Well, this is it. The last time I’ll blog before we head off to Haiti! 😀
Y’all, I have some reeeeeeally exciting news to share with you today. It involves two more people moving in with us in a few months.
And when I say “moving in with us”, I mean, they’re building an addition that will be attached to our house!
And when I say “an addition”, I mean a barn! Like this:
And when I say “two more people”, I mean Kevin’s cute mom and dad!
This has been in the works for the past year or so, but now that Jim and Katie are ready to break ground next month, I figured it was time to share the good news!
I’m looking forward to blogging (and vlogging!) about the whole process as it comes together. And speaking of vlogging, here’s a little video we put together to show you exactly where the barn will sit, and to tell you a little more about it…
I forgot to mention that their barn will be one-story high, and 46′ feet long x 16′ wide. For perspective: our current house is 42′ long x 18′ wide, so they’ll be pretty similar in size with the exception of our second story.
And, yes, the barn will cover our entire backyard, but don’t worry, we have lots of room to roam around our little lakeside community, and Sweet P will have plenty of outdoor places to play…
(That’s our neighborhood in the upper right corner of that photo)
(Fall Festival on the Square)
(Lucas Point Community Pool and Beach)
(Community canoes and kayaks)
The neighborhood always puts really fun activities together for the kids all throughout the year, too. These are two of my favs:
Chalk on the Walk…
Secret: Every year I want to seal their drawings with polyurethane before they fade or wash away! 😀
Back To School Bash…
Think: whip cream “pies”, and LOTS of sprinklers- LOL! 😀
So, there ya have it! It’s going to be a busy few months around here, but I’m hoping Mama Katie is up for some “Katie’s Kitchen” vlog segments once she’s all settled in! Wouldn’t that be fun? 😀 (Say yes so I can tell her we ALL think it would be fun. 😉 (This Katie clip still cracks me up: plomp) 😀
Alright, y’all. Let’s connect in the comment section this weekend…and I’ll look forward to giving you an update on Sweet P from Haiti next week!
Winnie
Exciting news for you all. Can’t wait to see the barn go up. We have a granny flat at the bottom of our yard (not attached to our house), in which my Aunty (who is 89) lives. The arrangement works well for us. It is a small space so we have been very creative with design and storage. It has a large room which has dual use as a double bedroom/living room, a full size kitchen, a small bathroom cleverly designed for handicap access and a large laundry, which we are soon going to re-design to serve two purposes as a laundry and office/study. It has been a lot of fun decorating the space and being creative. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the small space.
Sian McDowell
Eeek! So exciting, and especially for sweet-p to have granny and grandpa right there. Good move and all the best.
Bonnie (BornInaZoo)
I’m excited to see this! I worked in construction for *ahem* 20 years & a lot of people were shocked to learn that I live in a 864sf house. Over half of the house is my kitchen/dining room & a great holiday gathering spot for my family. My house was built in 1907 and sometime during the 70s a family of SEVEN lived here.
Toni
Your post made my day. It’s how family should be. Would love to see Katie’s Kitchen vlogs!!!
🙂 Safe trip!
Janet
I have goosebumps watching this! So exciting for y’all . You guys have such Big hearts. Can’t wait to see how everything unfolds in the coming months. I know it will be “drool” worthy! Ha!
Baileywife @IrishmanAcres
I love this Layla! My sister bought a house that we built an in-law apartment (as we called it) on the back for my parents. Its attached by an entryway/vestibule. My sister loves having my mama close and my mom (who is now a widow?) Loves being close to family!! Win, win!
I’m excited for them and for Sweet P…. Having Grandparents close will be such a gift!! Can’t wait to see your magic on this barn! Have a safe trip and amazing trip…. ~Kim
Patty
What a blessing in store for Sweet Pea to have grand parents living with you guys! Will love seeing Katie’s Kitchen vlogs in the future! Love that boy to pieces while you are there!
Françoise
Layla , I can ‘t wait to see what you will create for your mother and father in law .
I think it’s a wonderful and generous idea.Looking forward to see all the process.
And may your sweet-p arrive sooner then later .
