Frantically, I searched through drawers looking for green shirts. Why? Because upon awaking this morning, my darling girl stated "Oh yeah, Mom, today we can wear jeans and a green shirt instead of our uniforms." It was Earth Day.

So at 10 minutes til the time we need to be getting in the car to head to school, I am rushing around looking for a green shirt. Green isn't a color that my kids are fond of buying in clothes... luckily I had picked out a "Love Her" Earth Day tshirt for Nate (see picture below) this past weekend, but not knowing Jenna would have a pass from having to wear her school uniform, it didn't occur to me to get her one. I should have known better.

In a final act of desperation, I hit my closet and picked out a tshirt that was a bit too small for me that I had custom-made a few years ago. It was green with a silver Swarovski crystal cross on the front. A little bling-y for first grade, but it would have to do. Jenna LOVED it of course.

Of course, Nate won't be left out and is begging for his new shirt. Which I haven't washed yet.

So, my contribution to Earth Day today? Water Conservation. I sent my kid to school in clothes he wore this weekend. Ha.

Oh and by the way... I realized I like green a LOT... as I had plenty of green shirts to choose from. Must be because I am Irish. Yeah. That's it.

Best part? My Earth Day bouquet from Jenna this morning as we rushed out the door.

Don't forget the three R's peeps: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.

Nate in his green shirt:


My Earth Day Bouquet:

Old stuff...

I have been stuck at home with a crazy case of sinus infection and chest cold. Just wiping me out. The other day I had to return the bunny costume from our Easter Event at work, so I took Jenna to school and instead of taking Nate (he's only in pre-school, nothing crazy), I decided to take him with me and drop him off on my way back to home (i.e. my bed for more nyquil and sleep).

Of course, upon arriving at the Costume Store that was almost all the way in Oklahoma, we found out we were 30 minutes early. I looked around for something to do while we waited and saw that the Antique Mall next door was open. So I took Nate by the hand and told him where we were going.

Nate: What are Antikies Mommy?
Me: Um, Antiques are OLD things that people like to still buy.
Nate: Like Old Navy?
Me: (chuckle), um no... like REALLY old stuff... things that are old fashioned
Nate: Are they dirty and dusty?
Me: sometimes, but still really cool, I'll show you.

So we walk in... in the only two customers in this HUGE 5 room storefront, stock full of every kind of antique you could imagine, complete with a tea room in the back. It was awesome!

I walked around (after threatening Nate to not touch anything or I'd kill him if I had to pay $200 for a 1940's rusted hair pin if he broke it). I was kinda browsing for anything interesting to use as a photo prop, but everything was really out of my price range.

What surprised me was Nate's complete enthusiasm. He kept saying: "Mommy look at this!" and then showing me some dusty trinket that he found interesting. I felt a bubble of pride well up in me.

Old stuff IS cool. But I think most kids today don't get that... consumed with their Ipods, laptops, Wii's and Iphones... well a dusty old stereo or a tin of marbles don't hold the same excitement to them.

But here was my little boy, not quite 5, asking for a bright red rotary phone for his birthday (which by the way was priced at $150... seriously?!) ... just because he thought it was cool. Then he found an old camera, an old stereo, an old rocking chair... all the same response "MOMMY! Look at this! Can I have it for my birthday?!" I would exclaim at each and tell him about what year they came from and what age I was (if I was even born) or what age his grandmother was when they used it... and then tell him what we used now instead. He was genuinly interested.

As we left, I was kinda sad that I couldn't afford that shiny red rotary phone... even though we don't even have a land line... it would have been fun to play with for the kids and made a great photo prop. Oh well, it was fun looking and bonding with my little guy, who's growing up so fast everyday.

Heck, I might just get on Ebay or Craigslist and see what kind of old treasure I can find him.