HE (we) DID IT!

When you have an MBA, you can make money appear out of thin air.

On Saturday, June 12th, Spencer graduated with his Masters in Business Administration from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  This has been an incredibly rich time in Spencer's, and subsequently our lives.  While at Booth Spencer has had so many opportunities and experiences and has grown to understand his capabilities and priorities to entirely new depths.  It has been fascinating (albeit exhausting, at times) to watch him go through this intense period of self-improvement/strengthening.  I can honestly say that this was like the refiner's fire, and he has come out a much improved piece of silver!

Yeah, I guess you could say in a way I earned my MBA, too.  I at least deserved a cap 'n gown, if not the diploma.

I have more to say, but since I so recently gushed about him, and seeing as how Father's Day is coming up and I may have more to say, I'll spare all y'all.

We figure that in a few years, when we start to look old-timey, people will probably make posters and postcards and mugs with this image on it.  "Endress Ruv..."

Although I will say this:  HONORS, BABY!  It's all about those golden cords. 

How did he do that?  Seriously, I'm a little perplexed.  I mean, Chicago Booth has this awesome policy called "grade nondisclosure", meaning that you cannot disclose your grades to perspective employers--how awesome is that?  So technically, every class is pass/fail.  Would you be able to pull off honors with that lack of incentive?  Especially considering that you participated in many many many social networking events (every other wife would agree that he is probably the one who attend the most "networking" events), had a sick (pregnant) wife for half the year and for half of the first and half of the second year had a newborn.  You got up in the morning to get the kids fed and changed, etc, you took advantage fully of the incredible city you were living in....  um, I don't think I could.  And I am still trying to understand it. 

Oops, I guess I got caught up gushing.   Sorry.  But then again, this is a blog in his honor.  Anyway, I am SOOOO proud of him.  It was awfully fun watching him graduate. 

This could be any old goon crossing the stage, but it happens to be Spencer.  Eryn and I screamed for him but she was holding Layla and I was taking the picture, so no clapping.  The screaming seemed a little lonely when unaccompanied by applause.

 I think it was partly so exciting for me because I got to be there for each and every part of the process-- planning ahead in undergrad, researching schools, working his networks at Accenture, studying for, taking, and spanking the GMAT, applications (oh, kill me if I ever have to live through that bleep again), falling in love with U of Chicago, waiting, waiting, waiting, receiving the acceptance, moving out here, and stepping into our future....

Scott and Eryn, some of our very wonderfully wonderful B-school friends.  They made it, too.   Don't feel left out if you did (or didn't) make it and you are not pictured here.  I was sad that there were so many of my B-school friends that I didn't get to see that night (including the ones that should've been there but decided to stick around an extra year instead).  Also, just to be clear, don't feel bad if you are not a B-school friend.  I still love you, too.  Also, don't feel bad if you are Eryn and I just totally down-played our relationship.  It's special :)  As is this picture (below) of my Graduate:

And now we are stepping out of this chapter of our lives and into the next (with a 5 week interlude to the Western States).  To Infinity (or Arkansas) and Beyond!  May the force be with you all.

 (don't worry Elisabeth, he is not Luke's father).

Grandpa Clark

Spencer's Grandpa John R Clark passed away on Tuesday night (June 8).  His pancreatic cancer came on quite suddenly and claimed all his faculties in only a short amount of time.  It was a total whirlwind, especially for his five children that all came together to be with him and his wife for the last week of his life, as they cared for him and began trying to organize all his personal affairs.

A few days before his passing, Spencer's mom texted us and asked if we would like to send her an email with some thoughts we'd like to share with him.  I thought it would be good to take record of the things each of us wanted to share with him at the end of his life and our relationship with him here on earth (for now).

