Prom 2013

Jacob on the way to the prom 2013

Minimalism and Shoes of a family of 6

We have tried to get our shoes to a manageable level in our house.  The kids feet grow like weeds so they often get new pairs of shoes out of necessity.  I try and quickly donate or toss the old shoes that don't fit anyone.  If it is something that can be passed down to the next kiddo then I do save them.  I have extremely whittled down my shoes.  Now I will tell you that I do wish I had one more pair of every day shoes without heels.  I didn't own them before so it isn't like I chucked a perfectly good pair and now I regret doing so.  I am on the look out for something that goes with jeans and with khakis that are more practical.  Oh well...they will show up sometime somewhere for the right price.  Patience....  

Most of the kids shoes.  I think there might be a few more pairs lingering in rooms, but these are most of them.  

My shoes.  The hot pink boots are a recent purchase.  $7.00. The brown and black heels that match I got at goodwill brand new probably 3 to 4 years ago for 1.00 a pair.  One set of sneakers from my mom that I am saving for when the other pair wears out.  

Oh yeah and the pair I am wearing.

Moving toward Minimalism

I have been inspired by reading minimalist blogs lately.  Especially Lorilee Lippincott with her blog www.lovingsimpleliving.com.  I love that she shows us a minimal life and it isn't ultra modern decor.  Jump on over to her blog to see the inside of her place.  Link on the sidebar ------->

Anyway...remember all that cleaning my mom and I accomplished?  Well we really did haul out tons.  I wanted to post some pictures of the living room.  I don't know about the chair and footstool.  I want it gone I think.  Steve says we should keep it...I at least want it slipcovered maybe...but then I think fussing with a slipcover every day is not my idea of fun.  Anyway, I think I am sick of that chair.  Got it at the good will so it isn't like we spent a fortune for it.  Oh well....

Here is the pictures of the living room.

After living with it for a few weeks it doesn't look minimalist anymore.  Hmmm...I know I could get rid of a few more things.  LIKE THAT CHAIR!  :)

What I've been up to...

I have been so busy this year with schooling the kids at OHVA.  It has taken oodles of time and energy.  I have been also busy cleaning house!  By that I mean that I am simplifying, minimizing, and generally getting rid of STUFF!

When my mom was in town we were going great guns.  I think we made 15 trips to the goodwill, with a full car load.  Here is some of the things we accomplished.

1. Went through all the clothes in the house.  Each kid tried on and kept 10 shirts and 5 pants.  Some of them ended up not having 5 pair that fit them.  Steve and I went through our closets and organized and got rid of tons. (well that was me...Steve hardly has any stuff)

2. We cleaned out and hauled out the linen closet.  We got rid of torn pillowcases, ripped blankets, and thread bare sheets.

3. Cleaned out the kitchen cupboards.  Mom couldn't stand my series of mismatched dishes gathered from the goodwill a bit at a time.  She especially disliked all the chipped and cracked plates.  So we chucked the bad ones, donated the "good" ones and she was so generous to by us new for Christmas.   We also reorganized things and labeled the inside of cabinets (just to drive Steve nutso :) )  We put things that never get used in a holding area...we will see if they ever get used. I doubt it.  Also we cleaned the pantry and got rid of the expired stuff.

4. We went through the dreaded coat closet with a fine tooth comb.  We boxed things we weren't currently using but may someday use.  I have in the past just left them in there since there was room but the kids would just paw through it all and make a huge mess.

5. We bleached all the boys white "church" shirts.  Some still didn't make it, but they look better.

6.We went from room to room and got rid of things that make things feel cluttered.

7. We painted Maggie's room, moved Doug's room and finished Curt's room.  We also finished and decorated the master bed room.

This house is going minimalist.  I have been reading lots of blogs about living a minimalist lifestyle.  The house feels better, I feel like I can breathe.  Laundry is in the manageable zone.  There is certainly more I can get rid of.  Maggie is helping me clean out the junk dresser.  On the list to tackle...the hall closet, bathroom closet and classroom.

I will take pictures soon.

Curt's 9th Birthday!

Curtis Turned 9!

He picked ice cream sundaes for his birthday!

Yummy!!!!  Wonder what he wished for???

Cleveland Zoo Field Trip

Elephants are huge!  

 We had a great time at the Cleveland Zoo on Monday.  It was an all day field trip.  Our feet were tired but we saw sooo much more that these pictures.  We bought a family pass so we can go back again and again.  We could easily spend days in the zoo.  We saw things rather quickly to "see everything" Next time we might concentrate on a few exhibits and do reports.  Learn a bit more in depth about some of the animals.  It was tons of fun!

Kangaroo Area 

Koala Bear.  So Cute!

Fish

Jelly Fish.  So fun to watch.

Coral Reef.

Looking at the animals.

Maggie and the turtle.

Maggie and Doug in the background.

Jacob and Curt in background.

Camel.  Look at his back legs.  The kids said  he was doing yoga.

Eagle.  Very impressive animal.

Cool Giraffes!

Baby Giraffe!

Rhino Momma!  Don't mess with her!

Snake!  

Field Trip to the Great Lakes Science Museum

Maggie

 Here we are on our family field trip.  We had a great time visiting the science museum.  The kids enjoyed  climbing through this huge hallowed out log.  We learned about different kinds of animals and how they live and what they eat.  It was fun.  We even got to see a vulture eat the insides out of a rat.  That was YUCKY!  Other than that scarring experience the kids had fun too.

Curt peaking through the hole.

Maggie

Big enough for 15 year old Jacob to get through.

What Steve would look like as an astronaut.

Maggie in Space!

Really cool exhibits!

Deciding Toad or Frog...tied in with our Science lesson the day before!

Curt's new room redo

We are moving kids around again.  Will I ever get it right?  Anyway...with age comes the wanting your own room.  Well I figured out how to make everyone happy..  That's what I am here for Happiness and Harmony. :)  

Painting over the gray.  Right here in this picture is almost everything you need to know about my first and last child.  Jacob picked gray when it was his room.  Curt's pick...I like to call it ELECTRIC GREEN!

Moved in.  

Look Space!  We Hauled out all the broken toys, things no longer wanted and general junk!

Book overhaul.  Going to give the "baby" books to someone younger.

Having a good time hanging out.


Well I will see how tonight goes.  I think Curtis is a bit unsure about having his own room.  He has always been with his brothers, or at least one brother.  Sometimes they all decide to sleep in the same room.  So I don't know how this will go.  I am sure it will be fine.  I think he just enjoys staying up and chatting.

Barn Boards

Work Crew Painting Boards for new barn doors.

Progress.

Jacob hard at work.

About ten minutes after we were done with the last  board, the sky opened up and it RAINED!!!!    Boards survived and paint is still on them.  The wind blew most of them over and Doug rescued them after the rain storm.  

Our Classroom

Here is some pictures from our home school classroom.  Also some pictures of how schooling creeps into the rest of the house.

Jacob hard at work. (Hopefully)

Homeschooling does escape into the rest of the house.

Computer area.

White board. Love Love love having this!

The kids are saving up for fish and/or a hermit crab.

Doug in the reading chair.  

Where I keep all the "stuff"

Maggie working hard.

Curt is home too.  

Another view of computers.


We are on day 3.  So far so good.  One day at a time...one day at a time....