I love your blog…and all your beautiful ideas.
Jen M
How exciting! I can’t wait to follow along with you!
Allie
Oh my goodness!! I love it all!!! Nothing beats family❤️❤️❤️ And who doesn’t love a barn addition in the process?? Swooning!!!!! can’t wait to see that sweet boy of yours!
Alison
This is SO exciting and I can’t wait to watch the progress!!
Carly
Greetings from Melbourne Australia!
12 years ago we bought a property with the main house (ours) and a separate 2 bedroom unit for my parents. We now have three boys (14,11 & 7) and it is wonderful seeing the boys interact with my parents. My dad (poppy) takes the boys to their sports training and games ( he’s very involved!) and my mum (nanny) is very involved in their day to day lives. Not only has this living situation been great for our children it has also enabled me to go back to work knowing that the boys are well taken care by family. You’ll love it!!
Alice
So excited to see what you do. We just bought a 49×18 ft house. It is a total gut job and we will watch you put yours together…and copy. Love your generosity to your parents and your little one. God bless you!
Amber
I love this. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together – the building and the moving in with each other. Every time my parents mention that someone they know moved to a nursing home, my mom tells me that she doesn’t know why they just didn’t move in with one of their kids…..I think this is her saying that is what she would prefer. Our house right now couldn’t accommodate another person so an addition would be needed if that is what happens down the road.
Bev
Your heart must be so full right now ! I love the idea and can’t wait to see it all come together . Sweet Pea will be so very Lucky to have two beautiful people to be so close to him . God bless y’all ?
Amy
This is so awesome! I think your little boy will be really blessed by the daily presence of his grandparents in his life. Not mention such a help for you and Kevin! Will love watching it unfold.
Debra W
I am so excited for you. One that you get to see Sweet P soon. Two that the grandparents will be living right there together but separate. You can not imagine the joy of having them close. Both for yourselves, Sweet P and for the grandparents. My single parent daughter and grandchildren and I live together. And what we all get out of it can not be replaced. Such a loving bond, moments treasured. Watching them grow. All the hugs, kisses and laughter. Praying together each night. It is wonderful. You are so blessed.
Julia
How exciting for you and Sweet P to have Jim and Katie (grandma and grandpa) with you! Love the barn addition and yes, yes to vblogs of Katie’s kitchen!!
Happy safe travels to see Sweet P. Keeping you in our prayers.
Laura Jo
How exciting Layla! Can’t wait to see it finished. Family is what it’s all about!! Have a safe trip and enjoy your precious time with your Sweet P!
krys72799
I’m so excited for you and your little one! Having not only new parents but new grandparents?! It will be so awesome for him! My grandma was with us, oh, four days a week, as I was growing up, and it was the best thing in the entire world! And watching you build the barn? That will be awesome for us!
debbie rodriguez
I think it is wonderful that you are all going to be together. I am a caregiver and I think it is wonderful that you guys will be there to help Kevin’s parents when and if they need it without having to travel no further than your sliding door!! It will be better for everyone. Plus you will have grandma and grandpa right there to love and help out with Sweet Pea. My niece adopted her foster child, actually three nieces adopted children, but the one i am speaking of his nick name is Wuvie Woo. He is two now and adorable!
Maggie
Layla and Kevin I think it’s awesome. Can’t wait to follow along and see the building and design process. Check out for the love of a house. They have a beautiful barn added to their home. Enjoy your trip with sweet pea. God will be with you both. Maggie
Martha
FUN!!! I can’t wait to see all the posts. This sounds like an awesome adventure. : )
Andrea Virnau
This is so exciting and fun!!!!! Your excitement is infectious!! Can’t wait to follow along. And prayers for travel mercies as you go see Sweat P!!!! ( I call my daughter, who is now 11, Sweet Pea ?)
Carol
Wow! The barn idea is awesome and so are you. Blessings to you and your family on your trip. Sweetpea and your in laws are so lucky to have you in their lives. Can’t wait to watch the process. Thank you for sharing your story and enthusiasm.