Dear Grandpa,


I'll always remember a conversation we had during the time we lived with you in Chico. I'm not sure how it came about, but we were in your kitchen and we were discussing some Gospel topic (I believe it was related to eternal families). You mentioned that it was one of the reasons you look forward to death. To me (as a twelve year old) this was a radical concept... "You look forward to death?" I asked. Without wavering you replied something to the effect of, "Yes. There are a lot of things I'd like to understand better, a lot of people I'd like to meet including ancestors and historical figures, and I look forward to seeing the Savior."

To me, the ability to face a topic that the natural man--with a perspective confined by the limitations of the veil--understands so little, demonstrated several things about your character. Chiefly, this was a powerful display of your testimony, which I have seen on so many other occassions. Secondarily, it provided insights into the things you find most important, namely your ongoing quest for knowledge (which you have tirelessly pursued), your interest in family (no matter how distantly related) and your endeavors to pursue your personal relationship with Christ (which is manifested in the integrity by which you have lived).

From my wedding, to taking me to the MTC, climbing Mt. Lassen, all the way back to bouncing me on your knee as a little boy, I have hundreds of memories with you. Your commitment to service, to family, and to always moving with a purpose have left a profound impact on my life. Not only through your direct influence, but also through the examples of the children you raised, and those traits my mother has passed on to me. You truly have built a powerful legacy.

I am very sorry that you feel so sick. At a time like this it is impossible for me to know what you are feeling, but I want you to know that we love you and pray for you. I hope your pain is relieved soon, and I am excited for the great adventures you have ahead. Until we meet again,

Your loving grandson,

Spencer

_________________________

Hi Grandpa!


I have a hard time even imagining you with a cold, let alone being this miserable. I can hardly believe how fast this has happened.

I thought it would be a good time to share some of my thoughts and feelings, and maybe a memory or two.

Grandpa, I've always loved having you around. You have been so mindful of my comfort and happiness since Spencer and I were married. You always have something stimulating to talk about. You always have the energy and thoughtfulness to help where ever help is needed. Remember when you showed up at my family's home the day before our wedding and just dug right in to help prepare the yard and home for the reception? My family certainly won't forget that anytime soon. As I recall, you missed some part of the wedding festivities because you just couldn't pull yourself away from your service! And speaking of the wedding, it was you who escorted the guests through the pouring rain under an umbrella to and from our doorstep the night of the reception! That was so thoughtful and helpful, and again, my family won't soon forget that.


Im always touched when I think of a time when I feel like we really bonded. We were at the Boise Temple for Clark and Rachel's wedding, and I was large with child (Cadence) and feeling very ill after sitting in a sealing room filled beyond capacity with supportive family and quite warm at that. I needed a break and so you got me some water and walked with me, supporting my arm, out to your car. You kept me company and made sure I was able to recover my wits. I knew i was with family then.

I hope you were able to hear Cadence's message that she left on April's phone. She is usually quite avoidant on the phone but when I told her you were feeling very sick and reminded her when you spent time with her at Christiana's wedding, she was very willing to leave you a message to tell you that she loves you and is sorry you feel so sick.


Thank you for all your kindness, thoughtfulness, and service. We love you and wish we could be with you now.


Love,


Mardee.

_______________

There are a million and one things we could write about Grandpa Clark, but I thought that some of his most important qualities were alluded to here in our last letters to him.  He was a unique, incredible man.  We will miss him.  And now our prayers turn to Spencer's mom and her brothers and sisters, as well as Grandma Clark, as they all sort through what a person leaves behind.

Cross-stitches of My Mind...

Remember when I was 12 and had a young woman's project where we all learned to cross-stitch?  Remember how I really really couldn't do it?  I tried, truly.  I wanted to finish because we got to put a little jewel on that cross-stitch every time we completed a level in the Personal Progress book.  Alas, too many knots.  Too little patience.  And too much mauve.

Every once in a while I hear something that makes me think to myself, "those words deserve to be cross-stitched..." And within moments, the project is done.  And before I know it, I'm hanging another lovely proverb, held taut in a round wooden frame that is blessed by the heavenly touch of mauve ruffles and a little lace to finish it off.  Yes, the corridors of my mind are lined with this collection I have made.   Are yours?

