In the spirit of my pledge to offer you yay, even MORE boring information (YOU JUST CAN’T GET THAT KIND OF PROMISE ANYWHERE, PEOPLE – OH NO YOU CAN’T), I would now like to talk to you a bit about Alex’s clothes.
I’m not even kidding.
Because recently – just since his 4th birthday – Alex has grown approximately five feet. Give or take a few dozen inches.
And the little man, who was a perfect size 4T back in March, has now morphed into a child who needs a size 5 in every single thing he wears. Which, under normal circumstances, could get a little expensive.
If I didn’t have the bins.
Stay with me.
Back in 2004, when Alex was a little over a year old, we went to Memphis to visit my brother’s family for a week or so. Because they had recently moved into a new house with a whole new decorative “look,” they pretty much opened up their attic and told me to take whatever I wanted, and I am not kidding you when I say that I had to rent a U-Haul trailer to get it all back to my house. It was so much stuff that I actually hummed the theme song to “The Beverly Hillbillies” as I pulled out of their driveway – I felt like Ellie Mae Clampett, only with sassier hair and absolutely no trace of midriff showing.
And, you know, my car had a roof.
And I didn’t have a pet raccoon.
And also: I was not wearing a piece of rope as a belt.
But of all the things that I brought home that day – rugs, breakfast room chairs, an ottoman, even a king size bed (I AM NOT KIDDING) – the very best treasure of all was enclosed in about seven plastic storage containers.
Because inside those storage containers? My nephews’ “gently worn” hand-me-down clothes (thanks again, Janie and Brother!).
And so, once I got home, I emptied the containers and sorted everything on the dining room table according to size.
Here’s what it looked like at the time:
[picture removed because of cropping issues – will return shortly]
As you can clearly see, Gap exploded in my dining room.
After everything was sorted, I washed the clothes, folded them, and put them back in “the bins” according to size – 18-24 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, and 5.
Which means that this past Saturday morning, instead of going to Old Navy or Gap or Kohl’s or wherever and having to spend a bunch of money to get Alex outfitted for summer (underwear, swimsuits, t-shirts, shorts, church clothes), I walked into my garage, pulled out the size 5 bin, carried it inside the house and went shopping in my living room.
It was SO MUCH FUN. And it didn’t cost one dime.
Yesterday afternoon I washed everything again, put away all the size 4 stuff that was in Alex’s closet, and LOOK!
[picture removed because of cropping issues – will return shortly]
It’s a size 5 paradise!
And by the way: if you had told me, before I had a baby, that the sight of a colorful wicker basket filled with an entire summer’s worth of shorts would make me want to jump up and down just a little bit, I would’ve rolled my eyes and quickly resumed watching the “Real World / Road Rules Challenge” marathon while simultaneously painting my toenails and talking on the phone.
But now?
Well.
I think the fact that I took pictures of the inside of my child’s closet says it all.
ISN’T IT EXCITING?
And did y’all notice that I’m not crying about the fact that there’s not a “T” behind his clothes size anymore?
Because I totally think I should get some kind of certificate for that.
Great job, Boomama! Now I have a closet organizing jones. :0) Thanks for the inspiration!
Okay, you KNOW this would’ve totally been a good Works-For-Me Wednesday, my friend…
I so admire your ability to get through the entire project without losing your ever loving mind. Must be because you have one boy instead of three girls, like I do. I always start the process enthusiastically and then retreat to my bedroom three hours later, leaving the living room looking as if Children’s Place threw up all over it.
But Congrats. Sincerely. I am so impressed and envious.
Also, sounds like you’re due for another trip to your brother’s house before Alex’s next growth spurt!
If the Gap exploded in my living room I would have a parade or something. How fun!
BooMama, LOL your OCD just emerged–look at that organized closet, with all the colors ranging from lightest to darkest back to lightest as you scan those hanging clothes.
GREAT JOB! Now I need to get to work on my own closet. And those clothes, the very best price of all–FREE!
I am HIGHLY impressed.
BTW, have you worn those designer shoes with any of your new outfits? And, how’s Mama and them–Martha and Sissy?
