Adrianna and Jacklyn Lavalley didn't want to wait for the grown-ups to finish their speeches, didn't want to wait for their teary-eyed mother to be presented with the keys to the modest two-story house on MacArthur Drive.

This, after all, is their house. Their home. They've been told this for months now, as Habitat for Humanity volunteers wandered in and out of 41 MacArthur Drive with hammers in their hands and a song in their hearts. And they didn't want to wait any more.

"We gather here today as different people with different histories and different lives but with one heart," prayed Rev. Vicki Hammel as the pair dashed into the home. "May it be a home -- " she paused as a child's happy cry came from inside -- "filled with the shrieks of children."

Jennifer Lavalley and her four children, Javier, 14; Jazmine, 12; Adrianna, 3; and Jacklyn, 15 months, became the happy owners Sunday of the three-bedroom home, built by Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester with the aid of 493 volunteers and 4,800 hours of work.

"I've always dreamed of having my own home and I don't think it would have ever come true if it wasn't for Habitat for Humanity," said Lavalley, 34. "I've always heard of it and the good it does but actually living this dream is just unreal."

The home, the 30th built by Habitat for Humanity in this area, broke ground in November and has actually finished well ahead of schedule, said Harriett Lebow, executive director for Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester.

"Our volunteers have just gotten better and better over time," she said. "We've had wonderful volunteers, a lot of cooperation and support from the town of Millbury and our project mananger, Bob Turbidy, is a master at working with people with little to no experience."

The tan home with green shutters has three bedrooms, solar panels on the roof and rooms which Lavalley can't wait to decorate -- especially when the holidays come around. As various volunteers strolled into the house and congratulated her, it was obvious the family had made many friends throughout the process.

Lavalley herself was required to put in 400 hours of "sweat equity" for Habitat for Humanity and is now close to the goal. The Millbury resident heard about the house late in the application process, making it to the last of several sessions at the library.

Town Planner Laurie Connors said she became involved in the process early on in her tenure in 2005. The town identified the site, which was tax-titled land that had been forgotten. Town Meeting approved the use of the land for affordable housing.

Since November, volunteers have worked on the house on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Selectman Brian Stowell thanked the many businesses who donated time, materials and food as well as the volunteers, some of whom have worked over 300 hours on the project.

Habitat for Humanity is now working on a home renovation in Worcester and plans to break ground on a new home in Boylston in September.

"There aren't a lot of opportunities for people from all walks of life to volunteer and work side-by-side with the people who are going to benefit from it," Lebow said. "The bottom line is helping the family in need -- I think the volunteer process really brings the community together."