Feels like home to me

As I'm sure most of you know by my millions of posts on Facebook, Michael is back home from Colorado!!!! I am so disappointed that I didn't post more while he was gone. I thought I was busy getting the house in order...but I am so much busier now that he is back home! So...to catch everyone up. Michael went to Pueblo, Colorado at the end of July for IFS (Initial Flight Screening). He is still (as of right now) scheduled to start pilot training in April...which seems FOREVER away. We're hoping those dates will get moved up...but we're also enjoying some "casual" status time :)

A few of my friends were asking how hard it was with Michael being gone...and I don't want harp on it. But I will say this: no time apart is ever easy. Whether it's a small amount of time or an entire year. I can't say that I am looking forward to deployments, but I feel like the time apart makes our relationship stronger. I know that we can get through anything! And, it's all about your attitude. There were a few hard days where I really missed him...but if you try to focus on the positive aspects...it really makes all the difference. You feel how you choose to feel...and that goes for everyday life as well :)

Right now, Michael and I are just enjoying our time together! Zoe is so thrilled to have him home! She follows him around and whines whenever he leaves. It's so sweet...she loves her dad! :) This weekend we're going with some friends to the Keith Urban concert in Tupelo! The AFB had a great deal on tickets...and don't ask me how...but we got tickets for $3.50!!!! We're so pumped about it!! Then, we have family coming in for Labor Day Weekend and the weekend after that!

So all in all, Michael and I are both glad he is back and everything feels like home again :)

Sign I made Michael

So glad her dad is home

Snuggling :)

I only have a kitchen because it came with the house...

If you know me well at all, it will not surprise you to hear that I hate to cook. It's not that I don't know how to cook, I would just rather someone else do it for me. And let's be real, who doesn't love that? All that being said, I'm trying to find my role as a new wife...and believe it or not, I love cooking for Michael. Here's why: He never complains about what I choose to cook. He says "whatever you want" and he means it! He always eats everything on his plate...and I KNOW I've cooked some nasty stuff. And he is always up for leftovers. He loves to grill out as well, which we have done a lot since we've been married. All in all, I found a keeper...he makes cooking much more enjoyable for me.

Now...on to the good stuff....here are some long awaited pictures of the kitchen!! Enjoy :)

My favorite side of the kitchen...the COFFEE side :)

Close up of the towels

Two of my favorite wedding gifts:
Love these towels and the polka dot spoon rest! I use it every single day!

Looking from the other direction (same side)

Another favorite wedding gift: the "happy everything" plate...you can switch out the top piece...but we just had Michael's bday so I still have the birthday cake up there. AND my magnetic chalkboard...I made it :)

Other side of the kitchen...I love having the window over the sink...but it needs more decorating. This is the boring side :)

Ahhh this is probably my FAVORITE part of the kitchen...the sliding drawers in the bottom cabinets....SO convenient!
(I also have my pots and pans in these on the other side of the kitchen)

A little piece of GA

The past week has been so much fun! Lana got to come visit for a few days and then I went back to GA for a long weekend to take care of a few things on the business end and visit with the fam. Mom and I literally shopped til we dropped on Friday night and Saturday. And other than a TV cabinet....I am officially DONE getting things for the house :) You have no idea how happy I am to say that. I have to go out today and get a few things so that I can finish up the kitchen and then I will do a post! I don't want to show any other pictures because Michael hasn't seen the finished product of the living room and a few other decorative surprises haha. So I'll wait to post them when he gets back! So everyone get excited for the next post of my FINISHED kitchen!! 

As usual, I only have pictures of my dog to post...but who doesn't love her? :) 

Lana and Zoe

Watching chick flicks with the girls

Zoe and my parent's dog BJ...they became bffs by the end of the weekend

Lettuce wraps I've been craving from PF Changs. Mom and I went Friday night!

This is BJ's bed...Zoe loved it!

