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With school a week away, I decided it might be a good idea to conquer a chore I greatly dislike: back to school shopping. Every year I tell myself that I will perform this task better, be more organized, I will consolidate the school supply list, I will shop when items are on sale and tax free, etc. Last year I was clueless about the tax free time and this year I thought it lasted a week not just a weekend. So, no tax free for me. We started off with haircuts. Zeke scowled so severely throughout his haircut that he sent his siblings into repeated fits of laughter which kept making Zeke turn his head. The stylist was happy to finish with him. Gabe’s hair had gotten so long, it had grown past his ears and stuck up in all directions. He was only concerned with keeping his sideburns. Gabe loves sideburns. He, Elvis, and Grandpa sure know what cool is. Josiah got his unruly mop of curls shorn to a length that forbids his hair to curl. I tell him to give up fighting his curls. It is, of course, advice I didn’t adhere to until I turned 30. Abby had gotten her hair cut the day before, and now has a left side part. All middle school girls must have haircuts where their hair hangs in their face. It’s just the way it is. Yesterday, Zeke said, “I want to go to McDonalds. I love McDonalds.” Like Father, like son. So, we went to McDonalds (Maccas) for lunch. After that the school supply search was on. I walked down the aisles, 4 separate lists in hand and told them each what they needed. Fairly often there was a “No wait, go back and get another one of those.” Josiah grabbed a locker shelf which he claimed would solve his messy locker problem. I let him buy it, but am quite certain the locker is not the problem. When he cleaned out his locker at the end of last year, he brought home the roll of paper towels that he was supposed to give to the teacher on the first day of school. Gabe’s list for third grade was endless. I’m not sure why exactly he needs so many things, but apparently he does. After we purchased all the common items, we went to the office supply store to find all things obscure: spiral bound index cards, dry erase board erasers, maps, etc. We finished off the day with shoe shopping, an event my daughter would love, if only she didn’t have to adhere to her mother’s demands that shoes be sensible and have room for growth. Gabe was finished in 2 minutes. Upon entering the store, he declared, “I want to buy the z strap sketchers.” He found them in his size, tried them on and he was done. Josiah tried on all running shoes in pursuit of the ones that would make him the fastest. If Dale can still outrun him, it won’t be for long. After we got home, my sister called. Abby informed her that we had been back to school shopping. When I got on the phone she said, “I’m surprised you didn’t wait until next week.” Oh well, I guess I can claim improvement there.