Would you like to know some of the cross-stitches that I keep there? (don't be put off by my mixture of serious with dumb, please.  They're my cross-stitches, after all)

"Love is Better than Hate" (the immortal words of Mignon.  Found thoughtfully written on a note on the fridge).

"I Get Wet" (This is the title of an album by Andrew W.K., who is a very hard-core rocker from NYC.  Spencer and I have decided that the meaning of this is that it's the answer to the question, "Andrew--what do you do if it rains?"  Sounds simple, but what would your answer be?  Mine would be, "well, I don't have enough umbrellas, so maybe we shouldn't go, or maybe I'll just pack enough jackets and blankets but that means we'll have to come back early so let's be sure to not get too far from the parking lot and ....")

"If You Can't Say Something Nice, Don't Say Nothin' At All".  (Why do I still need this one at 27?  I do.)

"Tawanda!!!"  (remember Fried Green Tomatoes?  Oh that I were that spunky...)

"Don't Show Up as a Guest Empty Handed"

"Tomorrow's Another Day, and I'm Thirsty Anyway, So Bring On the Rain."

"Pain Is An Old Friend." (Spencer's Dad says this often.  I'm trying to make myself believe it.)

"If Someone Asks, "Are You a God?" You Say "YES"!!!"  (Can you name that (funniest ever) movie?)

"Instead of having "answers"on a math test, they should just call them "impressions", and if you got a different "impression", so what?  Can't we all be brothers?" (Jack Handy.  Okay, let's be serious--wouldn't ALL of Jack Handey's deep thoughts make awesome cross-stitches?  Take this one, for example: "If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down?  We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason."   I could go on...)

"Don't Mess It Up, Mard." (I won't explain this one.  Just, if you are now analyzing what type of emotional baggage I come with, you're probably right to do so.)

"Last night I had the strangest dream, where everything was exactly how it seemed, there were no concerns about the world getting warmer, people thought that they were just being rewarded for treating others as they'd like to be treated, obeying stop signs and curing diseases, for mailing letters with the address of the sender, now we can swim any day in November." (Postal Service)

"How Will They Know Unless We Teach Them So?"

"80/20, Mard!!" (Spencer is always trying to convince me that the best way to do housework is to do a 20% job, because with 20% of the work you get 80% of the results.  He's right, but...)

"If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself." (I can't help it, I want 100/100.  I want it done to my standards).

"Like Water Off a Duck's Back" (From Dad Orton.  I don't know if this is one people are familiar with or not-- you know, it's like saying, don't let it get to you.)

"Mardee, Keep Your Emotions Separate From the Issue.  Don't Let Your Emotions Get Involved." (My mother's words all throughout jr high, high school, and even college.  It was always the best advice, the advice I wished I'd taken...and still is.)

"It's Great To Be Alive, Even Better To Be A Clive!" (Words from my Father-in-law that I appreciated very much while I was desperately trying to trick Spencer into making a Clive out of me.)

There are more... many, many more.  But you're lucky my brain is only half-way on tonight (I don't know, I feel like I need to replace a few bulbs up there or something.  Maybe doing the dishes like I'm supposed to will help).

What are some of your mental cross-stitches?

Oh, and here are some cute pictures of my kids, in case that is why you read my blog (why else would you?)

Post Script Added a Day Late:  "Just Say 'Okay Mom'"  Can't believe I forgot that one, thanks, Mer.

GUSH

I have to tell you, I try not to say too much about Spencer on this blog, because I love you all and really don't want you to spend the rest of your life second guessing your marital happiness.

The truth is, I've been keeping a secret:  Spencer is the world's best man.  And that is fact.  Totally unbiased. That seems like a bold statement, but I've been married to him for six years now, don't you think I would know? 

If you are still reading this, having finished throwing up in your mouth, I'm going to expound on the topic.  Why?  Why, it's our sixth anniversary, after all.  I have no money and can't keep up with all the ways that he pampers and spoils me, so I'll blog about it instead.  And after all, the blog is MINE!!!! And how can you kick me out of what is MINE!?! (Oops, sorry to go off into the world of School of Rock there.  Did you catch that, Robyn?)

