This post was sponsored by Kroger. All opinions are my own.
Back to School Already? Summer Hasn’t Even Arrived Yet.
I have to admit I wanted to cry when I saw back-to-school supplies in stores recently. I love nothing more than long, lazy, summer days. I love the sun, the warm weather, swimming. Unfortunately, so far, this summer has had zero long, lazy, days and only a few sprinkled days of sunshine.
My son’s current ABA schedule has me dropping him off at noon, picking him up at three, then rushing home for in-home therapy from 4-5. Monday through Friday. I am so, so, thankful we now have ABA, but man is it exhausting. And it makes it pretty much impossible to head to the beach or lake for the day.
Despite that, I am still savoring the small moments. Like coffee in the quiet mornings, before the kids are up. Out in the sun when it chooses to peek through.
Thankfully I have reached that Magical Age of Parenting Pubescents where my kids no longer have school supply lists that rival the number of cumulative hours I’ve spent trying to get Apollo to sleep. Now it is mostly standard pencils, pens, paper, and notebooks. Even Apollo only needs the basics at his school.
I recently took Hezekiah and Avi to Fred Meyer to get a few things for school. It’s a big year for the two of them. Hezekiah will be starting high school and Avi junior high. And yes, Ticonderoga are the only pencils I ever buy so I like to stock up.
Before 2012, when we unexpectedly send our kids to public school, I never paid any attention to in-store programs that support school districts. Now that I have kids in our local public schools, and in special ed to boot, you bet I support them through my purchases. And yes, I feel bad that I didn’t care before. When you know better, you do better.
Fred Meyer has a great Support Your School program. Participating districts receive $1 from Fred Meyer and $1 from each participating brand when they buy back-to-school clothes, shoes, and other select items. Once the back to school promotions are over you can still support your schools by using your Rewards card. Fred Meyer is donating $2.6 million each year to the local schools, community organizations, and nonprofits of your choice. All you have to do is link your Rewards Card and scan it every time you shop at Fred Meyer.
Don’t them I said this, but it was adorable to see Hezekiah explain the ins and outs of junior high and advise her on the best binder to buy. For the record, she went with the giant zippered type.
I saw these new Rubbermaid Lunch Blox while at Fred Meyer. I love these things! We bought these when my kids first started school in 2012 and we still use them. Avi ended up choosing this lunch box which included an ice pack and matching containers.
Once we had the school supplies we headed over to the clothing section.
Want to liven your shopping trip? Take Avi. I promise you’ll never view shopping the same way.
Hezekiah was drawn to the Under Armour hats like a moth to the light. Which reminds me, I have a moth story to tell you sometime…that involves Enoch, Apollo, and the heebie-jeebies.
Hezekiah and Tucker both love Under Armour shoes. Thankfully, we didn’t need any today, but Fred Meyer tends to be our go-to for shoes.
I really hate spending money. I call that an asset, Chuck tends to think of it as a flaw. Even though I am a saver, I hate buying cheap stuff but love a good bargain. I hit the jackpot at Fred Meyer. I was able to these seven shirts on sale. One for Avi, two for Mordecai and the rest for Hezekiah who’s grown five and a half inches in the last year! He went from size 10 jeans to size 14 at the same time. So, yeah, he needs new clothes.
Avi and Hezekiah, all outfitted for school! That gray hat is the one Hezekiah finally settled on, along with the new shirt and lunch box. Avi picked out the flannel shirt with the hood.
You may also want to check out my The Ultimate Back-to-School Guide for Large Families.
