My Knights

I recently pulled out of my bag of tricks for the kids a knight’s costume as we begin to study the Middle Ages in school.  Since the revelation of this new costume, David has decided to be a knight for Halloween.  The costume didn’t come with a sword, though.  So when David and I went to town on his birthday, we picked him up a play sword.

He was very eager when he got home to fight his brother with it.  However, a second sword was not purchased.  Not to worry, Elias is very good at improvising.

The boys fought it out before supper, after supper, and the following morning.

The excitement of new toys that have arrived at our house since the most recent birthday has served as a reminder to me to do a major toy purge.  We actually buy very few toys for our kids, but somehow the playroom is some sort of vacuum that collects massive amounts of toys by itself.  Before Christmas every year my goal is to get rid of half.  I’m thinking that may have to come early this year.  I’m trying to figure out a way to store some toys so that they’re not all out and within reach of the kids all the time. 

The toy closet serves as a great storage space other than the fact that the kids go in there and destroy it almost daily.  I’m imagining ways in my mind to lock it so that I can control how many toys are out at a time.  I know that any sort of contraption will be taken as a personal challenge to overcome by David. 

I have learned that a toy purge is something that is done at night when everyone is asleep.  It’s done with black bags, and put in the trunk of the car before morning.  When the kids see the playroom after a big clean out, they are thrilled 100% of the time.  It’s such a relief to them not to deal with so much and decide what stays and what goes.  I’m thinking that tonight may be the night for this magic play room transformation.