Friday Favorite: "Spring" Cleaning

It must be getting to be spring, because suddenly my desire for cleanliness and organization (which all winter has been a vague wish that the house was clean and organized, and that someone else would do it) suddenly became a fixation with NEEDING to clean and organize, and being frustrated when I can't. 

This is what it looked like outside the day I started my "spring" cleaning

The thing is, I actually really enjoy cleaning, organizing and de-junking.  Just not so much with the kids around.  Katherine had the big boys over last week and I was able to get so much done, even with the baby. When they came home quotes like, "trying to clean the house when kids are little is like trying to brush your teeth while eating oreos," and "trying to clean the house while the kids are little is like trying to shovel snow in an avalanch" kept coming to my mind.

I swear, those boys can get into, spread around, dismantle, and generally HELP so much!!

I was able to get their room done, though, including de-junking their toys, rotating clothes, cleaning their mattresses with baking soda and lavender, cleaning out closet and drawers, and behind their bed. Seriously, if I am ever missing something I will look behind/under their bed first thing, because that's probably where it'll be. Their room was the very worst so I feel really good about getting it done.  Too bad they aren't as keen on keeping it clean as I am.

The boys room looked like this in the middle of my cleaning frenzy.  Yikes!

All clean behind the bed.  That took a while!

Baking soda and lavender oil on the matresses.  Thanks pinterest!

 After their room was finished I moved onto my room.  The problem with this room is I've had to do it little by little since Elijah sleeps in there and I can't work while he's sleeping.  I much prefer just getting in and getting it done, but since lately he's become persnickety about where/how/sleepingingeneral  there isn't much I can do about it.  So right now my room is in a semi state of organization.  Hopefully I will get it finished by spring cleaning time next year.


And just to add onto last time's post here's another sleeping picture of Isaac.  He must have needed a nap this day because he fell asleep while watching a show and then continued to sleep through Elijah pulling his hair, my piano lessons and then when I was trying to wake him up so he'd sleep at night he said in his sleepy voice, "Mom...I just want to rest!"