Back to School - readiness

I am cringing at the amount of money that flowed out of my back account this weekend while I got the girls ready for school.  I did my best not to micromanage their fun, but I have to admit that while I remember how important it is to have the "completely perfect" items for school, I did draw the line after the 6th or 7th decision change on the folders. 


All three girls have their new backpacks, and since they came from Costco, I am seriously hoping they last longer than one school year. I still honestly believe that the girls drag them around on the ground at all times which would account for the shredded backpacks by Christmas-time.


We still had many left-over items, but new folders were purchased with new inside folders (much like the Pee-Chees I had but cuter), more erasers, etc. And despite not purchasing everything that was needed, the total still almost made me choke!


Then, there was the Back to School haircuts. That is a must, and they love the time to chat with the stylist and pretend to be adults. It's fun to watch, and even better to see the results.

Not that any of you can answer this, but where did my "little" girls go?? These are not the same children that I remember having just "yesterday." Wow!


After the haircuts, we went for lunch. After all of the money that flowed, Mama kept it simple - Carl's Jr., but the girls still wanted their group photo.

Finally, we ended on clothing. Holy Lord! Mandy refuses to stop growing! Clothes I bought for her at the beginning of summer no longer fit her.  OK, the pants still fit her because she has no ass whatsoever, but the shirts ride up about 4 inches if she lifts her arms. Sadly, because of her build, if it fits her length-wise, it's usually too wide on her, but we found some cute clothes for her, new PJ bottoms for Taylor, one new outfit for Jordan (that child gets all the hand-me-downs and is set for life, but she still has to have a couple things new), and then everyone got new shoes and socks. 


By the time I got home, I was completely exhausted! There is nothing worse than not liking to shop and then doing so with three small people who all completely enjoy shopping.  There were other customers at the store who came up to me to laugh and comment while the girls were running amok in the clothing section, "OMG! This would look just perfect on you!" "OH! Look at this! You simply must ask Mama to get this!"  


I am not making this shit up! This is how they talk when they are shopping together, and all I can think of is that I want alcohol and lots of it NOW! This is when I wonder how these three actually came from me. I can see the resemblance, but that's apparently where it ends.


Once we were home, Daddy got a fashion show. Jordan even accommodated him by turning and following whatever directions he gave for the show. HAHA!  Backpacks are now completely ready to go. They have been organized and re-organized "just to be sure," and then we got their class assignments yesterday as well, so they are completely pumped up about which teachers they got, where their classrooms are going to be, etc. (Remember that the girls' school has gone K-8, so there is no Jr. High setting for the older two. Yay!)

I fell into a glass of wine and tried very hard to relax from the day. I don't know how they were energized after all of that, and I made sure that my wonderful rough and tough Marine knew he was a fricken COWARD for not going with us. He happily admitted that he was a coward in this situation and knew he would not survive the Back to School mission with three little girls - especially these three.