Ok. I have some news that I am so excited to share with all of you! If you’ve read my blog for a while now you’ve heard me mention our home search. We have been house hunting for over a year now and after spending hours looking at different areas and different houses we have finally figured out what we are doing. We are building! In our same area. And I am thrilled! Some lots came up for sale not far from our current house (which is so rare because there isn’t much land left close to the ocean) so we bought one! Right after Christmas. And I have been dying to share my fun news with all of you ever since, but I waited a while. Mostly because I am afraid that once I start talking about our house plans I won’t stop. :) Building a house has always been a dream of mine and when we started our search, we found a lot and almost bought it. But it was in a different area than the one we currently live in and for various reasons (schools, Kenny’s commute, etc.) we just didn’t feel good about it. We decided that we wouldn’t build, but would make it a priority to stay close to our current area. Aside from location, a yard has also been a priority for us (they are hard to come by around here!) so we spent a year looking at beautiful homes with beautiful yards, but for one reason or another, nothing felt right. And then our lot came up for sale (one of six beautiful lots that form a neighborhood). And after a lot of careful deliberation (on Kenny’s part — I was ready to sign the dotted line the second he acted like it was an option!) we sealed the deal.
So the girls. They are SO excited that we own land. And they love visiting “the lot” and think it’s great that we are building a house on it. Just so long as they never have to live there. :) They tell us every day that they never want to leave our current house. It will be an adjustment. But I’m not too worried. They will still take dance and gymnastics at the same place. They will go to the same church with the same group of people. They will be in a different school, but the same district. And I know their sweet, friendly personalities. They will make new friends quickly. And they still have a while to get comfortable with our future plans. They are still young and that is why this house search has been a priority for us. We are anxious to get into our next home and just plant. Our home to raise our kids in and who knows? Maybe our grandkids. You never know for sure, but our plan is to be in this next house for quite a while.
A few pics of the lot…
We love the location. It’s a little area that is so close to city life and all of the things we love, but it feels like we are in the country. There are even horses close by.
We took our parents to see the lot while everyone was in town for Ellie’s baptism. They loved it too and all had lots of input about the future guest room. :)
Another thing we love about this lot is the beautiful views we have. Kenny standing at the front of our lot…
and towards the back. He is showing the girls where the pool will be in an attempt to get them more excited about moving. They told him they can’t wait to swim in the pool on our lot. And then go back our current house to take a bath and go to bed. :)
As far as where we are in the process…it will be a long one. We have a great architect and have been working with him the past couple of months on the design. The floor plan came together so quickly. I have been dreaming about this house for so long now and knew exactly what my priorities were! The outside took a little longer and we are still making minor tweaks to the exterior. We are hoping to break ground sometime this summer and then it will take a year or so to build, so we still have a ways to go before this dream becomes a reality. But I have loved the process so far! It has been time consuming and at times it has been stressful (and we haven’t even started building yet!) but it has also been SO much fun. Kenny cares a lot about the yard and really that’s it. Everything else he is leaving up to me. He basically told me I could build an igloo if I wanted and he’d be happy. And it’s true. He is pretty easy to please when it comes to house styles. So this arrangement is working really well. Because I am getting exactly what I want. Isn’t that the way it always should be in a marriage? ;)
I’ve shared a lot of my projects with you on this blog and I am so excited to share my biggest project to date! Creating this house. And rest assured, it won’t be an igloo. :)
And how does Kole feel about all of this? First of all, he is THRILLED that in the near future he won’t have to have scrapbook supplies filling up his closet.
And until the house is built, a big open patch of dirt is right up his alley. :)
xoxo, Erin
YEY!!!!! Congratulations! I am so excited to see what you do with your new house!! Im sure it will be AMAZING!
Oh you are so sweet to say that! Thank you!!
Congrats! What an exciting adventure for you and your family! Cant wait to hear about your progress xx
Nadine from Australia
Comgrats to you guys. We were there this weekend. If we can sell our house we are MOVING there. I was in love with SD. The weather was perfect. I am praying that all works out. I am so excited for you. I am sure the girls will love their new place. Thanks for the info that you e-mailed me. have a fun week.
