before and after: living/family room

A continuation few more pictures of our progress on the house...

Here is a before picture of the family room:

Here is an after picture of the family room.  We have not done much to this room.  It got a fresh coat of paint and all our old living room furniture.  The accent wall is the same color as the accent wall in the playroom.  Above the fireplace, in vinyl lettering, it says "Together We make a family" and all the pictures are pictures of our family.  We haven't used the fireplace yet!

Here is a before picture of the living room.  The grey was very drab and I'm not really into wallpaper boarders...

Here are a couple after pictures.  The boarder came down and the walls are now "ginger root" (the color used for most of the first floor).  Coming from a significantly smaller home, we didn't have furniture for this room.  My mother-in-law had a couple extra chairs she gave to us and the wall art is a picture taken by my sister (shameless plug).  My parents had it framed.  So we only bought the table!

 This picture is a little fuzzy, but it shows the new window treatments.

And this picture I am only posting to bug my mom, who immediately expressed concern about the toddlers and the banister when we bought the home! : )  So far, no injuries, but the kids sure have fun throwing bouncy balls off the second floor!

that's what she said

Every now and again, I catch myself saying something to my kids that, once upon a time, my mom said to me.  Take this morning, for example.  A rare morning where we had no appointment, no buses to catch, and no plans.  It was a leisurely breakfast where every kid had seconds, and some had thirds, until I finally cut them off.  Not that I was worried about rationing our bread and cereal.  Obesity is more of a concern than hunger in US middle class families.
Not even an hour later, and before the breakfast dishes had been washed, the kids started asking for snack.  I held them off for a half hour, but soon Brett was arranging the bowls and pulling out snacks, juice, and cups for everyone.  Lydia was not pleased with Brett's snack choice, so she went to the snack cupboard, rummaged through it, and began proclaiming,

"I can't find anything!"



 After a few minutes, I was done listening to it and that's when it came out:

"Lydia, there are kids all over the world who don't have a full cupboard designated for their snacks.  I don't feel sorry for you!" (not to mention, the bowl full of fresh fruit on the counter).

She decided on cereal, the same she had for breakfast.  Next on our lazy agenda was outside playtime, where my overindulged child had a fit because she had two sweater choices, and didn't like either one.

This is just an example.  The other two kids can be just as ungrateful!  But it leads me to wonder how to raise my privileged kids to be humble and appreciative...rather than feeling entitled to such goodness.  I think a good place to start is through my example. 

Yes, I am internally aware that I am one of the fortunate ones.  My home is not in foreclosure, my husband is gainfully employed, and I am, by choice, not.  And all of our cupboards are full beyond necessity.  But I think I could do a better job of outwardly expressing it in ways 2 and 3 year olds understand.  Any ideas?

soaking in the sun

It is a rare occasion that a Minnesota toddler gets to frolick in the leaves in a t-shirt, shorts, and barefoot!  We're lovin' the 80s, but it sounds like we will return to more seasonal temps by the end of the week.

fall favorites

The leaves believe

Such letting go is love

Such love is faith

Such faith is grace

Such grace is God

I agree with the leaves.

-Lucille Clifton