Pasta carbonara with courgettes, kids, junk

On the menu tonight, penne carbonara with courgettes. I made a small un-spicy bowl of it for josh, he ate some then just picked, the little monkey. After he is in bed Dave and I will have a late supper alfresco. This dish will be very good with the wine we picked up, fresh thyme from the garden too.

I think Josh is actually enjoying the freedom of his sisters being away. He is acting like he runs the house(which is not that far off his norm, but there are less people to take things away from him now I guess). I think he is loving the exclusive attention more! I miss the girls terribly, they have not been away long, but somehow whenever one of the kids is not here the house feels more empty.

On the up side-Dave and I are clearing up lots of clutter. I have things stashed in baskets, bins, and boxes everywhere it seems. Every closet had too many of these. I guess I am a big consumer. I love to shop, I think I bought completely new everything while we were in Ontario. However, I think I have kept too many of the old things that I am not using. I really feel the need to pare down our stuff before our move. I went systematically through each closet upstairs first, and managed to get bundles of clothes from both Dave and I, then the girls and Josh of stuff they have wore out or outgrown. I then went through the linen closet and my product bins, and threw out three whole containers worth. I went through some drawers in the kitchen tossing stuff, then the downstairs-I re-organized the kids craft shelvesand sorted the stuff into new bins. I got rid of all the old clothes of the kids I was storing down there, except the name brand stuff in good condition as I can sell that to a consignment store. I got rid of boxes from new home theatre equipment and from all my kitchenaid appliances, and threw out some clutter I have been keeping for over20 years. Moving across the country is a big deal, I don't have to pack or unpack, but I do have to find places for everything which takes time. It is more time consuming switching provinces to do things like licences, health cards, house insurance and car insurance, re-stocking the freezer and pantry. Speaking of which, I have already started on both, emptying them and using up things. The freezer is down to bare essentials, and in a few packages of pasta, so will the pantry. We are buying as we need things now mainly.

Back to the issue of junk. I was talking with Mia last night about it, some friends of hers had to deal with the clearing of her mother's home after her death. She was a hoarder-worse than they had ever imagined. Apparently this is an inheritable condition. I think it explains some of my collecting of clutter-it came from both sides of my family mind you. Grandma was quite a shopper. I think it also comes from having no money, then having money and affording what you want. I am quite tidy overall mind you. I just wish I could throw out things more easily. My neighbour was talking about her mother being the same way with stuff, and her and her siblngs try to clear up the house whenever they can. It may be a generational thing.

Lauryn is coming along with her reading quite well. She has done a lot so far, and will be proficient before kindergarten for sure. The workbooks Mom made were brilliant with the readers, both the girls learned to read instantly with them. Lauryn won't be learning english reading at school till grade 2, same as Amelia did. I feel like they need to know how before then-I read when I was 4, so I am doing the same with the kids. I can't get over how good the workbooks are. Mom was a teacher and it is certainly useful. Two essentials at the age of 4 are reading and swimming for sure. Glad the kids have aced both at that age.