Too many toys

One of our favorite books at our house is Too Many Toys by David Shannon. We love pretty much every book by him actually. In the book there is a little boys named Spencer who has too many toys. His Mom gets fed up one day and makes Spencer go through all his toys with her to get rid of some. Every time I read this book I can't help, but think of Boston. You see he is a bit of a hoarder when it comes to his toys, artwork, rocks, stuffed animals, art supplies, and whatever else comes in his view. I am constantly going trough toys with him to weed some out. It is never an easy process and sounds something like this....

taken from the book Too Many Toys. A conversation between Spencer and his Mom about getting rid of some toys.

"All right," his mother said. "I'll help you." she picked up an Alien Space Ninja. "How about this one? You haven't played with this in years."

"But I was just about to!"

"Spencer," his mother said, "it doesn't have a head."

"I'm making him a new one!" Spencer replied.

"Fine," said Spencer's mother. "But this can definitely go." She put down the Alien and picked up a filthy one-eared bunny.

"Not Mr. Fluffers! Mom, how could you!"

"This one then," she said.

"That's Mr. Fluffers' best friend!"

"This one?"

"Mother, have you forgotten? Grandma Bobo gave me that on my fourth birthday. And I'll never be four again - EVER!"

I kid you not this is Boston to a T. He remembers every little thing he has and usually where he got it from. It seems there is some sort of sentiment tied to every little thing he owns.

I usually always make him do the weeding with me, because if not he will notice where they have gone and doesn't take well to my response of "I threw them away" He gets very sad when he sees a piece of his preschool work in the trash and usually says something to the sort of "Did you not like my picture? Did it not make you happy? or "I worked so hard on that and it breaks my heart its in the trash" No joke folks he knows how to pull the heart strings that's for sure.

Yesterdays clean up was no different than the usual other than he seemed to have a soft spot for his papers full of scribbles. When I would throw it away he would remind me that there was still room to color on the paper in the corner. 

Hoarder and all I LOVE this boy! He can make something like organizing toys fun and very entertaining and sometimes downright frustrating. So even though I think we have Too Many Toys and the thought of the boys ever getting more makes me cringe I am so glad they make him so happy and that he really does love the things he is given.

I should mention that at the end of the book Spencer turns the box of old toys into a space ship and tell his Mom they can't give away the box Claiming it to be the "Best toy EVER!" Yep that is Boston too.