beautiful, useful space

this week, i re-arranged some furniture and play things for the babes.  i noticed that they were bringing toys into the living room to play with on the big rug.  even when i am sitting with them in the play space, they will head to the living room.  thus, the difference seemed to be the big wide openness.  on wed. afternoon, i found the table flipped upside down to become a boat, as it sometimes does.  i could overhear this happening from the kitchen where i was making yummy thai soup.  when i saw it in the corner of the room, i finally realized that i should make a wide open space for them.  also, we don't use the top of the diaper changing station anymore as no one wears diapers during the day and people get themselves dressed around here...moment to soak in that those two things have occurred...

so, we are moving on with no need for a changing pad.  it got tucked into a corner behind the "fridge" and is now a cozy little resting nook off of their "kitchen".  Playing "restaurant" happens pretty much daily with them so i moved the table over to the side next to the shelf unca anthony hung with their bowls and such on it.  the little stove is a bit wobbly on top of the fridge now though and i worry that it could fall off.  so, i am figuring that one out, still.  it could be on the floor and brought up to the table when needed.  or, the stove could be on the bookshelf top. 

the floor is wide open!  there is way more play happening with wheeled vehicles, airplanes, helicopters, etc.  we've layed out blankets as grass/fields/roads and created lakes and streams for the vehicles.  there is a bunch more space to maneuver the vehicles around.  all good stuff so far and i am sure there is way more to come. 

 yesterday, i came across this picture in flickr and appreciated the wide openness of it.  maybe i will get some flowey, drapey sashes, too if i can find them animal-free somewhere.

 here is the other side of that same room.  i think it's a kindergarden classroom somewhere in the usa.