It started with stinky, smelly shoes

Every few days the kids will come home, take off their shoes, get up to the table and start on their homework. I then banish them to the bathroom and scrub their feet until I can focus on helping them instead of feeling waves of nausea from the odor steaming off of their feet. I don't know how they missed me chanting, "You have to wear socks with your shoes," every.single.day, but it has gotten bad. Especially the B.O.Y. The repulsive smelling PE shoes and canvas slips ons were affecting my quality of life. On top of that, Nate's feet grew two sizes this year and he was squeezing into them as it was.

It was time to go shoe shopping. Like months ago. But with everyone's activities, play dates, meetings, parties, business travel and general life, we never had the time. The only night that things seem to be calm are Mondays and we generally reserve those for Family Home Evening. I asked Dustin how we could relate shoe shopping to Gospel Principles and being the genius he is, he came up with the Armor of God. We made up a fun little lesson based on Ephesians 6:10-18.
The kids did a great job dressing Sadie in her armor! Which was kind of necessary since she was wearing a bathing suit from a party 6 hours earlier. We'd hate to see her go off to battle in that. And with that we set off to make sure Nate and Ellie's feet were shod with the Gospel of Peace (and odor eaters). And while we were there Sadie and Luke each deserved a pair of shoes. And maybe Mommy needed some new running shoes. Now no more new shoes until July!! However, we will buying new socks.