A place for everything, and everything in its place

When we come upstairs from the garage every day, the kitchen is the Dumping Ground for everything that comes out of everyone's pockets, backpacks, etc. It is also traditionally known as a convenient place for kicking off shoes and leaving them in the middle of the floor where they can be tripped over. (Not my shoes, mind you, but there are a lot of people who live here besides me.)

But I am hoping that those days have come to an end. Why is that? Because I've been hoarding, my friends. I've been hoarding checks from my grandmother. Christmas check, Easter check, birthday check. I've also been hoarding gift cards. Over the last year I received three gift cards to Pottery Barn. All remained unspent and unredeemed until three weeks ago. And friends, three weeks ago I ordered THIS:



And it is finally here, in our kitchen. If you don't know what "this" is, it's half of an entryway suite from Pottery Barn. And I am hoping it revolutionizes our kitchen.

I was absolutely beside myself when the delivery company called to say it would be delivered last week. They said that not only would they DELIVER it, but they would also ASSEMBLE it. And assemble, they did.



When I came through the door from work that evening, the kitchen smelled like that magic scent of Almost Wood. Oh, wood-veneer-over-a-solid-wood-finish, how I love you so. You are so practical and useful for a family with three young boys. Please do not disappoint me.

One of the best things about The Arrival of the Furniture was that the family had already started putting it to use.

They'd plugged their PSPs and the video camera up to the handy-dandy charging station. (Mail was in that center tray above the charging station, but I'd already read it and tossed it before I took the pictures. Bummer.)



Grayson had put his wallet, keys, pen and lip balm into his basket. (I had done my part by pre-printing nametags for everyone and having them ready to go at the time of delivery.)



My basket was empty and waiting for me. [Blissful sigh.]



Nathaniel had put a letter from my mom in his basket.



And Nick's was empty, but that was OK because I was just pleased he was already charging his PSP. We can work on Basket Filling Skills later.



And O to the M to the G. SHOES WERE IN THE DRAWER, NOT IN THE FLOOR. Be still, my beating heart.


I am still walking on air.