Photo Dump (and apparently also a brain dump)

First up, a to-do list for organizing.  Most of these are smaller jobs than the closets so I may be able to tackle them in the evenings or other moments I grab, rather than it taking pretty much the whole day!  {Although all projects where I have “helpers” take longer than they need to.  Wouldn’t trade ‘em though!}

• Front hall closet: I’m going to do a quick pull out and organize of this space, but it needs some actual work before I pay it too much attention.  During our big hurricane a few years back, it got lots of water damage that was NOT covered by insurance, so it’s pretty icky in there.  The leak is fixed, so it hasn’t gotten worse, and it got all dried out at the time.  But it needs new drywall and shelving.  These things are outside my current skill set.  :)
• James’ sock drawer: random, I know, but there are a ton of tiny socks in there.
• Under the crib: It’s not too bad under there, but it could use a little attention.  Usually I store extra disposable diapers and wipes and linens for the kids’ beds there. 
• Laundry room: this room is our laundry/pantry/utility room, but the spot that needs the work are the shelves above the dryer.  There is some seriously underutilized space that needs clearing out!
• Dresser in the living room: a lot of it’s contents moved to my craft closet; the rest needs to be evaluated.
• File cabinet: I have a file box and I need to move all of our files that need referencing to it (and then probably put it in the laundry room).  The files that are not really files, just paper storage need to be gone through and reassigned.
• Kitchen cabinets and drawers: I do a reasonably decent job of keeping up in this space, but I have noticed my drawers could use a little love (and maybe some pretty shelf liners?!)  The under-sink cabinet is also gross and scary and needs some serious help.
• Bathroom cabinets: under sink storage is sad looking around here.  :)

And so far, what I’ve accomplished in the last week or so:

• Master walk-in closet
• Small master closet
• Under the master bed
• Girls’ closet
• James’ closet
• Junk drawer
• Pantry

It feels SO GOOD to be clearing things out.  It’s so much easier to clean up less stuff!

I haven’t taken a ton of pictures lately (except for all the closets!), but I have some cute shots that need blogging!

This was the day after Christmas, but I had forgotten these pivs were on the little camera.

We treated ourselves to lunch out at McDonalds, and it was so lovely!

James climbed into Laura’s car seat and was just so happy rocking and singing until I made him get out.  :)

One day we stayed in jammies all day but ran to my mom’s for some reason.  James wanted to wear shoes and I didn’t want to change his clothes, so I put boots over his footies.  It was a good look.  :)

Last week we played at Lisa’s one day.

James stole my cup.  He’s loving drinking out of “real” cups these days.

All the kids had candy canes after lunch.  My children inhaled them.

So cute!

Before I took down decorations this weekend I wanted to take pictures of my nativities.  I love my Jim Shore nativity that my grandma gave me.  As I was putting them away, I peeked at the bottom of the pieces and they all say “Let every heart prepare him room.”  That’s what we printed on our Christmas card this year, but I swear I had no idea!

I also love love this stained glass one that was my parents’ when I was little.  It’s a little worn, but it just makes me so so happy to put it out every year.

On Saturday my mom brought the girls to see Monsters, Inc on the big screen!  It was Joanna’s first 3D movie, and I think Natalie’s first movie in the theatre!  Natalie had been a super-grump that day, but my mom swears she was a doll at the movie.  She switched back to super-grump the second she got in our driveway though. :)

Tell me, if you squint a little, don’t they look 14 and 16?

Sunday morning I snuck a shot of Matt snuggling his girls during church.

I put Natalie in one of her Christmas dresses (and probably will a few more times!).  It was hot every single Sunday in Advent, and she has so many pretty things to wear!

We stopped at the library yesterday morning after dropping Joanna off at school.  The Christmas Tree graveyard out front was just so sad!

But of course I had to take a picture.