Elephants in the Living Room

[Melanie and Girls]

Our home is open concept. The main floor of our house is one giant room. This has come in handy when it comes to breeding puppies. We can place a whelping box in the corner by the couch, and I can keep an eye open no matter where I am. Little did I know how critical the space would become when we planned on having two litters at the same time. Over Christmas.

As we all know, Standard Goldendoodles are not the smallest dogs in the world. A whelping box for a dog of that size measures 4 ft x 3 ft on the floor. An Elephant. Multiply that by two and you have the size of a dining room table to fit into your home.

Did I mention that we have 4 children? So, add a LEGO table, play kitchen, and "life" to the mix, and my home is becoming smaller by the minute.

Enter Christmas. I don't know about your house, but our tree typically resembles the one from the Griswold's house with the branches breaking through the windows upon release of "the string". My friend suggested hanging it from the ceiling.

Here is the problem of "The Elephants". How do you "hide" two elephants in your living room? How do you incorporate them into "normal life"?

We talked about turning the Whelping boxes INTO the dining room table... a piece of plywood over the top and a pretty tablecloth, who would know the difference, right?!

Plants strategically placed around the edges soften the effect somewhat. Good thing my dogs like being in the forest. Or is it the jungle?!

Maybe we shouldn't fight it. What if we get out the paints, add some floral designs in complementing colors, and set them right in the middle of the floor.

Or some beanbag chairs and matching throw cushions, we could put the couches to the curb!

I think I'm going to paint them gray, and tape on a trunk and tail.

I know in a couple of weeks, everything will be great. The tree will have found a spot to belong. The kids will find space to play. All will be great because we will have beautiful, healthy, happy puppies in our home, and those elephants just won't seem to be a problem anymore.

I still wonder about hanging the tree from the ceiling, though......

[Melanie and Girls]

I love all the suggestions. Thanks everyone. We have two weeks to go and counting before they are put to good use, and I think I might be almost done rearranging the furniture to make it work. (well, maybe one more time....)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

You have terrible problems! LOL! How exciting???? I say it is what it is and just enjoy life around them!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good luck with all that, at least you have a sense of humor to carry you through.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

P.S This year we aren't having a tree because I reckon Riley would have great fun playing with it and goodness knows what would ensue.  We have a big traditional fireplace in our living room so I have ordered a beautiful garland with pine and flowers to hang across the mantlepiece.   Our mirror above the fire will frame the lights and I will hang the decorations from the windows.  That is my solution so that my partner can have his traditional Christmas and Riley's tummy will be decoration free.  ( I still have to find a place for the Hanukah lights!!!!)  

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

The newborn puppies will just have to double as Angels : )

[Bonnie and Kona]

It sounds like a wonderful dilemma to have. ;o)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Paint one red one green.  Paint some candy canes or snowmen or something on them or string some lights around the outside at the bottom, add some tinsel or garland and just let them be part of your decorations.