Goodbye, Christmas :(

Let me start by saying that I woke up this morning knowing it was going to be a "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" kind of day.  If you haven't read this children's book, you must!  Everyone will relate to this cute little mouse who starts a project and is reminded of something.  Therefore, another project begins.  This is my life, EVERYDAY!!!  I know I drive my family crazy but I think most moms have this problem as well! If you don't, you're missing out :)

Today was the day I've been dreading for a week. . .taking down our Christmas trees!  I was able to dismantle all decorations last Sunday (which turned in to an episode of Hoarders in my basement and Scott asking why I always start projects when football is on :).  But I just couldn't bare to take down the trees yet.  All week I've kept both trees lit day and night to savor the season a few more days.  With Scott gone all this week and my surgery scheduled for next Monday (I can't lift or bend over for 3-4 weeks!) I knew today was the day.  After waking at 7 and enjoying a hot cup of coffee by myself, I started to take down the ornaments on our main family room tree. . . 

Before. . .

After. . .notice Ellie wearing her orange and black for the big game today!

I got smart this year and purchased separate bins for each of my kids ornaments.  Each year, the kids receive an ornament from Scott and I, Nana and Pop Pop, and one of their cousins.  Sometimes they will get another ornament from a friend or family member. In Brady's 3 years of life, he has 14 ornaments to his name.  Kelsey probably has around 25 and Ellie is close to 35.  The first few years, I labeled both the girls ornaments so we would know who's ornament is who's (even though Ellie has an unbelievable memory and can remember everyone's ornaments and when they received them!)  The kids love to look at the ornaments each year as they're hanging them on the tree so to see them all in their own labeled bin made us all happy :)  

I think they will be set for their first Christmas tree someday!

After the family room tree was dismantled, I tackled the foyer tree.  This tree I tackle myself. . .too many cooks in the kitchen!  Honestly, it was super easy to take them down because of my hoarders project last weekend.

This is the unfinished part of the basement.  A week ago, you couldn't see the floor.  Am I bragging?  You betcha!  5 hours last Sunday purging, re-organizing, and saying, "Didn't we get this as a wedding gift?!"  It was bad.  5 1/2 years of bad!

This is my seasonal wall.  Let's just say I have a ton of Christmas stuff!!

This is the "I might use in another house" wall. . .not sure what house I'm thinking of but basically, this is the stuff I can't part with. . .

Overall, it was so worth it!  

What else did we do today?

Washed the covers on the couch.
Another "give a mouse a cookie" moment.  Brady peed through his diaper this morning right on to the couch cushion.  The great thing about my cushions is they're washable!  The bad thing?  There are a ton!  So, I decided to just wash them all today instead of a few at a time in spurts.  Talk about an undertaking.

Scott tackled the lights today.  Enough said :)

Brady stole my cup at lunch and drank the rest of my lemonade.  I told the kids no sharing cups right now since flu season is in full swing so I had to get a new one!

Ellie worked on her scrapbook she got for Christmas.

She also looked up cupcake recipes in her cupcake cookbook.  I introduced her to the cupcake section on Pinterest as well. . .she pinned a few :)

Overall, we had a great day of organizing.  Tomorrow?  Church and Bob Evans.  Maybe Bed Bath and Beyond and Home Depot :)  

Tonight we have dinner plans with our friends Amy and Justin.  Can't wait to go out with SC and have a nice meal that doesn't include mac n' cheese or noodles!

XOXO

-K