Pick your battles

I have an ongoing battle with my youngest child. His clothes. Here is what is wrong with the majority of the clothes in his closet.

Shirts

-rings on the sleeves make my arms hard to move
-buttons hurt
-squeezes my neck
-sleeve is too tight on my elbow

-sleeves are too long

Socks

-there's a hole

-there's a bump

-these socks fall down

-too tight

-too loose

-too scratchy

-this ridge squeezes my foot
-too thick

Pants

-too tight

-too loose

-too itchy

-too scratchy

-too pinchy

-too hard (stiff)

-go up and down when I walk/run/use stairs
-"go under" my feet (are too long)

-turn when I walk

-make a funny noise when I walk

-I don't like this zipper

-this snap is too hard to do

-there's holes

-feels funny when I sit down
-these pockets (cargo style) are heavy

Applies to any article of clothing:

-"this" (points somewhere on the item) hurts/feels funny

 

So I do what experts advise against: Give in and buy him clothes he will wear. I'd rather stand my ground on more important issues like doing chores, completing homework, limiting screen time, nutritious eating and personal hygiene.

Maybe I should start charging him a finder's fee when I find clothing that passes the "Zach test." Sounds eerily like the "Susie test," doesn't it? 

Unexpected Fun

Who says unloading the dishwasher is no fun? The boys get creative with this boring chore.

Zach's airport:

Adam's buildings:

We're in February's Family Fun magazine

Zach's picture is in the February issue of the national magazine Family Fun. It's the result of this post from October. Please, no autographs.

Homework

To be in Kindergarten again...this is my kind of homework. Coloring, cutting and pasting:

Pro to having siblings close together: they can help each other with homework. Zach gives Adam a spelling test.

A Year in Photos

Sometimes I post things to my other blog, so instead of doing double duty, I'll just direct you there. To see my favorite pictures from 2009, go here.