So, We Bought a House Today

 I don't think I've written here that we decided that instead of just doing the easy thing and buying a house in Boise, Idaho, we'd hire someone to build one!  

This is what our lives have looked like for most of the summer. Jeff, me and usually my mom looking at house plans, making decisions and planning, planning, planning. 

  It's no easy thing, building a house hundreds of miles away from where it will be but thanks to our friends, Tara and Dave Neilson (they convinced us to move there in the first place, along with a lot of prayers of course), we had weekly updates and all the pictures we could ask for.

Finally today, the house is done and it is ours!  I don't have all-the-way-done pictures yet (I'll take some when we get there next week) but these will be nice to remember and will give you an idea.  

 Looking down from the second floor

 The view from the back...the main reason we decided on this plot.  I hope that neighbor never moves and always keeps his yard looking that awesome.

 Entry way view

 So excited to have a fireplace, even more excited that we will be there in time to hang stockings on it this year! :)

 Most exciting thing about the kitchen?  Subway tiles!  Least exciting thing, counter tops.  We just couldn't stomach spending double what we should on counter tops through the builder.  My plan is to redo all of the dark counter tops in  a deep walnut and then do a nice marble looking slate/quartz for the light counter tops...someday!  Until then, I think they look fine.

2nd most exciting thing(s) about the kitchen: window cabinets and walk-in pantry!

 My favorite thing about the outside = SHAKES...love them.  I used to dream of a house with shakes when I was in Connecticut and Rhode Island.  I just love the texture and depth.  Oh, and notice the bottom window in the right hand side of your screen.  That's the window seat we had put in...so glad we did that.

 Master bathroom...don't know what was going on with that drawer on the right and have no clue what I'm going to do with the space in the middle. :)

There are many more photos but they are all in PDF form so I'll have to do a house tour when we get there.  I must say that it is all such a dream right now and I can't believe we are actually going to live here.  But we are...next week!

In the meantime, I'd better get back to packing!

P.S. My parents have been so amazing through this whole process.  They have loved us and taken care of our girls while we traveled to and from Boise to make important decisions, spent long hours helping us make plans and listened to endless conversations about kitchen cabinets, paint colors, etc. Oh yeah and WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THEM FOR ALMOST 9 MONTHS!  That was definitely not our plan when we came but none of this could have ever happened without that fact.  Their support, love and confident encouragement have really made this dream of ours come true.

More to come!