Anyway... Spencer. He's the best.  Here are six reasons why:

First anniversary: living in Dodgeville, WI--celebrated by taking a dinner cruise on the Miss'ippi

1.  Spencer is Eternal Sunshine.  The house can be a disaster, the kids screaming and throwing things, I'm cranky and chewing him out for something really little, like not washing his hands for long enough, and we're probably late to some function, too.  And this guy can smile at us all and shout out, "Who's ready for some FUN?!?"  And get the kids all excited.  I cannot do that.  Can you?

Second Anniversary:  Having just moved to CA, we had a picnic by a stream on Uncle Brian's Father's Ranch.  Can you tell by my fat face that I was pregnant?

2.  Spencer is Super Man.  He can get up with the kids so that I can sleep in, make breakfast, do the dishes, and get Cadence to clean her room and make her bed.  Then he gets started on his homework and planning some family excursion (yes, at the same time).  When my slow and sorry buns come rolling out of bed, he is happy to see me and then runs along to school.  He gets home in time to calm me down from my just-before-dinner freak-out, where-in I am running around feeling angry and hopeless because instead of fixing dinner I've been dealing with kids and so dinner is late and I'm hungry and blah blah blah... He turns on that Eternal Sunshine and fixes everything.  Then we have dinner, he helps get the kids to bed, does his homework, spends some quality time with me, and gets to bed too late, but still is happy to get up with the kids in the morning so that I can sleep in.

Third Anniversary:  We biked across the Golden Gate Bridge (if you haven't done this and you are in the area, DO IT!) and had a picnic in Marin.

3.  Spencer is Super Student.  He does all that was mentioned in #2, he has managed to get two scholarships, participate in LEAD (wherein second-year students teach a leadership course to first-years), serve on committees, attend all sorts of "networking" (read "drinking") events, and guess what?  He's graduating with honors!!!

Fourth Anniversary:  First "weekend getaway" since becoming parents--went to Venice Beach for two nights--so fun!  Pictured here with friends Chris and Kristen, who live nearby and came to hang out for a little while.

4.  Spencer is practically perfect in every way.  Seriously, the guy is almost always right.  And the crazy thing is, when he's wrong, he's okay with it.  He is competitive but doesn't care if he loses.  I can whine and complain to him about him, and he'll say, "Yeah, you're right.  I'll try to be better."  The fights in my head are always WAY more dramatic than in real life.  He always knows what I want or need or feel like before even I do. 

No pictoral evidence that we actually had a fifth anniversary!  This was a few months after.  Lame.

But we went to a really really romantic schmancy fondue restaurant, Geja's Cafe, in Chicago.  I ate so much I looked like I was having twins.  That was joyous indeed.

5.  Spencer is fun.  and funny.  I've always told him that he seems to always say either the absolute perfect thing in the moment or the absolute worst. One or the other.  He has an open door policy--everybody is welcome, always.  He has a "more the merrier" attitude (in fact, when we were dating, I thought we was scared to be alone with me, because we would make plans for Fri--on Monday, when plans were made, it would be a date; by Tuesday it was a double date; by Wednesday, a group date; and by Thursday it was a party.)  Spencer loves to be in the spotlight but he doesn't insist on it.  He has just as much fun in the background (where I like to reside).  He takes it upon himself to be sure that fun and new experiences are had by all around him.

6.  Spencer is honest.  Honest with his fellow man and honest with himself.  His testimony of Jesus Christ and the Gospel are strong, but he is not afraid to ask questions and honestly examine the testimony and where it came from.  He is honestly interested in the vantage point of others and strives to understand why people do the things they do.  He is honest and moral in his dealings with his employers and with everybody, for that matter.  Where many of us have grown so comfortable with the concept of "little white lies" that we hardly even label them as such anymore, he has not.  I love that.

