Got Chotchkie's?

I received a note home on Monday's daily report that Baxter had a full locker at school.  First thought, he's four. What possibly could be left in his locker after all the papers that he brings home daily? Second thought, HE'S FOUR!! Normally I drop the boys off in the before school area and pick them up in the gym in the extended day program, so I rarely, if ever venture into the actual school. But I was local this morning, so walked over with Bax and his classmates to their classroom. Pretty cute to watch a group of 4-5 year olds attempt to walk quietly in a single file line with their "ducktails" all the while snickering and whispering, "Hi Baxter's mom!" When the door opened up to their hallway, the children knew exactly what to do. Jackets flying off, lockers opening up, bookbags being jammed in, and there is Bax...in the front of the line...not jamming, but struggling. What do I do? Take a picture of course. Yes, this is one of those embarassing moments for fifteen years down the road to show Baxter's girlfriend what kind of four year old he was. After I snapped the pic, I went to the rescue.

Oh, by the way...parenting has taught me to pick your own battles. Yes, my child is wearing a very colorful arrangement of clothing articles. And yes, that may very well be a pajama top. But he is dressed. The kid would much rather be naked, than clothed. So the fact that he gets himself dressed in the mornings before the timer goes off, is all that matters. He is taking full advantage of the pre-k pre-uniforn dress code. I should have snapped a pic yesterday of him wearing his bowling shoes.

However, you can see that he is indeed struggling. "But why, buddy? What's going on?"

This is going on. Baxter is, well, he's got the flair. Minimum is fifteen, but he's clearly got about thirty right there on one hook. Come on, you never know when you are going to need a plastic water bottle that looks like a ziploc bag or snowman, and let's not forget, a protractor. Thank you to the family of engineers for that!! You should see the inside of his bag. And BTW, this is not the mini PBK bookbag, it's the large one for ALL the chotchkie's he can fit in there. He is so proud of all of his prize possessions and when you have something that he wants...here is your warning, he will get it. No doubt. Have no fear, if you really want it back, I am 99.9% confident that you can find anything in his closest. We will leave the closest story for another day, another dilemma, and of course, another laugh!

I feel like singing, "Ahhhh, Rescue pack, coming to the rescue." We strategically maneuvered the bag in the locker and it successfully closed. We agreed that we will leave some of our treasures at home (in the closest of course). Watch out kindergarten, here he comes! Chotckie's et al.