i.g.

Yes, it's official. We signed our home away yesterday afternoon (2pm) with absolutely no where to go. When we signed we thought we had the house we wanted in our grasps, but then found out, hours later (4pm), we in fact did not and it was too late to turn back. Unless the buyer fails to come through we will be moving in a month.

Adam calls it "impending greatness". I call it homeless.

He sees the opportunity right away (as evidence to ig), I admit to feeling pretty terrified about the whole prospect. After all this time and the amount of people who saw the house, I was quite certain we weren't meant to move. I figured I would soon call it "the summer of the clean house" and that would be that (it helped the girls and I sharpen our organizational skills. Now they are in the habit of waking up, making their bed, and picking up their room...not bad). Then it happened...an offer, multiple exchanges, the worries, the doubts, what ifs, and then so quickly this place I have raised my family in for four years and called home is no longer mine.

I think the hardest part is not so much the selling (even though I will miss so much what we created) as it is the no where to go. That has been my greatest fear from the beginning. I never wanted to sell just to sell, I wanted to sell if we had our dream in our hands, but it appears that's not the case. Apparently this is a big lesson for me in patience, trust, and faith. Is it possible to feel calm and scared to death at the same time? I hate feeling out of control and yet, I don't doubt it will all work out in the end, somehow. I just wish I knew when the end will be. Makes me wonder...if we knew the outcome would it making doing what needed to be done any easier?

Now we are doing what I feel like we've done too often in our past...searching for a new home. Although moving is imminent, neither of us are in such a big hurry that we'll just settle for anything so if we can't find something we love I'm sure we'll rent and wait until we do. All these crazy uncertainties...I hardly recognize myself today feeling OK about it all, but I do. I think I have Adam to thank for it. If he weren't such a positive force for good in my life I would never force myself to grow.

He says "impending greatness". Today I don't doubt him.

my stamps are finally out

So last Saturday after doing somethings for other people I decided to treat myself. I finally hung my stamp shelf. Yes, you heard my right, the whole thing all by myself. It's enormous, but fits and does the job. I suppose it just drove me nuts not having my stamps out and available. I just love the way it looks. My room is slowly coming along. Every time I make a change its harder and harder to leave.

Our living room

Our living room and office are connected by two French glass doors. One thing we wanted while designing this house was to have an area that the family would hang out in. We tried to keep in mind older kids and their needs. We thought having everything out in the open was the perfect why.

For the first couple of months we had no furniture in there. It was one of the things that kept me from feeling like we had moved in all the way. I knew we were going to buy a few pieces of furniture, but I hated to go in there. It just made the entire space, office included, non usable. Two weeks ago Adam and I went to Envy in west jordan and bought two black leather chairs and a smaller sofa made out of microfiber. On another outing to downeast home we found a cool black buffet/console (I'm not sure what it is) that serves to hold our media. (just as a side note we have found countless good deals there so if you have never gone...Go)

I just love being in there now. We had some friends over last weekend and it was the perfect place to just sit and talk. It is exactly what were going for when we designed the space.

I also included a photo of our stairs since we hung some framed leaves. Looks so much better.

what i have been thinking about....working on

So for a while I have been bothered by the fact that my house seems dead. We have nothing on the walls and it's so bare. This past week Adam and i cracked out some of our frames and are figuring out what we want where (we have a few hard spots like the entry). We actually only hung a few things, but it makes a huge difference.

One of the ideas I have been thinking about is the mantle in our living room off the kitchen. In my old house I desperately wanted to do something over my mantle, but it didn't lend itself to that. Eventhough I don't particularily like this mantle/fireplace it will serve it's purpose and allow me to do what i have been thinking about for years. So this week i have been looking through our stash of frames (also bought a couple) and am trying to work out a pleasing arrangement. I have been thinking about adding the word family or memories...something of that nature, but haven't found anything yet so i will keep looking. For right now i just love looking in the room and seeing the progress.

Please don't mind the pictures/mats as I want to figure out what frames i am using and then get the photos. I am planning to put my most favorite blk/wht photos of us and the girls. I also have adam on board to cut me a few mats. (So glad he has skills.)

ah...the mudroom

I meant to add this to the photos of my house.


It is one of my favorite places due to the fact it helps me stay organized and keeps the kids things in one place. Well, except the toys.

looking good...feeling like home

We had an appraiser come yesterday so we worked hard to get our home looking its best. In honor of that I took some photos and thought I would share.

I am just grateful there are no more toilets and appliances in my backyard.

beginning to the end... house exterior

Six months ago we started this insane project. I suppose it wasn't insane, but it sure felt a bit crazy...buying a new house, rennovating it, and moving from our cozy life. Something we had already done in the past and one that I wasn't too eager to start again. It was not an easy process and for me one that came with lots of frustrations, but now that it's over I couldn't be more grateful for the decision and ablity to make this dream a reality. I guess you never really get anything of value without work (blood sweet and tears). I love love love this house. Could not be happier with the results.

click on photo for bigger view

life update

ok so i haven't really been great at blogging for the last month. So much is going on in my life that i just haven't had time to write, or i should say i haven't taken the time.

What's up, well my husband and I bought a house and we're in the process of remodeling it (right now waiting for plans). We are also working on plans to bulldoze the house we are currently living in and building two houses on our lot.

So like I said, lots going on, lots to think about. I am trying to stay focused and not get stressed out, which is usually my way of dealing with big changes. Honestly I hate doing stuff like this, but i know it will benefit my family greatly (a part of me does like working on a big project). Plus the new house (old house remodeled) will be really awesome. Looking forward to being able to design a home that works for us.

So i am getting my daughter registered for kindergarten and searching for a new preschool. Having a hard time because of the late start, but i know all will fall into place.