Real Simple

I was picking up the playroom just now, putting away the leftovers of Ethan's Rock Collection Project we've been working on for school. To be honest, I'm getting things ready for a college girl who is coming over this afternoon to do some cleaning for me (mopping and bathrooms). I'm so excited! I'm delegating!

As I was tidying the playroom, I realized that everything has been nice and neat in there for some time. The legos have been in hiding, the Lord of the Rings Guys hibernating, even the Tinker Toys (a favorite for weapon-building) haven't come out of the toy closet since Christmas.

Everything is staying so clean. The only thing I consistenly find on the floor is one ball -- that is the only toy in use. That is pretty much all the boys have been playing with (indoors anyway) for the past few weeks. A ball I picked up as an after-thought for someone for Christmas. And it's the winner.

The boys go in the playroom with the ball (actually, the ball isn't allowed out of the playroom) and play Alley-Oop or Gotcha or whatever other games they have modified to work for them inside. It's a soft rubbery ball, so when it hits the walls (which I keep adorned with nothing for this very reason) it doesn't shake the pictures in any other room.

I continue to stand by what I have found to be true -- good old-fashioned simple fun is the key to what works around here.