Find Your Bubble Bath

A picture of me this morning after I finally got to sport my new hairstyle from five weeks ago!

This morning, I set my alarm for my usual 6 AM time.  I have done this for quite sometime now.  On days that I exercise, I get up earlier; however, that routine has been on the wayside for a bit now!  Anywhoo... I hit the snooze and promptly started to get out of bed.  I try to get up and get going before everyone else does and before everyone else needs me for this and that during the morning rush.  Getting the opportunity to at least shower before getting interrupted is important to me.  I just need a few minutes sometimes to just not get interrupted.  This plan of getting up earlier usually works, but sometimes the idea and hope bombs on me as it did this morning.

As I started to hustle myself to the bathroom through the dark room, I heard not only Big Boy stirring again for the third straight morning, but Little Man was already awake in his room for the third straight morning as well.  He calls out for Scot or myself when he wakes up, but mostly for Scot.  Knowing this and after the last two mornings of trying to get Little Man up while attempting to also take care of myself with Scot snoozing away, I decided to try to jump into the bathroom before Little Man realized I was up, especially due to the fact that lately Little Man just cries for Scot to get him up anyways, for which he usually throws a minor temper tantrum.  The last two mornings, I have left him in his room, telling him that I did not have to be treated that way and it was unacceptable and now he can wait longer to get out of his room. 

Before, I got out of my master bedroom this morning, however, Little Man somehow shouted for his dad loud enough that Scot was alerted immediately and was out of bed in a flash.  Before I realized it though, Scot not only grabbed Little Man but decided that he would just go ahead and wake up the girls too! "NO!" I whispered loudly.  "Leave them be! Their wake up time is 6:30!" I snapped.  I wanted them left be for several reasons.  The main reasons were that I did not think my school aged girls should get up earlier at the expense of their two-year-old brother and causing them less sleep for the school day ahead, and I wanted less noise as well as a greater chance to get my shower in with out interruption.  Scot had other plans though.  "I decided to get the girls up so I can feed them all at the same time.  It's okay.  Go get your shower," he said.  I objected but went on my way because honestly the thing that everyone hears me mumble under my breath in this household is, "Nobody listens to Mommy, not even Daddy." Defeated I went into the bathroom and closed the door. 

As I lathered up my hair, I heard knocking at my locked door.  I raised my voice, "Leave me be!  I can't  do anything while in here [shower]," I pleaded for peace.  What I had feared was now occurring--I was being interrupted. I heard what I believed was Crazy Paizy's squeaky voice at the other side of the door.  I pleaded with her to go get her father.  But wait her father was most likely on his porcelain throne for which is his normal morning routine.  What happens if Paizy needs to use the toilet and her dad is using the other one!  I hopped out of the shower, grabbed my towel and threw it carelessly around sopping, wet me.  I opened the door for which no one was there anymore of course, and whispered rather loudly trying to keep my shouting down as Big Boy was still in his crib for the time being, "The door is unlocked for whomever needed it opened!"

As I jumped back into the shower, I realized how much I would like a larger house with three toilets and my master bathroom being at the farthest corner of the house and from my bedroom door.  We have a realtor now and we are casually looking, but we are still not going to be able to move into a house we would like until another 8 months or a year goes by, unless we find an awesome deal before hand.  With that in mind, I also wondered how were we going to make this small house work a bit longer as everyone seems to hear everyone else as white noise and me trying to tell everyone to keep it down because somebody is sleeping, is simply not enough anymore. Anyways, I felt defeated as I got out of my interrupted shower, knowing that this is most likely how it is going to be for a bit. 

Wondering what was so important that my shower had to be interrupted, I threw my bathrobe on again and piled my white towel on top of my head and marched down the stairs and stopped on the second landing where I saw my family eating breakfast in the dining room. "Who and why was somebody knocking at my door?" I asked while placing my hands upon my hips.

They all looked up at me dumb founded and Crazy Paizy said, "It was me."

"And why?"

"I didn't know where Little Man's underwear was."

Long story but Scot had placed Little Man on the potty and sent Crazy Paizy for his underwear and when she could not find them she decided to ask me instead of Scot.

"I don't get time for me!" I exclaimed.  "I can't sleep by myself.  I can't shower by myself. I can't even poop by myself," I declared.

They all just stared at me.  I muttered it all again and headed up stairs into the bathroom.  I leaned over the sink and placed my face into my hands and thought to myself, I can't go a night with out Big Boy getting up at least twice.  I can't shower or get dressed on my own with out someone trying to come through the door. I can't poop on my own.  I can barely eat breakfast before someone needs me.  I can't even talk on the phone with out someone interrupting me.

