Garage Sale Day #2

Wrapping up Day #1 of the Sale

Yesterday's sale didn't prove to be the money maker that Jack had hoped for it to be.  On the bright side, he may have gotten the lesson in the value of the dollar that John had wished for.  

On Thursday night, as we finished setting up for the big sale, the kids were very excited.  We let Jack and Amelia stay up late to help out.  With the threat of bedtime in the lurking shadows, the air was filled with the rare chants of "what else can I do to help?"  And they did help.  

That night as visions of dollar signs and a new lego set danced in his head, Jack tossed, turned and woke up excitedly at 6AM.  He then, apparently, ate a few cherries in the playroom, leaving the pits to decorate the carpet.  But, back to the sale.  Helpfulness continued well into the late morning.  John and the kids posted signs, got out the last few items and they were ready for the sale.  Ready for the sale.  Ready For The Sale.  READY FOR THE SALE.  Ahem! Ready for the sale.  Apparently, they were the only one's ready.  No customers.

We did have a few visitors and whittled away at our excessive amount of children's clothing and toys.  I was surprised to find how hard it was for me to let go of Amelia's 4th Christmas dress for $1.50.  Liam learned that he could, in fact, still fit into his infant swing.  Amelia and Jack discovered that hard work does not always yield big results.  By the end of the day, we managed to make about $75.  We will but away in to our families vizsla puppy fund.  Hopefully, the fund can grow a little more today.

I will not be here to count the cash box.  I will be away with good friends at Lake Cushman in 85 degree sunny loveliness.  My question for today:

What does it feel like to swim with out a child attached to your hip?

Happy Weekend!

Nostalgia, a Garage Sale and the Value of Money.

Have you ever had been full of both excitement and dread?

For the past week I have been counting down the days until Saturday.  Saturday is the golden day when 5 of my favorite ladies and I are set free and childless in the Olympic Peninsula.  More then 24 hours with no one to take care of but myself.  That is the, over the moon, excited side of me.  Now, on to the dread.  A few weeks back, my husband and children planned a garage sale for tomorrow and Saturday.  The screeching breaks to my happy side that already starting to stroll out the back door.

The idea for the sale is a great one.  Knowing that our family is very much full and complete (except for the baby vizsla pup that I am expecting in September), it is time finally get rid of some of our crap  gently loved baby and toddler gear, toys and games.  My very practical John saw this as an opportunity to teach the kids a lesson about the values of money as well.  To his credit, he and the kids have taken this on themselves.  They have been planning and preparing items for sale.  To my discredit, I can't keep my hands off.  Having spent years in retail merchandizing (yes, thats right I worked at the GAP for 7 years), I can't leave well enough alone.  Here in lies my dread.  One day and zero dollars to turn my slightly leaning garage into the Fall I line at the GAP (circa 2000 of course).

There are other hurdles aside from the set up.  One of the hardest part is that we really don't have all that much to sell.  We are saving some baby items for family and hoping to turn others into heirlooms.  My 3 year old is having a hard time parting with anything.  In fact, we are really keeping him out of the loop and hoping for a miracle at the sale.   Another problem is that my 7 year old is viewing this experience as a "get rich quick scheme".  He plans on selling broken toys, used erasers and stained clothing with a large price tag.  He also has plans to turn a horribly tacky gold painted 1970's wall decoration from our cabin for $8,000 by claiming that it is real gold.  This is exactly why the lessons in the value money (and apparently honesty) are needed. 


So off I go to create signs, hang clothes and empty closets.  I will try to keep my nostalgia in check and Jack will work on his greediness.


Have you ever had a successful garage sale.  What worked?  What didn't?

Free Blueberries!

Yesterday the kids and I ended our week long quarantine with a trip to ......................

 Charlotte's Blue Berry Park 

I am ashamed to say that after living in Tacoma for 5 years, this is our first visit to this beautiful 20 acre park in East Tacoma.  Located at 7402 East D St., Charlotte's Park offers FREE U-Pick blueberries.  With five varieties of blueberries, picking season runs from June to October.  Luckily, I was tipped by local berry scopers (my Mom and Stepdad) that the bushes were loaded and ready harvest.  I was also lucky enough to have them take me there, so I couldn't exactly tell you where it is outside of the above address.  So, if you venture out (and you should!), visit the Tacoma Parks Website here:  www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=649 for directions.

My Strawberry Ready to Pick Blueberries

If you haven't been to Blueberry Park yet as a family outing, this is a great week to give it a try.  The bushes along the outer edges have mostly green berries.  As you get just a little deeper into the park, especially along the backsides of the bushes, there are many more "blue" berries.

One of over 3300 blueberry bushes

Things to know for a successful picking experience:

As with all berry picking, sunscreen is a must. 

There is no restroom, only a "stinky potty" (as my kids call it) on site.

There are some thorny blackberries growing in some of the bushes.  Pants are a good idea.

