Day 10

Today was deemed a cleaning day. We rearranged the furniture in the playroom, picked up clutter from around the house, Alyssa did the vacuuming, and I scrubbed the bathroom. After lunch all 3 boys took a long nap, and Alyssa sat up a "birthday party" on their train table using stuff from the kitchen. When the boys woke up they pretended to eat cake at the party. Alan got called in to work right before supper at the job he applied for Wednesday. They were short handed so even though they hadn't even told him he was hired yet, they called and asked him to come in. The kids were going crazy and being loud after I had asked them to settle down about 5 times, so they were put to bed 30 minutes early. I don't know what to do with myself with Alan gone and all the kids asleep! Looks like it's time to cut out more raindrops for Alyssa's party...

Day 9

Yesterday we went to bed earlier than usual so I forgot all about writing about our day. I spent a lot of my morning selling diapers online, so the kids did a lot of running through the house screaming and playing, and Alyssa also sat on the couch reading to Alton for quite a while. After lunch I had a few errands to run (which turned in to a lesson on cloth with the mail lady), and I left the kids home with Alan. They spent their time pretending it was raining in the hallway with the umbrellas I bought for Alyssa's rainbow party coming up in August. When I got home we finally played that game of Candyland I promised days ago! We also played another of my old childhood favorites, Cooties. It was the first time they had played Cooties, and we had a lot of fun. Laikon spent the entire time nursing, so I got tired of sitting in the floor pretty quick. We had pork chops, squash, mashed potatoes, and rolls for supper. Then we read some more of our library books and got the kids ready for bed.

Day 8

Today was good. We slept late, had breakfast, and then I started on diaper laundry, dishes, etc. Alyssa came up with a game all her own this morning. She had two gingerbread men earrings, a bobby pin, and a pair of my hoop earrings. She made the gingerbread men race across the bobby pin finish line and jump through the hoops. She did this for quite some time. :) We had lots of fruit for lunch along with pb and honey sandwiches then headed to the park for a play date. We spent almost 3 hours there. The kids played on the playground and then spent a long time in the sand box. We then went down to Fort Payne for Alan to put in another job application, and then came back home for supper. Steak and potatoes! After that it was bath and story time, and now the kids are in bed. Alan and I have a movie to watch tonight (Cloud Atlas) because I got a free code in my email this morning. (By the way, we watched The Call last night and really enjoyed it!!)

Side note: Our Baltic amber necklaces came in this morning. I have been wanting them for months and finally found some for a price I could afford. Each of the kids got one and so did I. I am curious to see if they help the boys with their eczema, Laikon with his teething, and me with headaches.

Day 7: 1 week

So today it has been one week since we did away with all the toys. I will admit that a few times it has been difficult. Once was when Alton came to me and said he wanted to be a cowboy but he didn't have a hat. It made me so sad because he is always either a cowboy or a black knight. I told him he'd just have to use his imagination and pretend he had one, and that's exactly what he did! Other times were difficult when I needed a few minutes to get something done or to take care of Laikon, and I would tell them to go play. Then they, mostly Alyssa, would argue that there was nothing to do because they don't have any toys. But that is the point of all this. I want them to learn to play together and use their imaginations. So many kids in the world don't have the privileges they do, and they need to appreciate things more. I hope that by having a "toy detox" so to speak, then only giving them back the ones they care most about will teach them to take care of what they have. Also hopefully they can better understand the kids I'm always bringing up that don't have all that they do. I've talked to Alyssa several times here lately about being thankful that she is healthy, and we have clothes to wear and food to eat, and we can take bath whenever we want. She complains all the time about standing to have her hair fixed, and I always remind her that she should be happy to have such beautiful hair, and also to have healthy legs and feet for standing, and a mama who cares enough to help her with her hair. It never takes more than 5 minutes anyway. So maybe if I stay strong it will pay off in the end. It will be interesting to see how they are after about a week of having their toys back....

Today we needed groceries, so we went together as a family. When we came home the kids helped me put everything away and then colored some pictures while I finished up. I took the kids to the library before supper. The boys were so excited to have their picture taken with a "black knight"! We chose 10 new books and asked about the old Ramona movies for Alyssa because we have read through about half the series. They only have the new one, so if anyone out there knows where I can find the originals please let me know! We had burgers for supper and the brownies we picked out from the bakery for dessert. Then we finished off the night reading some of our library books. Tomorrow is park day!

Day 6

Today was so busy we didn't get anything done that I said we would. Alan got his hair cut this morning, and I did a lot of vacuuming. Then Alyssa had gymnastics this afternoon, and Alan is gone for the night doing a sleep study. The boys' diapers were in the wash being stripped all day after their Nonna used diaper cream without knowing not to, but I think I saved them. :) Since all their diapers were in the washer, we went ahead and started them in undies again. They didn't have but maybe one accident each. They were doing great before Laikon came, but then once he was born I just kept forgetting to remind them, and we had to go back to diapers. Fingers crossed that this time it sticks! I am so over having 3 in diapers. I had Alyssa in diapers for 2 years, and then both boys and Alyssa in diapers for another year, then the boys for a year and a half, and now both boys and Laikon. So I've been continuously changing diapers for almost 5 straight years and 3 at a time sometimes too! Wow! I won't miss changing them, but I will miss shopping for diapers. lol Anyway with everything going on the kids ran around doing a lot of nothing...chasing the vacuum cleaner, using the tv remotes as swords, watching Nick Jr., and begging for the game of Candyland I failed at playing. Oops! Tomorrow!! I didn't even get any pictures from today, so I will leave you with one of my new favorites of the boys.

