Insane in the Mundane

Today I sent Doug off with the boys so I could get some things done. We've been in our house for a year and in that year I still don't feel remotely organized and with that lack of organization comes a total mess of a house, which is finally really bugging me. I could blame it on the fact that i was on bedrest the first month we were here, and then i had Keegen and then it takes me a minimum of six-months to feel functional, and then i got lazy. But let's not make excuses. Enough is enough. So off Doug went with the boys to the zoo. And i stayed behind to tackle some problem areas.

Now that all is said and done today, i don't feel like i got much done. If you came to my house right now, you'd see the state it is in, look at me and ask, "What did you do all day?" (Bon-bons and Lost re-runs, anyone?). But what I did accomplish has made a big difference in my mental state!

I started in the den as i had piles of "stuff" all over the place. Things were bad enough that i would put bills in there and then forget about them. I'm always really good about paying bills on-time, but some have slipped through lately. I still really need a small bookcase or two, one flanking each side of the desk maybe? But i managed to get through all the papers; etc. and find a place for things and make organized piles of things that will have to go on the imaginary bookshelves for now...(i.e. nursing journals and church calling manuals).

Then to the master bedroom--total pig-sty. We got new furniture which is great but the new bureau is smaller than the old armoire that Bode inherited, so i had piles of socks and t-shirts sitting on the dresser and a chair. Which meant i had to seriously clean out the master closet that is a dumping ground (I mean, who sees it but me and Doug?). So i went through and tossed (into a Goodwill bag) lots of clothes that should have been tossed long ago (why must i hang on when i don't wear things?). I made a pile of too-big clothes (finally clearing out the postpartum clothes) and rediscovered the floor and organized my shoes (which i also struggle to part with as it can be so hard to find them in my size...alas...). Anyway, got that cleaned out and up and organized and found new homes for socks and underwear and PJs and frequently worn jeans in the bureau. Prettied the top of the bureau up with family photos and a Russian mastroska doll (don't know how to spell that either). Ah, much better.

The master bath and remainder of the house still looks like a bomb hit it, but i had to start somewhere, right?? It was wonderful to have everyone out of the house so i could get some things done. I feel like i should have worked more quickly, but, hey, whatever.



Doug and the boys had a blast. Walked and walked and saw all the aminals (Bode exclaimed, "those are my FAVORITES!" to each animal he saw). They rode the carousel (Keegen's first time), had a picnic on a rock outside the giraffe house, saw the baby gorilla and orangutan and all sorts of other fun things. They got caught in the rain and hail (gotta love springtime in the Rockies). Thank goodness Doug is a good sport. When Bode walked in the house when they got home, he looked like a complete zombie. I picked him up and sat in a chair with him where he immediately fell asleep. Snoring asleep. He never does that. I had to get up and get Keegen a little later (he was asleep in the car) and Bode didn't wake up when i transferred him to our bed. Worn out.

It feels good to make some progress on the house and clear out the physical and mental clutter that slows me down. Hopefully I can keep working at it little by little as i maintain what I've already accomplished!