Yep, I now understand why my mom used to hide in our garage to talk on the phone when we were growing up, and why she would snap at us when we found her.  She needed somewhere to think and somewhere where it was relatively quiet to just talk on the phone.  My problem, however, is that I don't have a garage!  I can go outside if it isn't freezing cold out, or if the bugs aren't chewing me alive when it is warm out; otherwise, all I can do is hide in my master bedroom or in one of the bathrooms.  One of my children, however, is almost always certainly at my door though.  What some of you all may not know is when a mom is on the phone, that is often a green light for kids to get loud and needy! 

I rushed around this morning trying to get myself dressed and others out the door before my boys needed me.  Even found Scot playing on his cell phone in the midst of it all.  When I entered the kitchen and noticed him, I huffed and puffed, for which he did put his phone down promptly.  I just sometimes feel like its just me and all of them, including my hubby.  I keep it all going.  I have even gotten upset that Scot can come home in the evenings and is able to take 15 minutes in the restroom when I can't even get so much as a minute to do my business with out someone needing me! I don't get time for me!

Today, I was determined to blow dry my hair thoroughly, and I did succeed!  However, it wasn't before I had the realization that it had been five weeks since I got my hair highlighted and had a few layers put in for the first time in a long time.  My hair stylist had given me a new hair-do and I hadn't even sported it once!  Not even once!  It has been five weeks since I have had my hair completely down with out it being pulled back of some kind.  I have been to church with my hair thrown back more times than I have ever done in the past!  Today, was the first time in five weeks I got to style and blow out my new hair-do!

You see, my time just isn't my time anymore and especially right now.  I love ALL of my children dearly, but I have to agree with my dad who had four kiddos of his own--having four children is a lot of work.  Gone are the days of me right now I am afraid.  It can take me days and several interruptions before I can post on one of my blogs.  It can take me 3 days some weeks just to scrap an 8x8 page, if I scrap at my house.  When one kid is quiet, another child needs me.  There is just no me time anymore.  I used to be up and dressed, including bathed, hair done and make-up applied before the kids got up.  Now I am trying to do all that with my kids awake because they are all starting to wake up during my quiet time of the day right now for some reason.  I don't get much time to exercise anymore as sleep is way more important to me and hence to the well-being of my family right now. 

You see, you have to be selfless to be a mom and especially as a mom to as many kids as I have.  Life isn't about you and your needs anymore.  You have to be totally selfless; HOWEVER, it is okay to have some selfish moments where it is about you sometimes.  It is better for you and the relationship with your kids and husband if you can find some of your my time.  Try to find a few minutes here and there to make a few things about you.  You need to and don't feel guilty about it either.  I totally understand my mom's need to have her bubble baths back in the day!  She would go running to have them too!  That was one way she found some down time, and I didn't get it until I became a mom, especially when I became a mom to four kiddos as she has been. 

Scot and I have decided that I need at least a few hours out of the week to have my bubble bath--to blow dry my hair so to speak.  Right now I scrapbook a few hours in the evening with a group of women at a church on Mondays.  I couldn't run out the door fast enough the last two weeks either.  I struggled with feeling guilty about feeling that way at first; however, it is okay to feel that way some times.  I am a mom 24/7 for the most part.  It is for their sake that I should go and enjoy.  We all need a break from each other especially as I am a stay-at-home mom.  And even when this eight week scrap time is over, I think me running to Starbucks and sitting still will be in order. 

Today, I demanded of myself to write this post, and to finally feel good about my hair, and to blow it dry, and to wear it down.  And that was okay to do and it was needed.  I needed a few minutes of my time.  To you moms out there, find your bubble bath.

Table for Six Please!

So I decided that I will share this quick blurb with you all given how I came up with the name for this blog anyways! 

Yes, we are now officially a family of six, but we had been spending quite a bit of time at home and being a table of six at home rather than out and about in the public world known as a restaurant.  We had been avoiding it with a newborn and germs; but we were also avoiding the logistics of taking two adults and four kiddos out for a meal as it did seem a little daunting to Scot and I as well.  Excluding one evening where we ate at a deli type, sandwich shop, we didn't eat out anywhere for weeks after Big Mac our Big Boy was born.  The experience that night wasn't too shabby, but it wasn't like we had a true sit down dinner in its truest form with an actual server or anything.  We still hadn't accomplished that feat and gone out someplace relatively descent just yet.

