Dogs, Kids and Decluttering

Tuesday the girls and I went to a dog agility demonstration at the library. These dogs were so well trained. I was very impressed and it was a lot of fun to watch.

I was surprised at how small the turn-out was. Maybe it was the rain. And cold. Of course, we forgot umbrellas and two little girls didn't believe me when I said it was a little chilly for dresses. It's hard work being beautiful.

Dad works way too much. He's always so tired. Lukey still enjoyed the snuggle time.

Tuesday's baseball practice was cancelled so Elijah stayed the night with a friend to help him babysit his little brother the next day. Olivia and I made cookies for dad and Nick who did have soccer practice in the rain. (She's putting the sugar on the Snickerdoodles).

I am a collector of clutter. I keep everything. Think I'm kidding. I have the ring used in my son's circumcision and the piece of stick that was stuck in Nick's eye lid about seven years ago. If you can top that one you can take my Clutter Collector Crown. Until then I'm keeping it. You know, 'cause I'm a collector!

Anyhow, at some point yesterday I decided clutter and stuff that I might use some day was annoying. Really annoying. If I haven't ever used it, if I'm not using it or if I really admit to myself I'm not ever gonna use it, it has to go. Away. So today I started the declutter process.

These are back packs in the bottom of a closet in the laundry room that has yet to be remodeled hence the ugly wall paper. If six of those backpacks are perfect then there probably is no sense in keeping the seven with broken zippers. I really doubt I need any of them since Nick and Elijah have another three apiece in their rooms.

Gone.

And you have no idea how hard that was.

This is the top of the closet. The towels should be on the shelves in the bathroom and the rest is stuff I toss up there because I don't know what to do with it or I'm just being too lazy to put it away.

Gone.

This was the pantry overflow when the kitchen was upstairs. Six months ago. Oh, and other miscellaneous crap. A lot more than the photo shows.

Gone.

There is also a bunch of cabinets above the washer and dryer I emptied out. Three bags of garbage and one laundry basket of stuff to dad's tool trailer later that room is empty of clutter. Nothing left but completely necessary items. Plus I did five loads of laundry while I was there.

My sweet Nick has inherited my clutter gene although he and I prefer to use the term "treasures" rather than junk, crap, clutter, etc. He asked if we were going to do his room. All in due time.

I started on my closet, but had to leave for Nick's soccer game. Guess you'll just have to come back tomorrow for that exciting update.

That's Nick in the middle with a goofy headband on. It belongs to Kent. When Kent wore it they lost so he put it on Nick. They are on a four game winning streak so I guess he's the honorary head band wearer until they lose.

Nick is on the right and that is Austin on the left. They played basketball this winter on the same team. Apparently Austin tried to fake a trip for the referees benefit. When the game was over our team did a cheer and then they all flopped on the wet ground on their backs moaning to mock Austin. It was all in fun and he laughed. Teenage boys are a hoot.

This kid really is something else. We've been best bud's since he was a little guy. Very rarely does a day go by that he doesn't just hang out for a few hours with his Mom. Ever see the Wedding Crashers? That's our running joke...I tell him if he'll just stay home and keep me company he can holler "Hey Mom, where's the meatloaf!" all he wants. Nick and I have spent very little time apart in the last 16 years. I can't imagine what I am going to do when he finally does move out. Maybe I'll go with him. Just kidding.

Well, it rained all day. Poured some, too. It's in the 40's and it chills you to the bone. Or at least it did during the soccer game. The house is all quiet, the babies are sleeping, I can hear the boys outside on their bikes and they should go to sleep, and at 1:30am I am still waiting for Dad to get done working. The chiller on the Ice Hotel is down and he has to get it going before the place melts. I feel so bad for how hard he works, but life has forced us into a sad and lonely corner. I can't talk about it...or at least I shouldn't....I can only wait for the day it is all behind us. Some days I do not wait so patiently.

Oh, well. When life craps on you what do you do? You declutter!