Winter Cleaning

The clock just changed to midnight.  It is now Christmas Eve.

We spent the day today (day before Christmas Eve) doing a major winter-cleaning of Ethan and Abigail’s rooms.  We have this “tradition” that the kids rooms have to all be cleaned and really organized or Santa won’t bring them any new presents.   You know, throw out the old, broken, and no longer played with (those get donated).

This year, the rooms were disaster areas, moreso Abby than Ethan.   In all honesty, we had not spent any time really organizing it properly since we moved here this summer.  Abby’s room alone ~ 2 black trash bags full of junk!    Ethan was very proud and did most of his room himself, but he did let Daddy help after a couple of hours.

It was a great feeling getting that accomplished!

We have two more rooms to tackle before “Santa will come” later on today, which include Hannah’s area downstairs.  Ethan and I started going through Hannah’s toy area this evening.

Hannah has had many of the same toys she has had for the past 2 years.   Since her development has not changed much in the past 18 months, many of the toys she has area still at her level.  Those toys that we were being ambitious with many months ago in hopes she would gain certain skills were put in the ‘garage sale’ box.  Daddy and I both came to the realization that there is just no reason keeping around certain toys for many, many months at a time in hopes that she will get the hang of it.

It is just not in the cards for her right now, and if in the future she does gain those certain skills, then we will rush out to the store and buy them again.   I’d like to say I’m okay with this, but truth is, it is not like I have any choice other than to accept it.   As I keep saying with regards to this disease, “it is what it is.”

Santa has more presents for Hannah on Christmas, as well as gifts from friends and family.  Some her age level, some being ambitious again.   We have to keep trying to be ambitious because we never know what may click with her.   I guess that will never change with us.  We will never give up on her.  And if she doesn’t play with them for the next 12 months, there will always be next year’s winter cleaning.