#22...Check!

This is major. I'm so excited about this check mark. At this moment (and it won't last long) all three of my kids' rooms and the game room (which is really just an over sized closet) are insanely organized. There's a place for everything and everything is in it's place. I've spent the past several days sorting and cleaning and saying "do you want this?" I got rid of all the unwanted, broken, never played with toys and games. Doll clothes are in the doll trunk, Lego's are in the Lego bin, Thomas the Train is on his train table. All the clothes hanging in their closet actually fit. Beds are made. There are even a few empty bins and baskets that will wait two long months for Santa to come. The unwanted toys that are still in good shape will be saved for our Christmas Eve tradition. Each year we leave some of our toys that we've outgrown underneath the tree for Santa to take and share with other kids. It's a great way for me to convince the little darlings to really weed out the old toys. It's amazing how fast they will hand over those toys if they think they are trading them in for new ones...and I'm hoping they are learning a lesson about helping others.
So Ashley, I'm sorry to rub it in, but this mission has been accomplished. Now I just can't let them back in their rooms.

Happy Birthday To Me!

When I decided to make The List I promise I wasn't trying to hint that everyone should join in on my birthday celebration. I just feel like sometimes I look back at the end of a month, a week or even just a day and wonder where it went and whether we really enjoyed any of it. I didn't want my birthday month to go by without a little bit of joy. So far it has really worked. I've found myself taking the time to do things I probably wouldn't have done and I know that when I look back on this month I will know that my family did some really memorable and fun things. I think I will make this a tradition and encourage The Baker and the kids to make a list too. But I promise, I wasn't trying to say that everyone should celebrate. Still, I've been overwhelmed by all the birthday wishes and the ways that so many of my friends have helped out with The List.
Just the other day The Baker met his mom for lunch and she sent him home with a piece of cheesecake (#1 - check) and some flowers (#21 - check.) My sweet friend Lucy brought by the cutest Tatermash apron and bag as a "birthday month" gift. It was beautifully wrapped (#9 - check.) I opened the pink order container the other day to find another beautifully wrapped gift...Red Velvet Cake Philosophy shampoo dropped off by a sweet customer, Melissa. Melissa and I have never even met face to face. How sweet is she??
You won't believe this one. Remember #19? I decided that since I'm going to be super busy during the Christmas shopping season I would treat myself by having my house cleaned. I had received a really pretty little postcard in the mail from Bliss and I loved that they used green cleaning supplies and I just decided to give them a try. On the day of the cleaning this adorable girl showed up and it turns out that we know a lot of the same people and we go to the same church! Mischa did an amazing job, burned lavender oils as she cleaned and left chocolates on my bed!! I was sold!! Yesterday I checked the mail and noticed a card from her. I opened it up and about died! It was a "Birthday Month" card and she said to cross #3 and #4 off of my list. I was confused (I don't have my list memorized) and then I looked again and found a gift certificate for a manicure AND a pedicure!!! How wonderful is she???? Thank you Mischa!!! That was such a great surprise!!! You're the best!