Well, after hearing the girls desiring to eat out again, and actually hearing Sky Baby blame the lack of meals out on her littlest brother (though I guess in part that was a true assessment on her part; just didn't like hearing her say it), Scot and I realized that the attempt should be made soon and well he and I were looking forward to a dinner out too with no mess to clean up as well.  So about three weeks ago, we ventured out for a family meal out complete with an actual wait staff!

We journeyed to a large store some miles away to shop and we planned to dine in at their relatively descent seafood restaurant.  Scot and I with all our kiddos in tow, headed over to the restaurant entrance and for the very first time I heard Scot say, "Table for six please." Okay, Okay, Okay he didn't quite say it like that, but I just had to type my version because of the name of my blog you know!!  LOL!  Anyways... when Scot was asked how many by the hostess, he replied something to the affect of, "Five and a half," because Big Boy was in his carrier and stroller; and therefore, we didn't need a table that actually sat six.

HOWEVER, they sat us at a table for six anyways!

As we all filed behind the hostess who led us to our table, I could see some eyes staring at us.  I know I shouldn't put thoughts in peoples heads but while some looked like they were thinking what beautiful children we had, others looked like they were thinking that we had a few too many children and that they were worried that my kids were going to ruin their meals and chatter. 

But they didn't need to worry because our kids behaved beautifully.  I mean they really did, and I am not just saying that because I am their mom!  Little Man had a few minutes of a two-year-old attitude, however, Scot took him out to take some merchandise we bought to the minivan and when they returned a short time later, our food was served.  And while we ate, we enjoyed a calm and pleasant meal as did others on our side of the dining room.  I did scarf down my shrimp pasta because Big Boy was due for a feeding at any point by the time we were seated (there was a brief wait time originally as the restaurant was busy); however, Big Boy didn't wake up for some time after we finished our dinner; and therefore, I piled pasta into my mouth quickly for nothing!

It was such a good experience and a wonderful feeling to be out and about as a table of six, officially!  I can't guarantee that calm meals out and about will be common place all of the time as Little Man had a few moments out last night, but I will enjoy the ones that do go well and I will continue to embrace my family of six!  As I type those very words, I look forward to sharing more experiences and the things that we have learned and such as a family of six.  I have so many posts I plan on writing!  If you are interested, be on the look out!

A Watched Pot Never Boils?

 

 

 

 

I preface this by the admittance that many of my posts may be about two or more weeks after the time from which I was either inspired to write, or from the time in which the event(s) occurred, as being a family of six I just have limited time to write in a timely manner anymore much less even proofread; but hopefully you will still enjoy my experiences.

 

Two weeks ago, I embarked on my first full week back in full swing as a mom of four with no meals being supplied by my church family and no actual days off for the Holidays on Scot's part anymore.  The Holidays were over and the meals were done and our regular schedule was back into full swing again.  For the most part, it was a good first week back; however, at differemt points through out a given day, I really did find myself running in circles and circles and circles.  Moments of calm were often followed by moments of absolute craziness and chaotic multi-tasking to say the least.

 

For example, one late morning that week, Little Man wanted to go outside and play in our tiny plot of land we call our backyard.  I thought that it was a perfect idea since colder temps and rain were expected the following day, and as I have learned with my crew and my rather small house, getting them outside to run off energy is VITAL!!  So I got Little Man ready to embark on his adventure outside, but I needed to stay inside with Big Boy to nurse him.  Luckily, our yard is small so I can sit from my glider in the living room and pretty much see our backyard and children with out a problem. 

 

At first, everything was going smoothly.  Little Man was playing and Big Boy was nursing and I was basking in the unsuspected ease of it all.  Then Little Man decided to become a daredevil on our play set, and so I had to quickly had to place Big Boy on the floor and run outside to address that going-ons.  Then I burped Big Boy and proceeded to nurse again when Little Man took a tumble.  I once again had to place Big Boy down and run outside.  I then came inside finished nursing Big Boy and then went to change his diaper.  Then Little Boy had another something go on and I ran back outside to just come back inside where Big Boy spat up all over himself.  Then Little Boy was crying because he couldn't get going on the swing so being a mom who wanted to let her two-year-old know that he wasn't forgotten and to give him attention, I ran back outside to push him on the swing.  As I was out there I realized that it was lunch time and ran inside to retrieve Little Man's lunch.  After I placed his lunch on the table, I cleaned up the yard quickly and retrieved Little Man, washed him up, fed him, and put him down for nap.  Then it was time to feed me and after I quickly threw food down my throat, it was time to feed Big Boy once again!

