My home is far from where I want it to be, but it’s cozy and in general it makes me happy. It stays pretty clean because I’m a “tidy as you go” kind of person, but nevertheless it’s not usually picture perfect. I decided to take some photos of our most used spaces with evidence of real life in them. I think this is the kind of thing that I will really want to remember down the road, not how everything looked perfectly styled.

This is our only eating table. More often than not you’ll find that cushion on the floor because that’s Meredith’s seat and she hates the cushion.

Here is our counter peninsula, aka the dumping ground. I really try to keep it clean but it’s pretty tough. Here you see the day’s mail, preschool artwork, some random toys and candy of Meredith’s, a cup, gum, chocolate bunny from Easter, and papers that need to be taken care of.

In the kitchen Meredith decided to use her stool as a little table and then abandoned her cup and bowl.

This is the chair I sit in every morning to do my Bible study and reading. I love the low light when I first get up, but this room stays pretty dim all day since there is no overhead light.

The craft room is somewhat organized but totally not decorated and is a mishmash of old furniture. It’s where I keep Liam’s playmat and some other baby toys. I think Meredith brought those hand weights in there; I haven’t been using them lately. She likes to pick them up and say, “too heavy mommy!”

Of course I spend lots of time standing at the changing table right now. I’m adding Liam’s monthly photos underneath Meredith’s first year as he grows. On the table I keep everything I might need out for easy access including a tub of coconut oil, xylitol (we give it to M. before bed for healthy teeth), medicines, sprays, regular and cloth wipes, and essential oils. There is also a teether lying out, a diffuser, and some clothes that Liam has outgrown that I need to put away.

These four books are constantly on the nightstand because Meredith wants to read them every. single. night before bed. They are good books! But I am so tired of them!

The master bathroom is a good size and has a good layout, but it’s super outdated and is pretty much the last thing on my priority list to update. Here is my little vanity area where I do my makeup.

And here’s the main sink area. Liam’s tub stays out all the time right now, and kids’ towels are always hanging in there.

Our patio and backyard have been so neglected. The dogs tore up any effort we made, so we just gave up other than putting Meredith’s toys out there. I am so excited though; for Mother’s Day David got me some soil and promised his manual labor to whip it back into shape. Next year I hope to have flowers!

So that’s our home, real life style. Of course I would love to have it beautifully designed and decorated but in actuality that takes a lot of time and money, so we are content to fix it a little at a time. We don’t plan to move (anytime soon, if ever) so we have a long time to get it where we want it to be!