Ten years ago, we signed on the dotted line, received a shiny new set of keys, and officially became homeowners. As we stepped across the threshold of our new house, all we knew was that we were ready to put down roots. We had no idea what life would throw our way, but we were excited to have our first home together and to make it exactly what we had always dreamed of.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve outgrown that initial excitement and settled into something much bigger: a life filled with family and chaos. We are now a family of five (plus a very furry “child” who thinks he runs the house) and are stretching the seams of our so-called “forever home.” It’s funny how, ten years ago, we thought we had all the space we’d ever need, but somehow, the toys, laundry, and people filled all the open spaces in our home.
We recently decided to try and relocate to a home that could better suit our growing family.
Most of the texts between my husband and me are about new properties and dream homes we could never afford. When we got word of something that fit our wants and needs, we put it all on the line and tried to make it happen. We dove into the world of real estate and found something that ticked all our boxes: a little more space, a little more storage, and a place where we could see our young girls grow.
But, as life so often goes, the universe had other plans. The house didn’t work out as we had hoped, and the “unicorn” opportunity we thought was too good to be true was just that.
So here we are, still in the same house, but with a new purpose: we’re not going anywhere, but we will make this place work.
And that’s how we ended up here, with major change number one: finishing the basement. What was once a dimly lit space reserved for holiday decorations, cobwebs, and my husband’s work-from-home office has become our beacon of hope and excitement. It will be the playroom, an actual office for my husband, a home gym, another bathroom, and just a place for everyone to get away from each other when we so badly need space.
Our home was built in a time of grey and white everything, and I’ve had enough of the lack of color. This home overhaul will not only add more usable space but also make the rooms in our home warmer, more inviting, and more a reflection of our personalities. We are embracing the world of color. I plan to add wallpaper to bathrooms and possibly some stenciling on walls. We have a new couch on order and are constantly seeking ideas to maximize our small pantry and create storage in all areas.
So here we are, ten years in, with our house looking a little different, a little more lived-in, and hopefully soon a lot more colorful and a better reflection of who we are as a family. We may not have ended up in our dream house (yet), but we’ve realized that the house we’re in is, in fact, the perfect one for us. It’s a space that has grown with us, filled with years of our best memories.
We didn’t need a bigger house; we just needed to make this one work.
I am excited to take on this new world of home renovations and make our current house our forever home. If there’s one thing we’ve learned along the way, it’s that home isn’t just about the size of the space; it’s about how we fill it with love, laughter, and memories with our family.
