Ahhh, Sunday morning

Here it is, Sunday morning and I'm enjoying a fresh cup of coffee while listening to one child hum "we wish you a merry christmas" and the other child throwing himself around and crying.  How quiet, how wonderful...wait a second...What's with the tantrum?  He's 4, for goodness sake!  I am trying to get the children to put their toys away so we can decorate for Christmas...So, I am bribing them with TV...pick up toys, watch TV!  It's working for Robyn, but Brendan refuses to pick up any toys.  He has thrown himself on the ground in silent protest, run into his sick father's room to complain, run up and down the hallway screaming, thrown himself on the ground and cried at the top of his lungs...stuck his jaw out and tried to stare me down (good luck with that one)...but he absolutely refuses to pick up the one toy I have asked him to.  One book he needs to pick up and put away and then I will put Dora back on (well, Dora is now over)...He just doesn't get it.  But this is so important that he understand that he doesn't get rewarded for nothing and TV is a reward.  Sigh, my beautiful, quiet Sunday morning...

He now has picked up the book but is creating roadblocks..."Where should I put it"  "On the bookshelf"  "But it's a toy book"  "Then put it in your toy box"  "But my toybox is far away"  "So put it on the bookshelf for now, just put it away"  "But I want to play with Robyn"  "So put away the book and you  can play with Robyn"  "But I want to watch TV"  "So, put the book away and I will put TV on so you can watch TV and play with Robyn"...on an on...Dora episode is over, and finally Brendan puts away the book!  Sigh.  At least he did it...next drama - "I wanted to watch the Dora show with Gold"...."It's over, you took too long"...drama...

But now I am sitting in a living room that is mostly tidy.  I have to put away some of my books, my purses, my photo items!  I'm hoping to start putting up Christmas today!  Less than 1 month to go!  Yay Christmas!

Needing to put away my purses brings me to the next issue, the front hall closet.  It needs shelving, not just the one shelf above the coats, but a series of small shelves to the side of where the coats go - floor to ceiling.  Then I could put my purses there.  Plus, we need a couple of shelves on the floor for boots and shoes.  We have too many shoes for the closet.  Project today - empty the floor of the closet and separate summer shoes from winter and reorganize.  Also, go through the coats.  I will do so after my next coffee...

I am inspired by Brendan finally picking up the 1 book!  What example are we setting with our little messes around the house?  I will tidy the small messes, tidy house, happy mind!  And start on the next game of fitness battleship (for which I need a tidy living room)!  Go Me!