Playing at Patti and Jack's house

Meeting Sadie...typical doggie introduction

Back home in her new bed from my grandma (had to put the sheet over it until I can sew up the holes)

Sneak peak at our new rug in the living room! Zoe definitely thinks it's for her :)

Zoe

I will make this one short...but I really felt like she deserved her own post because she is just so freaking cute. I know I am biased because she's ours...but I seriously think I have the best dog ever. I can't even begin to tell you how comforting she has been lately and how much joy she has brought to both of us in just the few short weeks we've had her. :) Zoe is now 12 weeks old. She can sit, lay down, stay, and roll over...not that she will ever do this if I tried to show you. But trust me, she can. We adopted her from the animal shelter in Starkville (never go to a shelter unless you fully intend on leaving with a pet). She is a mix of lab and hound...so basically she has two speeds....hyper and passed out. We're not sure how big she will be but we expect full lab size...and yes, she's staying indoors. She loves everyone and everything...especially her mom and dad :)

Home Sweet Home

Wow!! I can't believe that we have been in Columbus for 3 weeks now! There has been so much going on that I literally have just now had the time to sit down and get my thoughts together so that I can update everyone. I probably procrastinated this post a little too much because I knew how much there was to share! So, let's see…


We have moved into our new house! All of the furniture and other big items are in the right place…but there is SO much unpacking still left (for me) to do. We love our new house! We live on base, which is really convenient not only for Michael to get to work, but for me as well! We have some terrific neighbors next door who have been nothing but kind and helpful as we have been in the process of moving in! Here are some pictures of the inside of the house that my mom took before we unloaded everything…I promise that I will update with better pictures once I get the house decorated!

We love all of the restaurants around town as well! There are some amazing local places, but we don't have a Chick-fil-a which is killing me!!! The town is small, but it has such charm :) Michael and I went down to the Riverwalk the other night for "Sounds of Summer" (free live concert) and we had a blast. We're hoping that my dad can bring the boat down soon so we can ride around on the river! I thought that since Columbus is in north MS it might be a little cooler up here...but in case anyone was wondering--it's not! It's just as hot and humid and sticky as Macon...so we are really ready for fall weather :)

We ALSO got a new puppy...which I'm sure that most of you have seen on facebook...I will do another post all about her soon! We miss Macon and all of our friends and family...but everyday feels more and more like home home here :)

Entrance to the base

Main gate

Living room

One of the bedrooms

Concert at the Riverwalk

We're here!!!

Well, we have made it to Columbus and we have a house (which they are currently cleaning/painting) so we will be able to move in this Thursday! We're staying in the hotel on base, which has been great! Also, we got rid of the Budget truck, which Michael was more than happy to do! Right now Michael's just been doing a lot of "in-processing" paperwork and I have just been sitting in the hotel...haha! Needless to say, we are ready to get into our new house!! So far, we really like the base and the city. It's definitely smaller than Macon, but it has everything we need! There are some great local restaurants that we're still trying out and we both really like the small town feel. Believe it or not, the bowling alley on base has some great food! (my parents think this is hilarious...but they will agree after they eat there) We drove out to Starkville (home of Mississippi State) and some other surrounding cities...but I think the closest shopping is probably in Tuscaloosa. Other than that we've just been sitting around and waiting to get into our house. God has really worked a lot of things out for us since we've been here and overall it's been a  smooth transition! We have family coming in this week to help us get things moved in...I will post more pics when we get settled but here's the pic of our house!

Moving!!!!

Sorry I have been slacking at updating...we have been so busy!
Here are a few snapshots of what we've been doing...

We are moving in 8 days!!! Can you believe it?? So now that we are back in Macon, we have got to get things all packed up! For anyone wondering, we are moving everything ourselves...and we've never done this before, so it will be an adventure! Prayers are welcomed :) After talking to a few people and getting some great advice, we've decided on renting a budget truck and praying everything will fit! We don't have a house ready for us right now...but we should have one and be able to move in one a couple of weeks after we get to MS.

I think we're both just really ready to get settled and start working (believe it or not) and just be on a regular schedule! We have (as I'm sure you can tell by the pictures) had a wonderful summer so far! We are so blessed to have had this time to be together and spend with our family and friends! Don't know how we're gonna leave all this behind :( but we're ready to make new memories and ready for everyone to visit us!!!

So that's about it right now. I won't have time to update again until after we move...so the next update will be from the big city of Columbus!! Thanks to all of our friends and family for your continued love and support! Here comes the next chapter in our lives :):)