Money and Pajamas

Dear Bubbas,

We've been learning some hard lessons about money lately. We started giving you guys allowances for doing specific chores. You get a dime for going to sleep and taking a nap right away without whining. You get a dime for doing chores like cleaning your bathroom, vacuuming and dusting, and taking out the garbage. However, you also get fines. You lose money if you talk mean, if I have to find your shoes for you, and if you get in trouble at preschool.

The other day we were at Walmart getting plants for the garden. Daddy and I got you each a pair of gardening gloves but told you that if you wanted a tool it had to come out of your allowance. Kaylee and Hunter decided that was worth it to them. Connor did not want to spend his money. He wanted to save it.

Then the next night Connor wanted his firetruck pajamas. Unfortunately, he had ripped a hole in the knee so bad it wasn't repairable so I threw them away. He has lots and lots of pajamas so it wasn't a big deal. However, to Connor it was. He wanted new firetruck pajamas. There was a huge tantrum thrown when I said I wouldn't take him to Costco until he had enough money. Finally, when he pulled it together he did some chores around the house before bed and he earned some money. Then we called Grammy Darrlyn and she said she had some chores around they house that you three could do to earn some money, so this afternoon we went to her house and did chores while she was at work.

I think you guys like Grammy's chores. You got to dust, feed the dogs, check the toilet paper rolls, take out the garbage, and walk around the yard looking for garbage. What made me laugh was as soon as you got to her house you got a juice box. Hunter told me that "Gramma said we can have one whenever we need one."

After we had a juice box we got to work. You did a really good job on the chores. You fed the dogs especially well! Then when all the chores were done we looked on the counter to see how much Grammy left us. She left a dollar for each of you! You were thrilled!

Then it was off to Costco to get Connor's firetruck pajamas. There was ONE pair left. I was hoping and praying as I picked them up they would be a size that would work. They were! They were the perfect size. Thank You God! Connor was THRILLED! Hunter was upset because he wanted to spend his allowance but didn't have enough for pajamas because he bought a gardening tool the other day. He decided he would get a movie at blockbuster on the way home.

Kaylee was crying hard when I wouldn't let her get pajamas. She also didn't have enough money due to the gardening tool. She didn't understand, and I wanted to buy her the pajamas but I didn't want to take away from Connor's accomplishment, so I told her no. However, she saw a box of pop tarts so I pretended that she had enough money to buy those and that seemed to be a good idea to her. Until she saw the chips. Then she wanted the chips. That was fine with me, because I also wanted chips and they were cheaper so she really did almost have enough money!

We stopped at blockbuster on the way home and Hunter picked out his movie, and then it was home to show Daddy about our successful day. We were home only a few minutes before Connor was stripping down and putting on his new pajamas!

You three are so cute. I'm sorry it's so hard to learn about money, but we're making it as fun as possible! I think it's working too, because you three are all pretty proud of yourselves.

I love you,
Mommy