Monday, October 23, 2006

Kids Grow Up So Fast !

Right, so I’ve been packing away some of the small people’s clothes AGAIN. It seems like just yesterday the newborn baby grow was too big for Nathan, and now he’s into his next set of clothes and as tall as my chest. The twins are also really big for 3, and are usually mistaken for 5 year olds.

I’ve actually given up buying them clothes that fit them when we’re in the shop, because by the time we get out to the car they’re too small. So I buy at least one size up and think about next year too.

Hence Joshua’s winter jacket hides his little handies unless I roll the sleeves up, and Abby is like a big poofy ball – all soft and round, and very unwieldy. She can barely move and picking her up is like picking up a very light, soft, snuggly, floppy sack of potatoes. But they are so cute.

The picture of all 3 of them in their huge big winter jackets, woolly hats, hoods, gloves, mittens, scarves, winter boots – they’re 3 small arctic explorers, or for those of you who know the Michelin man – 3 mini versions. One pink and the other 2 black and white with a dash of red and blue.

There is a point here.. what was it… ah yes.

If you have small people (especially multiple small people like us) and if you are not Rockefeller (which we are not) and if your little angels seem to grow surreptitiously every time you so much as look away for a SECOND, then a few pointers to save your budget:

1. forget about designer clothes while they are small
- they will get ripped, they will be given away in a moment of fierce friendship at the day care, they will be spilled on, sicked on (occasionally), stained, crumpled up and tossed under the bed (hence lost for at least a month – by which time they no longer fit)

2. Buy decent second-hand from the day care of other charity chops whenever you can.
- they look new, they feel new, they smell new – so lose the pride thing and save like 75% on your clothes purchases – which incidentally is also serving to help charity – me I prefer if possible to support our day care or our church drives, otherwise I try to buy at the less well known charities

3. Buy from the superstores
- I got
3 winter jacket
3 pairs of gloves,
3 pairs of mittens,
3 little wooly hats and
3 gorgeous pairs of warm snow boots (1x princess pair, 1x sponge bob,1x Speed McQueen) - and some superman underpants and Barbie socks for good measure
2 scarves (Abby didn’t want)
1 pink fluffy purse (the boys didn’t want)
under
$200 Canadian ($180 USD; £90 GBP)

from Walmart and the Real Canadian Superstore.

So the stuff won’t last a life-time – why should it? The kids will have outgrown it by the end of next winter (if I’m lucky and thy don’t outgrow them before then!)

4. When you’re done, give it to your church or a charity or someone who needs them

There are loads of others who need what you no longer do. And try not to hoard. It’s hard, I know – but I am trying to keep only the real heart wrenchers… sigh – I have a cupboard full of heart wrenchers so I guess its time to do a little more pruning myself!

5. Have a great day moms and dads and may the Lord Make his face to shine upon you!

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