Catching Up

So, I am way behind on recording on the projects I have done lately. Last week I:

Got the house ready to have the carpets cleaned (I love this! There's nothing like clean carpets - especially with 3 kids running around making messes)
Cleaned out and organized the linen closet
Went through all of the kid's books and organized them
Went through more kids clothes
cleaned out the car - now I just need to vacuum it before it gets messy again
and
My husband worked on all of the electronic stuff and his papers in the office

All in all, not a bad week.

Control

Ok, so yesterday I had one of those moments where you realize why the house organization has become such a problem. One of my issues is that I just can't let go and let someone else help with the organizing. I am the type of person that likes for the organizing to be done "right" more than quickly. My husband is more of a "quick" organizer. Mostly his organization consists of throwing things away without thinking too much about them. I, on the other hand, have to think every single thing through. If there is an item that I'm not sure what it belongs to, I set it aside and think about it until I can figure it out. My husband will just toss it in the garbage if it is not immediately evident as to where it belongs. This drives me crazy because then you end up with items with pieces missing. His solution to that - throw it away.

So, I find myself going through the garbage after every time he "cleans up" around the house. I know I should not do that, but I can't take that he doesn't think about things. Yesterday I peeked in the garbage while he was cleaning and found an entire sewing project that I was in the middle of working on in the trash. It just happened to be in a plastic Target bag, so he assumed it wasn't worth keeping. I was really grateful that I rescued my hard work from being thrown away, but this did not help my control issue with the home organization. It just confirmed that I need to make sure he is not throwing important things away. And it fueled my need to do it all myself, the way I want to do it. I feel this constant panic to get through everything quickly myself so he won't want to suddenly "help" me with it.

I gotta get through the house quick. So I don't have to feel like such a control freak.

The paper mountain

I worked on the paper mountain today. Went through all of the school papers that come home each day. They had worked themselves in to quite the pile.

I also gave a huge bag of clothes to my sister in law for her son to use now that my son has grown out of them. I like giving things to people that I know. Somehow that makes getting rid of things easier for me.

Good day.

Yesterday

I forgot to post yesterday, but I kept with my cleaning plan and I was able to go through a bunch of clothes to give away. I also dropped off 2 bags and a box of previously gathered clothes, shoes and books to donate. It felt good once I drove away, but I still had that paniky feeling as I was unloading them, wondering if there was something in there that I might be able to use and might want at some point. Hopefully this will get easier with practice.

I'm still working

Ok, so it's been a few days since I have posted, but I have still been working on some things. I have been tackling the never ending stacks of paper that seem to accumulate around the house, and doing some deep cleaning projects. I'm making progress.

Yesterday, since it was Sunday, I wrote in journals.

I'm also really committed to sticking strictly to my cleaning schedule this week. I'm hoping I can have a perfect week on that.

Back in the Groove

Today the kids and I went through all of the toys in the toy room and put together a big box of toys to donate. I think the toys are down to a manageable size now.

I also started cleaning and organizing the office closet today. I think that project will take a few days, and it will require help from my husband, but I'm excited to get the office to a point that I'm happy about.

Heading in the right direction!

Yesterday's fun

Oops I forgot to post what I did yesterday. And I worked hard, so I had to do a post to reward myself. I went through all of the clothes my daughter has grown out of and put them in the appropriate bins to be stored for if we ever have another girl. And I went through my jackets and got rid of ones that I don't use anymore.

Best thing about yesterday - I got my daughter's room to a point where I am really happy with the organization and cleanliness of it. I can't say that about really any other room right now. But I will get there eventually. I'll just keep taking my baby steps, and one day I will find I'm there, right?