Cathy
Congratulations! I am so happy for your family! :)
Congratulations Erin! How exciting! Can’t wait to follow your home building journey…nobody will be able to put together a beautiful home better than you!!!!!
I am so excited to hear about all the plans Erin and the lot is beautiful. The girls will get used to it. When we moved the boys took a couple of weeks, and Abbey and I cried on and off for a month, and then we both decided we were being dumb and we weren’t going to look back, but just fall in love with the house we live in now…and we have. (And if we ever moved we’d do the same thing-the crying etc. :)
Congrats!!! Can’t wait to follow along- looking forward to reading about your plans & of course, seeing pictures of the progress along the way! :O) Susan @ http://journalingmywaythrough2010.blogspot.com/
Aaaaaah!!! This is my DREAM. To build a new home on a big lot of land!!!! And actually something we could possibly do someday soon, but I have not researched the process AT ALL. So, please, be my Cliff’s Notes! Post ALL about the process. Every last detail! I’ll be riveted, I swear! :) :)
Yay! I have been wondering about your home/moving situation. So excited for you and your new adventure! Can’t wait to see and read all about it! Congratulations and Good Luck;) Stay Fashionable!
Love,Candy
That is FANTASTIC new Erin!!! Congratulations on finding the right block for you … I’m guessing the design process has been great – getting to incorporate all the elements important to you rather than having to make do with the bones of a previously owned/built dwelling! … Wishing you guys all the best during the next part of your journey, and praying that everything goes smoothly!!
Congratulations!! So happy for you. Sounds like you are enjoying the journey of it all.
Hi Erin! Congratulations to you and your family!!! I am so excited that we will all take this journey with you!! Can’t wait to see lots of pictures!
Yay!! So happy for you guys. And I can’t wait to see your process and the design you put together. You have fabulous taste so I am sure that it will look great :)
Congrats on the new house! I saw your blog title in my blog roll and had a feeling it had something to do with a new house. Can’t wait to see the progress.
That is so exciting Erin!!! I have to admit I wondered if you were going this route based on things you were pinning! ha! Can’t wait to see the progress and what you choose along the way. Congrats!
SO exciting Erin!!! That lot is beautiful and I’m sure the home will be gorgeous as well :) Congrats!
Congratulations!!
I’m still dreaming of building…..but until then it will be great to watch and read about your process. :-)
Congratulations to you and your family!! I can’t WAIT to see the progress.
Congrats to you and your sweet family! How exciting!
Erin, I am so happy for you and your family. I know the house will be beautiful when it is finished. The girls will come around once the building starts.
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you to finally get your dream home and for Kenny to get his yard.
Congratulations Erin! I know you have to be thrilled.
Oh my goodness Erin that is SO exciting!!! I have been a blog stalker of yours for about a year or so now and I am just so darn happy for you! I can’t wait to see all the floor plans and all of the amazing things I know you will do with your new house! Oh my… It’s crazy how excited I am about YOUR house lol! GOOD LUCK :)
Thank you SO MUCH for the kind words everyone! Your excitement is making ME more excited!!
This is going to be fun!
:)
Oh Erin! I have been waiting for house news for such a long time, and when I saw this on my google reader feed, I just knew your “news” was going to be about a house! Congratulations. I can’t wait to see what all you do–your Pinterest is so fab :)
I am thrilled for you. Yes, I have followed the blog a while and I know that you have been looking for dream house. I can’t wait to see it and hear all about it! Lots of updates please! Yea Erin!!!
Yay, woo hoo, congrats! I know that you have been house hunting for a while & how wonderful that you get to create your very own home! Have fun with that!
Vicky T
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to see the final project and I’m even more excited as it’s one more guaranteed year of the Sunny Side Up blog! hehe.
Congrats! I can’t wait to see the progress!
So I am still reading your blog- just been a lazy commenter. But this is pretty exciting and so much fun. I can’t wait to see it all come together. Congrats! I would love to build from scratch, that’s pretty hard to come by here though.
So happy for you! : )Have you sold your current house? Tell us about your floor plan! I’m just giddy to follow you on this adventure! : )Praying for your family and hope everything is going smoothly!
Congrats !!! I look forward to reading future updates.
I would LOVE to build a home. That way you can make it exactly to your liking, Very exciting !
