Home Sweet Home

You may notice my posts are a bit late- sorry. Better late than never! As our year in Chicago finished out we could hardly contain our excitement to be back to a place we loved so much and have so many friends in. But perhaps even more thrilling to move into our very own house!

I still can't believe we managed to buy a house. It was tricky finding weekends to head down and check stuff out- in fact Michael was able to actually see the house only once before we bought it (I went back a second time with the kids). We were pretty much in love with it when we saw it. It was just what we were looking for, comfortable, quiet neighborhood, good schools. Its a bit older than we like, 50 years, but to be honest by St. Louis standards it's still a baby. It was rough getting all the paperwork done long distance. I can't tell you how many hours I spent in the library scanning documents and emailing them to our amazingly wonderful, spectacular, super awesome real estate agent, Kim Welch. Seriously peeps, if you're in the St. Louis area and need an agent she's pretty stinkin' great. Some of those documents were irritating, like the ones that demand you sign and email back within 24 hours...which was hard to do when my husband was on a 30 hour shift! But I got it done, cause I'm awesome like that. Inspections passed without too many problems and negotiating the price was very interesting. In the end I think we got a nice deal, and thanks to the bad economy we got a great interest rate to boot. Yeah! Such an interesting experience and now we have a house to call our own! Feel free to "ooh" and "ahhh" during the following tour:

Front. My folks think we did alright with the house (granted my dad's a general contractor and picky about this kind of thing). My parents were surprised we would buy a house so ANCIENT, but to be honest, it was one of the youngest ones we looked at. They also think, though, that the front of the house looks a bit mobile-home-ish. I guess I can see that...but I don't care.

Front room. The curtains they left in here actually matched our decor so we kept them up...score!

Trevor's room. Its a little small, but just right for him. We have since painted all the pink circles blue to make it more masculine. I'll be showing pictures of that one of these days...

Still Trevor's room.

More Trev's room. The previous owners were quite stylish. I was a little sad to take down that "Thank goodness for little girls" thing, it was so cute! But, ya know, not the best thing for a boy's room.

Kitchen. If there were one thing I would alter about this house I would find a way to add a pantry. I've managed to fit everything I need up there, but a pantry would be nice. We've also since painted the kitched a boring, but more suited khaki/beige color that works with my decor. Thanks honey for letting me me paint it! (And for assisting me in that project!)

Front room again. The front room opens up into the kitchen. I like how its so open, I just wish I had a better way of hiding my kitchen mess when guests come over....I still love it, though.

See, Lynette is in the front room, with the kitchen/dining area behind her. Behind that half wall with the orange and green paint is the door to the carport, as well as stairs to the basement.

Lynette's room. Isnt' that pink and purple with butterflies just darling? It would be perfect for a girl's room in anyone's house...except mine. I can't stand pink, especially when it's coupled with purple. It makes me want to throw up cotton candy. I think I might have some psychological issues with pink, or at least an allergy. The first time we saw this room Michael thought, "that would be perfect for Lynette" and I thought "oh, boy that's gotta go!" Can you guess who won? Oh yeah, me baby. Don't worry, though, I paid a great deal in back massages to my ever so complying husband. Details on this room's transformation later.

Master Room, sorry for the blurry. I don't love hardwood floors in the bedroom (my feet get so cold!) but this hasn't bothered me as much. And it is a nice look.

More of the master. Could definitly use more closet space. I have my wardrobe divided up into this room, Lynette's, and the front closet. How ridiculous is that! It is a lovely closet, though.

Lynette and Trev breakin' in the new house.

Cut little coat hanger, huh?

Bathroom upstairs. Sorry for the blurryness.

And the basement. Oh how I love this basement. This is our entertainment area where the computer, t.v., and ALL of the kids toys go. Its so nice to have the toys downstairs. It makes it so much easier to keep my house clean! I cannot believe how much easier it is! And this place is like twice the size of our last apartment. What a difference. Love it! That being said I currently have a lot of work to do to clean up my basement as I write this...

Basement bathroom. Love it. I don't think the previous owners ever used it. I can't wait to have guests over to show them "their" bathroom to use while they stay. So excited!

The back porch. We already love this thing. This is what I had in mind when I got Michael that BBQ set. We really enjoyed this porch this summer.

View of the back. I don't have a picture of it here, but our yard backs up into this lovely little wilderness area. There's just a bunch of trees framing up the our yard, and it is not uncommong seeing a family of bunnies out in that wilderness trespassing in your yard. The silence out here is stunning. No ambulances blaring, or school buses screeching, or loud neighbors yelling. Just crickets. And wind. It's intoxicating.

The kids checking out our front bench.

My old Gidgit gettin' comfy. I doubt we'll have anymore problems with people stealing its hubcaps our here.