not this cute anymore!
Ever since our money lesson about a YEAR ago, my kids have been BEGGING me to do a lemonade stand. I am TOTALLY COOL with having pretend stores in my house and all. But being out in the heat... getting sticky... and asking other people to dig in their purses for a quarter, is NOT on my list of favorite things to do. We originally planned on doing it the week that Aaron's G-pa passed away... and then we had to go to a funeral, so I was really hoping they would just forget about it. When Ben's birthday rolled around and we asked him what he wanted to do to celebrate, this is what he said, "ALL I want for my birthday is to have a lemonade stand!" Oh geez. I had to pinky promise him that we would do it the week after his birthday because I wasn't doing it over the 4th. So, today was the big day.
My boys could HARDLY sleep last night because they were so excited... they woke up bright and early and made sure to put on their yellow "business" shirts... (because WHO would ever buy lemonade from a kid who wasn't wearing yellow?) Ben couldn't find his reunion shirt. I may have chucked it thinking "they will never wear these again" but little did I know. After a minute of stressing about it, he wiped his forehead and said, "GOOD thing I have another yellow shirt!" Right-O.
We headed to the park (that thankfully had water to play in) and sold a whopping 23 glasses of lemonade for a quarter a cup.. which equals a total of $5.75. When you consider that the lemonade, ice and cups cost about $7.50, it makes for a pretty SAD business day. We paid $1.75 to sit out in the heat for an hour and beg people to buy Country Time. Was it worth it? Definitely NOT... but my kids would beg to differ.
We did get several moms who were actually excited to buy. They would say things like, "It's been forever since I've seen these! I am so glad you're doing this!" I felt like saying, "I not very glad about it!" But I just smiled and acted like I was enjoying every minute of it. It was fun to see my kids squeal about every sale. It's crazy what kids think is FUN, isn't it?
*A big thanks to my gal pals who came out with their kids to buy a glass! I appreciate them keeping me company and for supporting our family in our business endeavors.
**and a HUGE thanks to all those who wrote memories on the previous post! I need to break my camera more often and beg for compliments! Seriously, I felt like it was my birthday yesterday! LOVE TO YOU ALL! OXOX
My boys could HARDLY sleep last night because they were so excited... they woke up bright and early and made sure to put on their yellow "business" shirts... (because WHO would ever buy lemonade from a kid who wasn't wearing yellow?) Ben couldn't find his reunion shirt. I may have chucked it thinking "they will never wear these again" but little did I know. After a minute of stressing about it, he wiped his forehead and said, "GOOD thing I have another yellow shirt!" Right-O.
We headed to the park (that thankfully had water to play in) and sold a whopping 23 glasses of lemonade for a quarter a cup.. which equals a total of $5.75. When you consider that the lemonade, ice and cups cost about $7.50, it makes for a pretty SAD business day. We paid $1.75 to sit out in the heat for an hour and beg people to buy Country Time. Was it worth it? Definitely NOT... but my kids would beg to differ.
We did get several moms who were actually excited to buy. They would say things like, "It's been forever since I've seen these! I am so glad you're doing this!" I felt like saying, "I not very glad about it!" But I just smiled and acted like I was enjoying every minute of it. It was fun to see my kids squeal about every sale. It's crazy what kids think is FUN, isn't it?
*A big thanks to my gal pals who came out with their kids to buy a glass! I appreciate them keeping me company and for supporting our family in our business endeavors.
**and a HUGE thanks to all those who wrote memories on the previous post! I need to break my camera more often and beg for compliments! Seriously, I felt like it was my birthday yesterday! LOVE TO YOU ALL! OXOX
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16 comments:
YOU are the mom of the year! I loved looking back at that money post. what a fun idea! the lemonade stand was too cute. (see what I mean about you being the BEST poster maker?) I bet you whipped that up in 2 minutes!
and holy 60 comments on your last post. everyone luvs ya and wants to be your friend. so glad i really AM! ha.
Oh my I am not # 57 to comment.
Wow you really are the best mom ever! I don't have the patience for a lemonade stand. Way to Go!! I love the yellow shirts and poster...along with cute kiddos, no wonder you sold so much. Sooooooo fun!!!
It was pretty windy here today. We tried riding bikes and then it go too windy, so I decided to get out the kites. The kids had a blast.
What the heck! The kids who sell lemonade next door to me charge 50 cents! But it is pink lemonade, but they dont have a cute sign or pink shirts to match the pink lemonade! Your stand wins!
