Studies show . . .

Last week, SLJ extra posted an article stating that studies show that an orderly home affects early literacy skills. I skimmed the article and felt immediately justified in my need for an orderly home. I keep trying to tell myself that I can't do it all and that some things must go, but I still crave order at home. Note: I did not say, I crave a spotless home (just check my baseboards and closets to verify that). I just need the appearance of a picked up, orderly home. I had been pondering the article in my mind over the weekend, when my two youngest invited me to a birthday party at their "house". They had been playing downstairs all weekend and for the most part we had left them alone. I grabbed a load of laundry and headed down.

This is what I found. . .


And this. . .

When I opened the door to the toy closet (under our stairs), I found . . . Tommi in her orderly space. That is a picture of Lance and I at Heidi's wedding hanging on the wall - too cute!

Levi (the pretend birthday boy) in his. Yes, that is a toy gun on the wall. My children are very well-prepared. . . there was also a lantern, binoculars and extra sets of clothes.

One last shot of my creative midgets in their orderly small space. . .

Does this mean they will be life-long readers? I hope so, we read to them often, model reading ourselves, and do our best to create a home that offers order in the midst of a chaotic life.

One last (totally random) note: I told the kids we had to head into town to run some errands and they needed to get dressed. Levi could not bear to get out of his jammies, so he pulled on a pair of camo pants and a bright orange and blue sweatshirt over his dino p.j.'s. Perhaps, the next study should show the affects of fashion choices on intellectual aptitude. . .