A Peek Inside...Our Toy Closet

Disclaimer...I did straighten this before I took the photos, and it doesn't look like this all the time...but mostly, it does. Ok then, on we go!

I have been a mother for sixteen years and have been blessed with four beautiful children. Through the years we have acquired many, many toys, games and puzzles. This may present a problem for someone with ...oh, let's say...OCD..., but I have found a few simple tips to help with this particular situation. Here is our toy closet. We keep 75% of our toys here. The ones Flynn plays with on a daily basis are kept out in the family room. It warms my heart to look around that room and see a kitchen center and baby dolls. I know way too soon those special things will disappear, and become a sweet memory. Our books and movies are kept on a bookshelf in the family room as well. The toy closet is conveniently located right off the family room. When we built this house, the plans called for that space to be an outdoor bar for entertaining on the porch. Easy to see why I wisely asked the builder to spare us the bar and make a toy closet instead. A mother's mind never rests.

OK...here are some professional quality the best pictures I could get of our toy closet.

The top shelf holds games because these are things the kids don't play with that often, therefore, they don't need to be close at hand. Lucky for me, both of my girls are already taller than I am!

The second and third shelves hold small toys like Care Bears, Sesame Street, and Weebles. The first thing I do with toys like these is throw away the box. The toys never fit back into the box anyway. I love these small plastic bins to store the characters and clothing for each set. It is so much easier for the little ones to grab and go.

The fourth shelf holds the toys that Flynn plays with the most. Cinderella...surprise! She can safely reach these all by herself.

The floor holds the bigger boxes and dolls that get used a lot. This is our "baby toy" box. It holds all the baby toys that all my children have enjoyed, and sometimes, still do!





One final tip I have for all the young or new mommys...Although your child will grow and stop playing with these special baby toys, and at times you will be tempted to throw them out or even donate them to a friend...Don't! These toys will one day hold very special memories, and just looking at one will take you back in time. You will be sitting on the floor again, playing with your sweet baby, who somehow, someway, has grown into a teenager, right before your very eyes. These toys are special treasures, and with a little love, you can keep them safe and sound until you play with them again on the floor, only this time as a grandma.

This was one of Madison's favorites. I still remember the day I taught her how to fit the shapes in. I was so excited when she got the first one in, and then proceed to take off the lid and put in the rest!

I remember Peyton receiving this purse for her first birthday. Madison loved it so, and we promptly bought her one too. The girls spent hours playing with them.

Some other favorites...these are so nice, and hard to find now. Everything these days has flashing lights and loud noises!

And that, my friends is a peek inside our toy closet. And inside this mother's heart, as well. : )