A Word About Shoes

Athletic shoes are Dave's weakness. He doesn't understand why a girl would need black, brown, white, AND red dress shoes, but athletic shoes are a different story. (Yes, I'm exaggerating about the dress shoes, Abbie totally doesn't need red ones) Last year, we tried to get away with not buying Ty basketball shoes and after a couple of weeks of watching him slide up and down the court, even I admitted he needed something else.
We have school shoes, and then bball began, so Ty and Abbie both needed shoes for that. You've also got Ty, Abbie, and Dave running frequently, so you need shoes for that, right? Truthfully, between how fast Ty grows out of everything lately, and the fact that he is training for a half marathon and runs several miles a day, he really did need new running shoes.
Thankfully, Dave is great at finding a great shoe, for the best price (only for athletic shoes girls, don't send him to work looking for anything but). So, while I was teaching piano the other day, Dave loaded up the kids and took the Kohl's cash on the off chance they could find Ty some running shoes there, while they were on sale. Success! They found a pair, and then some-of course :)
I think I posted recently about having taught Justin to tie his shoes. I began to teach him the traditional way, and then remembered I could make it much easier for him to get the hang of, which he did right away. Two days later, he showed me that he was able to tie them the more 'difficult' way as well. This is Justin, you know. He excels at anything that has to do with his appearance.
Back to shoes: Justin was feeling pretty badly that the only shoes he owned that he could practice tying on were his church shoes. Well, Converse were on sale (not to mention extremely nostalgic to Dave-no really, don't mention it). Went out for one pair of shoes, came home with three (Spencer could not be outdone by Justin).  Some days I feel like I'm drowning in shoes. He keeps trying to buy me a pair of athletic shoes, but no worries! I'm the holdout!
I love to tease him about his weakness, but trust me, I know very well how to cave to the kids, I'm not immune. I'm just safe from telling you all of the details, because I am the only one who writes this silly blog. . .

Abbie and Justin now wear the same size shoe. I know she keeps eyeing his new Converse, it would be a change up from her purple plaid ones. I kept the nitty gritty falling apart shoes out of the picture. Everyone is outside playing in them currently. The need for football cleats is right around the corner. I just hope this year's purchase lasts the entire football season, instead of falling apart halfway through.