Christmas clutter

So, what to do today? My days are numbered. The girls have 5 days of school left, counting today. I am trying to think about what I should do before they are here all day, every day. I have managed to clean out a significant part of the house over the last few weeks. I have taken 2 trips to Goodwill and collected countless garbage bags of trash. The girls have a major project of cleaning out their room and playroom of all toys they have outgrown when school gets out. So I have left those rooms alone for the most part. Maybe when that project is complete we will be able to separate their bunk beds and give them their own space. I know M is really looking forward to having her own space, even if it is just to be able to decorate it! S has been hesitant in the past to want her own room, she says she will miss M. But lately, she seems more open to the idea.

We need a little more space. I hope we will be able to figure out a way to finish the basement off, making a great room with the the kids toys and couch and TV and Wii, etc. We would love to have a pool table someday down there as well. An extra room to be used as an office or extra bedroom for guests would be helpful too. It is already roughed in for a bathroom. I have seen a really cute layout for a laundry room/art room. The floor was just linoleum, a tub sink surrounded by counters, and many drawers for storage and display surfaces like a cork lined half wall or chalkboard paint. I have great ideas for the last bit of space down there. I haven't convinced my husband of this yet, but I'm working on it. Either the basement needs to be finished off, or we need to find a slightly bigger house.

My husband has a photography business so he could really use some office space and a studio space and storage for all the props he has been collecting. Somewhere the girls can't get into. Right now his office is in the girls' playroom, not the best place for keeping his stuff organized and separate. The girls have a habit of spreading stuff out and not cleaning it up immediately. Like all kids, I am guessing. Or at least I hope my kids aren't the messiest ones on the planet:)

Anyway, maybe I'll tackle the Christmas corner today. Last year I only got out the bare minimum for decorations, we were installing hardwood floors right before Christmas and so we only had a week before Christmas to put up the tree and such. I didn't think we needed everything out. Which, of course, got me wondering why do I have all this stuff if I don't want to put it all out. A lot of the decorations were gifts. I don't know why I have a hard time getting rid of things people gave me, they never visit our house so they wouldn't even notice if I still had it or not. I feel like if someone spent their money and time and energy finding me a present I should keep it, whether or not I like it or use it. Well, that is how I used to feel. Now my philosophy is more like if I don't love it and use it, it needs to go. I am not a big holiday decorator, really I only put out stuff for Christmas. I have Easter baskets for the girls, a few pumpkin/jack o' lantern candles and candy bowls for Halloween. But that is it. I could really downsize the amount of Christmas stuff too. I really enjoy putting up the things my girlies have made at school rather than pre-made decorations. I also have a bunch of ornaments from when I was a kid. I have them but I don't put them on the tree. My tree is now for my new family, my husband and my girlies. The tree should be full of things we have gotten or made together. Does that make sense? Except of course for my pine cone Santa. I made it in kindergarten and if it isn't on the tree, something is severely wrong. One Christmas not too long ago, I couldn't find it. I actually cried, I know, what a wuss! But no, it means a lot to me and it just isn't Christmas without the little guy. My husband teases me about it but he understands my need for it even if he doesn't get why. He's a good man.

Anyway, I guess I'll get on with my treadmill run and get to cleaning out the Christmas stuff...