(page 22) FEBRUARY 2014
AT HOME with Jon + Tracy Kirby
“He’s just a big ol’ fluff ball,” Tracy said of her 2-year-old Newfoundland, Edison.
JON + TRACY KIRBY “I’m finally starting to feel like I can live here now,” said Tracy Kirby. Recognize her? She’s 605’s very own Little Parent on the Prairie columnist. Tracy and her husband Jon (along with 2-year-old daughter Avianna) have lived in their southeast Sioux Falls home on Prairie Green for a little over a year and have constantly been moving from project to project since. “It was so brown, and we didn’t have much time to find a house,” Tracy said about the paint in the home from the previous owners. Tearing down a wall, editing the cabinets, adding a sink, replacing the counter island and a fresh coat of paint later, the kitchen is finally to their adorable/livable standards. “I like hanging out in the kitchen area just because we put so much work into it,” Jon said of the project, which they finished in July. Tracy was ecstatic to have the renovations done so she could get back to one of her passions: cooking. Because of a health scare a few years back, the family cooks a lot of or-
ganic dishes at home. “I cook a ton,” Tracy said. “We’re really into living the optimal healthy life.” Opening up the space was also important for hosting friends and family, which they do often. “We love to host and entertain, so we have people over all the time. That’s why we wanted an open floor plan,” she explained. Tracy continued with a smile, “Jon is the ultimate helper—he’s always cleaning while I’m cooking.” A favorite feature of the house is the infinite amount of large windows. Tracy said they never have to turn lights on during the day with all of the natural light. “We had a backyard where we were landlocked by houses with no view,” said Jon of their previous home in Colorado. “That’s what’s great about South Dakota is it’s pretty easy to have a good view.” One of Jon’s favorite things about the house is sitting in