Ikea-aahhh.

Knowing what a good girl Paige had been this year we could only assume that Santa (in the form of Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and scores of other adoring fans) would supply her with a gift or two this Christmas. These gifts, in addition to the numerous birthday goodies, were all very much loved and appreciated by Paige, but frankly were difficult to play with piled in the corner of the living room and rolling under the sofa. Not to mention the difficulty associated with convincing a poodle that small stuffed doll "A" was off limits while stuffed creature "B" was okay to chew on. Paige was having a difficult time learning that one as well.

Mike and I decided that her Christmas gift from Mommy and Daddy this year would be a place to properly enjoy (and put away) her toys. We turned our "extra" room upstairs into a playroom! We kept the closet for ourselves as storage (sewing machine, leaf for the dining room table etc.)but the rest is all hers! We worked so hard on the paint 5 years ago that we left that just the way it was too. Mike put a baby gate at the top of the steps so the landing would be kid/dog friendly. Then Papa bear (Mike) headed out to Ikea and got us hooked up with some rad shelves, storage boxes, fancy flower lights, and an activity table and chairs. Now she has a place for all of her books, blocks, and babies! There is plenty of room for her kitchen, shopping cart AND mulching lawn mower (I told you she had been good).