Dino Dollars

Big Bro had a jar of change that is his piggy bank. Recently Grandma gave him a new jar that counts the change for him. After transferring his coins to this new jar we realized he had about $13.00 in change. This was a big surprise to me as I thought I had fished out all the quarters to pay for parking meters downtown when I take Lil Sis to music class. And yes, Big Bro knew and was ok with me taking money for parking.

So faced with a whole Saturday ahead of us while Dada of Ma'at was out of town, I suggested to Big Bro that we turn his coins to paper money then take him to the toy store to buy a new toy.

At first he was excited, but then he started bargaining. 

"Maybe I can give them these and still get a new toy?" he said this while squinting at a nickel and dime pinched between two fingers.

"Well, to get a new toy you have to give them all of it." I explained. "You have to trade your money for the toy, but then you can save more."

It took some effort to explain that he couldn't keep his money and still get a new toy (wouldn't that be nice), but he eventually accepted that he would have to give up his money. 

So we headed to our credit union where I knew there was a coin machine. Big Bro and Lil Sis we're excited to put the coins in the machine and pick up the Canadian coins it rejected (only 3).

Big Bro wasn't impressed with the receipt that he got. "But where's my paper money???"

So we waited in line and he hopped like a bunny when he handed his receipt to the teller, and impatiently tried to climb the counter as he waited for her to hand over the cash. Then got suddenly shy when she really did hand him the money.

We went to the toy store and I explained that big things cost more like $25.00.

Happily he settled on a toy that turned out to be only $8.33 after using our toy store card. He was a very happy boy to get a new dinosaur/robot toy and still have money left in his bank. I wish I had remembered to take a photo as he paid for his toy. This one from home will have to do.

And don't worry, Lil Sis got a toy too (with my money, not Big Bro's).

The total on the jar includes new-found change, but not the several paper dollars in it.