You KNOW I love lil’ A. to have our hand-me-downs! ;-) I’m sure on your next trip here – soon, I hope- I can load you up with some more size 5 bins and higher! ;-) By the way, WHEN can we make this plan?? We are missin’ y’all! :-)
How fun. Since my son was shaped a bit larger than my nephews, he only got hand me downs through 2T (and he was in those when he was 1). So, it’s to the store every few months for us (one year, he stayed in one size for almost two years, though and I was praising God!).
Now I can prasie God for that, friend! That is some kind of blessing for sure…wish I had some bins for size 10 in boys, size 8 in girls, 4T and 12 mos (Sydney is almost 9 months, but it seems that the size 9-12 mo slips into the 12 months so fast!). Otherwise, I’m spending a few hundred dollars getting into the next season and next size with all four of them.
I’m counting your bin a blessing today!
Love ya!
Holly
Ah… it’s so hard to see them grow up, but exciting too.
Boomama, I know you love books, so wanted to let you and yours know we are hosting a fab interview with Christian suspense novelist Brandilyn Collins over at She Plants a Vineyard today (May 14). It’s a great interview. http://www.tinaannforkner.blogspot.com
We have been blessed by hand me downs from Reia’s cousin until recently. And now I’m a little sad when I have to go buy her lots of clothes, because even the less expensive stuff, isn’t cheap.
I’m thinking I need a good hand-me-down session. You described my son to a “T”…4T is too short and 5’s are all that work. And, we have NONE. I could have filled a swimming pool with the amount of 2T-3T hand-me-downs we received… where are the 5’s? :-)
Oh, I’m so delighted to know of someone who shares my love for organization.
Those baskets are beautiful! Do they have lids? I use those big see through rubbermaid bins and my trusty label maker.
Thanks for posting these pictures. They’re inspiring me to do something about my garage, which is still full of boxes since our move to this house. 18 months ago!
:)
Would you believe I still have some of Jessica’s baby stuff I couldn’t stand to part with? Just a few tiny outfits, some of her special blankies and comforters, and a few fancy dresses that I sewed for her.
Now maybe Miss Emmy will be able to get some use out of them.
Hey, FREE works for me! That’s my favorite brand of anything.
I’m jealous! My tall monster of a 3 1/2 yr old has been in size 5’s for about 2 months now. :( Wish I could have gotten so lucky as to have Gap explode in my livingroom.
I too, had a hard time with the transition to “big boy” clothes. That to me was truly the end of him being a toddler/baby.
I save most of the clothes the boys have gone through so I can pass them on! It’s always fun to get out the bin and remember what was inside. It’s just like you said, shopping without the price tags!!
I have that exact same basket! I do! From Target!!!
But it’s not filled with adorable hand-me-downs. Sadly, it’s filled with gloves, mittens, hats, scarfs… Soon to be filled with summer hats, ball caps, flip flops, etc.
And Shannon is right — this would TOTALLY have been a great Works for Me Wednesday tip…
hey, i would have been excited about that too.
but what i’m just now noticing is that on my boomama tab at the top of my browser it has the cutest little bluebird beside your name. now, how did you manage that?
Okay, I posted yesterday about wanting to cry that my girl doesn’t have a T anymore, so yes, you totally deserve a certificate!!
“Gently worn” sure works for me. How great is that? And I don’t think there’s anything weird about posting a photo of the inside of his closet. If I had all those free clothes hanging in my closet, I’d post a photo too.
By the way, re your previous post, those baby ducks are just getting cuter and cuter! I love their little spikey hairdos.
I too have learned to love the hand-me-downs! I conveniently “planned” my bundle of joy at the perfect time to get those great hand-me-down clothes from my two nephews.
I totally relate to the “Real World/Road Rules Challenge” comment…that fit me to a T!
Speaking of T’s…I am currently struggling with the lack of “mo.” behind the size of clothes…we are just venturing into the T’s.
Wow, looks like we have been up to the same thing!! I have two of your piles of clothes that we are sorting through (I have 4 boys) It has been crazy and still is, we have clothes EVERYWHERE!
Oh and we too have baby geese! They are sooo cute! Loved the pics!
Blessings,
Tiany
BooMama, I’ve been reading your blog for a while (I think I wandered over here form Antique Mommy one day)but this is the first time I’ve commented.
First off-you are a riot girlfriend. Reading your blog never fails to put a smile on my face!
