Confessions of a Shopaholic turned Nerd

Summer is wonderful. I love putting the kids to work in the morning (nevermind their complaining), then heading off to swimming lessons, lunch in the park, and coming home for some afternoon reading time. The girls still try everyday to get out of that last one but it is worth the fight. Right now we are reading On the Banks of Plum Creek (book 4 of the Little House series) Sometimes we read outside and the neighbors wander over to listen. Sometimes we have to read loudly because Cannon is whinnying like a horse. But, it works out for the most part and usually ends up as my favorite part of the day.

And as fun as it is to read books it is just as fun to buy books!

The other day we were running errands and we pulled into the parking lot of the thrift store (D.I. for you locals.) The kids groaned. "Mooooom we don't need any more books."

Here is my confession: I love to go to D.I. and buy books. It has replaced buying clothes and is much cheaper! I picked up a practically new edition of Jane Eyre which I read and LOVED, a beautiful hardbound book of the World's Greatest Fairy Tales. For a few months now I've had a book in my Amazon shopping cart The Richest Man in Babylon. Found it for 75 cents at D.I. and bonus--all the important parts were already highlighted for my convenience! Need a new set of scriptures? They've got oodles of them. Isn't this exciting? I must continue...

I have found like-new copies of my favorite children's books like Crow Boy, The Country Bunny, and Blueberries for Sal. I love to find Newberry and Caldecott Winners and I have so much fun reading them to the kids when we get home. We now own a whole set of Roald Dahl classics (Matilda, The Witches, etc.) and I was overjoyed to find 5 volumes of American Girl "Girls from Many Land series" in perfect condition.

I love to OWN books. After I read them I feel like they are part of me. AND they look so great in bookshelves.

So back to the other day. After another successful shopping trip we got back in the car. The girls immediately doused their hands with hand sanitizer. Curiously, the girls have wondered if we have to get our books from DI because we are "poor." For such occasions I am always glad to pick out one of the many lectures I have stored away in my motherly pocket. Let's see should we talk about how kids live in Haiti or the "seek not for riches... but for knowledge"...or should we go for the friends of earth recycling one...? Anyway I'm just glad that the girls have finally agreed to at least READ the books even if it is only while wearing gloves!!! (See picture for proof) Where does this OCD come from????@!!! (me :) That is yet another lecture I will have to come up with....

****NOTE: Just in case you are now wondering, "Hmmm" Laura gave me such and such book for Christmas--I wonder...did she get it at DI?"

The answer is NO. But, if I ever do I will be sure to send it with some gloves.