 

The depiction above was how my first week to two weeks back in the saddle have gone--a whirlwind.  The first week back, Paize's dance classes started up again.  I spent all day gearing up for this crazy outing and planned how I would approach the very busy and crazy parking lot with three kids walking and the fourth in the carrier.  I decided that in order to over come that obstacle, we would leave extra early and planned exactly where I wanted to park.  The plan started off extremely well.  At 5:15 PM, we all huddle into the van (note: our usual departure for her 5:45 PM class has  been usually 5:30 PM mind you) and we all headed down the road.  We pull in and I was able to park the van where I had planned.  We exit the vehicle and all headed to the sidewalk in the manner in which I had planned: Sky Baby and Crazy Paizy holding hands while I carried Big Boy in the carrier with my stronger right arm and held Little Man's hand with my left hand as we journeyed out of the parking lot to the sidewalk.  SPLENDID!  That too went according to plan.  The kiddos and I walked briskly down the sidewalk with Little Man trying to stray here and there from course, which I had anticipated that I would have a few course corrections with him.  We make it to the studio door, and me and my crew headed right on in.  Got Crazy Paizy in her dance shoes and looked at the clock Phew! We had just a few minutes to spare!  And then I kissed her cheek and told her I loved her and began planning our exit when they announce that today was costume fitting day.  COSTUME FITTING DAY!  How did I miss that!

 

Now my mind starts trying to figure out how to proceed on to the unexpected change of plans.  We all huddle into the studio and I quickly fitted Paize in her costume while listening to the instructions that were being given while trying to keep track of Little Man who was meandering around the room and sending Sky Baby on an occasional recognisance mission to retrieve her wondering brother.  Fitting quickly came to an end and I then kissed Paize on her cute cheek, threw her costume into Sky Baby's arms and retrieved both boys and headed out the door.  As we made it to the van, my mind was on the next task--dinner. 

 

My dinner making was now fifteen minutes behind schedule!  We pile in the front door and I start running around to make dinner--a dinner that I thought would be simple.  A dinner for which I had planned earlier in the day.  I grabbed the frozen breaded chicken and threw them in the oven, I got my frozen veggies boiling but I didn't expect Little Man and Sky Baby to be hungry and demanding snack!  I also didn't realize that by being fifteen minutes late to start my dinner meant that I would be starting dinner as Big Boy is whaling for his because he was now due!  I scoop my screaming baby into my arms and proceed to give Little Man and Sky Baby the what for as certainly couldn't they see I was trying to remedy the problem!

 

By this point, I am on mommy overload trying to do this and that with a screaming baby in my arms who needed to eat.  I shove food in a bowl for Little Man and Sky Baby because I just needed  quiet and then I seized my opportunity to feed Big Boy.  It was the perfect opportunity I thought.  I had just started the water and such boiling for my Pasta Roni (Yes, this was a meal of flexibility I had described to you in my last post!) so I grabbed my kitchen bar stool and actually started breastfeeding while sitting upon that with fourteen pound Big Boy in my arms.  If you can imagine, breastfeeding for anyone on a bar stool is not the easiest task much less for an infant the size of Big Boy!

 

I thought that sitting on the bar stool would be perfect because I would be able to feed Big Boy and keep watch over my pot of water on the stove.  However, something went wrong!  You know the saying that a watched pot never boils?  Probably, because you are impatiently waiting for it to boil that it seems forever before that pot of water comes to a boil?  Nope not in my case.  Due to the fact that I just wanted a few minutes to nurse my child and breath, I watched that pot of water come to a rolling boil in what seemed like two to three minutes!  My mouth dropped open!  I wanted more time!  I needed more time.

 

I then got up from the stool with my nursing baby and with one hand I did what I thought would be an easy task--pour the pasta from the box into the pot.  The plan went smoother in my head because the pasta came out in one messy clump.  With my free hand I went for the fork to smash the pasta down into the pot but all I ended up doing was sending dried, broken pieces of pasta into the air!  I placed Big Boy down to tackle the problem and then just started laughing.  I needed that laugh and I kept laughing.  And yes, because of the laughter it brought, I did actually take the extra minute to grab my cell phone and take a picture of the pot!

 

 

 



Flexible

Since officially becoming a mom of four children, and well even just before hand, I have learned a new word and I have embraced a new motto for my motherhood, which is to be FLEXIBLE.  Yep, that is it.  It is simple enough for some moms, but it has not been as such for me. 

