Home Owners!!

Our lease was going to end in February, so we had to decide whether or not to renew. We thought we'd just contact a realtor our friends had recommended and look around a little. So in December we went and looked at three houses. While we were looking at these three (uninspiring) houses, I pointed out to our realtor another house in the same neighborhood that was "coming soon." It was a house I had seen when I went to check out this neighborhood with the kids on our bikes. We were checking out the neighborhood because we'd seen a house online that we liked. Aaron and the kids had driven by and really liked the neighborhood. So I went to check it out (on the bikes) and saw this outwardly lovely "coming soon" house. Then I pointed it out to the realtor when we were in the neighborhood. She called the sellers' realtor then and there. And she said we could get in to see the house after Christmas. 

So all during Christmas, I kind of dreamed about this house. I told family about it and just imagined what it might be like inside. I felt drawn to this house. I liked the neighborhood and the exterior. The day after we got home from Christmas vacation, I went with the realtor to see it. And the dream house turned out to be a dream! I really, really liked it! Aaron did, too. So this was only the 4th house we saw, but we decided to put an offer on it. The rest is history (and also recorded in my journal, so I won't bore you with the details here.)

As I'm typing this out, I am thinking how similar it is to when I was shopping for a husband:) I remember it was right before Christmas I was feeling kind of bored with life, looking for some renewal (like our lease). I went with my roommate McKelle (my realtor) and her boyfriend Trustin to hand out some leftovers from a ward activity. We ended up at Aaron's apartment. I was like, where have you been all my life? (visiting the neighborhood) I developed a crush on him right there. I looked him up in the ward directory (like zillow, redfin, etc.) and basically started stalking him. Shortly after Christmas, I went to visit my sister Felicia and told her that I was interested in this guy Aaron. And I tried to find opportunities to flirt with him. During the summer, I went home and thought a lot about Aaron even though I didn't know him that well, (like when I hadn't even seen the inside of the house) and when I came back in the fall, we started dating. Then he made an "offer" and...bam! Married. Apparently I'm really good at the whole love-at-first-sight thing.

So here's our house. 

I just love the bent tree in the front yard. It helps to give the house character, no?

Will I like having this one, big, living/eating/cooking room? In theory, I do. In reality, it's kind of depressing to always be able to see your dirty dishes. Good thing there's a deep sink! But I do like not having to leave the action in the living room in order to stir something in the kitchen. 

Cutest half-bath ever!

Upstairs toy/game room

Master bedroom and bathroom (which are upstairs)

Scotty's Room

Annie's Room

Kids' Bathroom

Guest room (Come visit us!!)

Laundry Room (also upstairs)

The backyard has been awesome! The kids really do play out there a lot. And I love seeing the trees. I think it will be even cooler when they are full of leaves. 

There definitely is a different feeling to owning a house instead of renting it. I thought it would be easier...this is my house, I can do whatever I want! But it's more stressful in a way...how will that affect our resale value? Yet it also naturally gives you more love and commitment to the house to be the owner. I'm happy to be here. I'm feeling really grateful for my blessings. The house is great! But it's already very clear that this house is not my greatest blessing. The people who live in it are. And I already know that we can be happy anywhere...I know we aren't going to be any happier here than we were in our 700 ft square basement apartment in Provo. It really is the love and the people that make a home.