Gearing up to Pare down.

I'm currently in the process of trying to "downsize" my children's lives in preparation for the new schedule we're getting ready to adopt. With Raegan being 3 1/2 months old now, I can let her play by herself more. Well, at least in theory. Which means that I can start to implement a daily schedule of sorts. Try out different homeschooling ideas during the summer to see what will work for the fall. And, the big thing, put away a lot of their toys and books and stuff.

Because I'm finding that the more *stuff* the girls have, the less they tend to enjoy it.

It's not even like my children have a ton of toys. They do have plenty, don't get me wrong!! We have three different baskets of toys scattered throughout the downstairs. One with the Little People play stuff. One with musical instruments. One with random toys like balls and doctor's kits.

And that doesn't even include the toys that they have in their room! Yet, during the day, they get bored. Don't ask me how, but they do! BUT if we were to go to my parent's house...where toys are very, very limited (I think they have a couple of teddy bears, lots of children's books, and a basket of fake, decorative apples), they can entertain themselves for hours.

Why is that again?

SO this week, I'm sorting out some things in my head. Making lists, making charts, writing up schedules, and storing away some toys that we'll rotate out in a couple of months. Just trying to organize my life (ie. my brain) in general.

One thing is for sure! I'm so very thankful that I already had our yard sale a couple of months ago, or I'd feel overwhelmed! Seriously, my brain doesn't seem to function well amidst clutter. It's like the physical clutter of stuff everywhere, clutters my mind.

And on that note, this last yardsale was our 8th in 6 years!! And they've all been large ones. AND there's another load of stuff to yardsale, packed away in boxes in our shed. HOW is that possible? I told one friend that it was like we uncover another layer of "unneeded stuff" every time we purge the layer on top of it. Because seriously, we don't buy stuff. I mean it!! Our monthly spending usually includes diapers and groceries. So either our attic breeds things in the middle of the night or every year I get more and more simple in my lifestyle. ??? Either way...I'm just glad this last yard sale is done!!

And hopefully in the not-to-distant future, I'll have my Daily Schedule worked out.