In preparation

We have a loft. We're the coolest house on the block. At least to the kids. A loft is pretty cool. Even to me. The best thing is, as our play room, I never really have to see it. Only when a shoe gets lost, or the dresser drawers are starting to look thin. This usually means mounds of clothes have been discarded up there to be replaced with dress up clothes. When toys are scattered across the living room, NO PROBLEM! I just take a few minutes to toss them up the ladder. No looking, just throwing up there. And since there is a loft for all the toys, the bedrooms stay free and clear from all that clutter. Just beds, dressers, and some books.

All summer I was thinking hard about how I would be able to sit at the table long enough with my older girls to make school really happen for them. And not just happen, but me actually enjoying the time with them and teaching them well. Not an easy task with 3 toddlers in the house. Although, I suppose I should quit calling them toddlers, since 2 of them are actually 4 years old now. Still tough, though.

I've already shared my "stations" idea. I decided to also set up the loft into stations - dividing all the toys into certain areas. Like, a dress-up area, a kitchen area (they have a small kitchen with TONS of dishes), a barbie area that houses the barbie house and a huge tub with all their barbies and barbie clothes, and a reading area.

So, one morning, with 5 girls following, I climbed the ladder to do some rearranging. OH. MY. GOODNESS. It looked like a mom hadn't been up there since we moved in. ***insert a shame-filled sigh**** Charity exclaimed, "Your eyes are buggin' out of yo head, momma!". Floor? Does the loft have a floor? Are there ANY tubs or toy chests up here? Where's the shelf with the t.v.? Where's the t.v.? Who colored on the wall? THERE'S THE PINK PLAY DOUGH! YA'LL HAVE WAAAAY TOOOO MANY TOYS!!!!!!

So, together we filled 4 30 gallon bags of JUNK. I'm not talking about just toys the don't play with .... that was another 3 bags. This is just the trashed, broken, junk that was up there. Pitiful, isn't it?

I'm happy to say, the loft is now neat and tidy (minus the coloring on the wall and the carpet stain from play dough), and divided into centers. It works GREAT! They actually spend more time up there now. I guess they can find what they want easier, and have room up there to play. We currently have a "For Sale" sign in our front yard. I hope the next place we call home has a loft.