Mr Stingy

For my birthday last week, I told Bill not to get me much. We have to spend money on lots of blinds and window coverings and we need to buy ceiling fans for the bedrooms. But I also did mention to him that I was going to need a new watch at some point. The band on my silver watch had seen better days and was starting to corrode (but you can still clearly see the 'Made in China' etching on the band...)

On my birthday, all four of my boys presented me with a new silver watch. It is a nice watch, not too lavish and very practical for a mom. I like it. 

Sam sat down next to me and observed me putting the watch on for the first time. He was frowning. "Did you know Dad spent SEVENTY dollars on that watch? I can't believe it! Nobody should spend seventy dollars on a watch!"

I found his outrage to be highly amusing. But I also gently tried to point out that you shouldn't discuss how much people spend in gifts. "Why? Cuz he spent too much on it?"

Just a few minutes ago, I was attempting to tidy up a corner of the living area in our hotel suite and I came across a plastic bag. I stuck my hand in it and pulled out the receipt for the watch. I looked at it and started laughing. Bill hadn't spent $70 on it!

I said something to Bill and he rolled his eyes. "Of course not! It was on sale!"

Sam's advice

We are sitting in the main level of the hotel, enjoying our daily afternoon snack (they call it a 'manager's reception'). Sam is busy munching on his bag of popcorn. Out of the blue, he turns to me and sternly shakes his finger. 

"Mom, never EVER try to turn away from an ice berg. It's best to run straight into it."

I knew the rest of you would appreciate this potentially life-saving advice. You're welcome. 

Roughing it

Once again, I apologize for the lack of blogging lately. I just haven't had time. Now that we are out of the house and living temporarily in the Embassy Suites, perhaps I will have more time. 

The move out wasn't fun. We got a lot accomplished with the movers on Thursday, but we filled the truck and had to leave a lot of odds and ends behind. Bill and I figured we could get the rest on Friday with the van, the trailer our brother-in-law John lent us, and the Cruze. 

Of course, we grossly underestimated how much stuff we have. We spent 8.5 hours cleaning and packing up on Friday. We skipped lunch and didn't have dinner until 8 pm. We wound up dumping two trailer loads in my parents' garage just to get the rest out of the house. And I wasn't happy with the way we left the music room or the garage. But we just were out of time and energy. 

Bill has already promised that when the movers come to help us move into the new house that he will arrange for them to make two trips, so there will be much less work for us to do. Good. Otherwise I may threaten to live in the hotel forever. 

Our hotel room is a bit cluttered, but since there is a living room and a large bedroom, we aren't completely tripping over each other. I wondered how Sam would handle this. The child spends every free moment outside during the summer, and he's stuck inside here. 

Fortunately for him, the hotel is built around an interior courtyard and has tons of live plants and water. He is having fun just exploring everything. If only he could find some sprinklers!