The man your man (or boy) could smell like

Says the six year old, as he pulls his shirt off:

"MOM!  Can I have some man spray for my dumpsters?"

How deep is your love?

This morning as I was taking my six year old son to the allergist, we somehow got into a deep discussion about how it was my job to protect him, no matter what.

"I protect you because I love you more than anything", I said.

After a long pause, my son replied, "Even more than rice cakes??"

Um, yes.

Kids say the darndest things

Me:  picking a piece of lint off the laundry

K:  What is that, Mommy?

Me:  It's a fuzzy.

K:  Sometimes fuzzies are nice, sometimes they're naughty.

Me:  How do you know if a fuzzy is nice?

K:  He smiles.



Overheard after dinner last night:

Boy:  Clearing the table.  Slowly and seriously:  If it's called hot sauce. . . (long, thoughtful pause). . . why do we keep it in the fridge?

On how to acquire a beautiful velvet box

A 40% off coupon at Family Christian Bookstore.  Valid only on the weekend, when I have multiple children.  A 25% off coupon, valid on the weekdays, when I only have one child.  

What to do, what to do?  

Calculate the difference between coupons on the item I need.  About $6.  Okay, worth it to go on Saturday, since we were going to be near the store anyway.  And bonus - I only had three children after all!

En route to store.  Reiterate the importance of not touching the many breakable things we would be encountering.  Stay close to mom and don't touch.  

At check out.  Kids have been relatively good and we have made it through the process unscathed thus far.  

Crash!  My head jerks up as I hear glass shatter into a million pieces. . .in the vicinity of one of my children.  

I step the few feet to assess the situation.  I see a beautiful velvet box sitting on a table, empty. I hold my breath as I flip it over. 

$27.99.

Sigh.  

After coupons, I have purchased a lovely burgundy box for $18.  Actually, the offending child has paid for it.  And I have to say, though many tears were shed, and sorrow and apologies expressed, that soft little box has been quite loved and cherished thus far.

But I can't quite say the whole event was worth it.  If you're in the market for an exquisite velvet box, I suggest you buy the ornament too, in the customary way.  

A penny saved is a penny earned!

The other day, I was enjoying one of my favorite activities: shopping at Target with little K.  She was chatting in her sweet way as I got into line and I was drinking it all in.

Suddenly, the merchandise on the conveyer belt in front of me caught my attention, and my conversation with little K stalled.  The gal ahead of me was piling item upon item of name brand, individual-packaged, convenience packs onto the counter.  I watched, fascinated, all the while thinking how much I could save her if she would give me her list.  Even at Target I could have saved her a bundle!  But if I could have shopped at a few other stores, the savings would have been even greater.

I held my breath and tried not to look like a stalker as I ignored K and strained to hear her total.  $395!  I nearly fell over.  She didn't buy anything large - all small items that added up to that crazy amount.  She didn't look concerned by the total and paid in cash, so she must have the means to shop that way.  But still - heavens!  I know I am cheap, frugal, whatever you want to call me.  But aren't there other things you could spend that money on?  I can think of more than a few!