Too much

The kids have too much stuff.  Way, WAY too much.

I didn't realize it had gotten this bad until I was doing the Love & Logic "if mommy cleans it up, it goes away" thing.  For three days in a row I cleaned up all the toys spread out in the play area and stashed them in the closet.  They never even missed them. 

They have so many toys that the loss of a few - or many - made zero difference to them. So last night after they went to bed I cleaned.

There are now 4 FULL bins of toys tucked away in the utility room - the fate of these toys to be decided later.   Add to that the full bin to take to Goodwill and one full trash bag of junk that we just tossed.  Even after all that they STILL have more than enough to play with.

Four very full bins of toys packed away in the utility room.

I'm hoping to pare down even more over the next few months, but for now this is a BIG improvement.  All the toys are now easily contained in bins on the toy shelf.  There is also a separate cabinet full of art supplies.  So don't worry - they aren't being neglected - they just had too much!

Toy shelf with bins, table & chairs, and play kitchen.  Manageable fun.

I'm hoping that this major toy reduction actually sparks more PLAY.  The other issue we've been having is that I let them watch way too much TV.  So this week I'm going to try a 2 hour limit per day.  Yes, that's right 2 hours is a DRASTIC reduction for us.  I think it goes hand in hand with too many toys.  When everything is out and it is a mess they can't really play.  But now, with a clean space and the hope of only getting out one or two things at a time there will be room to play. 

Something that I think will help spark their imaginations and get them playing is our latest edition (yes, I see the irony in acquiring MORE when I'm trying to make do with LESS) - a PLAYHOUSE!   It is outside, in the shade of the deck, and my hope is that they spend lots of time outside and playing with it.  We brought it home yesterday afternoon and they have already had such a wonderful time with it.

Huck and Noodle showing off the new (used) playhouse.

I'll let you know how it goes.

The Year Has Begun!

I probably should have written this last week, but I'm officially a "Mainly Stay At Home Mom"!  The Day Job is over and while I do have a new job, it takes up significantly less time and I'm not on-call all the time.  Which means I work during work time and that is it!  No more overwhelming balancing act.  I'm sure I'll still have days when I feel like I'm spinning plates, but in just this last week I've felt so much better. 

This really is a wonderful change for our family.

I'm not saying things are perfect - they aren't.  But they are better.

The year has begun!

(I can't believe that I only have one year left before Huck is in kindergarten!  Clearly, it is time to slow down and savor the moments.)

Foot paint

We were having a bit of a rough morning today.  Noodle had a pee-pee accident in MY LAP.  She was much more upset about it than I was.  She kept saying "Oh no!  I pee-pee on my mommy!" I decided that some painting would cheer us all up.

I planned to cover a section of the kitchen in trash bags and then hang up paper for paint.  Paint which I planned to put on a tray so we could use our FINGERS.

Huck had other ideas. 

As I was hanging up the paper he poured the paint onto the floor and Noodle immediately started using her feet.  We just went with it.  It was washable finger paints so I figured even if they made a huge mess I could clean it pretty easily.  And they did make a pretty good mess!

Afterwards I picked them up and took them right to the tub!  Everything, including the kids cleaned up really easily. Whew!

(Noodle was already sans clothing from the pee-pee accident - which was probably good since she managed to get paint all over her!)

Confession: Today wasn't good

Today was a big reminder about how much I need to give up the day job and just be mom.  Or just one who works only when the kids are at preschool.  I spent most of the day with the kids on my lap where they watched a show in the left corner of the computer screen while I attempted to work on the right side.  They fought over who had more lap space and when I made them both get off my lap I kept having to shush them "Mommy needs to finish this email and then she'll get you a snack....turn on a new show...be your helper when you go potty."

"Mommy is working, we will play when I'm done."

I'm done in 8 more days.  It can not come soon enough.

This used to work.  It worked for 4 years.  Now it just isn't.  I'm not doing my best at work and I'm certainly not giving the kids what they deserve at home.

Yesterday was just such a totally different day that the stark contrast to today is just disheartening.

Yesterday I only checked in on work twice - both times when the kids were happy and playing with out me.  The entirety of our day was great yesterday, Noodle even went to sleep a full 30 min earlier than her normal early and nearly 2 hours before her 'late' - and she's been mainly late to sleep for the past 3 months.  Yesterday was wonderful - today not so much.

Today I'm short tempered.  Today there were no crafts - not even the ones I set out to do last night before going to bed.  Today there was yelling, and then worse - that moment when I just check out, when my eyes glaze over as I look at the mess and  I want to run away from home or just hide in my closet for a little while.

Even now, I could (and should) go play with them.  But the mood is set and all I can do is count the minutes until Husband comes home and I can actually go hide in my closet for a little while.

I feel pulled apart and frazzled.  Realizing I've been living like this for years - for those wonderful early years of my children's lives - makes me sad. 

Next week.  Next week the new normal begins and I'm so, so thankful.

Countdown to The Year: 8

Start of a new school year

Today was Huck's first day of preschool. It was also the first day of Mommy at home schedule. It was great. I felt productive and relaxed for the first time in way too long. Noodle and I enjoyed some one on one time - something that we've never really had. I'm looking forward to much more time with her in the coming months.

I still have a little over a week with the day job but not so much that it is keeping me away from the kiddos like it used to.

I'm so looking forward to September and being Mommy at Home full time!

Huck is ready for school!

Feels like heaven.

I'm sitting outside in jeans and a long sleeve shirt in July watching my kids ride trikes, fly a kite and just enjoy being kids. Feels like heaven.

My main away from home job will officially be over one month from today. I'm getting more and more excited about being able to dedicate my attention more fully to them soon. 

The Boy will have preschool 3 days a week and The Girl will be going to PDO at least one day a week while I work at my little job. But no more feeling like I'm always on the job. 

This summer they have grown up so much it almost hurts. The Girl is now 100% potty trained and although she is only 26 months old she has gotten into the habit of telling people she is 3!  They believe her too because she acts so old. I'd be sadder if she wasn't so much fun to be around.  Really she is a dream. 

The Boy keeps us on our toes. He's so smart and if we don't channel his energy things can meltdown quickly. Today the kite was the winner. 

I love them and am so thankful for today.

Huck using his "lookers" and Noodle on a mission!

COUNTDOWN TO THE YEAR: 30 days

What do they say about making plans?

“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” Woody Allen

Yup.  I made plans.  Plans to have a relaxed summer of winding down work.  Then not working after that.  Well, working very hard, but not having an external job.  I made that plan.

Then the world had other plans.

I got offered a job. A really great job.  One that I couldn't pass up.

So I didn't.

Now I'm working two jobs - three really.

I'm trying not to be overwhelmed.  In the end this is going to be good for our family even if is wasn't part of my plan.

This summer is going to be extra busy, but I think by the fall everything will level out.
I hope so at least.

Hoping - NOT planning.

Here that world?!  NOT A PLAN.

Please don't start laughing again...