It’s amazing how clutter collects so easily. The mere speed at which it collects seems to multiply with each new body that lives in this house. We don’t buy our kids that many toys, but somehow, like little bunnies, the toys multiply in the basement and very quickly we have a problem on our hands.

About twice a year, I try to go through all of the kids’ toys. I’ve found the most strategic times to do that is just before Christmas (to make room for the new toys, of course) and in June, before Silje’s birthday. This year, just on time, the playroom downstairs started overflowing and the kids were having a tougher and tougher time putting their toys away because they just wouldn’t fit anywhere.

My goal, with each purge, is to cut the amount of toys they have in half. I know it sounds drastic, but let me assure you, that never happens. It’s my goal, though. Anything that hasn’t been played with in awhile, or slightly broken, or just gross, or annoying for that matter, get sorted into 3 trash bags: store away, give away, and throw away.

I’ve found the best time to do this “organization” is while the kids sleep. It’s really impossible when they’re awake, because of the weeping and pleading and bargaining to keep trash. However, when I do it when they are asleep, all they know is when they wake up their playroom is organized and clean and they clap and jump up and down, and not even ask to watch a movie for days as they explore the few toys they actually like, once again. They love it when I do this…but I don’t think they’ve figured out yet that when I do this, about 3 large trash bags of their things have disappeared from their sight. I have never once had them ask for a toy that is missing, or they can’t find after this. It’s wonderful.

Another thing that happened during nap time today is something Knut and I have tried to do for months!!! After Knut painted the basement a few months ago, we finally got some pictures up! How long have we lived here again? Too long to have not done this! I had the pictures arranged on the ground several times in the past month. They were just waiting to be hung. However, by the time we had a moment in the evening to put them up after the kids had gone to bed, we have collapsed on the couch and watched a movie instead of hung them. Then all the pictures have to be picked up so the kids don’t crawl and walk all over them, and I have to rearrange them again the next time I think there might be a chance they’ll get hung! I’m so glad it’s finally done!