going to my happy place ...

lizards With my spirit animals (aka my family).

norah has a snack

The living room is what made us buy the house we have now. i guess current terminology would call it a "great room," which it is, you know, great, don't get me wrong. But "great room" sounds so massive and unfriendly. Our living room may not be great in the classical sense, but it is definitely the room we live in.

ethan tries out his new bike in the living room

When we moved in we found the original plans for the house and could see that it used to be divided into a living room and den, and someone since then knocked down the wall between them to make one large space. This is where we all gather. It's our office, media room, playroom, race track, fort-building site and dance hall all wrapped into one.

clock

In the evening it is where my husband and I work, but it becomes a grocery store or zoo if need be, and when the kids are asleep it finally becomes a place to eat, drink and relax.

bird vase It's the main living space in the house and it makes me happy every time I walk into it.