My Kind of Saturday

It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The kind of morning Shane wants to go outside and kill some bamboo.

It sings to my soul.

Just like garage sales sing to Nana's. We did those, too! Carrie bought some pink lemonade from a little girl that was more sugar than liquid.

Thank God, no one's cat was for sale.

We spent the whole morning out. There was a farmer's/business market set up downtown. One stall advertised a roller derby match that evening.

We ate well, and then checked out the renovated Discovery Museum.

Shane approved.

Carrie approved.

I approved.

We used up as much of our free parking time as we could!

Our morning would have been adventure enough. However, Igor posted that he and Casey stumbled across a certain roller derby match! Carrie got on the horn immediately. We'd already eaten, but we arranged to meet up at the walking mall!

We haven't seen Iggs and Case in years. Carrie and I were thrilled. They'd gotten tired of the grind and spontaneously hopped out of NOVA for the long weekend. Charlottesville was a convenient stop after they'd cruised Skyline drive.

Shane took a shine to Igor....and his phone. He wasn't as interested in how I mispronounced "debris" as a teen. Igor was happy to enlighten him on how to play Boom Beach, though.

They started shoulder to shoulder, but it didn't take Shane long to worm his way onto Igor's lap. They talked tornadoes in between levels.

All the while, a busker alternated between banjo, spoons, and a violin. He belted out numerous tunes, but I appreciated the Great Big Sea ones the most. I sent Shane over with a donation. My son dropped it off, trotted back, turned back around and hollared at the top of his lungs "YOU'RE WELCOME FOR THE MONEY!"

Saturday in May

First arrival:

First arrival + 15 seconds:

First arrival + 18 seconds:

First arrival + 27 seconds:

Shane's stubborn, too. I decided to wait him out.

Fifteen minutes later, he was still over there.

Twenty minutes later, I went over and said something low-key and indirect. I walked back and blob tag started a minute later. It took a game, but Shane decided he did want to participate after all.

Until the game started.

I can't say it was a banner practice. Later, I suggested it would be fun to try and run circles around the other players. It got him out on the field!

There was no sitting out on water or snack breaks.

He's a social kid in the end. He said he was sad that the season was almost over.

Garage sale therapy cheered him right up. We ended up at one sale for almost half an hour. Shane and an older boy built a marble race-track (purchased from another garage sale! "I think the whole neighborhood is trading old toys," the boy's dad said).

I really need to work on Shane's bargaining skills. A lady at our last stop offered Shane a small Lego toy.

"How about you take it for free?"

Shane thought about it. "How about a dollar?"

"Are you sure you don't want it for free?"

"Ummm...one dollar! Okay?"

We paid a dollar. I asked if we could take a second toy, too. Then the lady offered a free stuffed toy to help thin her wares.

The stuffed animal, Tigey, was the big hit. We celebrated with nachos.

Where was Mommy for all of this?

Also From That Last Garage Sale

A box full of Knex. Not as cool as Legos, but definitely a fun afternoon or two. Shane loves to build things. They become wrecking balls, hammers, and all-purpose 'whackers' most of the time, but he does love to build them.

More Garage Sale Toy Fun

$10 for a bunch of wooden track and Thomas toys a couple weekends ago: Still fun.

The kind of fun only $2 at a garage sale can buy.

 The title says it all.