That is amazing news! I am very excited (and slightly jealous) for you all. I remember moving as a child, my mom swayed my sister and I with new bedding and a painting my new room. It worked!
Wow! Congrats on your new house building adventure. I can’t wait hear all about it on the blog.
Great news!!Can not wait to see your new beautiful home!
We have been looking for over a year as well…put an offer on my “dream” home yesterday and lost it to someone paying cash for over the listing price!!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to see what you guys have planned- I know it will be amazing- and of course organized! :)
So happy and excited for you! I’m sure it will be a dream home!
Congratulations!!! I’m sure it will be amazing!
Congratulations Erin! I can’t wait to see the process. How exciting!!
How wonderful! I’m so excited for you! How great to finally find the perfect lot. That’s definitely worth the wait. Enjoy!
Congratulations on building your new home. I’ve built two already and loved every second of it. I currently live in Illinois. But, my next stop . . . Sarasota, Florida. Maybe we will share building stories together since I am a newbie to this blog world.
May this journey you are embarking on be filled with fun and blessings,
It’s so exciting – your enthusiasm is contagious! Can’t wait to read about the adventure as it unfolds!
Wonderful news!!! Cant wait to follow the progress of your new home :-)
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Congratulations on your new Lot, and the upcoming building of your new home.Good luck to you, and remember to have fun while doing it, don’t get stressed out. (I remember one of the most stressful things for me was picking out light fixtures). AND, for heaven’s sakes, get a decorator and let them help make decisions. It would be soooo worth it.
So fun, Erin! I can’t wait to see everything you pick for your final home. How exciting!
This makes me SO excited for two reasons. 1, I’m so happy for you guys! I think you’ll be really happy that you chose this route. And, 2, I am excited for myself because I know your house is going to be awesome, and I’ll be able to steal ideas! ;)
I am sooooo excited for you and can’t WAIT to see all those Pinterest dreams become realities!!!!!!!!!
Oh my gosh, I am SO excited for you! And I can’t wait to see the new house come together. yay!
Congratulations to you and your family! SOOOO exciting!!! So happy for you guys! ~gina
It is CRAZY to see your two little girls in dresses and sandles. It is freezing where I am at. It must be nice to be able to wear that kind of stuff all year round. but CONGRATS towards the new house! I can’t wait to hear more about it!! :) I hope you update frequently because your posts makes my day so much brighter! <3
Congratulations! Building is so exciting – can’t wait to see what you decide to do. We built our house while I was preggo with #3 and it seemed to fly by once you get started.
YAY!!! So excited for you and so excited to talk to you today! I am so glad you are building, I know in the end you will be SO happy you did! Seriously call me any time if you are wondering about something, most likely it will be something I WISH I would have done. I can not wait to see your house come together!
And about the girls- I’m sure once they see the house going up and see their new rooms, and especially if you let them pick out paint colors for their new rooms and play room they will be thrilled about the new house!
Congratulations…building is the BEST!!!
BTW…do u have a system of organizing ur car….the reason I ask is I have 3 lil ones too…6, 4 and 19 months….and I am always on the go…so I have a little bag full of diapers..wipes..and 1 extra pair of clothes..and was wondering do u have a better system of organizing ur car like…books…toys..or snack when traveling short distances???
Thanks
Felicia
[email protected]
Erin! I’m so excited for you. Good luck in the building process, can’t wait to read all about it.
HI – great news — very EXCITING!!
Can’t wait till you let us know your floor plan.
We’re building too and doing the plan is very challenging.
Julie from Australia.
Congratulations! I absolutely LOVE your blog & can’t wait to follow along for the building process…what a fun adventure!
Sally
loveofhomes.blogspot.com
No wonder you have been pinning such wonderful ideas for houses on Pinterest. I love your style and cannot wait to see what you come up with for your new house!
I just scrolled through your comments & noticed you have loads of blog followers from Australia! Your an international super blogger!!
Well I too am from Australia & cant wait to see what your plans are, How many bedrooms, Bathrooms etc…
Congrats guys!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Erin!!! Congratulations!!!
I havent even read the whole post, just the 1st bit and rushed over to say CONGRATS!!!! I feel like i’ve just bought it! I know you’re gonna share every itty bitty detail, and I’m ready for it!! Dont hold out on us Erin! I CANNOT WAIT!!!! What a dream come true!!