And those bins? I have ’em too. My son just went into a size 6, and I have bins of hand-ma-downs for my nephew up to size 16!! I did the closet switch a few weeks ago. We tried on 2 bins of stuff (with a bribe of and ice cream for a whine free session) and I ended up with tons of summer clothes for ds, a bag to donate and a bag to consign. Free clothes and $ to boot!
MAMom
Oh goodness BooMama! LOL! I’m totally sure that you could read names out of the phone book in your own special way and make it just as funny as every other ‘boring’ topic you cover. I absolutely adore your humor. There has not been one time when I’ve come to read your blog when I haven’t literally laughed out loud. And I’m talking laughing so loud that the kids will stop and look at me like I done lost my mind. LOL! Ta for now dahling!
I have done that. What’s so strange??? ;) When I had my daughter after my three sons I did the same thing with girls’ clothes I’ve inherited. I have clothes for that child for every season of the year for her first two years including if she’s ever asked to be a flower girl AT ANY TIME!!! There are several REALLY dressy dresses in there!
Shopping for free?? Absolutely heavenly and priceless!
We have a ton of stuff you need to come get. Houston is now wearing a size 8 shoe and he is taller than Beck. They are both growing like weeds.
My grandson, David Riley, has gone from a size 5 to a size 8 slim in one school year! Not only has he by-passed all of the hand-me-downs my daughter had acquired, he’s grown out of all of the new stuff that he got for Christmas!!! It’s breaking everyone’s pocketbook just trying to keep the boy in clothes! (And let’s not talk about the shoes!) Oh, and BTW–he’s only 5 1/2!
Yeah, I totally understand this. My extremely skinny and tall 8 year old went from a 6x/7 slim to a 10 since March. Oi. Thank goodness it’s summer and I can turn all her jeans with holes in the knees into shorts.
Hugs,
Melinda
A certificate, lol. That is some bin! Good for you. Although. How does anyone keep a 5 year old boy’s wardrobe in “gently used” condition, is what I wanna know. My son’s stuff goes right in the trash when he’s done with most of it.
Your ‘bins’ sound like our ‘shoe box’ growing up. Here is the story (if you wanna hear it):
My grandma was the world’s *best* shopper. Seriously, she would walk into the store and they would start a ‘buy 1 get 4 free for the next 2 minutes’ sale on whatever she came to buy. She had a gift.
Once when my brother and I were just babies, there was a Buster Brown shoe store near my grandma’s house that went out of business. At the end of the day my grandma wandered by, as they were putting all of the un-sold shoes into a huge box. She chatted with the manager, did her AMAZING wagering magic, and walked away with a huge box of BRAND NEW Buster Brown shoes for $20.
When she got home she counted up, and there were over 40 pairs of shoes in the box. My mom about died and went to heaven when grandma offered them to us (her only grandkids at the time).
SOOO, for years (and I literally mean YEARS, until I was about 8) whenever one of us would outgrow a pair of shoes, mom would say “let’s look in the box!”, and we would look eagerly to find the next size up. I still remember a few pairs very fondly, actually.
I didn’t appreciate until I became a mom what a great gift that was for not only me and my brother, but for my mom as well. My grandma rocked!
You deserve a very special award for not shedding a tear. My tears flowed like Niagara Falls when I cleaned out my girls closets. So many precious memories in each piece that it was so hard to let go. (yes, I need therapy!)
I do love the basket idea! It would be a great idea in our house if it were not for owning three cats that would use them as beds. Not a good idea.
It is time for another trip to brother’s house for more gently-used clothes. If he’s in a size 5 now, you’d better be prepared for a bigger size by the fall!! From experience….
I totally understand about the T after the 5. Wait until you have to move from shopping in the little boy section to the place where *gasp* all the teenage boys shop. Then we’re really in trouble. (my daughter is in kindergarten, but tall – and we’re gradually transitioning over to the big girls area. You know, where everything is totally inappropriate for a little girl.) Congrats on no tears, very very proud of you!
Oh how we love the people who give us their “gently used” stuff. Hooray for Alex’s closet!
I have had lots of clothes handed down to me for my daughter. My son also has a great collection of clothes. I am having problems finding room for the stuff they’ve grown out of. Haven’t ruled out number three yet.
Oh! I remember clothes marathon 2004! What a treat!