Something big happened last week: my parents sold the house I grew up in.
They’ve been planning to do this for a while, so it’s not a shock or anything. It’s also not as depressing as it could be since they’re selling it so they can move to Richmond (right now they’re about 2 hours away in Northern Virginia). My parents are both retired and have been planning to downsize for a while now. They picked Richmond for a bunch of reasons, including that four of their five grandchildren live here. So all in all, we’re really happy about the news.
But there’s still something major about the closing of this particular chapter, so allow me to be sentimental for a moment.
My parents moved into this house in 1979 (forgive the not-so-pretty winter pic above). It was a new construction home at the time, so they – along with my two older sisters – were its first (and up until now only) occupants. If you’re keeping track that’s two years before I arrived, meaning this is the house they brought me (and later my little sister) home to after we were born. So as you can imagine, a lot has happened in this house over the 32 years they have owned it. Including my mom taking annual pictures of us on the porch for first days of school and for our birthdays (note the homemade banner taped to the storm door behind me).
When we heard they accepted a buyer’s contract early last month, we took the first opportunity to gather there one last time for a family portrait. My sister Emily even made an homage to my mom’s birthday sign tradition for us to pose next to. Here’s the “original” six Petersiks (aka, the “Petersix”)…
…and now with our expanded family of spouses and children (can you tell that it was POURING rain during these shots – fortunately my bro-in-law the professional photographer knew how to handle it).
In addition to these pics, my sisters and I wanted to honor this big moment with a gift. After debating a few things, we decided to get them a drawing or painting of the house. They already own a pen and ink sketch of it, so (thanks to some suggestions from you guys on Twitter) we landed on getting a painting of their front door from artist Kal Barteski (she calls her series T+A – tiny and awesome). So I sent Kal this pic of the door…
And a couple of weeks (and $100 – split four ways among me and my siblings) later, this arrived. Tiny and awesome indeed.
It’s actually 5 x 7″, so it’s not that tiny. Kal paints them on thin onion skin parchment paper which is why it looks a bit wavy and textured. It threw me off a little at first, but when I read that she does it so your painting looks truly like original art – not a print or a replica – it won me over as quite charming.
The onion skin paper is also translucent so she invites people to mat her paintings on colored or patterned paper to customize them and add even more texture. We had fun trying a few colors & patterns underneath but ended up going the straightforward route and putting it on white card stock since we thought my parents would like it best that way.
We finally presented it to my parents this week and they LOVED it. Woo hoo!
Oh, and since some of you might be curious – my parents got very lucky when it came to selling their house. Before it was officially listed on March 1st, they had a preview showing at the end of February and that person put in an acceptable offer on the spot. Not bad right? Since it happened a bit faster than any of us expected (including them) they have around six weeks until they can officially move into their new house in Richmond. In the meantime they’ll be bouncing around between their Delaware beach house, my sister’s house in Northern Virginia, and my sister’s house here in Richmond. But we can’t wait for the day that they can officially call our city their home.
Psst- The babyproofing adventures continue over on BabyCenter where we’re sharing how we anchored a giant wall mirror in our bedroom (thankfully it wasn’t rocket science).
Jenny says
You will be so thankful to have your parents in the same town. Clara will also think it is the greatest! I can’t tell you how rewarding (and helpful!) it is to see my kids grow up w/ their grandparents. :)
mike @ the lil house that could says
Isn’t it weird when your parents sell the house you grew up in?
Absolutely love the painting. What a great unique way to always remember the house.
Angela says
What a beautiful family! My parents still live in the house we (3 girls and 1 boy!)grew up in…..I know it will be hard when they leave.
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
That’s such a thoughtful gift! I’m hoping to get an original watercolor painting of our house, but we’ll see. Thanks for sharing!!
Amber says
Thanks for sharing, this is a sweet post. Love the gift, very meaningful.
Loi says
It’s so important to have that chance to say goodbye. My parents sold the house I grew up in and moved to another state while I was in college. While I love the new house (it’s by the water and thus feels vacation-y), I do wish I’d had the chance to visit one last time. You just inspired me to look at the house on google streetview. Creepy- yes!