Robbin
Oh my goodness!!! You have a LOT going on, but it’s all GOOD!!!! Praying for a safe trip to Haiti and back. It will be hard to leave him, but as you said, hopefully its for the last time. And having Kevin’s parents there at your house, WOW! Sweet P is gonna be one blessed little boy to be surrounded by so much love. It will be a big help to you and Kevin, and you and Kevin can be a big help to his folks. Can’t wait to watch along with the construction. What a blessing for all!!!
Nancy Thomson
I’m in Love with this whole idea. A perfect way to live.
I have always dreamed of living in this exact storybook that you are writing (creating).
I can’t imagine a better life for Sweet P to grow up in – sharing his everyday world with his Mom, Dad AND Grandma & Grandpa – being able to have daily, spur-of-the-moment, true hands-on, in your face ‘FACETIME’ with his G & G
Congrats and I can’t wait to watch …
Vara B
What a cool idea! And, what an adorable little southern town!!
When my husband and I were building our little home I was in charge of finding upgrades to our builder grade budget. We saved money by doing a lot of work ourselves. I was able to get slate tile for the bathrooms and fireplace surround. Found a pile at L home improvement store. Someone had returned an entire pallet and we got it for over 50% off. I also saved a ton of money on hardwood at Lumber Liquidators. The last place we saved was in our cabinetry. My uncle owns a successful custom cabinet shop. I was able to get solid maple custom cabinets for our whole house for less than what the kitchen would have cost at that big box store…and those weren’t real wood! No family deal either. Check out those mom and pop places…you never know. Free advertising is worth a lot. Good luck!
Penny
Thank-you Layla for sharing such exciting news. I am really happy for you all. It should be a lot of fun. And yes please let know Katie that I for one would be happy to have her share her cooking with us.
Have a safe journey when you go and visit Sweet P.
Catherine
They as well as little Sweet P will be great and joyful additions to your home! So happy for you and looking forward to more posts soon. Enjoy your visit with the little one in Haiti!
Susan
I am so excited to see how this turns out! We live in a 200 year old farmhouse right now that we are redoing, but in a few years we are going to move in with my husband’s grandfather into his 1890 farmhouse with him. Right now our barn is not attached to our house and my husband’s dream is to have his barn attached to our next house. I am wondering if you had trouble getting this permitted? Our situation will be different being that the house is a lot older and the barn will be bigger. However, our situation is also similar because we will be moving in with family we love deeply and we will also have a sunroom connecting the 2 buildings. I know we will both be excited to see how your barn is attached and constructed, so fun! 🙂
Jill T.
I have been praying about your upcoming trip. I hope it goes well. I love the plans for this addition to your home. When I saw the picture, I literally gasped. I think it is a great idea. A great idea for all of you.
Denita
All those photos made me want to move to your town. My, it is spectacular.
Stahli
This is so awesome! I think if done right will benefit everyone and you seem to be doing it right!
I don’t know about you but I think the planning is part of the best part of this. going with Ikea cabinets in the kitchen (and bath?) is a great way to save money and they have a 25 yr warranty. I love my Ikea kitchen!!
One question I have about your plans: I noticed that once the barn is built you, Kevin & Sweet Pea won’t have an exit out the back unless you go through the their living space, is that correct? Just something to think about.
Go and enjoy your time with Sweet Pea! He is one very lucky and very loved little boy!
Layla
Our back door will move over to our kitchen, Stahli! XO
Sarita
my son,dil,and two year granddaughter have moved in with me….we looked into adding a little house for me but the cost is too high..we all feel that God has His hand in this and some how we will be able to build me a lttle place…its all His timing. imcant wait to watchthis adventure unfold for “ya’ll”!
kim
so excited for you!!! closer to bring home sweet pea and having kevins parents there too!! its going to be great!!! you always do the best renovations.. you could create a mansion from a cardboard box… so i already know this place is going to be amaaazzzing!!!
Marsha
How wonderful! No backyard will not be a problem, think how much Sweet P will love having his grandparents so close to love and snuggle with! Have a great trip!!!
Cathy
How wonderful! Cant wait to see this project come together, I know it will be amazing!
