Success

Part 1

While the day did not go exactly as I had thought it would, we had a very successful day.  We had some returns and exchanges that needed to get done, a prescription to pick up, some banking to do, and we also wanted to get out to the cemetery to take pictures of Joshua’s marker in the snow.  We got almost all of it done (still have a couple of exchanges that need to happen).  We also had an opportunity to teach Sam and Erica the value of patience.  Samantha has wanted a “squakers mccaw” since she first saw the commercial.  I reeaally didn’t want that thing in my house largely because she hardly ever plays with her fur real dog that she got a couple of years ago.  So, as part of working out getting the Wii for the girls we agreed that Sam would be allowed to buy a squakers with her own money if we could find a reasonable sale and she had to wait until after Christmas just to be sure no one bought it for her (we already knew this was not going to happen) so while we were shopping today she found one 1/2 off on clearance at Walmart!  Yea, she’s happy because she got one and I’m happy because she didn’t spend oodles of money for it =)  Then poor Erica was dying to spend her money and couldn’t find what she was after so she kept wanting to buy something-anything, we finally found what she was after at the last store and they had them 40% off so her patience paid off, she got what she wanted and has money to spare.  A good day all around.

Part 2

We have successfully survived 2007 (so there’s 15 minutes to go)and are looking foreward to 2008!

Holiday Hand-me-downs a Hit

Well the hand-me-downs were a big hit!  I gave the big girls my old Barbie kitchen set and clothing store set which they played with for the rest of the night.  I also gave Lauren my old “Crystal” barbie and barbie corvette.  The Leap items were also well recieved.

We also had some unexpected hand-me-downs.  Brandon’s grandma had recently gotten a new comforter etc. because she didn’t care for the last one she had though it wasn’t that old (it was too rough for her skin).  I had the sheets already because when we were cleaning stuff out after they moved no one else wanted them and I was in need of some new queen size sheets.  So Brandon’s sister-in-law called to see if I wanted the rest of the bedding too (she had helped Oma switch to the new stuff) so we said ya!  I’m really pleased because it even looks great with our bedroom furniture, don’t ya think? I’m even thinking I might be able to make some window valences and perhaps a throw pillow or two from the bed skirt (we have nice wood side boards so we don’t use a bed skirt).

We also got a “new” hand-me-down digital camera!  My sister-in-law’s parents from Long Island were here for the holiday and joined our family for Christmas.  I had just nicely sat down with them when my SIL says “hey would you like a new digital camera?”   I said “didn’t you guys just get a new digital camera?” (they had given us their old 2.1 mega pixel a couple of years ago) she went on to explain that it had been her sister’s but she didn’t like it because it was too big to fit in her purse easily so she had gotten a new smaller one for Christmas and we could have her old one if we wanted.  So we are now the proud owners of a very nice, gently used, 4.0 mega pixel Olympus digital camera.  Now I’m thinking we can hand down the other one to the big girls for our trip to Mississippi in the spring (Brandon’s not sure they are responsible enough yet)…we’ll see.

Holiday Hand-me-downs

We are trying out a new tradition with the girls this year.  You guessed it, Holiday Hand-me-downs.  The idea is that the girls will each hand down toys they no longer use but are by rights their’s.  For example, Samantha hands down her Leap books that are too young for her anymore, Erica hands down her Leap stuff that’s too young for her, Lauren hands down/gives away Her Leap toy that is too young for her.  The idea we are going for is that they learn to part with things that are no longer useful to them (sentimentality is a genetic trait for them) and that they learn to give of what they have to those who can benefit from it.

Now you might ask doesn’t Samantha get shafted?  No because Mommy will hand down some of her things that she doesn’t use anymore that Sam might enjoy or give her something I’ve found second hand.

So last night was the big night.  Brandon helped Erica and I helped Sam decide what to give away.  Erica was all for the idea once she understood that she would be getting something in the long run.  Samantha on the other hand was still a little too attached to give it all away so we comprimised on her giving away just the books she didn’t use anymore not the whole set.  She was however, very excited about giving Erica her old slippers because she knew how excited Erica would be.  For now we are just going to stick with the disappearing toy method for Lauren, when she grows out of a toy we just put it away or give it away, we’ll probably wait until she understands the whole concept before we initiate her.  Incidentally, usually clothing is automatically handed down as necessary but Sam had bought those slippers with her own money so I wanted her to be able to decide what would happen to them.  Anyway, I’ll try to remember to let you know later how it goes over.  I’m thinking it will be great this year because the girls don’t know about the old barbie stuff mommy has stashed in the basement.

I think I’m in love…

I think I’m in love with craig’s list.  We have been trying to decide what to do with our couch.  (not a bad looking couch for 12 years old eh?)

When Nana and Papa moved this summer they gave us their sleeper sofa (much newer and nicer) so we didn’t know what to do with our old one.  We tried to sell it this summer on our garage sale but the sale overall was less than successful and we had no takers.  Brandon discussed putting it downstairs in the basement but I was opposed because most of the furniture that goes to the basement, dies in the basement (the children are very hard on the furniture down there) and because I didn’t want to get stuck helping him carry the beast down there (ever carry a sleeper sofa -they weigh a ton) and I didn’t want to owe anyone that big =).  A couple of weeks ago I finally got around to looking on line to see what it would cost to list it on craig’s list …. would you believe IT”S FREE!  Just what a good dutch girl loves to hear.  So this past weekend I finally put away the mounds of clothes that I had folded onto it, gave it a good fluff and stuff, took some digital pictures and listed it online for $100.00 price negotiable, figuring if we couldn’t get rid of it before new years we could always donate it to Love Inc for the tax deduction.  Within two hours we had an email from someone who wanted to come look at it Sunday afternoon.  We said how about Monday? they said okay.  Then today Brandon got another email from someone else who was very interested.  We told them we already had someone coming to look at it but we would let them know if they were not going to buy it.  The price just became less negotiable.  So on to tonight, the guy came to look at it, never even sat on it, and says “ya, I think that’ll work”, hands over the cash, Brandon helped him load it and by the end of the week I should be able to park in the garage again!!! Wahoo!  Next time, I might try a little higher price, ’cause of course right now I’m going, “I wonder if we could have gotten 200?” ( I know greedy-before I knew there was much interest, I was willing to get rid of it for $75) But really I am so glad just to have one less thing on my list of things to do/take care of.  You know my brain is already thinking, “what else could we sell?”

Hey anybody available to move a couch from our garage to the livingroom?