A More Orderly Existence

Ha.  I strive for a more orderly existence at least 50% of the time but...IT  IS  NOT  EASY.  The theory of chaos, entropy - it's no joke.

But we have attempted to make some headway with me boldly pushing, pushing for it.  It helps that Lucas is not taking classes for this semester.  Yay! (I try to be encouraging about school, but I like projects to get done around the house, and, though capable, my impetuosity gets me in pickles, so I like to have the voice of reason as my partner.  Then we get things done and we get them done right).

It all started with my master binder of organization to help with the influx of papers with no permanent home as we took away our traditional office space.  I have a lovely list for Lucas including re-seating our downstairs toilet (ugh, not gonna do that one alone), building me a big garden bed (my kind of Mother's Day gift), and lots of garden bed clean outs with maybe a few trees to chop down.  But then I also got a few more ideas, re-doing our porch/door (I can handle that one) and making perfect organizational sense out of our game closet and garage hall closet (which essentially has ended up being a mudroom with no organization at all).  I was inspired by our rental house in Oregon and bought a shoe organizer/bench, cleaned out our garage hall closet and organized it impeccably, threatening the children lovingly about the importance of only putting shoes in it and NOTHING ELSE.  Now our way to the garage is clear and safe and things are easy to find. 

Our game closet, though, that was a serious beast.  People pulling games out and putting parts of games all over in it.  Puzzle pieces and game pieces everywhere with some pet supplies and TV trays mixed in for good measure.  I planned and drew a shelving system to organize games, our vacuum + attachments which never really had a home, and a shelf for each child to put reading books, school papers on, etc., if they just couldn't stand the thought of walking all the so far long way to their rooms to put items.  Lucas worked late into one Saturday to get those shelves done; I placed games in an orderly fashion, and then did another session of DO IT ALL VERY NEATLY CHILDREN.  HAVE MERCY ON YOUR MOTHER'S SANITY.  The children have been pretty good so far, although a bit of slacking has been noted the last few days which I should probably whip back into shape (not literally, c'mon you guys).  I am so thankful that Lucas humored my idea, trusted my measurements, borrowed tools to simplify it, and took the time to do it.  Huzzah!