Back to School Shopping

When Holly was starting school 12 years ago, my mom wanted to do something special with her - so she took her school shopping. She took her that first year before kindergarten, then they went again the next year, and by the next year it was a real tradition. A tradition that the boys were ready to take part in when they started school. Separately, they all got to go on a school shopping trip with Momou. Except for Alex. By the next year, though, Papaw had decided this wasn't fair. It just wasn't right that Alex would be the only one not getting to go school shopping. (It would be another year before she was starting school). So, he took her shopping himself.

When they got back they were ALL smiles.

They went to the mall, Target, the toy store, and out to eat.

Have you ever seen three happier people? Anthony didn't even go but he and his dinosaur bird were happy to see Papaw, too.

This picture still makes me a tad weepy...

Now when Momou takes them school shopping they like to pair up and go together. Holly and Alex went together yesterday and Sy and Anthony are going today. They still get to pick a place to eat and where they would like to shop and they get to spend the whole day together. Every year, though, when school shopping time rolls around, I always think of the special shopping trip that Alex and Papaw had. She always mentions it, too.