Too Much Stuff!

We borrowed the Robert Munsch favourite "Too Much Stuff" from the library to help the kids understand the process of packing for our upcoming trip.  I've dropped not-so-subtle hints along the way like "Just so you know Xavier, we cannot take your aquarium music box with us to NZ", even though he's fallen asleep to its music every night of his life.  Hey, it's only "Twinkle, Twinkle", I'm sure we can prepare a suitable substitute.   

So, the To-Do list is getting shorter (or at least we are checking things off about as fast as we are putting more things on the list!), the garage sale is done, items taken to Once Upon a Child, donations to The Army Thrift Store are ongoing.  We still have lots of STUFF!  You just don't realize until you start putting it in boxes and totes and bags etc.  Mind you, when shoppers at our garage sale commented on the boys many toy items they were parting with Jackson smartly replied "We don't play with them anymore - we have the Wii"  

 Packing, packing, packing, it actually made me smile to pack away the winter coats, boots and mitts!  My shoes . . . not so much fun!  Filling up the furnace room with "stuff" (19 boxes and counting!) and a cubbie under the back stairs too (12 boxes & counting).  Trying to keep a basic list and labeling the boxes, cause I'll have no idea where to find anything next July!

 All the pictures are off the walls and next will be moving the extra clothing and furniture into the basement.  We are renting the house semi-furnished so some things will just stay where they are!  Dave needs to tackle the garage so it's ready to store his Tiberon and then we have to pack everything (!?!) we need for our 10 months of travel into  . . . 

these 2 suitcases, 2 duffel bags (so they are collapsable when emptied) and 4 carry-ons, including our laptop / ipad tech bag.  Quite the eclectic, colourful combo isn't it??  Praying for a refined spirit of minimalism!  Oh, and if you see me stressing out the motto is "They have stores EVERYWHERE, you can just buy whatever you need"!