I have been learning to set my expectations low as a mom and to make my daily goals simple and reasonable (If I have any daily goals at all!).  For instance, I used to take pride on how much I was able to get done in one day, including spending time with my kids.  However, as I have learned in the recent weeks, just getting dressed and applying make-up is a feat all of its own.  One day this week, I had one (just ONE!) simple chore planned (Well, at least I thought that it was simple!), and I was unable to ever really achieve it or even attempt at working on it.  Yep, between having a newborn, and the girls home from school and trying to potty train my two-year-old son who also came down with a cold and a runny nose, all I ended up doing was running up and down the stairs all morning long.  I kid you not.  I have not been able to get into an exercise routine as of yet, because sleeping an additional hour with a newborn infant seems more important to me and to my well being as a mom, and hence to the well being of my family, than getting back into shape. Well, as of right now, just how many times I am up and down all day long, just may be all the exercise that I need currently!  It has just been an accomplishment to get lunch for all four of my kiddos during winter break!  And that is an important accomplishment!  And it took me three days to get my one simple task, though I will use that term loosely now, accomplished by the way!

I also used to try to get all my planned chores done in a specific time frame during the day so that the evening I am pretty much free.  Whelp, those days are long gone at the moment.  After dishes are put away and lunches are packed for school the following day, I have learned if I have a moment to get one quick thing done, I need to embrace it at any time.  Take last night for instance, as I was getting ready for bed, I was in the bathroom and discovered my toilet was in desperate need of a cleaning and well I ended up scrubbing that sucker at 10 PM, which used to be taboo for me! However, I have learned to seize opportunity, no matter what time!

Besides wanting to embrace my children and to spend time with them, I also thought I was a better mom for turning off the TV and doing crafts and various activities with my kids.  While I absolutely detest having the television on too much, right now as I  adjust to being a mother of four and having a newborn, I am afraid that I have used the television to babysit my children with in the last few weeks. I hate it.  I can't stand it.  But it is only for a time as I adjust and as Big Mac (cause he is growing oh so fast and he his my other big boy) is an infant on no real time schedule as of yet.  I have had to set my expectations lower and know that as things settle down, which is starting to happen, less television for my crew will occur once again.  I am just learning that while Big Boy is crying and needing to nurse, as my other kids, especially Little Man, are also in need of entertainment, it is okay to turn on the television and not to be so hard on myself when I do.  If everyone is bouncing off the walls and there just doesn't seem to be enough of me to go around at that split moment of when I am in the midst of nursing, or changing a diaper, or whatever it is, and when my nerves are to the point of exploding, it is okay not to be able to do it all.  Though I must say I am starting to use music as a good source of fun.  Regardless, I am learning that this too shall pass and things will change.  I am also learning not to be my biggest critic, which I so often am.

When I first got married and even when I became a mom for the very first time, my meals used to be simple and basic.  As motherhood took hold, I am afraid that I kept placing the bar higher and higher in regards to my meals and preparations.  I used to judge other moms who would use takeouts or frozen dinners as a means to feed their families; and I placed myself on a pedestal I am afraid as my meals became more elaborate and on schedule.  Well, I was humbled near the end of my third trimester.  First, I became a total cluts and dits in the kitchen being pregnant, that my meal times fluctuated a great deal from day to day.  Then we became so busy with school functions, and the girls' extracurricular activities and more, take outs and drive-thrus became a means of survival for me as an exhausted pregnant mom with three kids!  I had to keep telling myself that this was only for just a time and it will pass, but by God my kids needed to eat!

As I head into the first full week of being by my lonesome during the day, and back into the full swing of weekly routines and school schedules as a mom of four with out meals being supplied to me by my church family anymore, simple meals and takeouts is okay and will be what I revert to use at this time.  I plan on using simple meals to survive this week and during this time of adjustment.  If mac and cheese or Hamburger Helper with a side of applesauce is all I can get on the table, then at least my family is fed.  Perfection is not the key; flexibility is I am afraid.  I also plan on using my crockpot more.  Start a dinner going in the morning and let the crockpot do the rest!  Yee-Hah!

Closet Full

So I have two posts that I would really like to write; and one more than the other, but at the moment I must write the one that I have the time for since I am getting sleepy!  Also, I have spent an entire afternoon (I kid you not) editing three months worth of family photos!  Phew!  I have been taking advantage of Scot being home this week!  First of all, please forgive me in advance for my brief post that could be totally riddled with grammar mistakes as I am somewhat sleep deprived with not only having a newborn but we have had illness after illness in this house off and on for the last seven weeks straight!

