AnNicole writes one of my very favorite blogs, Our Suburban Cottage. This week she has invited her readers to a linky party and asked us to share the story of how we met our house. I LOVE this idea. It really is a like meeting a new friend when you meet your house for the first time. I love the idea of sharing these stories with each other.
Here’s my story:
Just after my husband and I were married, we bought our first house. 
I felt so fortunate. We had found a truly perfect house for us. It was a great price, close to work, in a nice neighborhood, with a beautiful yard and there was plenty of room to raise a family. I felt like we were living happily ever after in our “forever” house. We built a fence, bought a puppy, and the babies followed shortly after. 
Life was good, but that was just the beginning of the story of our house.
You see, my sister lived in a beautiful neighborhood in Snohomish and it just so happened that my husband’s sister lives in the same neighborhood. Our kids are all about the same age and we all enjoy spending time together. My sister called me one day and told me about a house in her neighborhood that was For Sale By Owner. I told her that I thought that was really nice that she thought about us, but that we were not moving. She persisted. The next day she called again. She told me that she really thought we should just come out and see the house. Again, I told her that we were not moving and we didn’t even have time to come drive by. Undeterred, she went to the house, knocked on the door, and asked if she could come in and take some pictures to email to her reluctant sister.
This was the picture on the brochure.
The house that my sister had chosen for us was within walking distance to her house and my husband’s sister’s house. It was close to the elementary school that all the kids would attend. The house was within our budget, in a perfect neighborhood, and it was much larger than the house I thought was our “forever house”. When my husband and I opened the email with all of the pictures attached, it was all over. We didn’t even need to see it in person. It was love at first sight. We drove out that very night and made an offer.
Moving to our new “forever house” was the best decision we’ve ever made. There were, and still are, lots of cosmetic changes that need to made. We can handle that. It’s a small trade off for letting my kids grow up with their cousins and I mean REALLY grow up with their cousins. (We see them every day.) I always have someone to go to for a cup of sugar or when I’m short just one egg. I come home from work to find that my sister has “broken in” and left some things she had borrowed on the kitchen counter. We have one really tall ladder between all of us, because why would we want to store more than one ladder when we live so close together? We share dishes, childcare, good days, tough times, home baked treats, and most importantly – we share our lives together. At the end of the day it’s all about home and family. I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel that my home and family share the same neighborhood.
Check out these parties!
The Comments
Rockin Momma
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Jenny
I always dreamed of living on the same street as my sister! How awesome that you do and that all of the kids can be close and have so much fun! What a great story.
Mary
What a beautiful house! After living away for 20 years then moving home, I understand what you're saying about being so close to your family! What a great story!
kim
What a great story. It is so nice that your kids and their cousins get to grow up together. I wish my family had been closer like that.
Lisa
Great story. Your house is gorgeous!!
Becky K.
I love your sister's persistence!
We have moved my husband's Mom into the house beside us…My Mom is two doors away. Love having family right in the neighborhood. You made a wonderful decision…and it doesn't hurt that the house is AMAZING either, does it?
Thanks for sharing.
Becky K.
Hospitality Lane
Petie
Very envious of your close knit family! I have 5 sibling and we're kind of scattered. The good news is we make it a point to visit each other often. Love your story.
Sarita
I LOVE that story. My mom was one of 11 children, and and a big portion of them live in one neighborhood, so there's cousins galore any time one needs a play partner! So much fun, and what a wonderful gift you gave to your family! AND a beautiful home on top! Thanks for sharing!
-Sarah Marie aka Miss Mud
http://MyMississippiMudPie.blogspot.com
gina3
Love that story but I really those window boxes!
Self Sagacity
I love that story. We are contemplating on moving from what we thought was our forever home too. It's a bit of a mixed feeling, and unlike you we are not lucky to find a place close to relatives 🙂 Wonderful that it has worked out for you.
thismumsworld
Such a lovely story. I love your house & I was excited to see the pictures as one day (when we can afford to buy) I want my interior to be grey & white & my husband wants more of a charcoal grey exterior. Your house is so lovely!
I'm visiting from I'm loving it Fridays @ Tidy Mom
http://thismumsworld.blogspot.com/
Elissa
Becca,
You have such a beautiful home! I love the story behind it all. I agree that it's great to be close to family!
TidyMom
What a GREAT story!! I'm always so envious of those who get to live so close to their family! (mine are all in the same town, but how fun to live on the same street!)
Thanks for linking up to I'm Lovin' It! Have a GREAT weekend!
Stephanie
What a great story! Your home is beautiful! We bought our home to be close to family also. My parents live on our same street. It really is wonderful….sometimes I come home to find that my mom has broken in and done my laundry for me! That's my kind of intruder!
Katie
Now that looks like a home you will someday host sleep overs with your grandkids. 😉 I am excited you have found your home. Its beautiful.
Kris
Great story! You have a beautiful 'forever home.' How wonderful that the cousins can grow up together. You are very blessed!
Nicole R.J.
What a great story! That's wonderful that you have family so close and on get on so well together!
TheVirginiaHouse
I love your story and your house is beautiful!!
AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage
First, I'm one of your favorite blogs? THANK YOU! I'm blushing :).
Second, I love your story. Isn't it funny how "home" can be transportable from one house to the other? And I love that you live so close to your sister. What an amazing thing.
Thanks so much for linking up to my party!
Kristi
I just want to say that I LOVED reading this post!!! I know you just visited my blog and saw that we are building a house. But the thing that got me is, my two sisters and their families are building houses across the street from us!!!
Thank you for sharing this! 🙂
Kristi
Nita {ModVintageLife}
What a nice story…sometimes family does know best. I love the window boxes. I think it's a beautiful house.
Samantha2818
What a lovely house – I would have moved too!
Jessica Hills
I love these How I Met My House stories. Your house is beautiful. I am from the Seattle area too. Thanks so much for posting this on Favorite Things Friday!
jayayceeblog
That house is gorgeous and what a wonderful story. I can just picture all the kids running around and the barbeques and family get togethers. So nice!