Squeaky Clean

THIS IS HAPPENING...

Hello All!

Just wanted to let you all know what’s going on with us…

 

So much to talk about, so little space…  Where to start?

 

Long Story Short #1: Our land in Minot, ND sold, and closes THIS WEEK!!!  (45 days late!!!)

Long Story Short #2: Our home in Virginia Beach sold, and closes on 15 December!!!  (On time, but a really short fuse!)

 

The next “Long Story Short”?  We need someplace to live when I (Allen) go overseas to Greece.  We considered places all around here, but when the “reality” of this house finally selling set in, we thought, “Why stay here?”.  Cristy and I will be apart, so does it matter if we are apart with her and Juliet in Virginia Beach, or her and Juliet someplace where we could really be happy in forever?

 

Cristy and I had taken a road trip this summer, and ended up going through Arkansas.  We saw the most beautiful houses, on gorgeous properties, next to great small towns, all for really good prices.  Ever since then, we’ve been “Window Shopping” for houses; just to see what we liked out there…

 

So, over Thanksgiving week, I took a trip to Arkansas to look at some places we’d been “Window Shopping” for quite some time…  Within 10 minutes of seeing the first property, I’d decided that this was where I wanted to spend the rest of my life…  My last few moments on the property, I watched the mists rise from the river valley below, and realized the short 90 minutes I’d spent there had only covered about 3 of the 10 acres of the property!!!

 

Of course, I needed Cristy onboard with this decision, so I literally took HUNDREDS of pictures!  We talked for hours that night, looking at the pictures, talking about the property, ups/downs, etc…  It all boiled down to the fact that the property was better than we had ever imagined, and we could spend the rest of our lives, living comfortably in one of the most beautiful places we had ever seen.

 

So…  About the property…  We’re gonna wait to send out the address and full details until after we have an accepted bid (We don’t want web-hits to skyrocket days before we make an offer!)…  But, in general, here’s what it’s like…

 

Its 10 acres, 2800 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, log-sided home in Northern Arkansas, on a river  (Don’t worry!  80 feet above the flood zone!  Not making that mistake again!!!)…  If you don’t have a good mental image yet, think, “Mini-Farm” out in the country…

 

WHAT?!?!  In the country?!?!

 

Yeah…  That’s where we’re headed…  And it’s happening…  Fast…  Our stuff is being shipped in 2 weeks…  We’re gone 3 days later…  2 days of driving in 2 cars with 1 kid, 1 cat, 3 dogs, and a mad grab of what we think we’ll need for 1-2 months of “Apartment Living” before our Dream House finally closes…  What makes it even harder is that I have to come back to VA Beach for 2 weeks before I make the trip again…  Then, 25 days in Arkansas, seeing the sights…  If we’re SUPER lucky, I MIGHT get to spend 1-2 nights in the “Dream House” before I fly to Greece.  If I’m lucky…

 

So, I want to thank all of our friends who have been supportive of us through all of this...  While we’re going through an absolutely crazy and chaotic time, we are absolutely sure about this move…  This place looks like a Christmas card should, and is absolutely secluded; surrounded by woods, with peace and quiet around.  Plenty of space inside and out, with an amazing 10 acre “Yard” to raise Juliet on.  Plenty of fresh air, and a life out of the city and all the bad things that happen there…  Our own private stretch of river to go fishing and tubing on, and a garden that in a few years will be a sight to behold…

 

Our friend Dave will be moving out there in February…  He’s just as desperate to get out of Virginia as we are, and I’d feel more comfortable with Cristy not being alone in the house in a new area for almost a whole year…

 

This year in Greece will be hard, but will also have some benefits…  Financially, it helps us out in so many ways.  An extra year of active duty pay and benefits will give us a nice, safe cushion to fall back on, plus a slightly larger retirement check when that day comes.    Cristy will get that “Stay at Home Mom” experience she’s wanted since the day Juliet was born…  When I return, I’ll get to be the “Stay at Home Dad”.  (“GET YOUR BUTT TO WORK, CRISTY!!!”).  Cristy will also have all the time in the world to settle in and unpack our home; getting everything just where she wants it (Before I come home and screw it all up…).

 

If you could only see this place in person…  To all of our friends and family, the invitation is there…  When Cristy gets settled in, come “sit for a spell” out in the peace and quiet of the Ozarks.

 

I can’t imagine anyplace I’d rather spend the rest of my life than surrounded by the woman I love, our children, and the peace and quiet of this gorgeous home!

 

The next few weeks will be extremely hard on both of us, and I know we’re going to need some major words of encouragement, even though we are both positive that this is what we want…

 

For those of you out there who aren’t sure about this move, consider these three words…

 

THIS…  IS…  HAPPENING!!!

 

Allen

Future Country Boy

THE HOUSE...

 

Apple a day......

More park fun

Enjoying the park leaves

Happy Thanksgiving!

Early Thanks

I know it's a little early but I wanted to go ahead and say to everyone that reads our blog,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

This year I am so thankful for my husband, my daughter, my parents, my brother, all of my extended family and and all of our friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Gobble Gobble! :)

Cristy W.

Watch out Mrs. Fields

Maybe I should start a cookie company. I love baking my chocolate chip cookies. Yummy!

Chasing a squirrel

Cutie

Cowgirl Blues

Sometimes all a cowgirl has is her hat and her cinnamon toast.

Cookies!

Today at work we're having a little Thanksgiving pot luck. I decided it has been too long since I made "Cristy's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies".

I was worried it had been too long and they wouldn't come out, but my secret recipe for super soft cake like cookies worked great and the turned out so yummy!

Definitely need to make these more often!

OWIE!!!

Casualty in the "War on Boredom"!

Check out my acorn

She found an acorn and was intent on explaining it all to me.

Hanging out together

Sneaky Sneaky

Trying to sneak up on Kisa the cat!

Random Morning Pictures

Enjoying the last of the warm mornings.......

Winding Down

After a fun day and a heavy dinner it was time to wind down with a warm bath and then off to bed.

Sunday Dinner

Last night I made my first pot roast. It turned out great! Yummy!

Little Betty Crocker

Juliet helped me make muffins for breakfast on Sunday and really enjoyed licking the spoon.

SUPERSTAR!

A coworker gave me this crown for Juliet. She was so excited to wear it!

Turtle Dress

Here's Juliet heading upstairs. Look close and you can see her mouth is blue from a blue sucker Daddy gave her.

Mommy, you're KOOKIE!

Doing everything I can to make Juliet giggle this morning.

Let's GO GO GO!

She's unsure about this ponytail business.

Belated.......

Dear Grandma Thwing,
Happy Belated Birthday to youuuuu! I wanted to send you a birthday wish sooner but I've been very tired and cranky. Mommy has been taking lots of photos and videos of me, but I do my best not to look at the camera or cooperate (tee-hee).

I miss you lots and lots and hope you had a wonderful day. I would give you the biggest hug ever if you were here.

I love you! Big hugs and kisses,
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Juliet Aurora Kodiak Wallis
(your JAK :)