Keri Beth says
Your front porch family portrait, “I am 32” banner, and tiny and awesome painting are the cutest things ever. I am getting sentimental over here and it’s not even my house. I am also going over to Kal’s website. :)
Erica says
LOVE IT!!! Great idea for a present!
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
This was such a sweet post! I think as homeowners, many of us hope to have 32 years of those porch pictures and it’s so nice to see that someone was able to do it! My parents still own my childhood house, but we don’t have any picture taking tradition. I hope to be that mom that sits my kids on the steps every year for a picture :)
Hannah says
I thought my mom was the only one that did the whole sign-thing on the front door! It was really embarassing on the first day of school (with the neighbors out with their kids), but now it’s really cool to look back at!
Paige says
love the gift. and your parent’s house..er…former house…is so cute!
Callie says
Love this idea for a gift!
Also, love that your poster at age 6 was printed on a dot matrix printer. Ah, I remember those.
You were a little cutie John. Looks like Clara got good genes from both sides.
Barb says
So thoughtful for all of you kids to give that to your parents.
In our house we call this “PAYBACKS” in a positive way. Children coming “full circle” and giving back to the parents for all they have done for them . It means a lot!
So once again, I say BRAVO John and sibs. You did a “good” thing for the parents.
Nice job!!
Lesley says
What a beautiful family! You are truly blessed!
Jenni says
What a great idea for a present!
Barb says
Forgot to say one thing….I sure can see that “Clara-Cutie” in that picture of you (John) standing in front of the door at 3 years old. YES…she looks like you!!!
Not a bad thing, right?!!!
B.
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, she’s definitely a daddy’s girl when it comes to looks too!
xo,
s
Ange says
Me too! I have always thought Clara favoured John in the looks department (especially until all her hair grows out) but that “I am 3” pic, whoah! flash forwared to Clara wearing bad retro gear & pageboy hairdo. {As in, it would be bad in 2013, not 1984-totally cool then} ;-)
Kristen says
What a fantastic idea! This is exactly why I want a nice porch on our eventual house – so we can take pictures just like these!
Lindsay says
That is such a great present! For their 20th wedding anniversary, my dad commissioned a 3-d replica of the front of our home in a shadowbox for my mom. I’ll never forget when she saw it, completed. It still hangs in our living room and I don’t think it will ever leave its spot. Gifts like that are the best.
I’m the 5th generation to live in our home, so I totally understand how sentimental the sale must have been. I’m glad that you’ll have some built-in babysitters living so close, now!
maggie says
Where in northern virginia is it? i am living in arlington va.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s in Burke. We have some family members in Shirlington though! Such an awesome area.
xo,
s
Abercrombie Wife says
What a great present for your parents! I love how it is on the onion skin paper. it gives it more character. LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I moved around a lot as a child so I don’t know what you are going through, but I am sure it is difficult to see your childhood home go.
Kristina Strain says
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe they sold the house you grew up in! I am dreading, dreading dreading that day for myself. You seem to be taking it well.
beth says
I love how unigue the house is! What a great story. My family had a resturant that my grandmother started in the 1950’s , my Dad was the last to run it and had to close b/c of the economy 2years ago. A good friend of the family had pictures made for all of us. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts ever.
karen @ our slo house says
That was so sweet of the four of you. I know that my parents would love for all of us to get together for a professional family portrait. But with four kids who all live in different parts of the world, it’s hard to organize.
You did good, John! ;)
p.s. I’m lovin’ the sweet jacket you’re sporting in picture #2.
YoungHouseLove says
I love that jacket too!
-John
Kelly says
What a meaningful gift for your parents. I think it’s awesome that they lived in the house for 32 years, and were the first owners. I bet they’re a little sentimental over moving from it (with all those memories) but being closer to grandchildren will allow them to create even more awesome memories. :) Congrats to your parents, and kudos to you and your sisters for the awesome present!
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
What an amazing gift!! I know that day comes for all of us! Good to know you are handling it so well. I don’t know if I would! I can remember being crushed that my parents were going to do something else with my bedroom after I left home! :)
Amy says
The painting is wonderful! I have a painting that my parents had done of the house I grew up in(still in the same house) and I look at it everyday. Thankfully, my sister lives across the street and plans to move into their house some day so it should stay in the family for quite some time.
