Coolest Birthday Gift Ever

Now, I know that it seems like I go on pretty often about what an amazing husband I have on this blog, but it is just simply true! For my 28th birthday, my most wonderful husband surprised me with a tour of the house that I grew up in in Tehachapi. Priceless.

For the past few months, I have been saying that I wanted to take a trip to visit Tehachapi, a small town 45 minutes east of Bakersfield, where my family lived for 12 years. I know this sounds crazy, but when I dream of "home" it is always in this house, even today. I think it is because I lived in it longer than any other home. I have so many sweet memories in this house and on the property! Now those of you who are reading this who remember or have been here, I do have more photos that I can share, but for those of you who haven't, I promise it's not too long :) The current owners have done a ton of work to a 20 year old house, and have made it more beautiful than my family could have dreamed. They put in a fabulous custom kitchen, and took down the wall between the living room and kitchen (where the piano used to be). How many Christmas's did we wait at the top of the stairs for Mom & Dad to wake up so we could open presents?

The deck and backyard(s). They had to take down the playhouse because the wood was rotting, but the tetherball was still there...lol.

Here's the view from the front yard... a little different than how it was growing up. The house in the background wasn't there, and you could literally see to the other side of the valley.

My little family in front of the house...still the same front doors! How many hours did I sit on the front porch reading in the sun? I can tell you it was a ton!

Matt & Katie 89' .... the year my sister, Annie was born!

We could see the fireworks across the valley on the Fourth of July from the roof. We climbed out the bedroom windows (mine on the right, Matt's on the left) and lay a blanket on the roof, and ate homemade butterfinger ice cream. Don't worry... Dad is a fireman, and he supervised us kids on the roof.
My Grandma & Grandpa's house they build in Golden Hills... We had a wonderful lunch at the Apple Shed before we drove home. Isn't that just the coolest gift ever?!!?