Thursday, February 23, 2012

Navy Blue Uniform Pants

I have one item impossible to get these days - Navy Blue Uniform pants in a size 8.  I had purchased 6 pairs from Old Navy in August for $9 each, four of those six have holes in the knees now.  I believe this was a good investment as pants for 6+ months for school cost me a mere $54 dollars.

Now I am trying to get a few replacements but they are impossible to find, this week I have been to Target, JCPennys, Macy's, Dillards, Sears (Lands End as well but at $30 a pop, no way), Kohls, Old Navy, and various browsing on the web.  Apparently there is a shortage of Size 8 everywhere.

Sometimes I don't understand how/why stores have a million of sizes that no one needs but can't reorder more sizes of the ones that are always sold out.

The other place which I don't go unless I have to is Schoolbelles.  Nothing against them except their prices.  Their value brand is fine for me but there is no adjustable waist and when you have a 4' 4" seven year old who weighs in the neighborhood of 55 lbs. you need adjustable waist or a large amount of duct tape.  Their regular pants would be great but due to their 180 day guarantee they are about $26 dollars a pair.  So if bought 5 pairs it would coast me $130 where as my 6 pairs plus a few replacements are much less (granted if I can find them) and the fact that at this point I refuse to pay $26 for a pair of pants for a growing 7 year old when I have a hard time paying that for my own pants.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Getting Stamps

For the Boy in school good behavior earns you a stamp on your chart. If you have to write your name down you still get a stamp, but if you get a check you don't get a stamp.  I have a prize system setup so that if he gets 4 out of 5 stamps in a week he gets a prize, usually a Lego Minifigure.  If he gets 5 out of 5 stamps but having to write his name down any one day he gets a bigger prize, and for 5 out of 5 with no name I have a bigger prize.  Needs to say I have only given one or two of the middle prize range and a bunch of minifigures.

Most of the issue is the Boy is outgoing, likes to talk and when he likes something he doesn't listen well.  Granted the kid sounds like a handful but he is doing very well in school so there is not too much complaining.  I just want him to follow the rules and listen to his teachers.  Plus I really like to give prizes.

Today was a little different as he didn't get a stamp, but as opposed to pulling it out of him (he is very honest but doesn't like to talk about it) he told me right away and was disappointed. So maybe progress is being made, but then again it is Wednesday.  Wednesdays are the toughest day for him for some reason.  Get a stamp on Wednesday is very rare.  If I charted all the days of no stamps Wednesday would win by far.  Even in this shortened week Wednesday was still no stamp.  So the question is why is Wednesday so difficult?  Is it that it doesn't sound like it is spelled?    

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Unicycle

Our school has "Right to Read Week" coming up and the theme this year is the Circus.  The Librarian asked me a simple question, "Do you have or know how to ride a unicycle?"

Unfortunately I do not own my own unicycle, but through some question asking I know have two borrowed unicycles and a week to learn to ride.  One friend questioned my intentions that this was for school, but this is indeed for school.

I am excited at learning how to ride a unicycle, as it is one of those things I can put on the resume.  I am sure there will be pictures and I will update how it all goes down (hopefully not me on the pavement) later next week.  Plus I have added guy incentive, one of the unicycle owners said, "I don't think he will be able to do it." I am just thinking that the person was being a motivator because anytime you tell a guy he can't, won't, unable to do something it only means "Yes I CAN!"

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Growing Overnight

The kids spent the night at the grandparents house recently.  It had barely been 24 hours from when I dropped them off to picking them up.  I walk in and see the Boy and the only thing I could think of is, "Did you get taller?"

When my AGW got home from work she said the same thing.  So I had him stand against the wall, marked his height, and got the tape measure to see how tall he was.  Not quite 7 1/2 years old and the kid is a little over 4' 4" tall.

Granted all his school pants look like capris at this point, but i figured part of that was them shrinking in the wash until I had put the new pair on him.  The new pair (which was bought as a backup for when the holes in the knees started) was still too short, not as short as the older worn pants but above the ankle.  So now I need to find pants that have a size 6 waist with a size 8 leg length.  I realize there is adjustable waist but you can only pull that elastic so far until it breaks.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

It is 6:20am on a Sunday!

It is 6:20am on a Sunday and both kids are awake. Why? I wish I knew. Any day during the school week it can be difficult at best to get the kids up and ready for school. So far this morning I have been asked to play several times, refereed one dispute and watched one not to exciting episode of Jake and the Neverland Pirates. I can almost guarantee that Monday morning the Boy will say he is tired and the Girl will need to be pulled out of bed doing the clingy whine and grab the entire morning. Well as I type this, it is time to settle another dispute.