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!

Sam's ginormous mother

First thing this morning, Sam had his annual visit with the allergist. He hasn't had a breathing episode in months, so I anticipated this to be a quick appointment. Sam did his breathing test and then the doctor asked him to sit on the examining table. Sam climbed up and laid down so he could see out the window. 

I was sitting in a chair next to the table and I rested my arm along the pillow, just above Sam's head while I talked with the doctor. After awhile, Sam grew tired of looking out the window so he turned his head to face me. He started carefully studying my arm, which was right next to his head. 

"What's this?" he asked me and he gently pinched my triceps. I told him it was my triceps muscle. Then I flexed my arm and pointed out my bicep. Sam flexed his own arm and studied the muscles. Then he looked at mine. Then he squeezed my triceps again. Then he slapped it to see if it would jiggle. 

"Why is yours so much bigger than mine? Seriously. It's ginormous."

I can heartily assure you he wasn't complimenting my spectacular physique. He also wasn't intentionally being mean or cruel. But he definitely succeeded in giving the doctor a laugh.

You'll have to excuse me now. I'm going to go lift weights. 

Sprinklers!

Initially, when we decided to build again, Bill told me (quite decisively) that he was NOT putting the sprinkler system in the new lawn. He was going to hire someone. 

Fast forward half a year. Funds are running low, and frankly, Bill can't quite squash the urge to tinker. So he informed me that he would put the sprinklers in after all (I would tell you how shocked I was, but, well, I've met him before). Then, Bill told Sam he could help put in the sprinkler system. Sam is so excited he can't stand it.

Yesterday, we were at the new house, dropping off the light fixtures to be installed. Sam asked permission to walk up and down the road and spent the entire time scoping out the neighbor's sprinklers.

This afternoon, Sam was bored. And thinking. He asked me when we could start buying sprinklers for the new yard. I told him to ask his father. Bill needed to go to the hardware store anyway, so he told Sam they could go look at sprinklers. 

Of course, Bill and Sam didn't just look. They bought some. As they were heading to the check-out, Sam informed Bill he was the best dad ever. 

But Sam's day kept improving. Bill asked him to hook up one of the new sprinklers to the hose, 'just to make sure it worked.' Sam then brought the sprinkler over to my mom's, to show her how it works. 

This will keep him happy for the foreseeable future. I love that kid!

Lack of posts

I do apologize for my lack of posts. This summer has been phenomenally busy. And whenever I have a spare moment, I'm packing or purging. I usually do my blog posts at bedtime. Instead, I've been so tired, I've been falling asleep in front of the television. 

I may blog more in September, when we are all sharing one hotel room for a month. I think it's a test of how far my sanity can be pushed. 

Whoa, Grandma!

We had dinner with Bill's mom tonight. Over the course of the meal, Ellen said something about her work. Sam looked up from his plate in surprise and said, "Grandma, you work??" 

The adults laughed and Ellen informed Sam that she has worked at the same place for 25 years. Sam looked impressed. Nolan got in on the conversation then. 

"Grandma, how old ARE you? I need to know!"

Ellen laughed again and told Nolan she was the same age as Papa (my dad). Sam immediately told Nolan that meant Grandma was 62. I have no idea how Sam remembered that. 

TJ got in on the amusement at the end of the meal. He complimented Ellen on a pie she had made. "Grandma, that was the best pie I ever ate. I think it was the only pie I've ever had."