GainesvilleMoms.com

I do! Although we told our family to only buy a few gifts for our daughter this year, we came back into town with a mountain of new toys! Now don't get me wrong, I can't even tell you how appreciative and blessed I feel, but oh my goodness. I am sitting here looking at a pile of toys, wondering where in the world I am going to put them all.

I think I may have to do some out with the old and in with the new. How do you accomodate the new gifts?

Same thing here. We ended up getting Kaylee more than we thought and my mom came down with a ton for Kaylee. I went through and I am giving the old one to weecycle and I put the baby baby toys up for the next kid whenever that may be.

The key is Stealth. I watch to see which toys are really being ignored and those go into a storage tote right away. Then I pick a few that are only sort of played with, or ones that are really close to duplicates of a play style and put those in a toy drawer in a cabinet in the living room. Both kids know where they are and if they go get the toys, its fine and they can keep playing with them. If they go for a month and haven't missed them, I think its safe to put those into the tote as well.

Now, as for the aforementioned tote. I have nieces and a nephew who all have small kids so I usually bring the tote-full-of-toys up when I come to Gainesville and give them to the Grandma/Aunt (my cousin) of the kids and she divides them between the parents, her own house and even great grandma's house so when the kids come over, no one has to worry about bringing toys (or clothes for that matter) as they are all covered! This way the toys get used a lot longer and the kids have a huge variety without anyone going totally broke (except us...LOL)

But yes, I do frequently feel like my house looks like an explosion in a toy store would look.

We did a lot of downsizing when we moved from Indiana this summer. So for the most part we do have the space in the kids bedrooms for the toys they received for Christmas. As I discover they aren't using a toy anymore, and I feel they are getting too old for it etc. I freecycle it. The only ones I keep are those that were handmade by my FIL.

I will try and swap some of the toys out as well so that the kids don't get bored with them.

We were bursting at the seams at the old house, and (in some ways) unfortunately, our new house has a huge room that is dedicated to being just the kids' play room, with two huge closets and built in bookshelves. And I'm sick to my heart and my soul (and my pocketbook) to admit that even that room now is out of control. I am trying to throw away old broken toys, and to sock away ones that are either duplicates or somewhat outgrown, but every time one of mine sees me pick up and toy, even a broken one, they FREAK at the idea that I might get rid of it.

So my plan is to have hubby take the kids to a park or something, somewhere, all day some Saturday (soon, heaven please), so I can get in that room by myself for a few hours uninterrupted, and get it cleaned up, straightened out and organized.

It's sad that I have to actually make a planned date to simply clean up that room, but I tried to throw away one small little truck this past weekend, completely broken into smithereens and useless, and the tears and wails and moans that came out of their mouths: you would have thought I'd just shoved needles in their eyeballs. I feel like a candidate for an episode of SuperNanny sometimes, I swear.

I have a feeling many people may be interested in having a garage sale to disperse of told toys/ clothes, but do not b/c of many resons:

1. lack of space
2. against housing rules
3. do want people to know where you live...ect

Would anyone be interested in having a large multi- family garage sale at Safety City (almost 2 acre, outside facility)?

This is what I am thinking. You could make a $10 donation to Safety City to reserve your garage sale spot on a designated day/ time. I would take care of all of the publizing as well as clean up (finding a good home for any unsold items, ect). I may also be able to provide a limited number of tables and chairs for sellers.

Anyone think they may be interested?

I bagged up two trash bags of toys and stuffed animals before Christmas that we're going to donate, and I still feel overwhelmed. I really don't want to do a yard sale. Has anyone had any luck with WeeCycle? I also cleaned out my own closet and have a box of clothes to consign. Does anyone know of a good consignment shop?

Sarah, I have never had luck consigning clothes. Actually, I've yet to try to consign my kids' clothes (we're waiting to see if the next one is a boy, too), but my clothes? Forget it. Back in 2006 when I lost some weight, I tried to consign my "fat" clothes and nobody would take them because they were "fat". And now that I've put back on that weight, and fit back into them again, I tried last year to consign my skinny clothes, but they wouldn't take them either because they were more than 6 months "out of style". They were in good repair and condition, mind you, just not "hot off the rack" from some designer shop. So when (not if, but WHEN) I lose the weight again this year, and I go to get rid of my "Fat" clothes permanently, I am taking them to Hospice Haven. At least it's for a good cause.

Krista that is such a good idea. My MIL does lots of garage sales though never when it's cold out. If it stays warm I will call her and together we would probably be interested.

I don't have many toys but everyone gives us stuffed animals which I'm not a fan of. We just give them away.

I thought it might be nice to make a little extra money, but they would probably get more use going to people who really needed them. I'll probably take them to Haven Hospice or Pleasant Place or somewhere like that.

We don't have this problem quite yet but I'm beginning to see just how easily it can happen. As it is I feel like I am surrounded by toys, tripping over toys and cleaning up toys all the time, but in reality Max just has a very small box of things.

I can't see myself selling them, I'm just too lazy to take the time to do a yard sale or put an ad up. I'd probably donate them to Good Will or something.

Krista, that is a great idea. And since Safety City is fenced, we could bring the kids and not worry too much about them getting away (especially if all but one gate were closed...)

How about in the spring?

Please let us know if you get enough offers to make this viable.

I would be interested in participating in the sale too...

I have 3 garbage bags full of baby girl clothes that I am looking to get rid of maybe 4. I also have a whole garbage bag full of toys. I am trying to make space we live in a small three bedroom 2 bath. We are thinking of having another in 2010. So we need to make room. I can do the group yard sale or just give them away. It is a lot.

Krista, count me in on a group garage sale! But, can you tell me what Safety City is and where it is?

Re: toy tornados - yep,got it. I would never sneak a toy away from him, but I let him help make the decisions (DS is 3.5 y.o.). I tell him the toys are going to kids who don't have any. I pull anything I think he is bored with and put it in a pile. Then we go thru it together and he has the decision. Often, I'll do it again with the remainders a few weeks later.

I try to make sure he understands how he is helping other children and how proud I am about his thoughfulness.