New Year's Day- The Final Defrocking

Today was the first day of 2012. No matter how you say it, even though the correct way is "twenty twelve," it's here. This means new beginnings, and a clean house!! In our house, Christmas decorations go up before Thanksgiving and come down by New Year's Day. This year was no different. Since we had nothing better to do this evening, Koko Bean and I did the final "defrocking" of the house. I bought a big Rubbermaid tub for our tree and we got to work. Koko Bean took each individual ornament off the tree, inspecting it, and saying her final goodbyes until Christmas 2012. She even mentioned the M&M one was her favorite, and I know it was difficult for her to part ways for the next twelve months.

After getting everything boxed up, we took it down to our massive storage room in the basement. I have a feeling that storage room might fill up faster than I thought.

When all the final pieces of tinsle and fake white pine tree needles were all swept and thrown away, I was finally at peace with my house. While I love Christmas and decorating and all the preparing, I really love decluttering. When my house is decluttered, my mind is free to stress about other things, like wait, I'm a potato chip Koko Bean??? Yes, Koko Bean threw two potato chips in a toy car, called it Mom and Dad and drove them around the living room. The pictures were taken before I swept the floor mind you.

Koko Bean later left "us" unattended and Chloe swooped in and had a little snack.

Ah yes, it's never ending. Tonight, Koko Bean also informed me that I was not nice. Why? Because I'm such a mean mommy, I won't let her go head first down the stairs!! That's why!! Ridiculousness ensues everyday in this kid's mind. She comes up with new things by the seat of her pants. Sometimes, it's quite embarassing. Like today, she pointed and yelled out about a very large man riding a mart cart at Wal-Mart, saying, "Mommy, look! He's bigger than everybody! LOOK!! No Mom, turn around. He's right there." I had to flee the situation immediately and tell her we don't point at people and we definitely don't talk about other people like that.

She's five days short of turning three, going on sixteen already. The backtalking has already started. When I say, "Koko Bean, we don't jump on the couch." She says, "Yes, we do Mommy. It's fine." Then I have to be the super bad guy and make her sit in her room. She will learn eventually...I hope. I'm just glad we're past the terrible two's. Now, onto to the terrific three's, right Moms and Dads with three-year-olds? Right?? Right?? Someone please answer me!!!

Happy New Year!