Day 10 -yesterday was a less than stellar day in the Play365 project.  The kids had way too much screen time, although I did get Eileigh's help in taking down the Christmas ornaments.  We talked about each one, and I told her about how each year I have given her a reindeer ornament, and Wee Man a snowman one.  I love this tradition and so does she now that she's understanding better.  I definitely have done better with the small amount of time for play during the weekdays - perhaps I just work better under pressure?  Or I bet it's the Pareto Principle, (to which I was first introduced through Tim Ferriss' book Four Hour Work Week), in that the less time you have to do something, the mroe efficiently you work.  Like a goldfish that grows to the size of its container.  I was also distracted by the shopping for and purchase of my new netbook!  WOOHOO!  I have wanted one of these for ages, and at Microcenter the price was right.  Lucky I have an awesome hubby who went in halfers on it so I didn't have to wait and save so long.  Oh, yeah, and we paid with cash.  That we consciously saved for discretionary expenses.  I am doing a celebratory dance of responsibility.

Day 11- today went great, in contrast.  Wee Man almost sweet talked his dad into turning on cartoons after dinner, but I vetoed the idea and said that we needed to get in some play time, not cartoon time.  I was super proud of myself, and I know that if I keep the deliberate effort visible, that the Scot will remind me of our commitment to play at another time when I am wanting to slack. They went upstairs to play animals...we have got such a great collection of animal figurines, a love which hearkens to the Scot's time as a boy in Kenya from ages 6-9.  My father-in-law was an ecologist before retiring from the Scottish equivalent of the National Parks Service, and he was stationed there.  I think if they had stayed, my hubby would be on the back of an elephant right now, doing something noble and wildlife-y.  At any rate he made it back to the western world and now gets to play with all of the animals with our kids.  We are dreaming of going back to Kenya with the extended family when Wee Man is old enough to remember the experience.  And then I get to add another continent to my list!   

I took the fruits of Winter Storm Laundry Extravaganza 2010 upstairs and put away the kids' clothes.  Eileigh (need a bloggy name for her - any suggestions?) joined me in her room and we sang/ recited nursery rhymes from one of her storybooks.  It was great - I couldn't believe how much she had memorized.  I took the opportunity to clean out the kids' clothes, and with her there was able to talk about charity and culling of our "stuff".  Here's the process...

"Does it fit?"  It was great having her there with me to easily hold up items to her and see how they looked.  She is going through a growth spurt so this is key.  Also, it keeps me from having a "pending fit evaluation" pile at the end of my project.  It's fun for her to see how she's grown as well.

"Is it worn out?" stains, fading, holey jeans, ragged hems, and pilling = outta here.  I'm sick of seeing them in ragamuffin clothes when the drawers are stuffed full to overflowing with cute ones.

"Do YOU like it?" I asked her on each item in question.  We have enough clothes that it's not worth keeping an item that will be a source  of conflict. 

Also, I am over keeping stuff because "there's nothing wrong with it, it's a perfectly good X."  Leila's Laundry Tutorial gave me an aha! moment recently in that Laundry Problems Start With Clothes.  I haven't reduced the kids' stuff as much as she might suggest yet, but how many undershirts do they really need?  It was enough to make me avoid the laundry and get away with it!  I have also become much more discerning in what goes in the wash.  Is it truly dirty?  In the winter kids' don't sweat as much, and although there are often food stains on collars and cuffs, often the pants can go another wear before they go in the wash (aka MORE WORK FOR ME).  I am visibly observant of these things, hoping to inspire my other family members to do so as well.  All the clothes as well as 2 big rubbermaid bins of toys will go to Goodwill, which is right by my work.  I will take inventory of the items for my tax deductions and also (best practice alert!) take photos of the donation.

I am loving that the Play365 gets me off of my arse to spend quality time with the kids, and I am so far incororpating other goals as well!  I just need to make sure that my chores don't supercede the playing.