Stuff Portrait Friday: Kid's room, Collections, and Computer desks

Let me first warn you that Audrey is a typical American child with far too many toys. Her dad and I claim only partial responsibility for this. Even in her first couple of years, before we realized we were giving her too much for Christmas and birthdays, my mom still gave her more than we did.

That said, we're doing a bit better. She's been taking more responsibility to clean her room herself, but you will see the ramifications of that in some of these pictures. I have been decluttering in her room a bit, but the real work won't begin until after she starts school in the fall (meaning, when I can toss stuff without her noticing or missing it).

So. She insisted on posing in each of these pictures. Here's the damage:



Note that a large swath of carpet IS visible, and the bed is made (though sloppily, she made it herself).



This is the corner by the foot of her bed. This is where she shoves all the toys that are scattered on the floor when she is ordered to clean up her room. Notice the proximity of the toy box. Consider how much more effort (little) would be necessary to actually put the toys IN. THE. TOY. BOX.



This is the shelf by the head of her bed. This is where play sets are stored (like Loving Family, Little People, Weebles, etc.), and also where her crayons, markers, drawing pads, and coloring books go. I really need to ditch the coloring books, but I am loathe to throw away anything she has drawn all by herself. There must be five or six completely filled drawing pads in there. I must steel myself to pitch most of them.



This is her closet, which I try to keep in order as best I can. I have not yet figured out how to deal with shoes, of which she has already amassed a collection that rivals my own. The closet is not big enough for a shoe shelf. Maybe when we move in the next year or so... Also notice the pink sweater thrown ON TOP of the hanging bar. She is capable of putting things on hangers; I have witnessed as much. However, the reason for her lack of discipline will soon be made clear...

(Aislinn does not have her own room yet. She sleeps in our room, as Audrey did the first 2 1/2 years of her life. When we get a bigger house, they will share a room until Audrey gets big enough to want her own room!)

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First, consider my video collection. This is not all of it. Videos are stacked two deep on these two shelves. There are also some videos in the living room, about fifty. Maybe a third of those in the living room are Audrey's. The rest in there, and all pictured here, are mine. Leo owns virtually no videos. Most of these were bought in the years between my return from China and when Audrey was born, a period of about six years. I now have far less time to watch videos, so I buy fewer.

Are you starting to see why Audrey has a problem with clutter? Let's continue...



This is our computer desk. I share it with Leo, as I share the computer (or perhaps I should say, fight for control of). We recently upgraded to a nice yet inexpensive Dell, complete with large flat screen monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse. However, these little extras make room for more clutter on the desk. Everyone in the family has something on this desk; for example, one of the coffee mugs is mine, the other (though originally holding green tea) is Leo's. See the little yellow plastic link to the right of my coffee mug? That's Aislinn's. And the little brown box with the purple and orange butterfly on top is Audrey's; she keeps her jewelry in it (she's such a diva). Aislinn's toy is there because she frequently needs distraction from trying to help us type. Audrey's box is there because...I have no idea why.

The desk has looked much better than this; it's on the verge of being cleaned. It probably won't look much worse.

Bonus: if you can tell me who's blog is featured on my computer screen, I'll link to you!

Update: Amy guessed correctly that Kristine's blog was on my computer screen. Congrats, Amy! Now everyone go click on her link and visit her blog!