Home Sweet Home

We have moved into our new home! We moved in at the end of March and it has been a whirlwind since. We are slowly settling in and feeling out the ways we want to make this place feel like our home. It is a home that is more than we ever thought we would have and a home we are truly grateful for. I have thought of it as many things from our forever home, to a home that we will raise our girls in at this stage of life, to our sanctuary and little place to get away from all that is swirling around us and enjoy our little family of five. In the past month God has shown me that it is the perfect home for this stage of where we are, but things change in an instant, so enjoy each day and don't look past the moment we are in as we may love this home, but at any time He can send us on a completely different journey. God has been stretching me and teaching me and in this season is teaching me not to try and plan out the future, but just live in this moment right now. The past 7 months have been a crazy ride and I was longing for a time when we would have a home here and just be able to breath, but God keeps stretching and challenging us and making us focus on our little family. All that said, I love this home, but see it in a different light than when we first saw it and purchased it. It is freeing and encouraging to view it as a home for today and not think beyond that. It is a time of growth around here and it is amazing to see how and what God uses to teach us!

So our home, it is one that Ben and I made the perfect compromises on and is a home that we have bought with our completed family in mind. It is a colonial style that is in a wonderful neighborhood and has a wonderful school that we can walk the girls to. It has many families in it and is a place that is a good investment and a smart investment (two very important things to us). It has an AMAZING yard!! That was a non-negotiable for us! The inside could have needed work, but we were not going to bend on a yard. We have lived without a yard and know what that is like, both as a couple and a family. Our girls need a yard and deserve one and that was our main goal in this home purchase. I also love a yard to enjoy and be in and am looking forward to a garden in the coming years. I told Ben that I will never be without a yard again, it is something that I enjoy and didn't realize I missed until we didn't have one. We have 5 bedrooms, 4 on one level, which is hard to find here, and a great guest space in the basement. We also have a basement! We wanted a play space for the girls and this basement provides that. We also have a great kitchen with an island! (Ellie and I were looking forward to that!) This home more than meets our needs and wants. We are comfortable here and are looking forward to the memories our little family will make here and the celebrations and journey we will have here for as long as God wants us to be in this space.

Below are some pictures of our new home right after we closed and moved in. We painted a few rooms before we moved in as the house was all one color and the color is a little purple. My intent is to post before and after pics as we slowly go through each room. Some rooms need final small details, such as the girls' rooms and other rooms need a little more. For the most part all the rooms just need some cosmetic changes, other than our master bath, which is nice, but not our style and will be our only main project in years to come. This home has been well taken care of and we know that any changes we make will only improve on the home's value, which is a very reassuring thing.

 The Front

We have a three car garage and have a few plans for some curb appeal. I am a landscaper's daughter, so I have a desire for a little more pizazz in the front, but as the leaves have begun coming in, things are looking a little better.

 The Foyer. It is a two story foyer that when you enter to the left is Ben's office, which you see in the pic and to the right you see the dining room and the kitchen and entrance to the basement is down that little hall.

 Plan here is paint, new lighting and a furniture piece and art.

 Ben's Office

 Office in progress. It has gotten paint and furniture set up. Ben does not need an office like he did previously as he has an office at work, so this is more of a computer room. Curtains and art hung is planned for in here.

Through Ben's office is the Family Room at the back of the house. This house has amazing light. We get great light in the back in the morning and then the front in the afternoon. The back is nice and shaded in the afternoon, perfect for playing and eating out there.

 Family Room

 Family Room in progress. It has gotten paint and furniture. Plan is to get curtains, hang art, update gold on fireplace and eventually change out furniture.

 Kitchen View from Family Room. To the left is the backyard, to the right is the foyer and in the back is the garage, 1/2 bath, and laundry/mudroom.

 Kitchen in progress. Plan here is to paint the cabinets, do a backsplash, paint the room, change the table, add barstools and curtains.

 Laundry Room. Plan here is tile, paint and change window treatment. I also want to have a little family command center.

 Huge Closet off of Laundry. Plan here is Ben is going to build out the space to create a mudroom with cubbies for all the girls' stuff. In the winter here you need a mudspace!

 Dining Room

 Dining Room in Progress. We have painted, changed the light fixture and bought furniture. Plan here is curtains and art.

 View upstairs from Quinny's room. Ellie's room and the girls' bathroom is to the left and to the right is Mia's room and our room. Plan here is paint and change fixture.

 Ellie's room.

 Ellie's Room in Progress. Plan here is Ben is fixing her bed and then curtains and art.

 Girls' Bath

 Girls' Bath in Progress. Plan here is new paint, paint cabinet, tile and some fixture updates.

 Quinny's Room

 Quinny's Room in Progress. Plan here is furniture, art and curtains. She has never had a big girl room, so Ben is making her bed and then we are on the hunt for her dresser.

 Hallway towards Master, Mia's Room on the right.

 Mia's Room

 Mia's Room in Progress. Plan here is art and curtains.

 Master

 Master in Progress. Plan here is art and curtains.

 Master Bath. Plan here is a complete overhaul. The home was built in the late 90's and this room needs some updates, but will be something that will be down the road.

 Guest Room. We have gotten new carpet, which is not shown. Plan here is paint, art, curtains and furniture.

 Basement, one half.

 My office space. Plan here is Ben is going to build me a desk/homework station for the girls and I, then art and remove chandelier.

 Basement playspace. Plan here is shelving/organization and art.

 Basement, second half.

 In Progress. Plan here is art and change curtains.

 Awesome deck and yard!!

 Plan here is deck furniture and a garden and plantings in time, but otherwise just tons of fun with our girls!!!

We are looking forward to memories here as long as God has us here!