For 8 years I grew up at the "Valle Road Home." It was the greatest house ever, all of us kids agree that it was the best house growing up, just an ideal place for a family and kids. We all have countless memories there and its even the home where my two younger brothers were born, literally. It is also the longest place we ever lived as a family, so it has a special place in our hearts.
So here is the miracle, we all got to go back and see it!!!!!!!!! And go inside!!!!!!!
Here is how it came about:
I have talked to Adam may times about how I dream about going back to the Valle Road Home.
Then, one day, I was talking to my Mom one day and she says "Oh I forgot to tell you, one of the ladies that works at Dad's office has been to our old house on Valle Road, her ex-boyfirend lives there."
Me: "WHAT?! We have to go see it!!!"
Then I was doing cartwheels in my head with excitement and then I group texted all my siblings to share the precious information that Mom had. Then the plan really started to come together. My Mom asked her if she wouldn't mind contacting her ex-boyfriend to see if we could come see the house. I was kind of nervous he would think we were crazy for wanting to, but the current owner, the ex-boyfriend, was great and said "Sure, give them my number." I was beyond thrilled! But I was so nervous to call him. So one afternoon I called Eric…and it was awesome! He was so nice, and we chatted about all the changes in the house (or all the things that are still the same) and then set up a time that we would come by. After I got off the phone, I started jumping up and down with excitement. I could not contain my joy and the anticipation of having the opportunity to see our favorite childhood home.
Once the day arrived that we had set up the meeting, I got a text from Eric telling me that he had made some plans and he would not be there, but that he was happy to leave the doors unlocked and let us roam around the property and the house. I couldn't believe it, what a nice guy! So all but my two younger brothers and my Dad were able to go, they were missed, but it was so much fun to reminisce with my Mom and siblings. And it was an incredible feeling to have so many memories come flooding back as we walked through the house. I'm not going to lie, it was hard to see it not as new and full of life as when we lived there, but it was also refreshing to "re-live" such wonderful childhood memories again. Someday I want to buy this home!!
I added some before and after pictures so that it would help jog memories. So first are the old photos from when we lived there, then followed by my recent photos from 20 years later. Well, on to the the photos...we all arrived around noon and this is what we found!
The beautiful Valle Road house, circa late 1980's ish... (Adam couldn't tell whether this was the old photo or the recent one, since it looks identical.)
Same roof.
The front yard of our home. Summer 1984. Don't ask why we are half naked in the yard, my only excuse is that it was the 80's...
I was pretty sad that no more grass remained and it was not landscaped anymore, but at least the wall and olive tree remained. Winter 2013.
I loved that this beautiful olive tree was still standing. 2013.
The pool area, probably late 1980's.
And its the same! Except for the pool deck, but the pool remains. Yay!!
Logan and Brittany reminiscing about the house and trying to remember what had changed.
The garden that we worked so well on. The photo on the left shows the remaing stairs!! I loved seeing them. And the photo on the right is me hoeing away at the garden in my favorite red velour outfit.
Grandma Ross, Dad, Brooke, and Brittany fixing up the garden. My Dad is such a hard worker and always has been.
The same garden logs. Winter 2013.
The deck leading down the pool, 1980s.
He redid the deck, then moved the old railings down by the pool. But still pretty similar in 2013..
For some reason, Boston loved this fence, probably because it was blue. We had to pry him away to get him to stop licking it!
The view from the yard. Good ol' San Juan Capistrano!
Brooke hanging out on the wrap around deck above the pool.
The same blue paint and layout was still there, loved it!
Me chillin' at the kitchen bar...
Hanging out with my baby brother Braden in the kitchen.
New kitchen 2013. They painted the cupboards (which I don't blame them for...) and they lowered the bar to counter height. But the layout is the same and boy do I love those windows!
Haha, I love this photo. This was the family room right next the kitchen. (Pay attention the glass doors handle behind my mom)
And this is the door and door handle that still remains there. I love how you remember such small details about the place you grew up, like coming in and out of door so much you remember everything about the look and feel of the door.
Another "great"photo - behind my mom in this photo are the stairs that lead up the loft and the garage.
And these are the stairs now, redone in hardwood, but still the same.
Cute little Logan and Brittany at the fireplace.
All the fireplaces were the same. The house has 3 separate fireplaces and yes, we used them all!
The living room 2013
This is my favorite photo. My mom walked into the room as I was photographing the fireplace and when she walked in, it was like no time had passed and I felt at that moment like we all still lived there. It was a sweet moment to be in.
Dining room and kitchen 2013.
Dining room 2013. Same structure.
The photo on the left is the current photo, the stairs that lead up into the 3 bedrooms and bathroom and laundry room. On the right is me, Brittany, and baby Hunter playing on the stairs.
Another small detail that brought back lots of memories. The old intercom system was still in each room. We tested it to see if it worked. Nope.
The kids bathroom, still the same, except they removed the old wallpaper we had up, which again, I don't blame them.
Most of the cupboards were painted over, except for hallway closet right next to the middle bathroom - that was the guest bathroom when were younger.
The fireplace in the master.
The current view from walking into the house. I loved that they put their Christmas tree in the same spot as we did, so many years ago. So fun!
Brooke took this adorable photo of the little cousins playing up by the front doors. It reminded me of us as kids.
The front entry way.
Brooke and Britt chilling on the stairs.
I love this family photo on the stairs, (well minus my crazy face) and we had lots of family photos here.
So we took another while we re-vistited it. I love this one too! Except they added marble, so now they are not so comfortable to play or even sit on...
The front door was still the same!
Not much greenery was left around the house, but the ivy that once was all over still remained in a small corner of the yard. This always reminds me of home.
Family photo out front.
I was a little younger than Solana when we moved in, and it was so crazy to me to think how long ago we lived there and how little I was. That was a huge part of what made it so fun for me to be there.
Someday I will be back, and when I am, I hope I have keys in my hand, even if I'm 80!
