December Arkansas Trip

In early December Cody and I traveled to Arkansas. It was great to see where Cody spent the majority of his life and finally meet some of the Arkansas Orvins. Getting to Arkansas was a mess. We flew stand-by and it was a disaster (what one will do to save money). We left at 8 am to Las Vegas and weren't able to make our connection to Little Rock. After many, many frustrating hours we finally boarded a 8:30 pm flight to Arizona to spend the night with the Arizona Orvins. Luckily, Cody's parents were also visiting and so we had a bit of a party that night before catching a flight the following morning for Arkansas. The following are some pictures which document some of our trip.

Here we are - after about 6 hours in the Las Vegas airport. I got sick at the airport and magically recovered once in Arkansas. Cody and I are convinced I'm allergic to airports.


Here are some homes in Conway. The first is the one we stayed at. Thanks Arkansas Orvins!




And now for the eating. White cheese dip is all I've heard about since I met Cody. It is unique to Arkansas. Cody bought me some and I also had Stoby's cheese dip.



Here are some pictures of Hendrix College and University of Central Arkansas.




Now - here is the last picture I love. Conway, AR consists of SO MANY CHURCHES, many of which are huge. It also has an unusual amount of banks. Banks and churches but no trailer parks like some uneducated California wife expected :)

"End of Holiday Season" Blues

Do any of you get sad that the holiday season is almost over like us? I was talking to Cody on our ride home from the festivities on Christmas day and shared how sad I was that the holiday season was almost over. Cody said he used to get sad the holidays were almost over even before Christmas! Bye bye sparkle lights. Bye bye reason for being overindulgent and a little "soft" or overweight. Bye bye shopping and money. Bye bye Christmas tree. Bye bye radio Christmas music (and therefore always something on I know I'll want to listen to). Sure I'm excited for dinner out on new year's eve and cider in the hot tub. Sure I'm excited for the rose parade, football, and sub sandwiches on new years day. But I'll tell you what, my "end of holiday season" blues make everything harder to enjoy. A year is such a long time before I get to have my holiday season back. I just hate goodbyes!

It's starting to feel like...

Home...well, it's starting to feel like Christmas too. Our apartment is about as decorated and organized as it's going to get for now. We officially have too many things...but that won't stop me from wanting to buy more china, clothes, lamps, cute wrapping paper, stationary, jewelry, and odd end stuff. Cody and I love the show "Hoarders" and he teases me that I could be a star on that show someday if he let me to my own care and attention. I really wish I was the type of person who could minimize.

Here is our tree and minimal Christmas decor.






Here is our Kitchen


and our living room...



and the master bedroom...




and lastly, our office/guest room...




I left out the garage (piled high with mexican textiles) and our bathroom. Hope none of you were hoping for those shots.