The neighborhood cats (ours included) turned our daughters' sandbox into a giant kitty litter box at the end of last year. It was our fault. We left the cover off. And, cats will be cats.

So, a complete sand replacement was necessary this year.

I thought it would cost $10 or so.

I spent close to $30. Who knew sand was so expensive?

I started my sand search at Kmart where I passed on their 50 lb. bags of sand for $3.19 because I thought I could find a better price. Well, not quite. Harborcreek Wal-Mart didn't even have play sand and I wasn't about to waste a gallon or two of $3 gasoline to check prices at Lowes and Home Depot. I ended up buying it at Valu Home Center where I paid $4.97 a bag (60 lb. bag).

I drove home slightly irritated at the cost of sand, but it was hard to be grumpy yesterday in the sunny warmth of a 70 degree May day.

I gave the sandbox a good scrubbing and filled it up with fresh sparkling sand and the girls played in it for hours yesterday afternoon.

When I called them in, my dark-haired 2yo had so much sand in her hair she was blonde.

I managed to comb most of it out, but (even after showers) I'm sure there's probably a good 1/2 pound of sand in each of their beds now.

Nothing like sand in your bed to signal the start of another great summer season.