UPDATE on Max's Trip to the Sea!
We ran some numbers for both mileage and gas... took into consideration the fact that we will be south after Christmas... considered that we already have a plethora of travels planned for December... made note of the fact that this month is Christmas... grimmaced at the thought that our economy is in a recession... did not forget that we are in the midst of a fundraising campaign at church... and took into account Josh's work schedule... and... and... gas has not technically hit a buck fitty in IC... yet.
BUT we are not about to crush Max's dream based on a technicality (just don't tell him that yet!).
We came up with two plans to get us to the beach after we considered the cost of the whole trip... one on our front and one on Max's. Our's is "simple" - we will squeeze and scrimp as much as we can to get the funds out of our budget. And in essence, our's is to match every penny of Max's.
Max's is to find ways to raise funds to pay for the gas - 77 gallons specifically.
How does a six year old raise funds? Good question! We're still figuring out all the specifics of that one... he has used some of his spending money and got a check for his first gallon from his awesome relatives (you Q's are too cute!) and is doing extra chores around the house and asks politely for any spare change we have here and there and in the laundry room and (his main bread winner) returns cans for cash.
Now let me tell you something... I HATE returning empties! YUCK! I don't care how well I clean them, they are always gross to me. I would rather give away my empties (which, quite hoestly, is what I generally do) than collect from others. And, I HATE the empty return places because they are always so sticky and smelly and noisy and who knows what you are going to touch and with kiddos in tow around such conditions... AHHHH! I am not a notorious germ-a-phobe but empty redemption places are about as nasty to me as they come. Thankfully, Josh has been the one to return so far!
Thankfully too, I love my son more than I despise empty redemption!
Today, we returned 2 (yes 2!) shopping carts full of empties we were given from a friend. (Thank you ladies! Thanks you Gates'!) The boys love the thought that each can gets them 5 cents closer to the sea and they love the auto machines that eat the cans. True, they had to jump up to reach the hole and in the process got all sorts of sticky liquids on their hands and down their sleeves and on their coats BUT they did not care!
No amount of stickiness was able to deter their utter satisfaction and beaming smiley faces of watching the $ go up by 5 cents each time. No amount of germ-a-phobia will now stop me from helping them and their joy of doing empty redemption.
Because seriously, you should've seen Max's face coloring in 9 (yes, 9!) gallons on his gas bar graph!
