At the beginning of the summer, my in-laws took us to Stride Rite and paid half for my daughter two pairs of new shoes. They were having a BOGO sale so we got an awesome deal and they are quality shoes but with that they were still pricey so them chipping in really helped. We were hoping they would last until we at least went on our vacation. But they didn't make it. A week before we left, we needed new shoes for her. She went through a crazy growth spurt and we were scrambling trying to figure out how we would pay for them. My Hubby's bonus hadn't come in yet and we were thinking we were just going to have to bite the bullet and charge them.

I was randomly going through a box of clothes my sister gave me. And when I say random, I really thought there was no reason to be going through that box. In the bottom were size 6, girl, tennis shoes. Exactly what she needed. I almost cried.
Yesterday, going through the massive amount of hand-me-downs my former boss gave us, I was searching and hoping I would find some 24 month winter items. I had gone through the only 18-24 month bag of clothing in there previously. I only saw 18 month but thought she would be in that size anyway. She had been on the same growth curve since she was born, so why would that change. But that crazy growth spurt completely skipped her into a size up. And struggling to go through the closet, just searching and complaining to myself that I wasn't better organized, I found a whole other bag FILLED with 24 month clothing. Some isn't proper season but there was enough to last until her Birthday and Christmas.

With so many wonderful people in my life, who generously gave us hand-me-downs, we don't have to break the bank buying clothes for Sweet Pea. I feel so blessed.
My friend also gives her clothes too. She gets her nieces hand-me-downs and anything that she has two of (they wore the same size at the same time), she gives to us. So Sweet Pea and her best friend get to match. :)
So I guess I am using this post to say, thank you. Without you all we would go broke. I am not against shopping consignment shops or yard sales or using ThredUp, but I didn't have to. And I feel truly blessed.
Now, to just go through these clothes and reminisce without crying...
Side Note: These pictures were taken before our yard sale. Instead of the huge amount of clothes spread out over our spare bedroom, they are now shoved into closets.