June update

I have a feeling this will be the 9-year-old's room before we get to it, but I am making progress on other fronts. I have taken to following http://www.flylady.net/ who is "your personal on-line coach to help you gain control of your house and home."
My husband is amazed at the state of the first floor but he worries it is "unsustainable." He doesn't realize that FLYlady's trick is to get folks to tidy up just 15 minutes at a time. She says you can do anything for 15 minutes. She also says, "If it's fun, it will get done." Check her out; she and her helpers are fun and have lots of great tips.