who knew

School shopping is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

After grabbing the couple items at Kroger and Publix on sale cheaper than Walmart's ad, I made my way to the mega store this morning with my list in hand. I will say it was pretty cool to have gotten the list last week and first, walked outside (I can't seem to figure out how to spell the past tense of the word mosey) to the storage and began a decent size pile from what was already in the stockpile. Ziplock bags I remember being BOGO at Publix a while back were added to this pile. What's a box of tissue or two from the leaning tower of Kleenex? This was a very cool feeling. About a third of the list I already had at home! Next year my goal will be to have half if not most of the school items waiting for school to start. Anyhow, I derailed. So... making my way up and down the "back to school" aisles at Walmart with all the other crazy moms there, I've got some general observations from today's experiences.

I'm sure glad I did not have my kids with me. I will continue to do "school shopping" WITHOUT my kids with me in the future whatever it takes. Wow. It's hard enough to manage the shopping cart without running into anyone else or being blocked by someone else or blocking in someone yourself when you're solo. Can you imagine three kids tramping along (not that Micah tramps yet).... aye. The moms there today that I saw had ten year old kid A saying "I want this folder, can I have this folder, I need this folder" and five year old kid B saying "Let me pick my own crayons, Mommmmmy I have to have my own box" and 7 year old kid C saying "I don't like that notebook. I don't like any of these notebooks." I'm so not kidding. The lady today that made me laugh and actually I really had to stop myself from laughing out loud was with 5 year old kid D saying "I don't need glue. We not gonna glue Mommy. You don't like glue. Why you put glue in there? I not gonna glue. I get sticky. Mommy why we buyin glue?" Can't you just see that unfolding before your eyes? And just think, if I had my kids with me, you know I'd have been one of those ladies. I will admit, I did call Jamie and ask to talk to Matthew (which I'm sure he thought was silly) and asked Matthew which lunch box he'd rather because I couldn't find either of his favorites and had to substitute in second and third runner ups. And I will also say that I was super grateful for the Experienced Mom in the store. When I was down to literally my (second to) LAST item and I couldn't find it, after walking up and down three times each aisle deciding it HAD to be SOMEWHERE... I started asking "Excuse me, sorry, this is my first time shopping for school supplies, do you know where to find X notebook?" I got two blank stares and then the Experienced Mom stepped up. "What kind of notebook?" she asked me. "Um, this Mead Primary Journal, I think it's like a composition book, but I don't know where to find it" she goes "Oh, it's one aisle over, on the left." I stared at her. "Really?" She said "Yup, I'll show you. I have three kids, the youngest is six." I said, "I have three kids, the oldest is five." She smiled so nicely at me as if to say 'you crazy fool, ha ha ha, I'm done with that.' No, in all honesty, I was glad for her help. She knew right where it was and she wasn't snarky about helping which is really nice in a world where like no one wants to help anyone ever.

I did have to go to Hobby Lobby for the last item on the list but that's okay, I knew I was going to go there, they have the cheapest plain white t-shirts I've seen so I hauled myself over there after the walmart craziness was over.

But! At least I'm done with that!
Matthew has a rockin' new backpack and (non-matching) lunch box.
Both Matthew and Mark have new "rest" towels.
All three boys acquired new clothes today. I couldn't help myself ... there was a onesie that said "stud" and had the picture of a muffin on it. So yah, Micah's got that waiting on him for the right size. $3 dollar clearance item!
I have crayons and colored pencils and markers and erasers and gluesticks and folders coming out my ears! BUT... I do not have to suffer the masses with the children in tow! And for that I'm thankful.