Spender or Saver?

While Aurora has yet to lose that next front tooth, it occurred to me when she lost the last one that she was starting to understand the concept of money. The tooth fairy left her two $1 bills and she was super bummed because she thought that last time the tooth fairly left her two $100 bills. I assured her that the tooth fairy only deals in ones but she would have none of it. So, we went to the piggy bank and counted her loot. Aurora had $11 in bills and quite a bit of change, which is a good thing because this week she lost a necklace that she loved (she wore it to daycare when I warned her not to wear it to daycare), and I told her I would not buy her another one. BUT, she certainly had enough money to buy one for herself! So, this weekend we raided the piggy bank and went shopping. She bought her very own "A" necklace and had just enough left for a sno-cone.

I suggested that she didn't have to spend it all - she could save the rest! I'm a saver. She decided then and there that she's a spender. We saw a few other things she wanted and I told her she didn't have enough, but we could start giving her allowance for doing extra chores if she wants to start saving up. I remember getting $2 a week for cleaning my room and doing chores around the house, but Aurora already does a pretty good job of helping out on her own! We'd have to think of special new chores. She seemed open to the idea but ultimately decided said she would rather just wait and ask for things for Christmas or her birthday. She's a patient child and while I certainly don't spoil her, she wants for nothing. I just hope I'm teaching her smart lessons about money. I know my parents and my brother had different approaches and I wonder... blog readers, did you get/give allowance? How did your family divide chores? What made the biggest impact on you when it came to learning about saving and spending wisely?

Sweet Faces

I snapped this adorable picture of Clarkie over the weekend and Aurora & Presley decided they wanted in on the action. Aurora's front top tooth is going to fall out any day. She's actually been kind of emotional about it and I know it's bothering her, but she says she's glad to be growing up because she wants to be a mommy like me some day... sweet girl.

Good Deal

Now that I've been back at work for a few weeks, things are picking up and life is feeling busy again. Aurora's enjoying summer camp at daycare, going on field trips and playing with old buddies, but she's definitely counting down to first grade. Clark's getting taller, throwing more tantrums and doing more complicated puzzles. We stopped at a garage sale this afternoon and got a big bin of big legos (and a baby doll) for $5. Good deal! Presley's spending the night and it kept the kiddos happy for hours.

Our summer is certainly less carefree now than it was a few weeks ago, but I'd still say we've got a pretty good deal going.

17 Years

If you count the years we lived together before getting married, I can now officially say that Chuck and I have been together for over half of our lives. I may have forgotten our anniversary if my mom hadn't offered to watch the kids so we could go out and celebrate. Tonight we went to a fancy restaurant downtown then took a sunset bat watching cruise on Lady Bird Lake. It was warm and breezy and the full moon was lovely.

Yesterday was also my 8-year anniversary at work, so last night I went back to look for a picture from my first day at the Foundation. I realized that thanks to digital cameras and social media, the last 7 years have been very well documented and we have clearly lived a very stable and predictable life here in Austin. I mean, the past 7 years have also been the most interesting and eventful in terms of these sweet little kiddos. Seeing them grown and change is worthy of documentation!

I don't have as many photos and don't often think about or tell the story of the 10 years prior. We were working minimum wage jobs, living in a tiny apartment near Seattle, eating hamburger helper for dinner. Chuck joined the military, we got married really young, moved to California so he could go to art school, and I worked at an art supply store to support him. Once he graduated, I went to college and he was diagnosed with cancer my senior year. He finished treatment, we started our careers, I learned how to cook, we traveled all around the US, went to Mexico and Europe and China (you know, not all at once, but we did a bit of traveling there for a few years!) before moving to Austin completely out of nowhere, without jobs or friends or family. Even when we had no money and few prospects, we were happy and hopeful and knew it would all work out. I could dig up some old photos and make this a completely retrospective blog post, but instead let me just say that it keeps getting better and better. So, here's to 17 years of marriage! And yes, typing that makes me feel really old. 

Puzzling

This weekend was pretty low key. Other than the parade, we didn't have much on the calendar. We went to a Home Depot kid's workshop and did a few home improvements, had a great time at a neighbor's birthday party, went on walks and baked cookies with Grandma and Grandpa, food shopped, washed the car, did laundry... the usual stuff.

When we weren't running errands, doing chores or playing outside, you could find Clarkie working puzzles. Over and over. It's his new hobby. No, it's his new addiction! I didn't think a picture would sufficiently convey the intensity and skill involved:

As you can see, we have a variety of puzzles and both kids enjoy them. Aurora will be going to CCOA full-time for the rest of the summer, and while her favorite parts are field trips and friends, they also spend a lot of time working puzzles together. Lucky her!

Parade

It was good to settle back into work during a nice short week. We watched the World Cup and had an ice cream social, I went to lunch with friends every day, caught up with most of our volunteers and interns, and we closed up early for the long weekend. Chuck and I considered taking a road trip this weekend but decided it would be better to stick with tradition, which meant heading out bright and early for the Lakeway Parade! It lasted over an hour and a half and both kiddos did great - they clapped, waved, cheered, and loved watching the fire trucks, horses, jeeps, golf carts, boats, and airplanes. And of course, they got a TON of candy and treats...

We got flowers, stickers, coupons, and even got to to see the Chick-fil-A cow. Clark was worn out afterwards and went right down for his nap. Success! Tonight we'll stay in and watch fireworks from our balcony. Aurora's old enough to wake up and watch for a bit, but Clark should sleep right through it. Happy 4th of July everybody!