Anyways... So again we are a large family living in a rather small house, a concept for which I have beaten to death and will continue to do so for a while probably!  Being that may, we have decided to find added space and organization wherever we can find it and once we find and accomplish the project, I have and will post it on here.  Our latest project, although it was done weeks ago, was the girls' bedroom closet.  It was crowded and completely just about unorganized as it could possibly get.  Once again, however, Scot and I failed to take before and after pictures but hopefully the following pictures will give you an idea.

  Sky Baby and Paize playing in their closet back in the summer of 2009.

 

Top shelf of the girls' closet before the completion of the project.

 

Everything that was in the closet.  Well, everything excluding the vacuum!

 

So the closet was absolutely chaotic if you can gather that from the pictures!  So Scot decided just before I was to have Mac, that it was time to start remedying the problem at hand so Scot formulated a plan that included blueprints and more so to speak.  He gathered supplies and started to tackle the job and the following picture shows the space and organization he found in the completion of this awesome project and a job well-done! (BTW he didn't use any pre-fab kits.  This was ALL custom made.)

 

 



 

Officially

We are officially a "Table For Six" now!  Mac officially joined our family on November 13th at 3:56 PM weighing in at 8 lbs and 4 ozs, and 21 inches long.  We are so blessed to have this beautiful, full head of blond hair, baby boy join our family!  He is a mellow baby and so easy going especially when I remember such things as when I placed him in his carrier yesterday at his feeding time to quickly go pick-up his sisters from school, as nailing down a routine is far from being accomplished at this point.  I feared that he would scream with understandable displeasure during the drive; however, in the end, that was simply not the case.  He is an easy going baby boy thus far.  Perhaps the perfect match to our large family as he is our blessed sixth member.  Like with all of my children, I have fallen in love with him and his precious personality!

I am so excited to have all six seats around our dining room table filled.  We are a family of six and I am blessed to no end by that fact.  Each member of this family has something precious of their own to give and to share amongst our table of six.

I have more I would love to share, but I am currently in the adjusting phase to life as a busy mom of four now, with one of those children being a newborn.  I have posts I would like to write and to share, but please be patient with me as my household adjusts.  From the girls' re-done closet and new organization to what I have come to realize as a mom prior to the birth of Mac to the weeks proceeding his birth; but with the Holidays and such at hand, it could take me a bit to share.  Therefore, until next time, hopefully sooner than later, have a joyous Holiday Season as we celebrate Mac's arrival during this wonderful time of year!

Small Kitchen; Large Family

Excluding some minor details, our kitchen renovation is complete and I thought that I would share with you some pictures.  I wish that I had taken some before pictures, but oh well I didn't. Therefore, I will provide a quick description of what was there prior and how the kitchen has changed; and how we make our small kitchen work for our growing, large family.

We got new kitchen cupboards, counter tops, back splash and a new kitchen sink!  I am so excited about the new kitchen sink; mainly because I had been using for the last several years a one basin sink, which made washing dishes and doing such things as straining spaghetti while having other dirty cooking utensils and dishes in the way, quite difficult if you can imagine.  However, having a two basin sink makes life easier for me!  Also, having a taller faucet makes it so much easier to fill water pitchers and such too!

We also got a new microwave!  But this microwave is so much better than our original one and it is in a much better location than the prior one!  Our old microwave used to sit to the left of the stove on the counter top, leaving very little room, if any room at all, to prep for cooking or to dish out plates of food.  I would have to pick up each dish (five total before Mac arrives) and carry each plate to the stove, fill the plate with food while holding the plate with my free hand because there was simply no room to set it down.  I would do this five times in a row to get dinner on the table.  Now I can lay out all five plates on the counter top just by the stove to plate the food!  Oh how splendid! (Oh and yes, there is a plate full of steak marinading on the stove top when I took this picture today!)

Excluding the new window treatments, there is nothing really new in this picture but I wanted to show this part of the kitchen anyways.  I keep my Tupperware and the like in the bottom of my little kitchen cart we like to use as a kitchen island.  Above the cart hangs my pots.  I found this pot hanger at Lowe's on clearance a few years ago.  Hanging my pots and pans have provided me more storage space for other items since storage space is limited.  I think this was a great addition to our small kitchen and it has really freed up space for other items and storage.  I also, use the rack to hang up the kids' lunch boxes to dry out each day after school, which again is very helpful.

My kitchen is small but I have to say just doing these small simple things have really helped me gain quite a bit of functional space now, which is very helpful for a table of six!