And tonight he took me to a really fancy-pants restaurant in the middle of downtown Chicago.  You know, one of those restaurants where the menu descriptions are cryptic and the portions are miniature.  But it's art for your mouth.  It was so much fun--and quite good, really.  The creme brulee was a perfect 10.  We talked about moving and about teaching Cadence to read and about our past anniversaries...he laughed at my jokes and made me feel so special...he's a good man.

Anyway, can't help but love that man.  And now you know some of the reasons why.

The Not-So Buzzy Bee

Cadence loves to dance.  We know this, right?  It's been clear since before she could walk--it's in her blood.  As a baby who could sit up, but not even crawl yet, all you had to do to get her to dance was sing "Two to Tango", and those hips would start a-shakin' and she was jivin' to the beat.  You've enjoyed her dancing the famous "Put a Ring On It" dance.  She loooooves. to. dance. 

So, as I mentioned before, we put her in Ballet classes.  Just 30 minutes once a week, nothing too disciplined or intense.  But things didn't pan out like we expected them too.

Saturday was her recital.  Her class was to perform as the "Buzzy Bees", a dance in which they flutter out one after another, dip into the "flowers",  and then flutter around the stage for a few more minutes.  Pretty simple.  And here's the kicker:  Cadence spent the entire time walking stiffly around the stage with a very distinct "I hope nobody is noticing me" self-conscious sort of face.  It was very funny.  All the audience was laughing at the funny kids who were over-acheiving in their spins, leaps, and flutters, or the kids who stopped to wave or look for parents, or who held hands...Spencer and I were laughing so hard as we watched her try to blend in with the background and not dance at all.  Well, I say that, but at the end her arms did start to raise up a little and her steps became a little more graceful.  But it was hardly dancing.  It was totally worth the $$$ we spent on that dance class! 

Cadence is in the lavender in the center.  You know, the one standing there.

But seriously, wouldn't you expect Cadence, who sees herself as having the authority of an adult, who thinks she knows everything, and who was born to dance to get out there and take the stage?  Or at least dance?

How do you like that pose?  The apple doesn't fall from the tree, does it Spence?

It was cute.  She's glad to have a break from dance classes.  I hope we can get her to be interested in another dance class soon, though. 

One thing I she was excited about was getting to wear makeup.  And so she decided the morning of that she would just apply the lipstick herself.

And this is me saying: "quit taking dumb pictures of me and get Campbell before she gets finished climbing onto the stage!"  Do you like my new bangs?

Elementary, My Dear Watson

Day One:  A sunday afternoon phone call from an online clothing vendor in New York asks me if I have authorized a recent purchase of shoes--that is, 2 orders of approx. $350 of shoes.  I quickly look at Spencer wondering if his Mother's Day surprise has just been blown and then reality hits.  "Nope.  Did not authorize that".  The wonderful associate on the phone tells me that whoever has used my debit card also has my phone number because they included that on the order.  Way to go, thief.

He also tells me the name on the order--Pim Goods (for some reason I feel like I should protect the identities of my identity thief, so names have been changed)--information which I keep tucked away, figuring it is a false name, but not too far tucked, a phone number, and the shipping address.  The address is in south side Chicago, which, if you are just tuning in, is where I live.

So: the thief has my debit card number, but not my actual card, my phone number, and rather than living in Mozambique and being the legal representative of somebody who's fortune I am the sole living heir to, they are in my very neck of the woods.  Somebody either has my information on file because I have bought something from them, gone through my mail, or, it could have been an inside job, like a friend (was it you!?!)   Hmmm.... 

I called my bank and talked to some moron who kept telling me that all I need to do is wait until they get money out of my account and then call claims.  Hello, what is so difficult about cancelling my card?!?  I called later and talked to somebody else who actually did cancel my card, and also informed me that Sticky Fingers McShoesalot tried to spend $700 more dollars that day but that my card had already been marked for fraud and so they couldn't. 

