This is our table in the trailer. It is the ONLY work top space in the entire house. And it works very hard for us. Here's a sample day in the life of our table.

6:30-7:30 am -- Once cleared of any debris leftover from last night, it's topped with breakfast for five.

9:00-11:00 am -- Cleaned up from breakfast, it is scooted about 5 inches closer to the power outlet and transformed into a soap packaging station as it's covered with newspaper, hot glue, ribbon, scissors, labels, and more.

11:00-11:20 am -- It serves as my lunch spot (leftovers, of course. I hate to waste food!)

11:20 am -1:20 pm -- It holds the soap molds and filled with lovely scented soap batter.

1:20 - 3:15 pm -- It becomes my desktop as I balance the checkbook, pay some bills, write a blog post, and order some goat vitamins.

3:30 pm- 4:00 pm -- The kids dive into an after-school snack.

4:00 - 5:00 pm -- It becomes the family desk as kids work on homework.

5:00 - 6:00 pm -- The table serves as an extra dinner prep area where Boy is usually put to work. This is far enough away from knives and hot stove tops but still allows him to participate by stirring, pouring, and such.

6:00- 6:30 pm -- We dine! The table only actually has 3 chairs. But, as you can see in the photo, anytime we will all 5 be there at the same time, we pull in the black computer chair and the living room ottoman. We are in constant negotiations regarding whose turn it is to sit on the pouf at dinner! I don't know why it's such a big deal, but, believe me, IT IS.

7:00-8:00 pm -- It is the center of operations for Boy's artistic creations, Girl 2's microscope work (Me: Why is your brother crying? Girl 2: I needed some hair to examine under my microscope.), or a father/daughter chess match. Sidenote: Girl 1 is usually playing music and twirling in the living room during this hour.

8:30-10:00 pm -- Well, lately, the floor plan for our future house has been spread out on the table during this time as John and I discuss next steps and structure and finishes and dream of a dining table that can seat all 5 of us without my having to remind the kids that we can all fit if everyone will just keep their elbows in check.

I know that when we look back on our time in the small house, many of my memories will have to do with this tiny table and the time we've spent gathered around it. When I'm looking back, probably even the hair plucking and elbow prodding will make me smile.