cooper's collections

I may have shared Cooper's obsession with "collecting" things with some of you, but I had to post this picture for everyone to appreciate this.  Cooper has been doing this for a month or two now, and at first I didn't mind so much.  I think his first "collection," as he calls them, was some fruit loops he stored in an empty plastic gumball machine container.  Then, it progressed to empty ziploc bags, gift bags, and finally, pillow cases.  He will fill any type of container with anything and everything.  One day, Jadan was looking for markers for a project, and sure enough, I found all of them after dumping out a pillowcase of Cooper's collections (along with a few random jelly beans, pirate guys, stickers, cars, etc, etc, etc...).  As I said, I didn't mind these collections at first, but it has gotten out of control and I am finding it difficult to keep things organized.  Granted, they are kids and I don't expect all of their toys to be in order, but so many random things we can't find are hidden away in Cooper's collections (not to mention the possibility of finding moldy goldfish crackers or something, since he really does store anything).  I've decided to allow the collections, but make it my mission to empty them out and dispose of any type of bag or container to prevent these collections. Since taking this picture a couple of days ago, I haven't noticed any major collections he's been toting.  Well, I guess he did try to sneak his PeterPan hat into church yesterday, which contained a sheet of stickers, car, plastic sppon and knife from the play kitchen, and a couple other random items.  And as I am writing this, he asked me to help him buckle on this little fanny pack he got fromthe dentist...filled with various small toys.  Ahhh, well...we'll see...even though it can be frustrating, it is definitely something I laugh about on the inside, because it is so Cooper.   

I should print this picture out and make an "I SPY" game from it!  Who can find the American flag? Wicked Witch doll? Shae's pink mitten? Christmas pencil? UPS truck? small green stocking?  WE LOVE YOU, COOPER!