Btw, my kids are girl, girl, boy, girl as well! And it looks like you survived just fine:) My husband is a little concerned when he sees our “bigs” painting his sons fingernails or playing tea party. I tell him we are just helping to make him a well-rounded individual.
YoungHouseLove says
I have to testify that snagging a hubby who is one of four and the only guy of the group is awesome. I totally credit his thoughtfulness and his “girl IQ” to growing up with so many awesome sisters!
xo,
s
annabelvita says
But how will you get your ikea fix now??
Only joking. It’s a beautiful house and I love the birthday banner tradition – so sweet :)
YoungHouseLove says
I know right? Thank goodness my best friend married John’s cousin (true story) and they live in Arlington, so we’ll hopefully still be up that way from time to time!
xo,
s
Jenn says
What a sweet, touching post. I love the family traditions you had in your family’s house with the sign on the door. You and Sherry seem to be really great about incorporating those kinds of traditions into your own family life as well.
My mom sold my childhood home two years ago, and it was indeed a very bittersweet moment. This was a great post and I love the artist rendering! What a special gift.
Melissa says
This is the sweetest post. I love the “Petersix”. How bittersweet. I’ve got tears here!
Such a sweet family photo of all the siblings grown up together on the porch again. I have four kids opposite order (boy, boy, girl, boy) and thinking of us all together in the future for an event like saying goodbye to a house…oh, sniffle.
Donna says
What a sweet tribute to your childhood home. Y’all are making me emotional!
Rachel says
I got a little emotional too!
Fun Mama says
NOrthern Virginia real estate is far different than almost anywhere in the country. After losing 2 bidding wars over houses that went on the market the day we bid, our well-connected real estate agent found us a house that hadn’t been put on the market yet. This was in the summer of 2009, when everyone else was practically giving away houses.
Stephanie Phillips says
You ain’t kidding! My parents are in Burke and are trying to sell their house to upgrade for a larger yard (they’ve got grandkids to consider now!) and it is such a different game up there! In NC (my home) it’s not nearly so cutthroat.
Elisa says
It most definitely is. The only reason my parents live in Arlington is because they bought a foreclosure. And one filled with trash (think Hoaders) and gutted the entire thing.
We loved living in Northern VA but love more living in a slower-paced southern town. We also wanted to be able to buy a house before we were 40. Hah!
Krysta @ Domestic for Dummies says
What a great gift! I am sure your parents feel so blessed to have created such a wonderful family.
Just out of curiosity, What High School did John go to? I went to Lake Braddock! Go Bruins!
YoungHouseLove says
I went to Thomas Jefferson, but had I not gone there I would’ve ended up at Robinson (where I went to middle school) – even though Lake Braddock is actually closer to that house. Funny how those district lines work, eh?
-John
Kelly says
John, you are such a smarty pants going to TJ.
YoungHouseLove says
I know right? That’s why my favorite t-shirt of his says “Talk Nerdy To Me.” Haha.
xo,
s
Lindsay @ A Walk in the Closet says
Your parents home is stunningly beautiful, especially for a house that was built in the 70’s. Around here, the houses build during the 70’s are definitely nothing to look at. Perhaps all the good architectures had moved there in the late 70’s. ;)
Christin says
What a fantastic story. Thanks so much for sharing. Your parents have a gorgeous home! The painting you guys got them is fantastic. LOVE it and LOVE the idea! I’m totally stealing the idea for an opportune time with my fam. :)
JMJE says
That is the sweetest, cutest thing ever. I got pretty sad when we moved out of our first house when I was 16 even though it was just a few minutes away. I will always love that first house.
georgia says
That’s such an amazing looking house!!!!
Love the memories, a friend of mine’s parents used to measure the 5 kids heights against the doorframe,
What tradition do you think you two will do for clara?
X
YoungHouseLove says
We still haven’t decided yet, Georgia – but probably some variation of her weekly photos of fabric initially. But we may just end up stealing my mom’s idea. Who knows!
-John
Liz says
What, you’re not going to lay her out on fabric for her 16th birthday?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you never know…
xo,
s
Pamela says
What a sweet post, John. Your parents, siblings and extended family all look and sound like the nicest folks. I wish you parents well in their new home where they are sure to make many more memories.
