Just where have I been???

Oh, here, there and just on the verge of insanity...that's where I've been. Many good things have gone on for us the in the last month but many hardships have arrived as well. We won't dwell on either because I am here today to write about today. And obviously, we have survived every up and down and even wear smiles with our bruises ;)
So, the kids are at the river with their Poppa and I am here thinking it's time to get order back in our house. I have discovered in the last month that yes, that careful planning and organization I had found in the summer truly is how to keep yourself on track. Life is pure crazy without it.
I lost track of everything when I dropped my routine declutter and meal planning. Today, I begin getting us back in shape. I thought I'd tackle something easy first so that today would be accomplished and get the ball rolling for everything else. Well, laundry and sorting out all the old clothes was my choice. It sounds easy enough, right? And then I would have the afternoon to do our bank statement and bills. It started out easy alright...strip the bedding and bring in clean laundry. Go into kids rooms...scream and run out!!! I have only tackled Shane's dresser and have a box of old summer stuff and a BIG ziploc storage bag of outgrown winter...where did this come from??? Really just 6 months ago, I was so proud of our clean out. How did this happen?
Ick! So, onto toys...no chance. I think I'll let him go through those as he is the one who plays with them. The clothes he won't mind that I have sorted for him.
E's room is the typical teen room. So I've been treading lightly in there. Mostly picking up what I believe to be dirty to wash and after all is washed, I'll have her sort.
My plan is to really get a hold of this before Friday since we are hosting our family's Christmas Brunch and gift exchange. I'd love for the place to be all magazine photo shoot ready but I'll tone down my standards and just hope to have removed the bags of unwanted before guests arrive.
Then of course, it's back to keeping up with it as I see now that in just a few weeks time it feel right back into a huge amount of clutter.
I may need to go back to the library for that book "It's All Too Much"!