Thanks for the vote, Sophie!
And Tiff.. I was trying to say that even though they had matching tees and cute faces, we hardly sold anything.. We lost money on it (and had a terrible time doing it.. at least I did, anyway.) I wouldn't recommend it to any mom, but I have a feeling I will be doing it again in the near future....
I didn't even get to finish my cup of delicious ice-cold lemonade. *sniff*
I remember Audrey wanting to do this kind of thing. I was a bad mommy and talked her out of it, so kudos to you for letting your kids have the experience of the 'stand'! I think all kids love this concept and it does truly teaches them a lot (customer service, money, cost of business, etc). I admire your patience!! Love, Sam
My boys sold their rock jewlery on the corner and they made $15! Some guy gave them a $5 and told them to keep the change!
So, I've been visiting your blog since our husbands got back in touch (they served their missions together). Your stories are hilarious! My husband and I laughed at the "raise your hand" story. And I've got a question for you, how do you determine if a random comment on your blog is from a crazy? I just got one from someone that has a blog all about Carolyn Bisset Kennedy and it's only got one post. I'm thinking that it's probably not a good idea to correspond with her, what do you think?
Hi Jenn! Great to hear from you! I just logged onto your blog (just to make sure you weren't a crazie :) and I will have to read up on you and your family later today! Looks like we have the same taste in boy names! Simple... traditional.. When are we ever going to get girls?
As far as knowing whether or not people are crazy, I just assume they all are. I have a tracker that shows who is coming and how long they visit.. so when the crazies finally comment (after months of reading) I label them as just that. If they are regular commenters, then I usually take time to read about them and try to correspond.
But the truth is.. we only have so much time in the day. When our kids take up MOST of that time, I just do what I can. You can't read everyone's blog and be best friends with them.. so the ones who don't make an effort are at the bottom of the list.
There are way more people reading then there are commenting.. so it makes for a strange world.
Anyway, nice to "meet" you. I have a few readers in Wisconsin and wondered who you were! Thanks for saying hi... (and now I will take you off my crazy list :)
cute sign. you should have been an SBO. and it's a good thing ben found his yellow shirt, or that little sale would have totally BOMBED.
I agree cute sign! Another talent of yours. I think that you could have raised your price a bit. Kids are charging more than that here.
So glad it happened! I still have the yellow AND pink containers of lemonade just in case we would have had time when you were here last. But, alas, the weather was bad! Oh, and I can't forget the box of "freezie pops" taking up too much room in our freezer. I thought they'd be a hit for a nickel! Guess you just need to come back so we can have a sale....and it would be all profit for the boys because after all, Grandparents are the suppliers, and we'd sit in the sun all day with those cute boys! I'll keep the supplies on hand. Love and miss you all!
That is awesome. I wish Jayben wanted to do that. Mostly because I am tired of working and I wish that we could live off the money made with a lemonade stand.
Ben always stops when he see's kids selling it just because nobody ever stopped for him.
Sorry I didn't make it, Janet. I was babysitting all day. My friends and I used to have Kool-aid stands in my friend Rachel's front yard. We always had so much fun doing them.
I've seen a couple lemonade stands this summer. I always feel bad as I drive by and see the little kids watch me roll past not stopping as they're sweating and wanting more business. I do think it is so cute, but each time I've been in a hurry tgo get somewhere. YOu've inspired me to stop next time, so they will break even:) You are a fun mom. Your boys will always remember that.
I've been on your blog a couple times today. I've been looking at your collages. I'm learning how to do them thanks to you;)
I totally would have bought some lemonade from your boys. I had a lemonade stand when I was a kid and I think I made 75 cents. It's a good experience for your boys and they will think you are the best mom ever for letting them have a lemonade stand.
My sister used to sell rocks she had drawn on and my mom thought that nobody would buy one. She went door to door in our neighborhood dragging a little wagon with all of her "art" peices in it. She came home with about $20. My mom couldn't believe it. That was like 25 years ago, so that was a ton of money for a 4 year old.
Good luck on the next stand!
I used to sell stuff at the end of our driveway - Lemonaide, rocks, tamborines that I made with pop bottle tops. (Early 70's)
I dont' ever recall making any money but I do know that I've been selling stuff all my life!
I'm so glad you let your kids have the stand - they will probably remember it for a long time.
Have a great day!
Kristin
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