Way to do with all my space?

[Amy D]

My husband and I recently bought a brand new home. The house we sold was really small and this house is more than double the square footage. My husband is in the navy and comes and goes all the time, and we live about an hour away from base. So, even when he is home he has no time to help me ( plus I have a job as well). I have two problems. When you first walk into the house it looks like we got robbed becasue there is nothing in there, everything is in the back family room. The formal living room is connected to the dining room, but I don't want two sitting areas in my house. What are some good ideas for that room? And, things that I can do with out the requirment of my husband? A little information to keep in mind. I have four small children under the age of seven, and this room is large and is a high traffic area to get to the kitchen and laundry room.
I am not a weakling who can't do anything without my husband, it's just really hard to excute ideas alone.
We have only been married five years and have been busy having babies, so we don't have a ton of stuff. I am really good with our hard earned money, so I am really into do it yourslef type projects ( that are funtional for my babies).