Simplifying...

Over the past few years, we have been paring down in many ways. This is, in part, because we have moved so much in four years. Also, I have an inherent aversion to clutter and I always have. I struggle in fact with having a home that looks and feels lived in and one that looks clutter-free. Most people that know me well and know our home might find this funny--many times our house looks like a hurricane has blown through it. However, at night, everything finds its way back to a home.

We have so many generous family and friends that give thoughtful gifts to our children. In order to keep the amount of toys manageable, I have started putting toys away when they are not getting played with. When they reappear, it is as if they are new again. Other toys get donated and most of the time they are not missed.

Similarly, I have tried for some time to pare down my kitchen "stuff." Recently, I read about Alice Waters' kitchen in this book. Waters' favorite kitchen tool is her mortar and pestle and her kitchen is microwave-free. We haven't used a microwave for some time, but there are some appliances that I am going to hang onto. I love my hand-held blender, for example.

There are other changes that we have made lately where simplifying was an unintended but welcome result. The addition of a third child is one of them! We have become very home-centered in the past few months. Due to nap schedules, baby's intolerance of the car, and the sheer annoyance of getting three children in the van, we are enjoying more home-related activities--cooking, cleaning, and playing. Our days are far less rushed and the quietness of them is comforting for us all.