These two boys of ours have a lot of toys. While I am more likely to buy them a book (or multiple books) for any gift giving occasion that isn’t a birthday or Christmas, they just keep accumulating toys. Hand me downs, relatives and the occasional “We-Have-to-Own-That” moment on my part or FireDad’s part have our toy box and playroom stocked rather full.

And their birthdays are this coming Tuesday and the following Tuesday. Followed shortly behind by Christmas, one month and one day after LittleBrother’s birthday.

That means it’s time to clean out some of the toys that they’ve outgrown. Or the ones that they never really played with in the first place. Or the broken ones. Or the ones missing pieces. Or the ones that I would like to chuck against a wall because, really, does it have to be that loud, for the love all things toy?! That’s right. We’ve reached decision time: to keep, to toss or to donate.

BigBrother hates this time period.

Before his first birthday, he had no clue. I simply picked out the toys that he didn’t play with anymore while he was napping, sorted them into bags for tossing or donating and that was the end of the story. He didn’t have the words to verbalize his woe if he noticed that a stuffed animal was missing. (I hate stuffed animals. What a waste of space.) Before his second birthday, I also chose a nap time to sort through things. The problem with this scenario was that he found the bags when he woke up, early, from his nap. He was displeased when I explained that we were giving some of his toys to kids who didn’t have any of their own. He looked at me like I had four heads and then threw an epic two-year-old fit a few days before he was officially allowed to do so. Before his third birthday, he was seemingly okay with what we decided to donate because, to be honest, we didn’t get rid of a lot last year. LittleBrother was turning one and was inheriting most of the things that BigBrother was outgrowing.

This year will be slightly more difficult. A true Toy Purge is required.

It’s also going to be difficult because, well, FireDad and I have had it with the overabundance of toys and the mess that accompanies said toys. They’re great at cleaning their toys upstairs. They put them away in the toybox when asked and sometimes even unprompted. But their playroom? Tornadic activity on a daily basis. It’s awful. On two separate occasions, we have informed BigBrother that if he didn’t clean up the mess, immediately, we were going to put all of his toys in a bag and toss them in the trash. It would be one thing if he was playing with most of them but over half of the toys had simply been removed to get to other toys which were discarded for other toys and so on and so forth. What is it about a playroom that says, “Trash me?!” We’re working on reminding them to keep their playroom clean, like the upstairs living room, and we will continue to work with them.

But some of these toys have to go.

I’m going to have BigBrother and LittleBrother each pick three toys that they want to donate this year. I’m prepared for it to be a grumpy time but there are things that I want my children to understand. First and foremost, the above mentioned necessity of keeping a room clean and taking good care of our toys is paramount. Secondly, learning that we do outgrow toys is just a part of growing up. Next, I want them to understand how fortunate they are to have as many toys as they do. Whether they’re educational or just plain fun, they’re lucky. Plain and simple. Picking toys to give to kids who simply don’t have the blessings we do needs to be a part of their life. And, finally, I really want to involve them in the process and make it a learning experience.

That said, I am giving away more than six toys. Don’t tell them but here’s a list of things we have no use for anymore: roll-a-rounds, the baby guitar, in fact, the whole basket of baby toys in LittleBrother’s bedroom, another six stuffed animals that made their way into our home over the past year, that foresaken chicken that sings the Chicken Dance song, anything my brother has ever purchased for my children as they are ridiculously noisy toys and a few other odds and ends. Gone. Done. Not needed. My educated guess based on previous years’ experience is that, as of Tuesday when BigBrother opens his gifts from us, they won’t notice. If they do, their party on Sunday followed by LittleBrother’s presents from us the following Tuesday will erase any emotional attachment they had to the toys that have been given away.

But I’m keeping BigBrother’s rattle and the little bear he brought to LittleBrother at the hospital. What? I’m not allowed to be attached to toys they don’t play with either? Too bad. I’m the Mom and I said so. Oh? And if anyone, and this means you, Brother-of-mine, gets these children any ridiculously noisy toys, I’m going to beat them over the head with said ridiculously noisy toys, remove the batteries from said ridiculously noisy toys and shove them up the offender’s nostrils. Even if they’re size D batteries.

Think I’m joking? Try me.

If you know me or follow me on twitter or receive random instant messages from me, you know that I have a slight obsession with all things Etsy. If you didn’t know that, let me tell you: I have a slight obsession with all things Etsy. About once a week (or more) I throw various fire terms into the search function and become giddy with the results. I thought I would share these with you every now and again on Fridays. Starting now!

Today I’m actually showcasing some of the best and/or most awesome wooden toy fire trucks and fire related toys on Etsy.

This little gem of a fire truck ($22) makes me smile. It’s short and squat and it just seems so happy looking, doesn’t it. The best part about this selection, which is why I put it first on my list: those removable ladders. They hang on little begs on either side of the truck. So the imaginary firefighters can throw the ladder up against the blazing house and rescue the imaginary people inside. It’s all very dramatic and fantastic, no? This one is made of pine which makes my nose happy just thinking about it!