The bushes can be a bit of a maze, come with a plan to keep kids close (my plan: 3 adults for my 3 kids)

A Beautiful Summer's Day 

I hope you can make a trip there this week, it is worth the short drive!  You can expect a blueberry recipe to dress these pages soon.  

Kindermusik Play Date Giveaway

FREE MUSIC

Summer is a wonderfully busy time.  We spend our days camping, swimming, and playing in the sun.  The downside, without school and activities to keep us connected, it is easy to lose touch during these warm and carefree months.  So, why not reunite with friends by entering to win a FREE Kindermusik play date?

To enter in the drawing, you simply need to post an adorable (and I’m sure you have many!) photo or video of your little one (ages 0-5) making music on our studio’s Facebook page.  Each entry will put your name for the grand prize:  One FREE 30 minute Kindermusik session at Minuet Studio.

Enter today: www.facebook.com/pages/MinuetStudio/130936326934283

Restrictions

Play date is for children ages 0-5 and their caregiver.

Play date to scheduled before September 7, 2011

Entries must be submitted by August  19, 2011

Limit of 12 children for session

Comfort Music

Enjoying the Sounds of Home

The biggest success that came out of my many hours of travel preparations was, hands down, making each child their own playlist.  Since the time that Jack, my middle child, turned 3, I have often used headphones and music to soothe him.  It started as a night time "PLEASE SLEEP!!!" tool and then grew branches into other areas of our lives.  Now I also use it with Jack for:

Anger management cool down
To beat car boredom
Early morning seclusion /(don't wake up the rest of us)

Having spent his 3 years in a musical household, Liam has always had a song in his heart.  He sings as he plays with cars, takes a bath, eats,  and goes to the bathroom, pretty much all of the time.  In fact, often, Liam chooses to sing in conversation rather then speak.   Jack and Liam even been heard arguing in song ("It ...  is....    mine"  "NO IT"S NOT"  "yes...   it...    is"   "NO IT"S NOT".  

It should have been no surprise that, while traveling, the best source of comfort (outside of Mom and Dad) for my children was music.  Why?  Music evokes emotion and memory.  It transports us, soothes us, calms us and gives a voice to emotions that we can not find the words for ourselves.   I was simply trying to find a way to keep my children from being bored and frustrated.  But, music gave them much more then entertainment.  It gave them comfort.

Liam's favorite music, a Kindermusik medley.  In particular, anything car themed and the song"Apples and Bananas".  Amelia escaped to her tween pop happy place while Jack rocked out to his pretween songs of angst.  I enjoyed my favorite sound of all, quite.

What is your child's favorite song or musical style?

Photo's: The Fantasy and Reality

Digital photography and selective sharing allow us to paint a pretty idyllic portrait or reality.  When I look back at pictures from important life events and vacations, I am always a little surprised to see how wonderful things look.  While it is fun to indulge in selective memory, it isn't exactly an honest portrayal.  That is not to say that there are not some blissful moments that can be captured, but their are a lot of ordinary moments that are important too.  Here is a photo journal of my families recent trip to the East Coast.  There were many fabulous, beautiful moments.  There were many struggles and ordinary ones too.

                   Gazing at the Washington Monument on a Summer  Evening

Reality:  Trying to keep Liam and my camera out of the Potomac.

Happy in the Summer Sun 

Dripping in Sweat and complaining about it every step of the way

Happy Family in Annapolis

Mutual Tantrum in Camden

John and I at the Chesapeake Bay

John and Liam at the Dock Street Restroom (AGAIN!)

Smiling with Dad and little sister in front of the Philly Skyline

and for my most flattering photo...

Struggling to keep Liam from exploring the Philly Streets Solo.

How do you care for your children when you are sick?

As of midnight, we are back from wonderful vacation and family reunion.  Not yet having adjusted from the time change, my children began waking up at 5AM.  As if that weren't enough of a rude awakening, I woke up with a summer cold and flu type grossness.  Having let the kids indulge in an obscene amount of screen time during out travels, I cannot bare to use that crutch today.  But, being low on energy and high on congestion has left me creatively barren.  My only option left was to plead with my older two to step up and help out.  And...it (so far) has worked!


Sometimes I forget how much my loving, considerate, and caring children want to help.  By "help" I am referring to occupying themselves, taking the dog out and feeding themselves.  They really enjoy caring for others and are quite capable.  Of course, they don't mind being asked to be in charge (boss around) their 3 yr. old brother either.  Don't feel bad for Liam, he gets to have his big brother and sister read to him and play with him.  


So, this has worked for me for today.   I am fortunate to have a capable pair of elementary schoolers to help out.  However, preschoolers and infants are very tough to care for when you are sick.   I remember some very long days.


Here is my question for you:  How do you care for you children when you are sick?  Or, how do you make it through the very long day until relief comes?