REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) Garage Sale

Today REI has their twice-a-year sale of returned goods or display items. For me it is kind of like my Christmas after Christmas! In fact, there are only a couple of times each year I don't mind getting up before 6:00am : backpacking in September, hunting in October, and the REI sale.

Today I woke up early and went with my buddy Lynn Peterson to the sale. We arrived and it was way too cold to both stand in line, so we rotated going back to the car. The sale didn't start til 9am and we were there around 7am. The sale doesn't take place in the store either, it is in the parking lot roped off so people can't sneak in or out.

We had a pretty good position in line since we were there early. I think we numbered the 50th or 60th people in line so I was pretty happy. Once the gate opens it is an all out rush to the goods dispersed somewhat systematically throughout the lot. The strategy here is to just grab as much stuff as you can and look at it an hour later or so once the looting is finished. If you take too much time looking at the items as you go, you are going to miss out on some good spoils. This year I took home around $1450 worth of gear for $278.85. Here is the list

1. Asics running shoes $89.95 (worn outside and returned-$11)
2. REI Hiking boot GTX $189 (didn't like the color-$15.93)
3. Keen clog shoes $99.95 (ripped pull tab in back-$2.93)
4. Bath toy kayak $18 (missing one dude-$4.93)
5. Keen sandals for Savannah $19.99 (elastic piece broken-$2.93)
6. Kamik boots for Savannah $29.95 (dirty-$4.93)
7. Polar RS200 and extra accessories $219.95 (battery comes on and off-$9.93)
8. Cateye LED flashlight $40 (broken strap- $4.93)
9. REI sleeping back 15degree liner $59 (too thin-$20.93)
10. North Face backpack $69 (ripped mesh-$29.93)
11. Running Soles $45 (display- $7.93)
12. North Face Tent Tadpole $239 (??? no problem-$70.93)
13. Merrell Leather shoes $89 (??? $7.93)
14. Brunton compass $19.99 (missing lanyard $0.93)
15. North Face gloves $65 (missing liner- $13.93)
16. Salomon XAP hiking shoe $89.99 (tear- $19.93)
17. Pearl Izumi leg support $34.99 (used- $4.93)
18. Eagle Creak travel luggage $239 (?? -$39)

I realize that some of their listed prices probably aren't the actual market value. In fact, I could find much of this even new on the net for lower than their listed price, but I want to think that I got a better deal than I did anyway.

Santa's a Nice Man!

For about a year we've been working with Cade to instill in him the jolly goodness of St. Nick. Last year at our ward Christmas party, Santa came and Cade was beyond terrified of him. For several weeks after that, every time we went to church, he would reassure himself, "Santa's not here" before walking through the front doors.

I think this year he has gotten the concept that Santa gives presents. When Cade sees something he wants grocery shopping my line has been, "Well, maybe Santa will make you one for Christmas."

We are in Orem now watching our nephew and went to my sister's ward Christmas party last night. Santa came, and surprisingly Cade did not run out of the gym crying upon spotting the man in the red suit. Instead he mustered up the courage to get in line to see him. When Santa handed Cade a candy cane he shouted,

"SANTA'S A NICE MAN!!!"

Any of you who know Cade, know that candy is the way to his heart. Nice work, Santa.

The Greatest Gift

I really should be crawling into bed right now but I couldn't go to bed without writing about the greatest gift.

The gift of time alone!

My girlfriend called me last night totally out of the blue and told me she would watch my kids if I wanted to run some errands for a few hours without them. I could not turn down the offer. Moments before I had been sulking to myself how impossible it has been to get anything done this week. It couldn't have come at a better time. We are heading out of town soon and I have about 10 million things I need to do. What's even more sweet about this generous offer is this dear friend is not one who is looking for things to keep her occupied. She is a very busy mom herself, and today was her only day off this week. She chose to spend her few precious hours watching my kids! It was great.

Those of you who have had children in your care at some time are aware that the time it takes to run errands is tripled or quadrupled when they are accompanying you. I got so much done this morning! I even managed to buy a few Christmas presents for myself---- from the kids of course. :-)

It gets better.

When I came back to pick up the kids, I found her in the kitchen giving Cade a haircut!!!! How great is that?! That was on my list of things to do, and has been for like 2 weeks, but I still hadn't done it and probably wouldn't have gotten around to it until Cade started growing a mullet.

I am so lucky to have people looking out for me. It's so wonderful!!

Bingo

I am the Varsity Coach for the Boy Scouts here at our church. Each month, or every so often, we look for service opportunities locally to volunteer at. Sometimes the ideas are better than others. Tonight the boys decided that they wanted to visit the nice old people at the assisted living facility close to church.

We asked if we could come and play bingo with them and that seemed like an innocent enough request. But as luck would have it, we could have picked a better activity. And I guess the activity went well overall, but there were some "moments".

The first "moment" happened as one of us (scouters) happened to win bingo. We began playing about twenty minutes into the tournament. Excitedly a young scout screamed out that he had "bingo". I guess either the old lady was mad that we had won on our first round, or that we didn't actually live at the facility. Either way, she was very adimant that we not be recognized as players. (which was a mini-sized snickers bar) She mustered up quite a bit of strength to stand up and claim that he should not be awarded the bingo prize. The boy was a bit embarassed and declined the highly coveted chocolate morsel.

I am not sure how the other "moments" happened, they just did. I guess one nice old couple got pretty fired up and shouted, "We can't play this game with you talking to us." I was on the other side of the room, but the sweet couple decided to use their outside voice to communicate to one of the scouts.

We had a great time and I would love to go again. Most of the people were very sweet and happy to talk to us while the game was going on. Some people stopped playing altogether to talk to the scouts. It was a very rewarding experience for all of us. Many of the boys doubted and even openly expressed their disapoval of the selected activity. However, they couldn't stop talking about the funny things that happened in a mere 45 minutes of gaming with the elderly. Another thing that I love is how they get away with casual swearing...for some reason it is hilarious to me. Maybe as I get older and balder Michelle will allow me a couple casual swear words to mix things up :)

Let it SNOW!

Life is good. Cade and I put up the Christmas tree earlier this week and it was such a memorable experience for me. He was literally squealing for joy when I brought in the Christmas bins. We managed to break only one ornament. Savannah has made numerous attempts at attacking the tree, but fortunately her efforts have not been fruitful.

We got dumped on yesterday and I couldn't be happier. There is something magical about snow that really makes it feel like Christmas. Kyle and Cade played in the snow last night and had a blast driving the Jeep around and making a snowman.

Thanks for the cute outfit, Gramma!

Don't I look precious!?

Thanksgiving 2007

Thanksgiving was a while ago, but it was definitely a blogworthy occasion.
Reason #1: We stayed in town.
I LOVED not running myself ragged trying to get everything ready for a trip. While it is nice to be with family and loved ones when we do hop on the plane, it is also nice staying put!
Reason #2: I still didn't have to cook!
I got off easy this year. Dear friends of ours invited us over, and asked us to only bring ONE dish. How much easier can Thanksgiving dinner be???? The food was amazing, and the company was even better.
Reason #3: Bill Hall introduced the kiddies to the wonderful world of blanket swinging!
See below.

Good food, good company..... it was a great evening. :-)