Working Hard to Make Home Simplified

Trying to find fun in waiting in the ER

It's been sooo hard to have batteries for my camera since so many things in this house use batteries like the Wii and Xbox 360.  That's four controllers so 8 batteries.  We save big time by using rechargeables.  I'm not kidding, those batteries have last us several years without dying.  They're still recharging just fine.  It's wonderful.  However, now we don't have enough so this weekend I'm gonna go out and buy more so I can use my beautiful camera!  Ha.  I'm always having to sneak batteries from one of the controllers when no one is looking.

I've kind of disappeared lately because I've been decluttering.  I know I say that a lot.  Someone on facebook said I did.  I really do say it a lot I guess.  It's just that I don't mean I've decluttered the whole house.  Just one area.  Like yesterday I spent hours reorganizing my pantries and cabinets.  I stopped using the one in the garage because it's just too hot out there and so I did a switch of pantries.  Today I worked on my bedroom and simplifying it.  Sometimes my bedroom seems to turn into the last resort.  I never have time to go back in there during the day because I'm with my kids, homeschooling Ivy, washing dishes, doing laundry, taking care of the baby, making meals, etc.  You get the idea.  So it's easy to just change real fast and not take the time to put everything away.  Or we'll just set something in there and "deal with it later."  Finally I had enough and donated most of it.  I went through LOTS clothes.

Yep, that's a diaper on Scooby

Tomorrow I'll be doing massive amounts of laundry and while putting them away, I'll always get rid of more.  While clothes are washing, I'll be decluttering both the kids rooms.  AGAIN.  I know it's about that time when they really start to struggle with their chore time.  If they are overwhelmed, they just shift things back and forth.  Kids shouldn't carry that burden.  I can't expect them to do a great just when there is just too much stuff.  Tomorrow night I'll be decluttering my laundry area also.

So, it's been a whirlwind around here!  But a good kind that is refreshing.  I really want to make it simple.  My husband at one time told me that he liked how the house was getting cleaned all the time and kept up.  But he said it was more important to him for me to spend time with the kids and build relationships with them.  It hurt to hear that but it was an eye opener for me and I'm glad he said it.  Since then I've really put them first and spend a lot of time with them.  It's important to truly listen to them.  Sometimes I feel like I just want to get the dishes done without any interruptions.  Instead, I'll just rinse off my soapy hands, bend down and listen to what my child has to say.  Even if I think it's a silly issue, it's not to him or her.  The dishes can wait.  It's been such a wonderful year of really building relationships with each and every one of my kids.  


Anyhow, it's 3:40am and I'm finally done for the day.  Happy Thursday!