Garage Sale Days.

Friday was a beautiful summer day. Not too hot, not too cool.

Perfect.

Looking forward to an empty slate for the day I walked the mail out to the mail box, and that's when I saw it.

Garage sales.

Great, I thought to myself. Now I'm going to have to keep the two money hounds inside until the sales are over.

The last time there were garage sales around these parts, both kids were in heaven. Spending every last cent they had on old McDonalds toys, non working electronics and filling up on the infamous free boxes.

Not this time, I thought. They are not going to know there are sales going on or get out here.

Let me be clear about this, it's not that I don't want them to have fun. It's that they seriously buy all the junk that garage sales tend to sell. And they want to keep it!

Have you ever seen their bedrooms???!!???

So I began the task of trying to sell them on every single possible indoor activity they could do on Friday.

"Let's work on our summer scrapbooks." I announced, knowing that this is a coveted summer activity since A. They get to use all my arts and crafts supplies and B. They get to make a bigger mess than usual.

That worked for about 20 minutes, until T used the glue stick that M wanted, and M left the table in tears. (Age appropriate behavior, most likely not. Sibling rivalry behavior, yes, indeed.)

T, desperately wanted to go ride his bike or skate board.

"Umm, why don't you play K'Nex?"

No.

"How about legos?"

No.

"Star Wars?"

No.

"Poker?" Bringing out the big guns now.

No.

"I just want to go outside." He moaned. "You always say when it's a beautiful day, we should be outside enjoying it."

Oh, he's right, and he's hitting me right where he knows he'll get me.

"Fine." I give in, waiting.

Less than five minutes later, the door opens.

"M!!!!" He cries. "There are TWO garage sales down the street!!!! Come see!!!!"

And M, who hasn't stopped pouting in her bedroom since the whole 'gluestick' issue, comes flying out of her room.

They go, moneyless to start. But I know that there is no denying that they will soon be on the hunt for nickels and dimes.

Sure enough, five minutes later, they come in to tell me about the steal of a deal they've found for only $3!

Ha! I goff inside. Obviously this must be someones trash. I let them both get their money. T, however realizes, that all of his money is in his wallet, which is nowhere in sight. But M managed to scrap $5 together between her piggy bank and her dresser drawers.

And they come home with this beast....

That not only works, but provided hours of entertainment the rest of the day.

Don't be misled.

Just because of one good find, I'm still thankful that garage sale season is just about over.

But even I have to say, this was one heck of a good deal!