I'll tell you why: Molly's house isn't full of a bunch of crap.
Nice work, Molly.My house, however, is, at times, full of a bunch of crap. Way too many toys, way too much laundry, way too much paper.....I'm getting away from myself, we're here to talk about toys.
Jack & Bailey have very generous parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, adopted grandparents, second-cousins-once-removed, friends....you get the idea. They also have more toys than 10 kids could play with in during the average baby/childhood.
Now, some people would say, just get rid of extra toys that you don't want/need. But honestly, how could I do that? How could I choose between the doll Matt & I got Bailey for Christmas and the one her grandmother got her?? How could I make Jack choose between the sorting set he bought with his very own allowance money when he was all of 9 months old and the wooden one his Popsy bought him special for his first birthday?? I can't--maybe you can. Good for you!So I invented the "toy cycle" or, rather, my mother invented it 20-some-odd years ago. Anyway, I gave each toy a partner--a toy of a similar use, purpose and approximate size--and put half of the "partners" away.
So, what I have gained is:
1) Space in my cabinets
2) "Brand new" toys that I can get out (trade out) on a rainy or snowy day
3) The ability to hang on to--and use--some of these generous gifts
There's something precious about a child's toys--and if you don't believe me, then YOU watch Toy Story (1, 2 or 3) and try not to cry!
P.S. For the record, I have been eying the "baby" toys and making a mental list of ones we're officially ready to pass on to another family. See, I'm not all sentimental!!
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Thanks Carrie!! Aaron doesnt seem to appreciate my organizing skills :) Its so fun to see Silas's face after getting a "new toy" out of storage. Its definitely a good way to keep the house not looking like a toy store! Although, its pretty easy for me to just get rid of things as we no longer need them- I guess thats the clutter control freak in me :)
ReplyDeleteI think I have too much storage--it's easy to just say, "We'll put it in the basement"
ReplyDeleteyeah, we have such a tiny house the attic is the only real place for storage and its a pain to get in and out of!
ReplyDeleteYou told me that idea a couple of weeks ago and I have yet to get around to doing it! I just got ride of a few last wkend and it doesn't even look like I did! But the kids sure do enjoy "Getting them out"!
ReplyDeleteoops, I said ride instead of rid....
ReplyDelete