Wednesday, February 9, 2011

View From My Kitchen Sink

I've been meaning to answer Pam's question about the View from my Kitchen Sink.

It's not that great of a view.  My sink's on the island, so I can see the TV while I'm scrubbing (and notice the crooked lamp in the background!).
Hyrum refused to participate. See?
I can see my kids as they eat their lunch.  The bar is the best place for breakfast and lunch.  Cleanup is so much easier.  We've been in this house for three and a half years now.  Only took me almost three years to discover this little tidbit of time-saving information.
We built our house, and being the impatient person that I am, I didn't notice on the plans that the bar was extra tall.  I really hate it.  It's hard for little ones to see over it, and virtually impossible for them to sit on their bottoms and eat.  It's the main thing I would change about the house.  Probably never, but maybe?
Here's the view out one window.  That tree is beautiful in the spring--so green.
And the view (kinda) out the other window.  Not such a great view, I'm afraid.  But not bad, by Arizona standards.
One of my favorite baby things EVER is this clip-on high chair.  I have two, in fact.  This one stays hooked to the bar, and the other never leaves the table.  So much handier than a real high chair.  Easier to clean under, the kids are table-height, and the chair folds up flat to throw in the car for a trip to Grandma's or just to a friend's house.
I don't know if they even make these handy-dandy seats any more.  I'm sure it's some safety violation for them to be hooked on the counter or table.

Like a merry-go-round--fun, convenient, but too dangerous for modern society.

I would love to revisit this idea in the spring and again in the summer and again in the fall.  Up for it, Pam?

blog

24 comments:

  1. Love that view!
    And we are a lunch and dinner at the island type of family too.:)
    I was just thinking of those hook on chairs the other day. We had one for Riley, But I haven't seen one in forever. We used a regular highchair for maybe a month. Now Aubrey is in a booster on the island chair, but we have to move that chair back and forth to the table all the time. Total pain.
    Why am I talking so much about chairs?!?!?!:)
    Have a happy day

    ReplyDelete
  2. hey, i had a Sassy seat for my kids..and that model wasn't too safe.. graduated to a better one when the third one came along...bulky but worth it, not as compact...the island is a savior for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  3. love the view from your sink, too!! Envious of your island and the eating 'bar' that's there ... ah, the 'charm' of a house built in 1951 and has never seen any significant renovation! And yes, agreed, we should do this again in the summer - oh, how my view gets better!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think you have the best view...one where you can see your kids while you are working in the kitchen. Our bar...if that's what you want to call it, is too high and not deep enough. Total waste!
    Great idea to revisit our views in the spring!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh that Evie! I want one of those clip chairs!! I'm constantly moving that high chair around the kitchen...thanks for sharing your view! I love it!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh I would so love to have that island in my kitchen. Sounds like it would solve a whole heck of a lot of issues that I have with my kitchen :) I'd like to get one of those chairs for E too but since we don't have a dining table, it probably won't work for me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. We built our house, too, and our island is too wide. Ugh. Don't know why we can't realize those things when the house is in the planning stage.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the view. Mostly the spring weather.....I am drooling right now!

    My kids left one of those high chair thingies at my house too. So nice to have.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have two of those nifty seats too Jen. Both are for my littlest grands. One is rigid and the is kind of slouchy like thouse folding sports chairs. I think it's a Sassy seat. The only thing I don't like about them is I can't figure out how to put the darn things on. I am always afraid they will come lose and my precious little one's will fall to the floor and hit their heads. My hubby has to do it for me.

    I like your view. We have similar view from our kitchen sink too. I love the open concept. It allows me to be a part of what's going on in the other room. Our counter isn't wide enough to sit up to, so we just use it has a buffet during family gatherings. ~Ames

    ReplyDelete
  10. You can see all the good things from the spot where moms spend so much time :) Thinking of you today and the anticipation of news :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I like how Eve has her name on the back of her highchair... just in case someone else was thinking of sitting there! ;)

    I miss my bar, too. It was the best thing about my last house.

    ReplyDelete
  12. That baby high chair clip-on thingy is GREAT!

    I need to see if I can find one.

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I loved those chairs! Such a life saver. And same for the island/bar. I loved having that when the kids were little. And I can see the family room from my kitchen sink too, I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. See you tonight!!!!!! :)

    and apparently Joe didn't understand it was taking place over skype and invited some people, so you may have some slight disappointments with that...

    ReplyDelete
  15. See you tonight!!!!!! :)

    and apparently Joe didn't understand it was taking place over skype and invited some people, so you may have some slight disappointments with that...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Jen,

    Great view! They do still have seats like that because we have one for my grandson. Love it! I wish I could put an island in my kitchen, boy would it certainly make cooking and baking so much easier!

    ~ Tracy

    ReplyDelete
  17. i think the view of your kids, enjoying their meals, alone makes your view from your sink top-notch! :)

    being a short person myself though, i TOTALLY get that a tall island would be bothersome.

    ooh! and those clip on high chairs are phenomenal blessings! my niece had one and it went WHEREVER the family went. made life so much easier.

    (btw, thanks for the tip. i updated the post with proper credit. you rock!)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jen, What a great view you have! Don't you just hate that when something like that happens... the bar too tall. And it's complete so to have it redone is not possible. dang!
    I agree! I had those chairs that hang on the table when my boys were small too and I loved them!
    TRUST ME! Taking the few minutes at night to "get ready" for bed will make you feel PRETTY
    Have a pretty day!
    Kristin

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your island- and I think those high chairs are fabulous too!

    I'd love to see the spring/summer version of that tree

    ReplyDelete
  20. love your view!! the kitchen is really the heart of the home and i love getting a glimpse of everyone's view!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great views. I really like your bar. :) I also wish I had one of those chairs for myself.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nice view Jen. I love seeing little views of your lovely home. And aren't those clip on chairs the best?

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm all for revisiting in prettier weather too!
    A fun and busy view you have.

    ReplyDelete
  24. yep, they still have them!!! my mil bought me a highchair when brennan was born so we never got the table hook on one like you, but it's on my radar. brennan's refusing the nap today, gotta run!

    ReplyDelete