Boys Playing in the Snow

Huge fluffy snowflakes fell most of the day. It looked like we were in a snow globe. It was a beautiful day . . . cold, but that's what winter is supposed to be.

Castiel didn't like the big flakes falling in his face, but KC got Emmitt to face the sky and open his mouth : )

Emmitt is a snow eater. I think he thinks it falls from the sky for him to gobble up. It may be gross, but freshly fallen snow, what's the real harm. I know he's eaten worse things off the ground . . .

Cameron did the same thing. At that same age, he would go out into a snowbank and sit down to just eat snow.

KC and Cameron spent the afternoon playing Disney Universe on the Wii. The twins woke up just as they decided to go out to shovel the snow.

Emmitt wasn't letting them go outside without him.

This was his first time in snow pants and boots, and he didn't mind a bit if it meant going outside.

Castiel wasn't interested and stayed by me, until he saw them walking across the back yard. He freaked and tried opening the patio door.

So I suited him up. I realized just recently that I only had one pair of boots that would fit them. So Castiel, being the second out, got plastic bags on his feet and a pair of shoes. It kept his feet dry  : )

They played until they were all red in the face.

When we forced them in, especially Emmitt, I had hot chocolate waiting . . . actually more of a warm chocolate  :)  The twins first hot chocolate, and they loved it!

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My project planned for the day was Zoe's side of the closet. There is just too much in there, and I know that she doesn't wear it all.

We easily went through her hanging clothes, so we moved onto the dresser. That went smoothly so we went through the drawer under her bed, treasure boxes, jewelry and headbands.

We were finished and it was only dinnertime. I couldn't believe how fast we were able to go through everything.

So after dinner, I looked at Audrey and she immediately threw a fit.

I asked her if she could just go through her hanging clothes with me and she unhappily started picking out her favorites.

And then she shockingly was helping me with more then I had planned.

By bedtime, their room was done.

I wish I would have taken a picture of this side of the room, because it was worse than the closet.

Yay! One room done, a couple of happy girls and a VERY happy mommy  : )

I removed 5 trash bags of clothes and shoes, so now they have room to move and places to put everything away.

I didn't plan on getting so much done today, but when kids are being cooperative, you just have to take advantage!

My 40 Week Plan

I wanted to share my plan for thoroughly cleaning my house this year.

I just have to say, that when we moved, we filled up a 26 foot U-Haul one and a half times, had a 16 foot Pack Rat, and a corner of my sister's basement.

I know I can do better than that. My goal is to fit into one 26 foot U-Haul in a year when we move again.

I've seen lots of ideas on the web. I researched and came up with my plan.

I've decided to create a 40 week plan.

If a baby can form in 40 weeks, I can clean my entire home in 40 weeks  : )

I'm not placing any order to the list. Just going to work on whatever I feel like for that week. I'm sure to have a month of the least-desirable left at the end of the year, but that's kind of how it always works out, right?

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40 WEEK PLAN (in no particular order)

Kitchen
1. silverware, cooking utensils, glasses, water bottles, plates & bowls
2. storage containers, pans, pots, appliances, counter tops
3. towels, hot pads, cleaning products, spices, candy, pantry, liquor
4. cookbooks, magnets, decor, baby items, junk drawers

Dining Room
5. Top of curio and drawers
6. Bottom of curio and decor

Family Room
7. movies, cds, games, entertainment center
8. Decor and plants in entire home

Living Room
9. Orange chests, other storage boxes
10. Decor, picture frames

Closets
11. jackets, winter gear, shoes, umbrellas, all bills and paperwork

Master Bedroom
12. kc-shoes, tshirts, polos, dress clothes
13. kc-boxers, pjs, socks, jeans, shorts, bike clothes
14. mel-shoes, pants, top drawer, perfumes, bags & purses
15. mel-summer, sweater, dress clothes, pjs, bureau, jewelry

Master Bath
16. kc stuff, toiletries, cleaning supplies
17. mel stuff, decor, product

Bathrooms
18. towels, toiletries, beach items
19. hair ties, decor, bath toys, extra bedding

Laundry Room
20. cleaning supplies

Zoe's
21. hanging clothes, dresser clothes, shoes
22. decor, bedding, furniture, treasure box

Audrey's

23. hanging clothes, dresser clothes, shoes

24. decor, bedding, furniture, treasure box

Cameron's

25. hanging clothes, dresser clothes, shoes

26. decor, bedding, furniture, treasure box

Emmitt and Castiel's

27. hanging clothes, dresser clothes, shoes

28. decor, bedding, furniture, treasure box

Garage

28. garden tools, seeds, pots, chairs, camping gear

29. bikes and parts, outdoor toys, balls, tools

Toy Basement

30. boardgames, puzzles, books, art supplies

31. toys, stuffed animals, storage units

Basement

32. computers, books, extra furniture

33. Christmas holiday

34. All other holidays

35. KC and my memory boxes

36. Zoe's school papers 

37. Audrey's school papers

38. Cameron's school papers

Art Supplies

39 + 40 (and this is what I will be working on throughout the year too)

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I am serious about going through every single thing.

I will ask myself (or whoever the item applies to) - - -Do I love this item? Do I really use this item? Can I live without this item? Do I really need this to form a memory or will a photograph work?

Everything will be given a home or packed away neatly and labeled.

If it makes the veto list I will decide if it's worth selling or if I should donate it. If I go about this right, it should be fun. And a relief! Gotta start somewhere . . .

I'll be starting this next week. I just had the Rat Pack dropped off and a hundred more boxes placed into the house. I'm working on getting all that going in the right direction this week.

I'll try and show the before and after of the week's accomplishments.

Time to C-L-E-A-N house!!!

I will also be making a Christmas list. I know, a little weird . . . . . but I always have a hard time coming up with anything, and I'll really have a clear picture of what's needed, when all the extras are gone  : )