A couple of years ago my gorgeous nephews and niece kindly donated some of their toys to us so they and other kids had toys to play with. The toy corner worked a charm. We weren't the boring Aunt & Uncle. We were somewhat cool and somewhat prepared for kids. Kids knew as soon as they arrived, after a kiss and hug hello they could run straight to the toy corner to play. Google also enjoyed time in the toy corner.
As part of my will to get organised and set everything up for our samosa babies, the toy corner needed shelving and baskets. I also kept kids art. We were often sent home with "master pieces". pieces of kids art I could not part with. The moment a kid hands you something they have created is just precious. Drawings, paintings, stick on things. didn't matter what it was, it was the fact they created something and decided to gift it. And gift it to us (how lucky were we). So sweet when you are engrossed in adult conversation and this little person comes up to you and holds out an art piece for you to look at and take home.
So who best to help me in organising the toy corner, non other then my wonderful neighbour, who is a lot more then a neighbour Mrs D and her husband Mr P.
Mrs D loves IKEA! I braved it on a Sunday no less with Mrs D. To my astonishment I've been doing IKEA all wrong. The trick is to have a plan, know exactly what you need and stick to it. It also helps if you know your way around the store so you can cut the corners and not go through every section. Another trick is if possible to go there on a week day. Not a weekend and certainly not during school holidays. So Mrs D and I went to IKEA. I saw this store in a very different light it was my "friend" and maybe a very good friend over the next few years. Perhaps because I was looking for pieces for our kids or the fact Mrs D doesn't waste any time, she goes straight to the product puts it in the trolley and keeps moving, made the whole experience positive. mmmm I might need Mrs D to come with me again for another practice round before I brave it on my own.
We got shelving, baskets, photo frames (for kids art), waterproof cot sheets (wasn't on my list, but I couldn't resist the price at $9 - my friend Ms M gave me a full proof cot making tip that I'll share later when we set the nursery up) drawer organiser, this one was for me and a large mirror, also for me.
Check out our before and after photos. As you can see my kids play room is slowly coming together. Perhaps the trick is to show Sam what the play room looks like and then he might agree to it. Treading very slowly with this idea.
I would often find Google in the Elmo chair after kids had gone home. As much as Sam and I longed for children of our own, Google too showed his way of wanting play mates.
Google helping setting up the toy corner. Actually he was annoying, always sticking his nose in where the screw needed to go. So I put him in the basket for a few minutes whilst Mr D put the shelves together.
The finished look. Feeling organised. Now to continue that conversation with my understanding husband. I need a play mat, space for the pram, and bouncy/rocker swings. oh and the kids art which is now framed to be put up on the wall. mmm...The dining table must be moved! a very delicate conversation.
