When my daughter turned four, my friend Tessa purchased and decorated an old trunk, then went around to all the area thrift stores and purchased small dresses and skirts, hats and shoes, and other dress up items. The result? A beautiful and well stocked dress up trunk that has served us well for the past two years.
Her thoughtfulness has lasted, not only because the items in the trunk have given us hours upon hours of fun and entertainment, but also because she taught us a precious lesson.
Do not spend twenty dollars on a Disney approved mock up dress for your child, spend twenty dollars on five size two prom dresses, and stick them in a decorative hat box or trunk.
I was reminded of this lesson today when my father ran me by the Salvation Army to look at book shelves. All of their clothes were on sale for .99 cents, and before I could blink, I found myself perusing the dress area for small gowns for Monkey to parade around in.
Soon, she will have a small, yet fun dress up trunk here at Nama’s, to play in with friends and cousins whenever we come to town. We will no longer face the travel boredom that comes with leaving all our toys behind. Instead, she will be excited to come and play in the trunk she can’t play in when she is home, as will her friends.
Thank you Tessa, for giving us a gift that has truly kept on giving.
Category Archives: Monkey
Out the mouths of sassy babes….
Monkey and her Uncle monkey played three games of tic tac toe today. She won two and they tied the last. They had the following exchange after the final game;
Monkey: I don’t want to play anymore.
Uncle Monkey: Well at least you beat me twice.
Monkey: Oh, I have won more than twice.
Uncle Monkey: Really? How many games have you won?
Monkey: About ten thousand…. Now it’s ten thousand and two.
Oooohhh the sass on my girl!!
Success, a near miss, and Walmart
So we very nearly missed our flight. We got up at four am, showered, fed the children, loaded the car, and took off for the airport. It was lightly raining when we left, but by the time we were on the way, it was torrential downpour time. So much so that New York and the airport were both flooded by the time Lee dropped us off.
We took a route we had never taken but that turned out to be faster, luckily, because the rain slowed us and the traffic down a bit. Then of course the check your bags line was four hundred miles long. By the time we got through it I had to beg someone at security to let us cut the line so we could make the plane. Which we did, barely, as it was boarding. Whew.
Of course, we couldn’t stop to buy water, so we were very thirsty, especially as we had been running through the airport. Me carrying the baby in his sling and the backpack full of laptop, snacks, and various travel necessities and Monkey carrying her backpack with snacks, baby toys, and the all important stuffies and favorite books.
Luckily the stewardess was very kind, and gave us cup after cup without giving us the stink eye.
As for the flight itself, it was a breeze. Monkey watched a movie on my iPod and Otter alternatively napped, nursed, and flirted with the kind lady who was seated in our row. He didn’t scream, he barely fussed, and I actually got a very short nap during the flight.
Bless the PTB’s for my travel-capable children, the wonderful woman seated next to me, the kind woman in front of me who spent the whole flight with her seat in the upright position to give me more room, and the kind flight attendants who endlessly supplied us with drinks and helped Monkey to the bathroom.
I am here now, in my childhood home, having already availed myself of my mother’s help, taken a bath in her lovely claw-footed tub, and gotten tipsy on my wine-club wine.
Tomorrow, Mexican food, and hopefully tea with Hatchet.
Here is a lovely picture sent to me by Ellen:
SavvySpoons 