Garbage (I Mean Garage) Saleing

Most of you don't know Christian's secret talent: he can negotiate to no end while garage saleing. For example, last fall he happened by a garage sale while on his bike. He saw a pair of biking shoes, his exact size, still in the box they were purchased in. He wandered over nonchalantly, and asked what they wanted for them. The woman said she didn't really know; they were her husband's but he had only worn them once. Christian looked at them and they were brand new. Not a scratch or scuff in sight. He offered her $3.00 and she seemed kind of skeptical. So he got on his bike and started to leave, and she said, "Okay. That's fine." He bought them and brought them home, looked them up on line: $70.00 retail. He uses them all of the time. Great deal!

Well, yesterday he heard of a neighborhood sale (thanks Deborah for telling me about it!) and took Ethan to his first garage sale. Ethan made his first purchase: a green whistle/thermometer/compass. He was very proud because they were asking 50 cents and he offered 25 and they accepted. Like father like son! Christian found a drill with all of the extra tools (saw, sander, grouter, flashlight, etc.) and paid $23. The drill had been used a couple of times, and all of the extras were still in their original plastic bags, never opened. He looked it up online: $150.00. So pretty good!

Today the boys begged to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It's May.

I don't want to scare anyone, but I will (this means you Mom). Have you seen the headlines: "Severe weather kills 20", "Death Toll Climbs from Missouri, Oklahoma Storms", "Tornadoes, high winds rake Missouri, Oklahoma and Georgia"? Well, we had a tornado touch down about 10 miles north of us two nights ago. The weather was dark and crazy. Christian and I were watching the clouds, and there was one giant cloud that was moving slowly in a circular motion. If there had been any power to it, it could have become a tornado. Maybe it's good we're moving soon? But then we'll have to deal with life-threatening earthquakes in Utah, I guess.

And finally, Happy Mother's Day to all mothers out there, and a special Happy Mother's Day to my mom, and to Jennifer and Ruth. I love you!