!

My 'Last Hurrah' in Seoul

Thursday a couple friends and I had an all-day girls trip into Seoul... kind of like my 'last hurrah' before I head move, I guess.  We went to Insadong, which is like an 'artsy district' of Seoul.. with handmade goodies, music, and fun things like that. 

We strolled around, through the crowds of people... I bought a new scarf, and a little handmade coin purse.  But mostly we just browsed and enjoyed looking through all the unique goodies that Insadong had to offer.

On our way out of Insadong, we stopped to listen to some street performers.. the kiddos LOVED that.

I think Clara even liked it too.  ;)

(Do you see those 2 front teeth??  I adore them!)

I'm sure they would've danced around all afternoon if we had let them!

After we grabbed some lunch, we headed to Changdeokgung Palace.  One of the things I love about Korea is their beautiful, old traditional structures.. and so much history.

I'm so glad I was able to spend one last day in Seoul with some great friends.  The fact that we fly out of here in about 72 hours hasn't quite hit me yet.  I've been go-go-go for the past week (so I don't go insane in this small hotel room).. but now I'm a little burnt out.  This weekend I'm going to be doing some serious resting!  :)