It was after one such family time last Christmas, that I could not find two stacking rings. I was putting everything back in it's place . . . you do that when the visits are far and in between. Usually I find every part of every toy and put it back in it's appropriate toy box. I return the tiniest Russian Matryoshka doll to it's nest, the missing piece of every puzzle, the dolls to their cribs, tea cups and plates to the tiny china cabinet, and put the tools in their spot. It's like needing to bring order into the part of my life that I am able to control, and ends up being rather therapeutic while I listen to the laughter in the walls.
Then one day, when least expected, as we were pulling the china cabinet off to prime the walls . . .
After almost a year gone by, it made me smile. Maybe because it was not an accidental loss, but a deliberate hiding spot.
I put the rings back in their place, bringing wholeness back to this 30 year old stacking toy.
And, with that, I close a certain memory and chapter of my life . . . that of the detailed clean up when the grands go home.
And, with that, I close a certain memory and chapter of my life . . . that of the detailed clean up when the grands go home.
18 comments:
I fell like that's how I am going to be with the kids' toys too...a place for everything, and everything in its place. :)
Those are great memories to record. Don't you just love how their minds work? Do they know they 'stumped' their Mimi?
Rosie has hidden emergency candy at her boyfriend's house and it drives him nuts that he can't find the stash.
I, too, like to go through the toys and put things together. It just makes sense, right?
Too cute. I can just imagine Landon secretly sliding those two donuts behind the cabinet when no one was looking...
That's so cute...how often that happens...and I find missing pieces of lego everywhere.
That's the real treat about cleaning up in those hard to vacuum places.
You never know what the treasure looks like.
I wonder which piece will go missing this year?
But what do you do when you've turned your whole house upside down and still can't find the missing cup and saucer that is part of the set my daughter used to play with 30+ years ago?
I feel so much better knowing that I'm not the only one that sorts toys and puts them back together the way they should be.
Sometimes, I have to fight the urge to put the old toys away and just let them play with their new stuff.
Oh well.... guess one day they will all be gone anyways!
Thankfully the memories will last! :-)
I'm like that when the children leave. Putting everything back in place, remembering the good times we had together as I do so.
You must really be looking forward to your family's return. What joy!
Wow! I was beginning to wonder if i wrote this post in my sleep!! I still can't find my camera battery from the last visit and today I'm missing my hand calculator -- where do they put those things?? and why do I leave them where they can get them anyway!!
So glad the mystery is solved, lol. And I'm happy for you, that soon all your precious family will be living close by...... I'm sure you won't mind having to clean up those toys more often!
The puzzle pieces are all being found and we can see a picture now ... can't we Mom?
I laughed so hard as I read this because I do exactly the same thing!! I used to even know which colored Fisher Price people went with which toy!! We were missing a puzzle piece for almost a year and just found it a couple of weeks ago!
That is so funny Anneliese. I'm glad the donut has been found!
Beautiful! I love the way children think. I wish I could sometimes think so simply. My youngest was laughing the other day about how they always for years. .rolled up little balls of the chocolate foils and hid them. They eventually were found. .and it was not in the garbage either.
They found a good hiding spot...for sure. So glad your antique stacking ring set is complete again!
When the grands come often...it never seems quite so important to organize all the toys. You'll know all about that...soon!
I had to take a second look at whose blog I was reading as my stack looks almost the same. (Mine is missing the second and 4th rings)
I was cleaning out the toy room yesterday and couldn't find the 2 missing rings. I have a feeling they may have wandered over to the hot tub toy bin. That Stack has survived countless children playing with it over the past 37 years! The only part that disappeared (only recently) is the red ball on top. We've had to make do with another ball. Good old Fisher Price- Toys that last!
Anneliese......you are so gifted in writing. I feel your heart strings as I read. I read Juliennes comment...and the puzzle pieces are beginning to create a new picture. You are a woman of order....I like that....I am inspired by that.....but more by how you cherish the moments.
We have a lot in common. Your story has been my story. So I smiled throughout your blog today. And missed my grands.
Loved it!!
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