The store in which this truck is available is SantaWood Shop’s Shop. Fire trucks are not the only offering, of course. There is, of course, another fire truck ($75). But also some amazing creations. And by amazing, I do really mean amazing. Most are very affordable as well. Some other ones are more expensive but, really, look at the detailing on the wooden circus train. It’s really quite amazing.

Next on my list of most awesome wooden fire truck toys is this fire truck (hook & ladder) puzzle ($17.95). Now, first and foremost, I love puzzles! I love wooden puzzles even more. And so a wooden fire truck puzzle sounds like the next best thing to sliced bread. Not only can you work on spatial skills with this jigsaw puzzle but, come on, it’s a fire truck. What’s better than a fire truck that is also used as a teaching tool. Absolutely nothing.

The best part about this particular piece? You choose the number for the side of the truck. I’m not sure a number like 37509607 will fit, so I’d go with single digits. This would be an amazing birthday gift for a three or four year old who is just moving into jigsaw puzzles and just so happens to love the heck out of some fire trucks. The store, featured in Cookie Mag in 2007, is serious about child safety as well. The pieces will not fit through a paper towel roll (which means no choking hazard) and are finished with non-toxic wood finish. Even cooler? This puzzle works both laying down and… standing up! And you just can’t beat the prize. Seriously. (Note: other puzzle designs and wooden toys available at the store.)

Pine Ladder Truck No. 2 ($17.50) is a long, long truck. Like the first truck I mentioned today, this one features removable ladders. But longer ones. For taller imaginary houses with harder to reach imaginary fires. Send both trucks to the scene and you’ll have all levels of your imaginary apartment fire taken care of with these two trucks.

As this particular truck has the headlights, wheel axels and tail lights glued on, it is not recommended for a child under the age of three (or, if your three year old still puts everything in his/her mouth, not then either). Heed the advice of the seller and, as the store states, know your child and buy accordingly. (What good advice!) And, again, some more great wooden offerings at their store (like that truck that holds crayons: awesome!).

Last but not least is this fire station with fire trucks ($28.00). As their blurb says, you can’t have a wooden city without a fire station. I mean, think about it. A wooden city? Without fire trucks? It’s an imaginary blaze just waiting to happen! (Take for example my own old hometown in which the fire house burnt down. Sad, sad.) Anyway, I must say that I agree. This would be a great addition to your wooden city and a colorful one at that! If your worried about that paint, the store claims that paints were made in the USA.

But, I’m going to warn you. Don’t go to their store. Because? You’ll want to buy one of everything. And in some cases you’ll want to buy two. There are a few other fire trucks available as well as some blocks, other trucks and other buildings.

If you end up buying something, either for your child or as a gift, let me know. I’m really considering purchasing one of these for myself. Or, uhm, I mean for the kids. The kids!

I just showed you a picture of our new toy box. Let me rephrase: our first ever “real” toy box. Until now, we have gotten by with a soft-sided, collapsable toy box that was shaped like a fire truck. It sat in our living room so that the boys could have toys upstairs as well as in their playroom. In the playroom, they had two stacks of drawers to keep certain toys separated (examples: fire trucks in one drawer, dinosaurs in another). And has worked for us.

Until now.

I wrote just yesterday about the biggest toy hits with the boys (and some with us as well). That, of course, doesn’t begin to cover what I am referring to as the Christmas 2008 Toysplosion. You see, FireDad and I purchased what we deemed to be an appropriate amount of both educational and pure-fun toys for TheBrothers. The problem? Everyone else purchased what they also thought to be an appropriate amount of educational and pure-fun toys as well. In fact, one family member admitted to “over-buying.” This resulted in the Christmas 2008 Toysplosion.

In an online community a month or so ago, someone (without children) asked how and/or why parents are “surprised” by how many toys their children own. This individual couldn’t understand the problem. It is, quite simply, due to birthdays and other holidays and the number of relatives a child happens to have (which, by the way, TheBrothers are blessed with a very large number of relatives). We even went through the boys’ toys prior to their birthdays and again prior to Christmas and separated out those that were no longer age-appropriate, in working order or simply weren’t played with all that often. And it made absolutely no difference. I even left some of the new toys in the box to pull out on future rainy days as a means of surprise (especially considering the boys’ birthdays fall right before Christmas so there are no other official gift giving opportunities throughout the year). Again, no difference.

I looked at the huge mound of toys on Christmas day evening. It was clear. The tree was going to have to come down early and I was going to have to bite the bullet: I was going to have to buy a real toy box. I looked at prices online, sucked it up and bought one in the next city over. We took down the tree. And we now have a toy corner. In our living room. Which is something I never thought I would do. But I seem to have done. Don’t judge me. I like having the boys in the room with us.

Someday I will have a living room that is decorated with… wait, what do people decorate with if it isn’t toys? I mean, at least the toy box was the Little Tikes Americana one and matches our living room, right? Do I get bonus points for matching the toy box to our colors? Do I? Someone say yes, please.

All the same, I’m please to finally have a real toy box. I think. And, yes, BigBrother has already climbed in and LittleBrother has dropped the lid on his head. Fun times, I tell you. Fun times.

More on this in just a bit. For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.