Thanks to the responsible clothing vendor, no money was taken from my account.  But I felt very violated.  Vulnerable.  What else did they know about me.  How did they get my information?  Only one person came to mind.  The girl from the Dry Cleaners.  I had just been there three days earlier, and the girl working the counter was not one of the usuals that I had seen there before.  And unlike them, but much more like the rest of south Chicago, she was cold and a little attitude-y.  (Customer service is not really a thing around here).

Day Two:  As soon as working hours began, I called the Dry Cleaners and asked if anybody by the name of "Pim Goods" works there.  This is something I probably shouldn't have done, since my better judgment said was a pseudonym anyway.  The woman's voice on the other end was a  little snappy so I figured it must have been the woman I had dealt with the other day, "There's just me--Vivian, and Shawn who work here.  Is there a problem?" No, no problem.  I got off the phone quickly, as I didn't like talking to Vivian.  I waited a few days to mull it over.

Day Four:  I was on my way home from a friend's house and passed the Dry Cleaners.  I couldn't get Vivian out of my head and I noticed it was Shawn, the very kind man who worked there, who was working that day.  I stepped in and asked him about the name on the order and explained my concern.  I told him that I didn't have much to base my suspicions on, just that I don't know who else in Chicago would have that information.  Shawn was very sincerely interested and after talking through it with me he wrote a note and said that when the owner gets back into town that he was sure he would want to talk to me.  Then we talked through it again.  And again.  And again.  For some reason there was a need to say everything many many times.  I tried to make it very clear that I wasn't trying to raise suspicions, just that I was trying to get an idea of how it could have happened.

Day Nine:  I get a phone call.  It's Vivian from the Cleaners.  She is calling to tell me that the owner is out of town and so he won't be around to get back to me about this message, but that she doesn't know why I would even think that they would ever do that--that would cost them customers and ultimately their jobs.  She repeated herself several times and was effectively scolding me.  I tried to explain to her that I was just trying to figure things out and that I wasn't trying to blame anybody.  After all, I didn't have any real evidence that it was linked to the Dry Cleaners.  It was just the only idea I could come up with.

Day Eleven (today):  I get a call from James, the owner.  I was sort of not excited to talk to him and bring it up all over again after talking in circles with (the very kind and caring) Shawn and being scolded so harshly by Vivian.  But James was very interested and really wanted to know everything that I knew because he wanted to be able to rule out without doubt any of his employees.  So we started going over the story.  When I got to the part about Vivian calling me he was quite surprised and said she really ought not to have done that.  We kept scouring the facts and he really wanted the shipping address, which was lost by me and I could only remember the roundabouts, not the exact address.  So I called the online vendor again and they were able to give me that information one more time.  But this time, the associate said, "would you like the email that was included on that order as well?" Uh, what do you think?  "Okay, let me spell it for you:  V as in victory, I, V as in victory, I, A, N, Blahblah@blahblah.com" (actually email obviously withheld, although I'm tempted to start handing it out and using it to sign up for all sorts of online subscriptions).  As soon as he got to the second V, I started laughing out loud.  "She is sooo BUSTED!" I said.  The associate was a little confused and so I told him that I just figured out exactly who stole my information. 

I called James back a little overly excited to tell him what I found.  I gave him the email address and his response was a very long, dramatic explitive.  Vivian Blahblah was in fact her full name and the address was very near, if not exactly, where ol' Viv lives. She'll be fired first thing tomorrow morning, he said.  Please file the report with the police, he said.  And he'll call me after he talks to her tomorrow.

WhaaaahBAM!!! Case closed.  Just let me blow the smoke off of my finger-pistol.  I've been feeling pretty good.  I mean, I named the criminal within 10 minutes of the crime.  Sigh...when you're good, you're good.

And so Spencer and I watched the new Sherlock Holmes tonight to celebrate.  And made cracks at Vivian's expense... a lot.


disclaimer:  I realize I switched tense in the middle.  Possibly more than once.  It's the middle of the night.  No time for proofreading.  Sorry.

