Our One Year Anniversary

May 1 2008 started out like any other day; we got up, and went to work like always. But when the phone rang at 3 o'clock that afternoon, everything changed. It was our lawyer calling to say that our massive amount of debt is official and we can come in and pick up the keys to our new home. I then left work early, went to his office and was handed a small brown envelope that held 2 keys on chains from his practice. From there, I drove back to our apartment to pick up D and Jak so we could all go to the new house together as a family. Together, we unlocked the door to our new home and life together.

Jak was very unsure about his new surroundings and tip-toed around for the first hour, not really leaving our side for fear that we would abandon him here. Jak is a rescue dog and we are his 3rd set of owners (not including the humane society where I got him from) so he is in constant fear of abandonment.

We had a few boxes that we brought over to store in the basement, but other than that, we were not moving any of our stuff in yet. When we gave our 2 months notice to the landlord at the apartment we were told that we would have to be out by noon on April 30 --- April 30?? but we don't have our new house until May 1, what are we supposed to do for the night?? To get a truck overnight and pay for a hotel was more than half the rent. We paid for another months rent.

That night we cleaned until almost 11pm and even though I was tempted to camp out in a sleepingbag ont he bedroom floor, we headed back to the apartment and left our house. Living at the apartment that month worked out really well because we were able to get in and clean and paint the entire house without having to live in the mess and worry about getting paint on the furniture.

With the help of our families, over the next few weeks the house slowly transformed from what used to be a student residence into our love nest.

Bathroom Before* & After

We painted every wall and every piece of trim on the main and second floor - we dared not tackle the basement... too scary!

Scary Basement

We replaced the flooring in the downstairs, and I installed a dishwasher**!

Kitchen Before and After

Living Room Before and After

And we will live Happily Ever After!

*Yes, it really was that bright!

**Yep- that's right- all by my self! D handed me some tools and bits every now and then, but I did it!