Welcome to Rogers

Whew. It is done. With plenty of help from family, Chase and I have made the move to Rogers! How exciting, scary, fun, and stressssful it was.

Having to pack it all up was the worst part though.

But that's over. Now we get to enjoy this big 'city'. I was completely floored when I found out that I was zero point five seconds from a Starbucks but I am also ten minutes or so from Hobby Lobby. Say what?! I couldn't be happier.
There are also at least four Walmarts in town. Here is a picture of one of their Neighborhood Markets. Um, beautiful.


We have been to the mall. It is one of those outside ones.


We have checked out the park and the lake.




So, now we are just getting settled into our new home. And I can honestly say we love it. We looked at the other places we had been considering and decided that we definitely made the best decision by choosing The Greens. It is more money but absolutely worth it.
We love the kitchen,

the pantry,

the bathroom (it's much bigger than the one we have in MH),

the washer and dryer area,

and the ceramic tile floors (my fav!).

Life has changed. It is somewhat of a culture shock for me at least... But somethings have definitely stayed the same. I asked Chase to clean up the kitchen after dinner. So he then took the Phase 10 cards we had just finished playing and flicked them all over the floor and with a big smile said "Will you pick up the cards?" Stinker.

He makes me smile. :)
But, yes, he cleaned up the kitchen.

As I explore more, I will have my camera by my side!

Love, A

Capital S

Moving is stressful.

I would think that on a scale of easy moves to hard moves, ours would be rated as a relatively easy move. For instance, we own our home so we don't actually have to move EVERYTHING out of the house, we don't have to move big appliances, we only have a 2.5 hour drive to Rogers, and we have lined up two strong young kiddos (Justin and Lauren) to help us get it all done.

But it still sucks.

It really is hard to pack up all the little things. Where do I put them? What do I put them in? How do I make sure my prized possessions don't break? Blah.

And what's worse is the War of the Move. This is when the husband doesn't understand why the wife wants to bring all her Christmas decorations despite the fact that it would take up the entire walk-in-closet and Christmas is 9 months away.

And this War extends to other things too- like decorative tables, pictures, books, and kitchen stuff.

We are learning to compromise, though. I'm stressed. MC is stressed. But come Thursday evening when we are sweaty, exhausted, and craving a margarita from Chili's but can't get one because we spent all our money on rent, pet deposits, utility deposits, and gas- we will feel a sense of accomplishment. Because we are here. This is the time of our lives we have been working toward. That which is Success. Yes, with a capital S. :)
Thank you to everyone who is helping us get through these first few months. We so very much appreciate it.

I like this picture. Mmmmm Spring is coming.

The Greens on Blossom Way

I have been bad.

I have neglected to tell my Blogger family some very important news.

Chase has accepted a job in Rogers, AR at Mercy Medicine Clinic

.... YAYYYYYYYY! He starts April 5th! We are so excited! We went to Rogers today and got an apartment at The Greens. It's a beautiful apartment complex on a regulation golf course. It is just perfect for us. I am digging the unlimited tanning they offer, oh yeah! Here are just a couple a pictures that I snapped as we were leaving. I plan on posting more later. We have a busy week ahead of us.

I am so proud of you, babe <3

We have the perfect couch too.

I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs and she did a post about their perfect couch. And I realized: I love our couch.

I love the way the big pillows can be thrown on the floor leaving a vast welcoming space for two bodies to snuggle comfortably while catching up on AI or The Amazing Race. I love the the way there is always at least two soft throws slung over the pillows as if welcoming you to lay down and curl up with it.
I love that the pillows are NEVER straight now matter how hard I try and invariably you will find a tickle-me-elmo or toy rabbit with sweet schnauzer breath somewhere in those blankets.

And dare you look between or under the cushions- I am sure there is a small collection of socks, rubber balls (Siera's favorite), pens, and change.

So, despite the the soft, mushy cushions which sleepy schnauzers have mashed until lopsided,


the kind-of frayed edges of the throw pillows, and the micro-suede material that EVERYTHING sticks to- We have the perfect couch too.


I can't end this post without some schnauzer goodness... And, Yes, that is some good old-fashioned MUD!

And, Yes, those are burrs sticking all over their faces and legs. Ugh. Mama don't like.


So my reward for picking out all those burrs??.. BBQ for dinner!!! :)

Which is very.. Spring-ish :) Which reminds me of this:


Which makes me think: I love my life.
And that makes me say: I love him.


Love ya'll too,

Ashley

Spring-ish..

I can feel it. Can't you? The air is lighter, the grass seems lusher, the sky is bluer. The sun is shining and I can't help but smile. This is when I am most happy.

There are flowers in my yard. FLOWERS!!!


Goodbye dry and cold.

Hello, beauty.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love the first few weeks of winter. But this- this is when I thrive.

I know it's spring when.. we fight over sticks in the yard because it's a pretty day and we want to.

And then decide- why don't we just share? Don't want to waste this pretty day fighting..



I know it's Spring when ppl wear shorts...wait, Chase always wears shorts!

When Mom's wear Pensacola, Florida shirt it's definitely Spring-ish!

Girls wearing tank tops..

Fountains getting cleaned..

Fountains running with clear, beautiful water make me think: Spring

Schnauzers drinking from said fountains

Diving into the lake head first because FINALLY it is here. Spring.

Oh, the beauty of it.

Spring To-Do List

I love Spring! Which is why I am making a Spring To-Do List... You should too!

1. Spring CLEANING. Serious. Cleaning. Tear it up and wash it down. So excited! I love a beautiful day, every window in the house open, music blaring, and cleaning gettin' done.

2.Wear more yellow. Just because.

3. Get my hair cut and styled. I thought I would try to see how long I could get it but I give up. I like it better short.

4. Buy spring-ish decorations. I have got my eye on a couple things at the Pink-a-dilly..

5. Buy tulips for the coffee table.. yep, tulips.

6. Maybe paint our living room and the guest room. I love the IDEA of painting but I hate the actual act of painting so we will see about this one lol

7. Play in the rain with Suzie and Siera

8. Sign up for a fitness class of some kind. Kickboxing?

Hmmmm more to come!