Decisions, Decisions!

Recently, Carl and I took a big step in our journey together - we are ready to expand again! No, not in the having more babies way. We met with a builder to begin the tedious (and decision laden) process of building a house. We've looked at a few properties we like, and may have found the right one...we're going to drive by it again tonight and see if it meets my criteria (flat enough for the kids to have a space to play, roads fairly easy to navigate in the winter, etc.). The lot we're looking at has two acres...that part is a little scary for me...Carl would be mowing a lot! We could also develop some of that land for a big garden, a playset, fenced area for the kids, etc. So if we like the lot, we may begin the process of buying the land. Then we'll wait. Most likely we won't break ground for maybe another 9-12 months. We have some pending changes with salaries and life situations, so we want to give those things some time...but if we love this land, we don't want to lose it. So we may just buy the land, pay for it each month, and if in the end we decide we like somewhere else better, then we'll sell it.

Meeting with the builder was just insane...there are so many options! I didn't realize how specific I would be in the things I like, but I am picky! I want a pantry for sure (walk-in would be nice, but we'll see how cost prohibitive it is), I definitely want 4 bedrooms. I need a craft room! The garage needs to have some storage space. We may or may not finish the basement when we build...that will depend on where we are financially. We definitely want a big kitchen...and a formal dining room. We feed our families at every holiday, and have lots of birthday parties at the house...so we need the dining space. So while we're looking at land, we're also going through page after page of house plans. We like the kitchen in one, the dining room in the other, and the garage in the other....so we are picking the structure of what we want now. Then we'll go back and see how much that's going to cost us....and if we have to make changes to keep it in the range we want, then we go back and make changes...honestly, I have a feeling we'll take months to make all those choices anyway. So while we're waiting on life to happen, we're going to plan (sounds just like me!). I've started thinking about my kitchen (and craft room!). Right now we have more earthy colors....I think I may go with lighter cabinets...more seaside appeal. The kids bathroom will probably be themed Disney of some sort (maybe Mickey/Minnie?). We just have A LOT of decisions to make.

Another thing this signals? We are officially done with children. We are building our dream house, to accommodate 4. Of course, there would be space for another child if God decides to surprise us, but we really like where we're at. We are ready to start our new chapter and watch the kids grow.

So the journey begins...with no definite end date. It could be a year, or it could be 5 years. It is just exciting to start thinking about designing our own space (and sad to think of leaving our first home...the one we brought our children home from the hospital to).