Oh, give me a HOME where my kiddos can roam

There are certain things about apartment dwelling that I LOVE. The fact that I only have about 900 square feet to keep clean is probably at the top. Having 4 washers and dryers to use simultaneously is certainly up there too. Of course, not having to foot the bill for any repairs is huge as well, especially for the finances of a medical student family! But, may I also share some of my not-so-favorite aspects of apartments? 1)No room 2)Noisy upstairs neighbors 3)NO room 4)No yard 5)NO ROOM!!!!! I believe I have mentioned before that messy house= unhappy mommy, but sometimes it is next to impossible not to have a messy house when there is nowhere to put things. They say the key to keeping a tidy house is "A place for everything and everything in its place"...well, what if you don't HAVE a place for everyhing? Literally?! Our apartment seemed more than sufficient when it was just Jon and I - we don't have THAT much stuff! But 2 adults + 1 growing, active boy + 1 active, growing girl = CLUTTER! Children add a whole new dimension to the accumulation of THINGS: there is the ever-changing wardrobe (I just bought Kai those pants last week, how can they already be above his ankles!?)...the ever-changing interest in toys (just lie there and look at the mobile, it's fun, I promise.)...and the ever-present need to have TWO of certain constantly fought-over toys (Kids! Share! Take turns!) Furthermore, there is the "PACKRAT" in my genes which forces me to hang onto baby clothes, toys and other necessities "in case we need them again" (which will most likely be the case in the not-too-distant (but not-too-near!) future. With nothing more than a 4'x4' room for storage, we have really had to get creative with our storage system!

So, knowing that this apartment will be our "Home" for the next 2 1/2 years and trying to make the best of it, I am now in "De-clutter" mode. Today we got rid of a queen bed, toddler bed, a computer desk, a sofa and a love-seat, not to mention bags of books, toys and clothes. When the Christmas tree finally comes down (Jon likes to leave it up till New Years, much to my chagrin!), we will have all KINDS of room, where the kids can actually run and play (and I can keep the clutter under control - at least, in theory!) I couldn't be more excited!

Any tips for LIVING IN CONFINED SPACES? I would LOVE to hear them! :)

Cleaning Up, Moving On

Ahhh. Now that Christmas is over, I am anxious to take down the Christmas tree and decorations, find new places on the shelves for the christmas presents which have 'joined' our household, and de-clutter!!! I love the holiday season - don't get me wrong. I love the warm, cozy ambiance of our house at Christmas - the aroma of Christmas candles wafting through the air, the glow of the yule log candles and lights on the tree, the nativity scene on the hearth (or piano, as the case may be...), etc. etc. But, for some reason, once the holiday is over, the decorations no longer seem 'cozy' but just become 'clutter' to me and I simply cannot rest until they are packed away and out of sight! Christmas always seems to bring such clutter - decorations, treats, new toys and things...argh! Fortunately though, de-cluttering, organizing and cleaning are honestly 3 of my FAVORITE things to do. Seriously. It is just SO refreshing. And so, ladies and gentlemen, let the fun begin!!!!

TV, or NoTV....That is the Question

One of my biggest battles as a mother is an inner one - that of television utilization. For some reason, lately I have felt as though I am drowning in housework - laundry piling up, dirty dishes in the sink, the floor needs vacuuming/sweeping/mopping 2 minutes after I do it, etc, etc, etc. While my home is never 100% immaculate, I usually feel as though I can stay on top of it, for the most part anyway. But lately, whether it's been my heavier work schedule, my tending another toddler in addition to my own 2, or simply the added activities/responsibilities/excitement of the holidays, it seems my house hasn't been clean (for longer than an hour) for over a week! And everyone knows that, in our house, dirty house = unhappy mommy.

As I've struggled to get on top of things this past week, I have been SO tempted, on more than one occasion, to plop my kids in front of the television. After all, there are so many educational shows which teach children the alphabet, social skills, creativity, and even Spanish, I rationalize in my head. Then my mind recalls the statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics that children under the age of 2 should NEVER watch television, and guilt, shame and doubt about my ability to raise my children fill my mind. Still, what is a woman to do when faced with 8 loads of laundry waiting to be folded, a sink full of dishes needing to be washed, a floor desperately in need of cleaning, and only an hour before dinner is to be served...all while trying to divert the attention of three toddlers from herself into their own self-directed play (and keep them from killing one another)???

I am reminded of the poem "Handprints on the Wall":

One day as I was picking
the toys up off the floor
I noticed a small hand print
on the wall beside the floor.

I knew that it was something
that I'd seen most every day
but this time when I saw it there
I wanted it to stay.

Then tears welled up inside my eyes,
I knew it wouldn't last
for every grandma knows,
her grandchildren grow up way too fast.

Just then I put my chores aside
and held my grandchildren tight.
I sang to them sweet lullabies
and rocked into the night.

Sometimes we take for granted
all those things that seem so small.
Like one of God's great treasures.....
a small handprint on the wall."

When this thought crosses my mind, I want nothing more than to sit with my children and read them story after story, build castles and towers, play dress-up and make-believe, and spend every waking moment with them. But then I return to reality and remember that dinner will not magically appear on the table and that, if I let my house get too bad, the state of Utah will come remove my children from me.

So, to my previous question...TV or No TV? This past week, I must admit, I have caved. I let Kai and Kea watch 30 minutes of Barney Monday, 30 minutes of Superwhy Wednesday, and 30 minutes of Little Einsteins today. Will this ruin them? I can't say. But I do know that the laundry is folded, the dishes are done, and the floors are clean (at least for know). And, as my kids will tell you, CLEAN HOUSE = HAPPY MOMMY.

I'd love to hear your opinions/ideas/what has worked for you...