Monday, August 01, 2005

So now I'm deliberately trying to shrink my laundry...

School starts in a little less than two weeks and both my older two boys' schools require simple uniforms - khaki pants or shorts, and navy blue polo-style shirts. Sam's school also allows plain navy t-shirts, while Drew's allows plain white polos. Fortunately, we have plenty of shirts left over from last year (thank you, Mom!).

The problem is pants/shorts. Sam just turned 8. I would consider him regular size for his age, compared to most other 8 year olds I know. Drew just turned 10 and is very small for his age. He is the same height as Sam, and weighs about 7 lbs less. Neither of them, however, can fit into size 8 shorts or pants.

My mother, bless her heart, sent a bunch of brand new size 8 pants last year but they were at least 6 inches too long so I set them aside. The boys tried them on today - well, the length is much better (only a few inches long), but the waist? Both of them could probably fit into one pair. It's crazy!

It seems there is a big gap between the little boys department (sizes 4-7) and the young men's department (sizes 8-20). So now I'm trying to shrink a bunch of size 8 Slim pants. Wish me luck. (And why, oh why, can't they make a size 7 Extra-Long?)

9 comments:

Erika said...

Have you had any success with adjustable waist pants/shorts? Those are a g*dsend for my kids.

(hope you don't mind my piping up. found ya from Danna.)

Elle*Bee said...
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Elle*Bee said...

Welcome, Erika! I don't mind your piping in at all. I've had good luck w/ the Gap adjustable waist jeans for Drew, but the size 8 khaki seem to be cut differently. I can adjust the waist a lot of Drew (less for Sam), but I've found are still really huge in the seat. It makes my boys look like they have little bubble bottoms. (I'm editing my previous comment to ask whether you know of other brands that make this type of pants?)

Erika said...

well Gymboree has them, but boys stop at size 7, although they do run a little big, might work. Old Navy has adjustable waists too, and I think Talbots kids has some, I can't remember. Is there a Talbots Kids in that area yet?

Elle*Bee said...

No, I don't recall seeing a Talbot's Kids. We do have an Old Navy nearby. I didn't realize they carried them too, but it makes sense - same parent company as Gap, right? I'll check them out. In the meantime, my laundry experiment has helped. They fit better in the length but most are still big in the waist. We have a few months before we'll see cold weather so hopefully they'll grow into them by then! Thanks, Erika.

~d said...

I am planning on getting Jack's shorts from Old Navy ( or Sears ) because they offer the adjustable waist. We tried on a pair of khakis from Belk-size 5 and he can slip them on and off...so, GOOD LUCK with the shrinkage !

Elle*Bee said...

Actually, d, the shrinking worked fairly week, but with my luck they'll have a growth spurt b/w now and October! ;-)

I'll check Sears for the adjustable waist - didn't know they carried them. I tried Old Navy.com but "sorry, this item is no longer available." Doubtful I'll find them in the size I need at the ON by us...it seems every school nearby wants khaki.

Erika said...

Too bad I don't live closer to you guys, ya'll could use my discount. Maybe we'll have to have a shopping spree (yeah, you don't know me, but it's SHOPPING!) next time I'm down there.

Elle*Bee said...

I'm always up for shopping. I'll have to re-train, though. I'm so used to running in and out of a store w/ 3 boys in tow that I had forgotten what it was like to leisurely browse the racks. :-)

I did find one pair of Old Navy khakis (size 8) w/ the adjustable waist on eBay - new with tags. I paid slightly less than I would've on Old Navy's website if they had them in stock.