On The Way In
I have to tell you that when we first turned down the street towards this house I was overcome with emotion.
There's something about it - a feeling that goes along with the outside and the inside spaces. Maybe it's that there's a bit more room for all of us to breathe and stretch out and grow-into. Maybe it's the yard with areas to play and have adventures and do cartwheels and a spot to sit and eat outside. Maybe it's that I think we'll likely be here for awhile - something I've hoped for in my heart of hearts for a long time.
Chris keeps saying that there's something familiar about it - he thinks it's similar to the house I grew up in south of Seattle. Maybe that's part of it too.
Right now we are living in the middle of boxes and figuring out what goes where and papering drawers and painting cabinets and orienting ourselves. I'm excited to get to that point where I'm ready to put stuff up on the walls - a big part of what will make it all feel "real" to me.
Here's a couple peeks into the house:
This closet in the living room is holding all my baskets. I love "shopping" in there for what I need as I begin assigning homes to things and putting them away.
Cabinets in the kitchen are getting a fresh coat of paint. A couple more days and we can get things put away in there too.
Looking into my office (Chris on the phone with Apple support) which is an upstairs bonus room. Along the right wall in that alcove area are some shelves I had built-in which are designed to hold my 12x12 albums. I kinda also wanted to cry in a good way about those.
Simon working on a lego project in his room. He's done really well with this transition. He's been sleeping in our room until we get a new bed for him and I think he likes that too. I'm excited to get things organized in his room to be able to give him space to create with his legos. Seeing him sitting at that table working away is a really good feeling.
Anna's room is currently a lovely bright mint green that will be painted later this week. She's been all over the backyard - an outdoor toddler for sure.
Overall I'm just feeling really thankful and excited about this next chapter in our lives. Moving is such an in-your-face delineation of change. I'm taking lots of deep calming breaths and keeping a long-term perspective in mind - it doesn't all need to happen at once.
What a wonderful new chapter for the Edwards family. Thank you for sharing a peek with us.
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Congratulations! Your new home looks amazing, and will be even more wonderful once you get moved in! I've been meaning to share pictures of our home as well, but haven't found the time or energy yet. My laptop is still resting on the coffee table downstairs until my office is done (and it should be done by sunset tonight, which in Alaska means 10pm).
Good luck and have fun making your home!
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Love the house Ali, so happy for you because I can 'hear' in your voice how much you love the house
Wish all of you a blessed life in this house
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Congratulations, woman! What a wonderful house that you soon will make into your home! How lovely to have a great feeling about a new space....the feeling that you belong! Enjoy the agonyof finding new homes for things! I am sure you will be "finished" before you know it!
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Love the porch...Love the kitchen island...and really really love the built-in-shelves for your 12x12 albums. So cool :-)
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Oh Ali from the second this post started to open and I saw the title and the first photo it felt like home. It is totally you (or how I feel that you are!)... the little chairs on the wooden verandah (probably called a porch over there) to the little garden it is absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy your new home and bask in the memories your beautiful family will make there. I am glad that Simon has transitioned well and Anna is enjoying the backyard. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Regards
Paula
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Thanks for sharing that step with us. I wish you all the best in your new home! Greetings from Germany.
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your new home looks beautiful.. i can't believe i'm sad about your old home - i loved the pictures of that home as well.. and loved the mini book that you created for it. i'm sure you'll have as many wonderful memories here in your new home as well.. probably even more.. ;)
congratulations on your new home!! thanks for always sharing ;)
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Glad Simon has had a good adjustment. Looks like a really special house in lots of ways. Love the closet in the living room, put that on my dream home list.
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This is such an amazing move for you that I am almost crying. LOOK AT THAT KITCHEN!!!!!!!!! COMPARED TO WHAT YOU HAD BEFORE - HOW AMAZING!!!! Congratulations - it's well-earned and well-deserved. So much love yet to be shared within those walls...so many memories to be made.
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So happy for you! :) We just started saving for a downpayment, so in a year or so I will hopefully be moving into a new house too!
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Congrats on your new home Ali. I think the best thing about moving is cleaning, organizing, purging and starting out fresh. I think it's better to take your time and do things right, although that can be hard because living in a house full of boxes can get old fast.
Can't wait to see it once you are done - thanks for sharing your world with us!
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Due to a military move, I once had everything ready for a visit from my Mom in a week. Of course, only 1 kid then {now 3}. And I don't think that I could ever do that again. It will get better and you will be so happy for the momentary pandemonium!
Home is where you hang your heart!
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Oh it looks like a wonderful home to grow into with your family, the kids will love that yard! When we bought our house, it was a bonus having a fenced in back yard, it's like an extra room for all of us to enjoy! Have fun settling in. Cheers:)
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Love that you created a space for your past and future lives by making room for your 12x12 albums. A special area just for that is a testament to your strength/heritage as a young family and serves as a visible reminder to everyone that your documenting work is an essential, almost breathing part of your lives.
Thanks for sharing, Ali.
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Thank you Terri - it was the very first thing I had done as soon as we had the keys.
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Congratulations on your new home! It looks beautiful!
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Just incase you didn't know about these: http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/giant-lego-storage-boxes-124077?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+apartmenttherapy/ohdeedoh+(Ohdeedoh)
might be a good gift for simon...
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So happy for you and your family! The house looks great with all that extra space. I love those built in shelves for your albums. I too would probably cry.
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Forty one years ago I stepped into my house and fell in love. I knew that it was home. I knew it was supposed to be mine. I was right. I still love it and it loves me. I've thought about leaving it, but just couldn't be serious about it. My family speaks of it as the one thing in their life that they can depend upon to not change. They sleep better here. They laugh about things that happened here. Sometimes we cry when we remember. Ali, I wish you and yours the love and contentment that comes with being in a place you love for a long period of time. Change may be good, may offer learning and growth, but there is a time for love of the ordinary and comfortable. Best wishes. Cindy
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Wow--it looks like your new home gets some amazing light! I look forward to seeing your personal touches. Congratulations!
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that porch photo looks amazing and the yard for the kids and the picket fence.........no wonder you are emotional about it. Take your time, sit down and have a rest and a coffee every now and then and before long things will be put away. Look forward to your "reveal" pics in due course. Kathy (Australia)
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I'm like, so happy for you!!! "Moving is such an in-your-face delineation of change" wow - that is a perfect observation. Spot on. Thanks for sharing!
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So, so beautiful! I'm glad you are all settling and it feels like home.
Between you and Kelly Rae, I have new kitchen lust!
Can't wait until your settled and more pics are shared.
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Hi Simon,
This is Conor in Maryland. I am 7.5 and I love love love Legos. What set are you working on?
Conor
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