a little of this....a little of that....a whole lot of pictures!

We really have been having some fun lately....and a very busy life!

We moved into a new home...Orie traveled to Alaska...Di drove to Shreveport for some big family news....we celebrated Josh's 30th birthday...cheered on our soccer star Ethan....watched the Celtics defeat the Mavs....and saw our first snow at our new house....wow...life continues to be good! Enjoy some quick recaps of our world....

Grace on moving day....really not that helpful...oh welll!

Kat and Josh celebrating with Orie...a toast to our new house!

Do we look like we have been moving all day?

Kat and Josh lifted and unpacked their fare share for sure!!!!

Mom came in town and we toasted again to the new house....

Orie pours so we can celebrate his new home!

Getting to use my Queen champagne flutes....gosh it's fun to have all our stuff here!

Cheers to the casa!

Amy and Christopher come to visit...our first visitors besides fam....look at the sweet plant CJT brought....

On to Shreveport to watch Ethan run fast and kick the ball....well...we at least saw him run fast!!!

Such a sweet team player...

He loves his friends....

Round Two....celebrate Josh's 30th...the pretty decorations....

Birthday cake...and yes it was yummy...

Mom did the flowers...isn't she talented?

Kat and Josh birthday pic....

Party guests Amanda, Brooke and Brent

Di, Jen and Michelle...

Surprised at the fact that we were definitely all singing Happy Birthday....

Kat and Josh listening to our sweet tune...

Jen and Rodney...sans children...woo hoo....party time!

David...showing me his new boots....totally dig them...along with his sharp blazer!

Need some boots? Head to St. Fredericksburg....not too shabby for this Louisianian....

Kat and Josh again....such a fun party!

Di, Kat and Josh....

On to the American Airlines Arena to cheer for the Celtics....sorry Mavs...just this once....

About to tip off...

Saying hi to all their friends on the court...shaking hands...so sweet
Huddling up in a time out I think....

Di and Orie enjoying our seats....thanks Mom and Dad for Orie's cool Christmas gift!

Pierce shooting a free throw I think....

Mavs had to call a time out....losing with time running out...looking good for our Celtics!

and it worked out....go Boston!!!! Dirk is definitely leaving this game a little differently from the way he left our last visit to the American Airlines Arena....too bad...we'll cheer for you next time!

Today we woke up to snow in Dallas on the second day of spring...Grace and I headed out early to "frolic" in the fun!

Checking it all out....

So pretty....

Our sweet little pup...she loves the snow and her new backyard!

Run Grace run.....

Glad I had the garage spot last night......

We hope your week is fantastic....let us know what is going on with your life....and come visit!

get ready....

My I-T-Consultant is baaaaccckkkkk! Yippee....get ready for some fun house pics and updates on our whereabouts over the last several weeks!

pics to come

Well the house is almost finished thanks to the miracle of my mother Pollyanna....no breaks...all work....but the house is looking good in just under 72 hours!

I would love to post some pics that I took but I need to consult my I-T-guy on the whereabouts of my camera cord....until then....

a sneak peek....

We...and by we I mean a group of highly trained, well paid professionals....have been busy at our house. Work should be completed on Friday and the movers come on Saturday. To say we are excited is a tremendous understatement.....! We couldn't be more thrilled with everything they have done....busted through some serious entry walls and room walls....paint everywhere and I mean everywhere....and a kitchen that looks brand new! Here are a couple before pics and a couple "in process" pics as a little teaser. Can't wait to show you the finished product when we are all moved in and settled. Have a fantastic week!

Before Den....

In process Den....

Before entry way....

In process entry way.....

everything is going to be fine....

that is our new mantra after feeling completely overwhelmed in our lives right now....let's recap!

Let me preface this post with the fact that we feel very blessed to live in the south again and to be so close to our family and friends. Our lives have changed tremendously and all for the better.

We have had an amazing month of February. We celebrated the Saints win in the Super Bowl....still have the balloons to prove it....floating away in our apartment! We closed on our house....and headed to Shreveport....lots and lots of times! February has also been full of increasing work responsibilities for Orie. He is doing amazingly well at his job and completing lots of "billable hours" which is what they want their employees doing. They are giving him projects to lead and he has been working working and working some more. He is exhausted.

Because of work, he wasn't able to head to Shreveport with me to celebrate Cooper's Baptism. We missed his presence on such a special weekend. Jennifer and Rodney had everything planned for a beautiful day for Cooper. We had a wonderful church service with sweet Cooper and Mother Hope and then a fabulous brunch back at Jen's house with some friends and family. She had ribbons tied with crosses on her napkins and beautiful cross cookies to celebrate his special day. It was the perfect day for the V. family! I loved being there to celebrate with sweet Cooper Grayson!

I hustled back to Dallas to celebrate Valentine's Evening with Orie. He cooked a fantastic dinner of homemade manicotti and we had a nice relaxing evening. I think he made me manicotti one other year for Valentine's Day....it must be his specialty because it was quite good both times if I remember correctly. Grace even had some special V Day treats!


