Not Even January and....

It's not even January and we've already blown through the two large bins I filled with "junk" for the boys to use for arts & crafts, inventions or whatever creation they're currently contemplating. Items that were meant to last throughout the long winter months, to come in handy on those (many) bitter days when it's too cold to go outside and we've run out of ideas for indoor play. Items that took me all summer to save---empty plastic fruit jars, yogurt containers, oatmeal containers, juice bottles, lids, toilet paper/paper towel tubes, and cardboard of all shapes and sizes---have all been given new life in the form of pirate ships (see photo), rockets, airplanes, houses and boats. I love when the boys let their creativity and imaginations guide them in their play. Especially when it's a joint effort like it was today, with a lot of sharing of ideas and materials and virtually no arguing or physical combat. The problem arises after they've gone to bed and DH and I are tripping over everything, wondering where to keep all of their "stuff". Exactly what IS the protocol for how long one should keep a rocket-house-that-turns-into-a-submarine before sneaking it into the trash, while the owner is sleeping, and still be considered a good parent??