Day 5

Sundays are our "do nothing" days. The kids came home from their Nonna's about 9:30 this morning, and Alan, Laikon, and I were just getting out of bed. The kids played in Alyssa's room a lot of the day, and because we had all had a late, busy night each kid and myself napped at some point during the day...on the couch, in Alyssa's bed, in the middle of the playroom floor. I'd like to say we did something interesting or productive, but we did not. We had pie for dessert tonight and the kids tried to put together a puzzle on their now blank train table. Tomorrow I will help them with it, and I've promised a game of Candyland and maybe some Memory and Chutes and Ladders. Alton has asked if we can feed the ducks at the lake soon, and Alyssa has been requesting the library. Landon, the little fish, is worried about when our next trip to the pool will be. So we have lots of fun planned for this week, but we also plan to spend a little more time at home working on cleaning up the house. We will be doing "family work" from now on. Everyone will be expected to help in every room. It doesn't matter who made the mess or who worked the hardest, it's about working together as a family to take care of each other.

Day 4

Today we had a yard sale to clear out a lot of old clothes, toys, and books. The kids came outside with me while I set everything up and then rode there bikes around the drive way while we waited. We only made about $30, which is not much considering we normally make about $100+ at our yearly yard sale. When we were finished I loaded it all up and took it to Better Way to donate. The kids hung out in the playroom resting and watching tv. Alyssa helped Alan make tortilla pizzas, then my mom came to get them for the night. I talked to mom a while ago, and she said they have made mud pies, played in the creek, went for a walk, and are having dessert before dinner. :) I know they are having fun! Laikon has been asleep since around 7, and we are spending some time with friends.

Our kids haven't asked for their toys back once, but they have been spending a lot more time using their imaginations, which I love. They have been pretending to camp out the last few days. They wear hats and pretend to sit around a fire and roast marshmallows, then they sleep in the closet and call it their tent. I LOVE seeing what they come up with! They've also been getting along better, which makes my days much easier.

Day 3

We left right after breakfast this morning. Had lunch at Applebee's with Alan's mom, brother, and step-dad. The kids and I headed back to their house, while Alan and his mom went shoe shopping. The kids did actually play with a few toys today at their house, but it was all outside toys like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water guns, and their Power Wheels. We were there until about supper time. We did a quick supper at home (hot dogs and cereal), since everyone had eaten a big lunch. The kids watched a little tv, and I worked on some decorations for Alyssa's birthday party. The kids went to bed early tonight. So far there has still been far less whining, and none of them have been in trouble other than Alyssa being a little sassy today, which is pretty normal 4 year old behavior. We haven't missed the toys a bit.

Last night the kids asked to sleep together. The boys floor is big and open without toys cluttering it, so they made a pallet there.

Day 2

We slept late today. When we got up we ate breakfast and headed straight to the pool. We had burgers for lunch there, and then came home after lunch. The kids were pretty worn out so we let them chill on the couch watching tv until supper time. They played outside while we got the food ready. Now it's bath time and we'll be going to bed soon. Today was easy to get through because we all love to swim!

Tomorrow morning we will be on our way to Alan's mom's for some lunch and shopping!

Day 1

Today was the first full day with no toys. I wasn't sure how today would go because yesterday evening when we said "bye bye toys" and closed the attic door Alyssa cried. And before bed last night Landon was standing under the attic door reaching as high as he could and asking for his toys back pleeeease! All evening Alyssa sulked and let us know that there wasn't going to be anything to do.

This morning we got up and had breakfast, and then the kids watched tv while I took a shower. We then took them to meet up with friends at the park for about an hour or so. (I forgot my camera at home). When we came home it was lunch time. After lunch the kids spent some time in Alyssa's room dancing on the stage (her bed) to music.

After that the kids and I painted magnets together. These magnets have been hanging out in our junk drawer waiting to be painted for over a year!! We'd just never taken the time to do it, even though Alyssa was always asking me to. 

Then we decided to stay at the table a while longer and color with markers. I don't let them have markers on their own so they kind of see this as special. 

After coloring the kids played "race car" with the ottoman, and they all took turns pushing each other around the room.

We then played our version of Simon Says. We don't use the "Simon" part. We just tell them all sorts of things to do like pretend to be a chicken, spin in circles, or jump up and down, and no one gets put out for not doing it correctly. It's good exercise for them inside the house. Sam came over for a while. We got supper ready, and the kids helped set the table and played on the patio, while Alan grilled the meat.

They've now had their baths and a cookie and are watching a little Nick Jr. before we start brushing their teeth and reading bedtime stories at about 7:30. I'd say our first toy free day was a success. The kids did ask for their toys a couple of times, but they didn't care much when we didn't give in. And I've actually saw them play with the stuffed animals they kept out to sleep with! Those things are normally just thrown in the floor and walked on. There has been WAY less fighting and whining today. They have played well together, and no one has been in trouble for talking back or saying "no". It is evening, and I am not totally exhausted! Tomorrow we have plans to go swimming, and do some much needed vacuuming now that there are no toys in the way.

At this point I want to tell everyone to throw their toys out because it is great! We'll see if I feel that way in a few weeks. ;)

Poor Laikon was actually a part of our day in case you were wondering. lol