Do You Ever Just Decide To Buy A Home

before you even know where you are going to have a job and also that it must be in the next two weeks?  My husband does.

But first a little background (hold on, it's a bumpy ride):  Remember when I shared the happy news that Spencer had accepted the job with Walmart in Bentonville?  Well, our peace of mind that comes from knowing what lies ahead was short lived:  when Wmart ran his background check they found a misdeamenor from his crazy days as a freshman at BYU (marshmallows+giant slingshot+back of Adam B's truck="oh, hello, officer").  Spencer had reason to believe that this had been removed from his record and so on the app for employment checked the box saying he had no criminal background. 
And so we have a classic case of "falsifying criminal history", which is unquestionably grounds for rescinding an offer of employment.   Fortunately the people who were in contact with Spencer believed him that he honestly thought it was off his record and said that he could still have his job but he had to be off of their records for 60 days and then reapply.  This meant that for two months we had nothing in writing guaranteeing us a future.  And so Spencer did what any breadwinner, if not commitment-fearing opportunist, would do: kept applying/interviewing for other jobs.

A couple of weeks ago this all came to a head when he was waiting to hear back from Sprint after a final round interview at their HQ in KS.  While we were wondering what our future holds for us, Spencer realized that the first-time home-buyer's tax credit was not going to get extended and that we only had two weeks until April, and the tax credit, came to an end.

We started scrambling to find care for the two older girls while we went on a house-hunting trip, still not even sure what to tell people when they asked where we were going.  We finally settled on child-care options that worked and that we felt very comfortable with.  It was really hard to leave Cadence adn Campbell, but I had absolutely no fear that they wouldn't be cared for very well or kept safe or healthy.  I just missed them.  Cadence stayed with Eryn and her family, which was endless fun for her.  Apparently she taught little Lyvien some new ways to tick-off her mom--sorry Eryn :), and she came home with better manners.  Cam stayed with Matt and Mimi, and she and Josh also taught eachother some new tricks.  It's funny, she acts like Josh when she gets excited now.  Good thing I've always loved it when Joshy gets excited.  Anyway, may the world know right here and right now that Eryn and Scott and Matt and Mimi took on this huge task with only 5 days notice, with complete willingness and not even a hint of annoyance at how little was actually known as far as plans.

So Sunday we finalized plans for Cadence and Campbell.  Then Monday we were supposed to hear back from Sprint.  Then Wednesday we actually heard back from Sprint--it was a no-go.  I was so happy to have a plan that I didn't even care WHERE we were going!  And then on Friday Walmart told us that they couldn't buy us tickets to Bentonville yet since he wasn't employed yet on paper (although they had told him otherwise earlier).  So Friday afternoon Spencer decided we were going to drive, and we took the kids to LPF (dinner at the business school), left them with friends, and started the drive.

The story is even longer than that, but I'm going to cut to the chase--we got one!  We love it.  It just felt right.  Even now, I think about some of the things that aren't ideal (the kitchen being one) but I just still feel like it is the perfect space for our family.  Here are some pictures.  If you saw it before, we updated the winter pictures that were previously here:

entryway:

office:

the living room needs a total makeover--any suggestions?  That big oak thing next to the fireplace is an outdated TV hutch.  It would make a nice computer desk for the kids, though, I think.  But it does throw off the balance of the room.

Formal dining:

Master Bedroom

Master Bath:

Seriously awesome playroom:

The back (in winter).  There is a small garden that we've already got plans to extend.  I love my garden!!!!!  sorry.  I'm excited.

 Backyard with garden:

Side yard:

And there you have it.  And now you want to move to Arkansas, too, right?  Now that you see how far your money can go?  Oh yeah---that's right.  Come on down!  Always room for more here in Arkansas!

Oh yeah, wanna see our back-up option in case this one didn't work out?  We could have gotten this one for less than what we are paying for our place:

You think I'm joking, don't you?  Serious as a heart attack.  It's beautiful but not perfect for our fam like the other one is.