Crystal
You are adorable. I’m so excited to see this new transformation. I have been asking my husband to build a barn on our property for years so I can store funiture in. I have a mad dream of having a huge inventory of funiture to rotate of out of my house when the mood strikes. He thinks I’m nuts.
Maybe I can talk him into a barn addition to our current living quarters.
Lynn
This is going to be so cute. Best of luck in all of it. I help with my parents and one thing I can say is pocket doors and sliding barn doors – basically doors that get completely out of the way. I have come to not be fond of traditional hinged doors. Can’t wait to see it all.
Teresa
Layla, I am so excited for your family. This is great and so sweet of you and Kevin. I have been noticing the trend is for multi-generational living under one roof. I have followed your blog for quite some time and was so excited about the adoption partially because I have two adopted children along with two biological ones. They are all grown up now but we all love being together all the time. We have now bought land together so we can all live close to each other. If my youngest son had his way we would have just built one huge house with “wings” for each family and lived there together. My husband and I are downsizing from a 2600 square foot house to a 1200 square foot house when we get it built. But the best part is getting to live within walking distance to my grandchildren and they can come over any time they want. I can’t wait to see and keep up with all you are doing. God bless you and your family.
Teresa
Mindy
What amazing timing – more family and more love to surround your sweet boy. I love this! Bless your sweet hearts.
Denise
Awesome!
Marilyn Palmer Hewitt
Hello Layla! Such exciting news — I am looking forward to seeing the construction project. We now are living with 4 generations, 2 Palmers and 4 Hewitts, ranging in age from 1 to 95. I am praying for a safe trip for you and Kevin as you visit Sweet Pea. I am looking forward to the day you can bring him home. Cheers!
Kathy
Very exciting! I’m really looking forward to the whole process with you all. Thanks for sharing with us, and I don’t know where you get all your energy! (Of course I’m 20 yrs older, but still!)
Sandy
Oh that is so exciting! How wonderful that sweet pea will have his grandparents so close by! I think that will be wonderful if you can get your mother-in-law to participate in some vlogging or blogging. I think it’s wonderful when we can extended family so close by. Some folks would disagree but I loved having my mom live with us for awhile. It’s even better when they build their own space for sure.
bj
We sold our home of 40 years and moved into our son’s pool/guest house 2 years ago and I can’t tell you how wonderful it’s been. The pool house (I call it THE SUMMER HOUSE) is just beyond his pool. It is almost as large as our olden house at 2400 sq feet so we have plenty of room. A large bedroom, dressing room, tons of storage, ONE bath (but we manage nicely) a huge living room, basement, the nicest dining room and galley kitchen.
Not only is it the nicest home we’ve ever had, it is such a blessing to be so near our sweet son and daughter in law…our girl lives 9 miles down the road from us.
We don’t go into their home without a light knock…and they do the same…it’s NOTHING like Everybody Loves Raymond..LOL
It was the best thing we ever did….
I think the arrangement you will have should work fine for all of you…just remembering not to intrude on them and visa versa will make it a very loving and pleasant thing.
Amy
How fun! What a blessing for all involved. We live with my mother-in-law. When we were looking for a new house she didn’t want her own unit but wanted to be in the main house with the family. She loves being around her grandsons and having me for company in the day. I’m super spoiled because she likes to do dishes and laundry….and I let her!
Carol P.
So excited for you! When the housing market collapsed, our son and daughter-in-law plus two grandchildren moved in with us. Our home is not large. The two kids shared a bedroom. We turned the living room into a bedroom/living room for the parents. We still had a tiny room for our tv watching etc. Lasted 4 1/2 years and we LOVED it! Nothing better than being right there to see your grandkids grow up. Then when they were able to get their own place, we moved my mother in with us. Her health was an issue and it was important to keep her near. THEN a year later, we moved my mother-in-law in also. It has all been absolutely the best thing all around! Life changing and exactly what we believe God wanted us to do.
SO, may He bless your new adventure!
Rose L.
Sounds great! In S. California they have a neighborhood built with the same idea of 2 homes in one. My niece is trying to get my parents to go in on one so she can take care of them (her grandparents) and yet they have their own space. I love the idea!