We both enjoyed stress free work weeks - hah! and then loaded up the car again to go back to Shreveport to get some furniture and stuff. Poor Grace thinks she lives in the car right about now. We were fortunate to have little helper elves in Shreveport with our furniture. When we arrived on Friday our china cabinet was already downstairs from the 3rd floor attic! Thanks Dad, Rodney and Josh....you saved us big time.

We packed up more wedding items and more stuff from my house in Zachary and loaded up a UHaul on Saturday. I think Ethan really supervised the whole project...Orie, Dad, and Rodney were really just helpers! Mom hustled back from Arkansas to help with the collection of all of my "crap" as many people like to call it and she had even been shopping for new pieces for us that whole week. Again, without our little helper elves we would be drowning right now instead of treading water. Thanks fam-you rock! We met with a decorator and discussed paint colors, wall removal and furniture. Betsy's fantastic eye is the reason for the entire wall removal. It is the perfect fix for the house!

So we now have a few random pieces of furniture in our new house....all our china, crystal, artwork, etc. and I still have one gazillion men walking around the house. It is making me crazy! We know though that it will be over soon and we will be in....decorating and getting settled....that day will hopefully come on Saturday! Then you can all come visit!

Orie has been working late most of this past week and is at the office for most of the weekend. I think his head is spinning like the tilt-a-whirl. He was supposed to get to sleep in a little this morning but we got a 7:46 phone call from Home Depot that are appliances were at our new house. I guess that Friday night phone call giving us a 4 hour delivery window just doesn't really happen....we had no warning. Somehow we got up, dressed and made it over there in about 15 minutes. They guys brought in our appliances and of course it's not quite perfect. The washer and dryer are in, working and perfect....yes! The fridge however doesn't fit....the dishwasher is in the garage because the plumber isn't able to install it yet and I have one gazillion people ripping down wallpaper in the kitchen as all of this is happening with the delivery men. I think we were ready to hit the Panic button after our morning. Oh well....it will work out.

This afternoon we are headed back over to meet with a painter and hopefully get him started. The internet and cable people are also supposed to show and I think that is all we will have going on over there. Maybe the wallpaper people will be finished with their removal...that would be fab!

So everyone...after all these house projects are finished....we expect some company....so come visit! We also promise to get a new attitude as soon as our stress level goes down a bit!

Oh the sun is out today in Dallas....thank you Lord...that cold rainy crap we have had all week was becoming a little depressing. We hope your day is fabulous and full of wonderful! Let us know what is going on in your lives....and remember that everything is going to be fine....

Also...check out our Dallas snow from 2-11-10....about 12 inches in 24 hours...amazing....Grace totally thought we were back in Central Park!

we're still here...

Alive and well in the Big D....just super busy. We'll have a recap soon from the 12 inches of snow to Cooper's Christening to lots of fun things happening with our new house. Stay tuned and have a super duper week!

Grace's Birthday and a Saints Super Bowl Win....

What a day....what more can you ask for? We had so much fun this weekend getting ready for a Saints Super Bowl and then watching the game with Kat and Josh. It was also Grace's birthday (maybe that was a good luck charm!!!)

We had dog cakes and cookies for the pups and Grace got a new birthday cake toy. She was really proud of it when we first gave it to her but after that she was all Saints Football. She definitely had her game face on!

The adults enjoyed homemade shrimp and grits and a "Who Gat" cake....those darn Texans can't get anything right.

Enjoy some pics!

Grace the birthday girl...

waiting so patiently for her present....

sniffing it out....what is it?

yes, i want this....

i'll get it.....taking off

no get together is complete without balloons...

kat and josh....

our gang for the day....

di and orie....

grace....ready to rumble with her sweat wristbands!

total game face...

grace and orie.....love this pic!

mia and sedona's birthday cookies.....

grace's birthday cake....she wants something yummy!

and she got it!

Cheers Saints.....Super Bowl Champions!


sedona is ready to go home....

mia woders what the excitement is all about!

what a day.....

our house....the befores....stay tuned for afters in a month or so!

SOLD.....

I know we have mentioned the possibilities of becoming homeowners....but it is finally official! Orie and I are thrilled to say that on February 10th we will officially own a home in Dallas. It is so cute and we are so excited about the possibilities for us and a family one day. There is a huge tree in the backyard that we know Grace will love in the mean time. I see many squirrel hunts in her future!

We spent much of the weekend appliance shopping and discussing furniture and paint colors....we are so excited! Painting walls and having multiple rooms to furnish is not something we are used to after three apartments in NYC.

I have already purchased several pieces from The Estate Exchange in Bossier City....they're currently living in mom and dad's garage (thanks dad....i know you don't like to give up your man room:)) and I can't wait to bring them over to our house soon. I'm not sure that Orie understands what kind of trouble my mom and I can get in to when furnishing and decorating a home....I guess I just won't show the receipts!!! Our house is such a hodge podge (sp?) of great finds and I wouldn't have it any other way. My mom calls my style "eclectic." I'm sure this doesn't shock anyone who knows my personality!

Come visit us when you're in Dallas next time....and for those who visited us in NYC....we will now have a considerably larger sitting area!!!!