Ok, now i’m off to read the whole post! x x x x
sammy from OZ x x x
PS: Just a lil prayer for you and your family; God willing everything will go smoothly and may it be an enjoyable experience for you all.
I am soooo excited for you guys!! Building a house is so rewarding! I cannot wait to see the progress. I remember visiting our lot, then our slab, then our framing and so on. Each step is amazing. I cannot wait until we settle and can do it again. But until then I will live through you! Congrats!
Congrats on finding a lot. This will be a fun process to follow. The person who buys your current home will be very lucky too. Your current home is gorgeous!
Hi Erin! I’m so excited for you and your family! I moved a lot as a child and I know that your girls will end up being really happy in the new house…it just takes adjusting, like you said! I can’t wait to hear more about your new adventure.
That is so exciting for you guys! I have loved all your house pins…can’t wait to see what you decide on :)
Huge congrats Erin!!!! I’m so happy for you and your family. My dream is to someday build too. Fingers crossed.
CONGRATS!!! What a BEAUTIFUL lot – can’t wait to see the finished product and follow you on this journey :)
Wow–I am so happy for you! Congrats!
PS–I finally got around to getting the curling iron you recommended, and I curled my hair like you did in your video. It turned out so great! I can’t thank you enough. My hair is working out so much better now. Thanks!!!
Congratulations! I am so excited for you. I would love to build a house someday. I love all the ideas you have on your Pinterest boards for your house. It will be fun to see what you come up with! :)
Congratulations! What a beautiful location! :-)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! This sounds so exciting and even though I may not know you personally I am really excited for you. We all dream of our “Dream House” and be able to have it some day, the reality is coming true for you and that is awesome. Cannot wait to follow along and see how your dream house turns out.
I love San Diego I am originally from CA but not from San Diego (LA area)
So excited for you! I wont be able to help myself, I’ll be checking to see everyday about updates…..for over the next year!! :)
What great news for you and your family Erin! I sure hope you update us on the process! I can’t wait to see it all come together!! My husband and I have plans to build one day but I am so indecisive it may be an ugly year for us:) Can’t wait to see what wonderful things you do with your new house and I think the girls are so sweet and I especially love their idea of swimming of at the new home and going back to the old home to sleep haha! Such sweet girls
So EXCITING! Yes, I am sure it will be amazing too–just saw another comment! Congrats!!!
Wow so exciting new. What a goregous lot with a beautiful view. You willl have no problems living there I’m sure and great memories will be made . I know my daughter would absoultly love the horses. I so look forward to seeing the progress on your house. If I lived closer i would buy the house that you live in now. Congrats Erin that is big and excitng news
Congratulations! It looks like a beautiful place, perfect for such a beautiful family. (: I look forward to see the masterpiece of a home you create! :D
Erin,
We have girls the same age, w/ similar names, and share a b-day so yes I still follow! I remember building our first house. I’m sure you’re putting lots of pressure on yourself to try and think of everything you want in it, especially since it sounds like you plan on staying there for a while. But enjoy – there are always going to be things that you wish you had done differently but that’s just hindsight! You probably have a “house binder” with tons of ideas so I’m sure little, if anything, will get missed! Can’t wait to see it during the process. Congrats and happy b-day on Sunday! ~Katie
Hi Erin, I have enjoyed your blog for several months and LOVE it! I just found this post. I’m curious how big your home lot is? (acreage) We would love to build some day and I’m not sure how large a lot we would need. I LOVE your whole layout–indoors and out! Thanks for your help. :)
Hi there! Found your blog during a google search and fell.in.love with your house! We are in the beginning stages of building our dream home and I feel like you’ve done so much work for me 🤪. Will be utilizing TONS of your ideas for sure! Wondering if you’d be willing to share how many square feet your house is… as I’m planning and talking with architect I love your rooms and just want to get an idea of what your house ended up as. Thanks so much in advance!! This is such a fun process but so much work, thanks for thinking of so many Demetrius which are important to me too. P.s. when I redid our current house laundry room my must have was pull out hampers… it’s something I can’t live without and will definitely do 3 instead of the 2 I have currently. Xoxo
-Robyn from Dexter, Mi