Everything Has a Home

I'd never had a hard time keeping my house neat, tidy and clean until I had three kids and lived in an unfinished house. Something radically changed in my ability and motivation. Now, I find I am struggling to simply keep on top of the kitchen island, let alone the rest of the house.

My mom came by yesterday to give me a hand. She reminded me to give everything a home. And once it has a home, any time it is out, it is to be put back into its home immediately. I am sure this is the secret to success, and I have known it and not practiced it very well.

Here is what my house looks like ( the downstairs) after my mom came:

 Here is the hutch in our dining/ kitchen area. So much less dumpy.

 Our living room, with specific cubby holes for certain things.

 Our other living area. Clean and neat.

 My desk! The dumping ground for everything in Dave's pockets and anything I don't have a home for.

Here is the office that has become somewhat of a play room.

I am very motivated to keep up with it. The boys even saw some of the work and commented that the house looked beautiful. Matthew and Levi even tried telling Declan off for spilling lego all over the floor. "The house is beautiful Declan. Stop messing it up."

Keeping a house is far from easy but I know that keeping the rule of giving everything a home and always putting things away is the solution.