I have been sorting, tossing, labeling and basically trying to do a complete overhaul of my family’s belongings.

Today I started to tackle the kids’ toys, with the ever-helpful assistance from a friend with special home-making skills, of course. Yikes!

Yikes! That is the only word I can think of to express how I feel about the enormity of the task and the amount of possessions.

I am feeling the urge for the simple life…or at least the well labeled life! I feel peace coming soon…..

And to think, there was a time I verbally said, “I don’t think Ryan has enough toys!” – Okay so he was only 3 months old when I said that. Still, 4 1/2 years later….Yikes! (this photo only shows what had been in storage in the garage – I still have the room, closets and the playroom!)

3 weeks and 2 days ago Neat Pete and I sorted the living room toys with a fine tooth comb. Some toys went to the garage sale others went to the trash can. We split all the remaining toys among four 36 gallon plastic storage bins. Then we sent ‘em packing to the garage without child permission.

Ryan did not notice.

Okay, did you catch that? Yes, for 3 weeks and 2 days our family was missing 144 gallons of toys with no more than one comment. Two days after the original purge Ry inquired about his pirate ship. To his request I said

The ship is not here right now. Use the couch for ship instead.

Pirate Ryan losing his first mate Molly to the depths of the seas. She tipped over as soon as I snapped the photo.

Our goal is to create a rotating Bin-A-Week toy schedule to keep the mystery alive for otherwise ignored toys. Each bin contains a variety of battery toys, books, small manipulatives and theme sets like animals, doctor and music.

Today Ryan fell back in love with Duplos. Molly with her purse.

It is like Christmas. TSP is underway!