Home is wherever I'm with you.

I have been meaning to post about our new home forevah. It always seems to slip through the cracks so now, seven months into it all, it just feels like home, our home. Somewhere we can watch our children grow, sip tea watching the sunset over the mountains, build snowmen, hike the hills and laugh.

It was just about this time last year when I found it. Matt thought I was casually looking at houses to get a feel for the area, and I did not look twice when our realtor sent me over the listing. I picked out two other homes to tour and she suggested I see this one. It was a foreclosure and was in less than desirable condition. I walked in and loved it, well most of it. On a cul-de-sac, close to the trails, in the valley, not too old, not too new, open floor plan, cute street name, not renovated. I fell in love. BUT it smelled of something nasty, the dog that lived there had scratched through doors and baseboards, the children had used the walls as an art canvas, there were holes in the walls, projects unfinished throughout the house, dead landscaping, no sod, you get the idea. There was some work to be done.

I brought Matt over a few days later and he says something along the lines of, "Seriously, this is it. I like it but no way." I begged, we put in an offer. He still was on the fence. The bank did not accept. After four months and lots of negotiating the house was ours. We renovated for about 6 weeks and moved in. Friends of friends at Possiblities Home Decor helped with some decorating, picked out paint and fabrics- it all came together and now, I can't imagine living anywhere else. Best of all are the sweet little faces that jump off the couch, ram their cars into the cabinets and throw army guys named, Kramer and Jerry, over the balcony.

Before Pictures

(should have taken more of these guys)

The living room.

Wall with the fireplace.

Nook and dining area.

Master bedroom.

After Pictures

Living room.

Fireplace wall.

Nook and dining area.

Kitchen.

Reading room.

Dining room.

Master bedroom.

The big boy room.

Nursery.

Guest bedroom.

Backyard.

Lessons I learned after this moving experience:

1. I LOVE decorating but renovating is just not my thing.

2. Light can change everything. We get lots of sun and wow, I likey.

3. No matter how thorough you are, unexpected problems always arise so just go with the flow.

Really, they do.

4. Make a budget, stick to it.

5. Moving 6 times in 7 years is too much for me. Matt and I have questioned our decisions, disagreed, heard each other out, compromised, and did the best we could.

We are here for good, I hope. In the end, "Home is wherever I'm with you."

~ Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.