Lori @ Richmond, BABY! says
What a thoughtful gift.
You will love having your parents close by…my in-laws are close and it’s so great for bbsitting! :)
Brianne Franklin says
Much love. My parents will be selling my childhood home soon. I cried just reading your story.
I totally get it.
Cara D says
My grandmother is moving out of her home at the end of April. She has lived there 50 years and it will be hard on all of us to see her sell it. But it is the best for her and that is what matters. Love your idea of the painting. i am planning on doing a scrapbook full of picutes and memories for her. Hope your parents have a smooth transition.
CandiL says
You have a beautiful family John!! This post made me cry a little…reminds me of just a few years back when my gma and gpa moved the 15 miles to be closer to my parent’s. As they age they are having more of a problem taking care of everything by themselves! You will love that they are closer to you! I have great memories from childhood on “the hill”, but new memories are being made with the great grandkids who are fortunate enough to be old enough to know and remember the wonderful people who are Mama Pat and Papa George! :)
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Awhhh….it’s kind of bittersweet. But I’m sure your parents are so excited to move closer to the kiddies!
Jenn says
Wow! Those are some really good pictures for their age. Really clear. All my way back when pictures? Look *old*. Your mom’s done a great job at keeping the family photos preserved.
Anyway, that was a really nice present for your parents. Much better than the way my in-laws remember their houses. They usually take things with them. A mirror. A chandelier. You know. The stuff that was in the house when they bought it. Crazy.
Also, I can really see ya’lls daughter in the “I am 3 pic”. I think it’s the nose. :)
Gretchen K says
I grew up in Richmond and now live in Northern Virginia. Richmond is such an easy and wonderful city to live in. If my job (& boyfriend) weren’t in Northern VA I would move back to Richmond in a heartbeat. The beautiful suburbs and proximity to the culture-rich city provide the perfect balance.
I love reading about your home adventures as I tackle my own here.
Enjoy having the greater family in beautiful Richmond!
Jane Lynch says
Love, love, love the homemade birthday sign! I have silly traditions like that that my children love- they will always remember that! And the beautiful painting just adds more to it!
Dianne says
I am getting ready to put the house up for sale that I have raised my girls in for the past 24 years…it’s good to hear that you don’t hate your parents for it.. hehee..I think my girls are fine with it but I know it will be hard on all of us…I love the picture idea…perfect!
Heidi, Botanical PaperWorks says
What a lovely post and a lovely family. I’ve found you via Kal’s blog and was so happy to see that she’s captured that wonderful memory in one of her special paintings. All the best to you, Heidi
karen says
Good news is nice to hear!! Such a charming home.
I don’t know what it is…but the states have the greatest houses…they are charming and have great character..with lots of land! Here in Canada (Toronto area) it is terrible for the most part…builders are doing cookie cutter homes fitting 3 houses on a 100 ft wide lot. It’s pathetic.
It’s really sad when you have to pay $530,000 for a 2300 sqft home with a 36′ by 80′ lot…with absolutely no details or character or even trees…(and this is in the burbs!! Thankfully I didn’t have to go that route for my second home!
KissMeKate says
Karen, I totally agree. Up here in T. real estate is hellish. I’m currently living downtown in a (rented) 2br, but we definitely can’t stay there with a family. I can’t even imagine buying a house here! I grew up where prices were more like they are for John and Sherry. The idea that a first house anywhere near my job would be $400+ is unbelievable. Did you go outside the city? I don’t know the GTA well and moving away from the beautiful Annex will make me sad.
Runnergirl says
Such a sweet post. Love all the pics! What neighborhood did your parents choose here in Richmond? Did they solicit your help in the house hunt since you guys have so much experience?
YoungHouseLove says
They’re moving here to Chesterfield County with us (we’re in Bon Air, but they’re about 15 minutes away off of Hull Street). They wanted new construction so it was definitely not anything we’re used to looking for (we like things old and in need of serious love and they wanted something turn-key) but we did have fun going to open houses with them and eventually the entire family came out to see the one they picked on the day they decided to pull the trigger and make an offer.
-John
Mylène says
I LOVE the idea of taking a picture outside with a custom sign! I am totally starting this with my 3-year-old this year! What great memories! I got tears reading it!