Home Sweet Home

  We made it!!  We are here!!!  I finally have enough time and energy to blog so things must be on the up and up.  We started moving into our home exactly one week ago today and it has been an exhausting but very exciting week.  There are SO many people I need to thank for helping us with this huge transition...so here we go!
 First off, I need to thank Amy Talboo Bittenbender.  One evening, several months ago, I had gotten fed up with yet again searching for houses and not finding anything promising.  I decided to put a status up on Facebook asking if anyone knew of any homes that were coming up for sale in the near future.  Amy quickly messaged me and said that she had heard her high school friend's parents were going to be selling their home but she didn't know when.
 Fast forward to an evening in April when Mike and I were looking at yet another house that we hated when I mentioned to our realtor (which PS -- if you're looking for a great realtor, contact Pattie Hartman at DLP Realty!!) that I had heard a house was going to be going up for sale in the near future.  She said, "Well, let's go!" and off we went!
  There were two signs that evening that showed me that this was going to be the house for my family.  The first sign was while we were driving to check it out (and remember -- it wasn't officially on the market!) a double rainbow came out.  The second sign is that the house is on Susan Road -- for those who don't know, my mom's name was Sue and my dad always called her Susan.  Weird, right?
  As we got closer to the house, I asked Mike if he thought Pattie was going to go up to the door or just do a drive by.  It was then that we saw her little red car pull into the driveway.  Mike and I didn't know what to do -- so we just kept driving!!  We turned around and decided to drive into their driveway and just sit in the car.  Pattie eventually came to the window and said, "Come on in.  They're going to show you the house."  So in we went -- how wonderful of the homeowners to answer the door and allow complete strangers to tour their home!  Fast forward several months and here I am sitting in their living room.  Craziness...complete craziness!
  So finally, after many months of ups and downs (why are selling and buying homes SO difficult??) we were finally able to call this home OUR HOME this past Tuesday.  I need to give a special thank you to our neighbors in Allentown - Rudy and Ester.  They went above and beyond for us and for that we are truly grateful.  And yes -- we'll be over to get our fish tank soon!!!  Thank you to all of our friends who helped pack, move boxes, pack the POD, store things in your garages, made us dinner, watched the twins (CHRIS -- you are a LIFESAVER!!!!) or just sent us text messages of moral support.  We truly appreciate it and could NOT have done this without you.
 So now here comes what you all have been waiting for.  Pictures of our new home!  Please remember - we've just moved in a week ago so things are still a mess!

Front door and foyer

Living room

Allie is such a goofball!

Dining room...and yes, I know we need a bigger table!

Kitchen...

It's all about the details....LOVE this built-in silverware drawer.

I've always wanted a built-in spice rack!

This pantry...I can't even believe it's mine!

Sun room...

I'm thinking about making it into an arts and crafts room/homework room for the twins.

I know I've used this caption a lot but I always feel like she's saying, "Yo, people.  What's up?"

First bath in the new house!

They love brushing their teeth at their very own sinks!

Playroom

Finally Michael's toy chest is being used as a toy chest!

Workout room!

Guest bedroom/Dad's room when he comes for a visit.

Twins love the looong hallway.

Allie's room eventually!

Cam's room -- and the room they are currently sharing.  Love Allie sitting on the window seat!

This is a dream come true!!  No longer stuffing all of their clothes into a set of drawers!

The twins have been doing an awesome job at napping and sleeping in the new house...THANK GOODNESS!

Our bedroom.

Our bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was making breakfast this morning and couldn't hear the twins playing.  I went off to look for them and this is where I found them!

I truly could weep when I walk into this closet!

Downstairs playroom...the chalk board came from the original Salisbury Elementary School.

Mike's man cave!

Cam is also a goofball!

Love, love LOVE the backyard!

Playhouse...even has electricity!

We really wanted a little bit of woods...I think we got it!

Allie loves her "baby swing"!

So there you go!  We love visitors and are hoping to have a housewarming party in the near future.  Here's to many, many wonderful memories being made in this beautiful home!