The Fam Takes Texas

Hi, friends!

Sorry for the long absence. As you might have guessed, we've been a bit preoccupied with moving our family across the country. Thankfully we have had quite a bit of help - both with packing and unpacking!

Only some of the crew!

Friends! This one is for the fridge...for sure!

Farewell dinner with the fam!

Kisses from Alice and Brooklyn (she's not jealous at all!)

Three's a crowd - especially in a moving truck!

Day one of the trip went fairly smoothly. It was just long. Louisiana seemed to never end. It didn't help that out hotel in LA did not have a parking lot that could accommodate our truck. That left us driving around Baton Rouge at 8PM in search for a dog-friendly, truck-compatible, not-too-disgusting hotel...post thirteen hours in the car and pre dinner! Needless to say, I was a bit grumpy. Thank you, family, for your forbearance. 

Sunday things were looking up! For one, we made it out of Louisiana. I was battling a migraine, but I couldn't contain my excitement.

Our new state!

Love my Mama!

We made it to our new place. Word got out that there was a party.

Actually, we just have the coolest friends, who also happened to be in Dallas. Our friend, Matt, even brought along four extra helping hands. Yes. Two lovely strangers helped unload our junk. God's family truly is everywhere!

Brooklyn was happy to get out and stretch her legs...

...even if the backyard is small.

On Sunday, our trailer hitch was stolen. Or should I say Budget's trailer hitch. In all the unloading craziness, we left it unattended for too long. That was hard to swallow, but we have much for which to be thankful!

For one, the piano was successfully unloaded Monday afternoon. And it looks great!

It began to feel like home once our familiar artwork was on the walls. Ty's dad just happened to be in Dallas for a business trip, so we put him to work! :)

Here is my finished coffee bar! Ty's parents inspired this idea with their own design. Ty's dad also refinished and painted my dad's old baby dresser for the main piece. I love it! Also a huge thanks to Mrs. F, who gave me a Hobby Lobby gift card as a wedding shower gift. I've been saving it for this special purpose.

Speaking of Hobby Lobby, Mom and I had a "Welcome to Dallas" moment on our way back from the store. We accidentally got in the HOV lane...and couldn't get out for seventeen miles! When we finally found an exit, we had to drive seventeen miles back the opposite direction to find our way home. Phew! That was a time-consuming mistake! I'm loving my coffee bar so much that I think I'll admit it was worth the extra-long drive to complete my coffee station.

We had to show the fam some of our favorite locations. We don't know much about our new home yet, but we like what we've seen on our previous two trips. White Rock Lake is definitely a favorite! There is a nine-mile trail around the lake. It's especially popular in the cycling world. We are looking forward to lots of running and cycling here!

Taco Joint has been another favorite spot! I'm sure there are much more authentic places to eat, but these tacos are just so darn fresh and so darn good!

Sorry, Orlando, but I beat you to the Trader Joe's! This may or may not be in "spitting distance" (said the cashier) from our house. The prices are much more reasonable than Whole Foods or Fresh Market.

Take these GF oats, for example. $3.99, people!

Wednesday was SMU tour day. Now that I'm officially registered for classes, I feel like I can claim the campus as my own!

I can't wait to spend my days here!

Did I mention Ty got a job? God has been so incredibly good to us! Within twenty-four hours of our arrival in Dallas, Ty had secured a job doing exactly what he loves at the shop he most desired. He starts tomorrow!

We were planning just to drive by (so as not to embarrass him too much before his first day), but his service manager saw us and hospitably showed us around the shop!

On Thursday, Mom and I hit up a local coffee shop and cafe for breakfast. (Ty and I are at a different local coffee shop right now, taking advantage of the free wifi. These things are all over the place!)

Later that morning, we all got lost downtown together. Finally we found the McKinney Ave historic trolley. Did I mention it's dog friendly?

We stopped for lunch at a little burger bar downtown called The Canine Cantina. It's a brilliant business endeavor, really! It's an outdoor patio restaurant built on a dog park. It's surrounded by city apartments. Dog owners can pay a monthly membership for their pets to play in the park and be watched by an attendant. While they're there, they can grab a burger and a beer.

Brook just stayed on the patio this time.

No yard? No problem.

Thursday evening, Ty's great-aunt Sharry took us out for a special treat at a local theatre. She's heavily involved there, so she pulled some strings to get us into a rehearsal of The Titanic, the musical. It was a fascinating experience, and the actors/singers were incredibly talented. We can't wait to see the whole show, complete with costumes and orchestra.

Friday morning came early, and we took the fam to the airport. Our drive on the way home looked like this - a city just about to wake.

We are incredibly grateful for a week with our wonderful families. As a sender, I remember how helpful it was to visit friends and see the places they visit every day. It made it so much easier to visualize when they shared details. I'm so happy some of our family could see our everyday places. We can't wait to show them to everyone else!

At this point, my tea cup is completely empty and the sun is going down. Better not overstay our welcome at this shop if I plan to be a regular! Then again, there are so many more to visit!