That's enough...thank you!

Don't worry, my house wasn't robbed. My living room just threw up on itself. Actually it's just post some morning playing by the kiddos. The "funny" part is Langston & Zora are both watching a 20 min. show (Zora didn't last very long into it) as I prepared lunch. And then getting him to help clean up was like "pulling teeth," as they say.
I recently read a book that described a mom's plight to keep her house picked up with small children. My favorite line in the whole book was about how dismayed she felt when she spent so many hours of the day straightening only to find that in the end..."the house won." AHHH! Yes! I sometimes surrender my will to "the house" & go to bed exhausted & depressed about all the @$@# all around. And sometimes I try like crazy to make it look okay. (While ignoring my kids or chugging caffiene to stay awake & have some super-human get go to do it while they are sleeping.)
I think I'm going to build some shelves in each of their rooms/closets soon. I also think I'm going to try to "basket exchange" that my doula, Tammy did with her kids (fill several baskets with various toys, bring only one out per week...a different one each week). I already use baskets, so that should be okay. Any other ideas? I wish I could afford to use those "cute" baskets, but what I have will do! I once added up the cost of JUST the baskets in a Pottery Barn mag ad for organizing your kid's room. When I got to about $700 I stopped counting & starting laughing. After I spent over $1000 (at least) on orgaizing my kid's room, what in the heck would I even put in those baskets?!
And now, here's the reason for the title of this post. I've been wanting/needing to do this one for a while...

First of all, I would like to say "Thanks SO much" for all the little things that friends & family (esp. Grandmothers) give L-town & Z-ford. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And now that we have plenty of things, I would like to ask you to come & visit us or give us a call or send us a card or picture of you! We really enjoy people more than things...& things are driving me NUTS! :) Below are some of the "exceptions to the rule."
**Langston & I talked about this post & he thought the title should have been "No more plastic things." :)

Above are various art supplies. Most are labeled. Some are not. There is a basket FULL of coloring/activity books. There are also CDs, extra craft paper, etc. I have a crafty boy. I don't mind art supplies since I think it helps him use his noggin & become more creative. Hands on is a go.
Books, books, books. We will always accept a book. As M. Wise Brown once wrote, "Read to your bunny...and your bunny will read to you." One of my bunnies already reads to me some. I believe it is because we have read to him a ton.
In conclusion, please don't be offended! But please don't send us anymore toys! Thanks!!