We are sorry to inform you...

We get a call from the newspaper last night about our subscription. Apparently our account has fallen behind and we owe the people some money. I'm thinking...oh yeah, maybe I didn't pay that yet. I'm feeling bad, getting out my checkbook ready to reconcile my delinquent account. I can hear the lady typing in the background as she is pulling up my account information. There is a pause and then she informs me that my account is in the rears a bank breaking...are you ready?...$0.17. Yes that is a whopping ZERO dollars and 17 cents!



She is still quiet waiting for me to say something...and I like don't even know what to do. Can you even write a check for $0.17. She tells me I can mail the check in...seriously??? SERIOUSLY...I'm supposed to pay $0.42 to mail in a $0.17 check written on paper and stuffed inside an envelope that probably cost more than what I actually owe company..."to prevent my account from falling further behind!!!" I told the lady if she would dig in her purse for a dime, a nickel and two pennies and spot me the 17 cents...I would mail her a quarter for her trouble. She didn't like that too much and reminded me of my financial responsibilities. So, I let her draft the 17 cents out of my bank account and we are now in good standing with the Dallas Morning News.

Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy

OK...Avery is 8 and last Christmas he was very suspicious of Santa Claus. Not quite believing that a fat man in fur slips down the chimney in the middle of the night and leaves them presents...he was on to us! So this year we decided that we should probably explain about the spirit of Christmas...yada, yada, yada and tell him that the whole Santa thing was all a hoax, but please don't tell his brother and sister.

Last week he is riding his Razor motorcycle with his helmet that Santa brought him a few years ago and he comes in to say.."Mom..Santa didn't bring this helmet..you and Dad bought it, look, the price tag is still on it!" What losers we are to leave the price tag on, right? So, not wanting to bold face lie, I said that Santa probably can't make helmets and maybe he got it at a store. I could tell by the look on Avery's face...he wasn't buying it. He says "Mom, Santa doesn't have any money...he couldn't buy it." I'm thinking...my boy is growing up...he's too logical and smart for fairy tales and make believe...the magic of his childhood is coming to and end. Just when I'm preparing to break the news to him...his eyes light up. This is what he says..."Oohhhhh...I know Mom...the Tooth Fairy bought it for him...she's LOADED!!"

So, the magic lives on and this Christmas Avery may copy the Tooth Fairy on his letter to Santa!