Independent Dressers, ie Keeping 10 Kids Properly Clothed

So, MK comes down stairs in this "original" outfit the other morning, and I actually let her out of the house in it.  I thought it was pretty creative : )

     You know the point when your kids are old enough to dress themselves?  For my children, it's usually around 3 and it's like, "whew, one less job in the morning!"  But then there is the age when they can really pick out their outfit and actually look "put together" that's not until about 5 or so.  I try to keep my children's clothes simple so that it's easy for them to dress themselves.  I don't have any "off limit" clothes.  I know some families do this, but I just have everyday clothes that are in good condition and somewhat stylish.  They don't have "play clothes" and then "nice clothes."  The girls have nicer dresses for church and fancy events in the closet and same for the boys, except dress pants and nice shirts.  So, my kids don't bother those unless I say so.  They all have one drawer for shirts, one for bottoms and casual dresses for the girls, and one for underwear-PJ's-swim suits.  This way I can just tell them what the weather is going to be like for the day and send them up to get dressed.  None of the things are really too nice to wear in the mud or creek or paint in, etc.  Resolve stain spray does wonders if need be.  I just think this keeps things simple.

     As far as shopping for them, I love sales and hand-me-downs.  I actually enjoy dressing my kids and think of it as a sort of hobby : ) I shop consignment sales and shops.  I also keep most of the out-grown things from my children in big bins or those really large ziploc bags.  I label them the age and sex and keep them in storage.  When having a large family, it definitely helps to buy more classic styles and good quality. If I know that another child below is going to be wearing it, then I dont' buy cheap stuff.  If it's just for one child, then it will last, but usually not for 2 or more.  I have baby things all my children have worn and actually I just put a shirt on Patrick that I remember buying for my second son Ben who is now 19.  It was still in great shape!

My cutey pie 9 year old.  Classic rain boots in bright colors last and can be either boy or girl.  Since Caroline is the oldest of the younger 3 girls, she usually gets new things so they will hold up for the younger girls.  And buying lots of solids I think really helps on the matching factor : )

Couponing

Future couponing mom in training

IT'S SUPER DOUBLE COUPON WEEK AT OUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE!!!!

Team "MK and CJ"

Well, I really don't get that much excited, but I know people who do.  They go to the store right when it opens and get all the free things with their coupons.  Then when the "normal/average" couponer like me arrive a few days later, all those free things are gone.  It's OK if you are one of those people, I just don't have the time or coupons to be one of them.  I love saving money, but time is also just as valuable as money to me. Therefore, I don't like to spend a lot of time or money (buying newspapers) or computer ink on the whole coupon thing.  So I have worked out how I can save a good bit of money and not spend too much time. I  also don't like to come home with a bunch of unhealthy food or things that I will never use. The way I have done this is pretty simple.....I use the Grocery Game.  (No, I'm not a rep or trying to get business for them : )  I have found it the easiest, simplest and least time consuming way to coupon.  It does cost a small fee, about $1 a week.  Check it out at thegrocerygame.com.  With the grocery game, it takes me about 30 minutes a week to organize and clip my coupons.  I then save anywhere from $50-$100 a week.  I think that's a pretty good return with the amount of time I spend.  I do buy the Sunday paper for $1.50 each week (the home delievey price), so really I'm only spending $2.50 a week and not printing any coupons either.  The game lets you pick what store you shop at and then tells you what is REALLY a good deal (not just what is on sale) and what coupon to use.  It also includes all the store brand deals so there have been times that I have not clipped any coupons and still saved big.  The cute thing is, my kids think the grocery game is when I give them a coupon and they go through the store and find the item for me.  They love to do this.  Like today when we went the store was pretty quiet and we got three carts and split into "teams."  We all went around finding our items with the coupons and I tried to make it a homeschool, educational experience : ) I'm trying to teach them how to be frugile and healthy at the same time, which is not an easy task. They love to play the grocery game!

Team "Patrick and Luke"

Grocery Store with 90% of my Kidos!

So, I don't normally go to the grocery store with more than 3 kids.  It's nice when you have older ones that can stay home with at least some of the younger ones.  I also try to do my big shopping of the week when my mom or a sitter is watching #'s 5-9.  But this week we were somewhat off schedule and I desperately needed to do a big a shopping.  We had no milk or cream for the coffee.....gasp! 

Well, the baby was taking a great morning nap so I planned to go the store with Matthew (to keep him from getting in trouble at home) and Caroline because she needed to pick out a quick birthday gift for friend at the nearby toy store on the way.  When #'s 4,5,7 and 8 heard we were stopping at the toy store then they wanted to come as well.  I said OK, but then my 18 year old and 16 year old heard we were all going to the grocery, they wanted to come too so they could pick out food and such.  Well then I couldn't leave the baby home alone so he was loaded in the van too.  I really couldn't believe that I was starting out my week on Monday morning heading to the grocery to do a big shopping with 9 kids!  Of course we had to have two carts.  Above is the "fun" cart.  Christian pushed them around, rather fast, and got random things for me that I had forgot on previous aisles.  Towards the end of our shopping adventure, Anna commented, "this was really fun.  We should do this more often!"  I had to laugh.  They are all were really well behaved, except for maybe running a little too much in the store and making me spend more money then I had planned, but I think next time I go I'll just take Patrick : )

Shopping for a Houseful and Why I Always Loose It In the Grocery Store

 

Here is a fairly recent picture of us doing out large bi-monthly Sam's shopping.  Notice that if I have the kids with me, then I have to have a flat-bed and a cart (see little boys behind me :).  Lately, it seems like grocery prices keep rising and my children's appetite's keep growing.  I try to only go food shopping twice a week.  And now this does not seem to be enough!  Ben told me recently that Tuesday is his favorite day of the week because that is the day I do my big shopping!  Actually, he and my 12 year old son are the ones who usually by Sunday and Monday are yelling, "There is nothing to eat in this house!"  Then I have to show them all the food in the pantry and threaten to send them to Africa, and then they quiet down.  I did another post awhile back about my food shopping schedule and at this point it hasn't changed much, except that I do find myself going for a short run to another grocery store or sending my husband on a little run for a few things, just to make it until Tuesday.

About loosing it in the store, I don't mean my temper or patience, but my emotions.  When my oldest son went off to college, or actually was in the last few weeks of high school, I would walk the aisles and think, "this is the last time I'll by him food for his sack lunch."  And then when he did move out and I would pass all his favorite foods or the little things I would buy for him that he really liked, I would start to cry.  Well, this week, my second son is on a mission trip to Costa Rica for a week with his senior class.  So, I'm in the grocery store today and see all his snacks and special food that he likes and I start crying!  It's so embarrassing! This has happened quite a few times to me.  Probably the melancholy, emotional music playing in the store doesn't help much, but it's so hard to not have all my children around all the time anymore.  My husband told me, "it's because feeding our children is one the most wonderful, basic duties of motherhood....providing delicious food in a warm manner."  I guess this is so and being pregnant probably makes me even more susceptible to tears and "loosing it in the store."

Stop Growing!!!