We’ve Got Spirit

{Yes, we do. We’ve got spirit. How ‘bout you?}

Well, we’re in full-on back to school mode around here. The big day is just days away. Then we’ll have two – count ‘um, two – grade-schoolers. Where does the time go?

It’s usually around this time of year that we realize that the rain that’s been making our garden grow has also worked its magic on our kids. School pants that fit last spring now barely cover the shins and long-sleeve shirts look more like ¾-length. This happens every year and yet ironically still manages to surprise me.

So in the midst of buying crayons and ziploc bags (don’t ask me why) and glue and kleenex, we also have to re-outfit our small army. And this includes the spirit shirt. The shirt in school colors that must be worn every spirit day (otherwise known as Friday, for those of us in the non-pep squad universe).

In past years, instead of buying the official spirit shirt from the school (which frankly I’m just too cheap to do), I’ve gotten a solid red or black shirt, called it a spirit shirt, and all has remained right with the world. This year however – perhaps in a desperate, albeit futile attempt at mother-of-the-year status – I decided to make the kids’ spirit shirts.

The idea – in theory – was a simple one. Get a solid-colored, dark cotton t-shirt. Decide what design you want and trace it onto contact paper. Stick the contact paper-traced design onto your shirt. Put newspaper or foam core board inside your shirt so the design won’t bleed through. Mist straight bleach onto the design. Allow the bleach to suck the color out of the shirt of 3-4 minutes. Rinse the t-shirt in cold water. Dry the shirt. Stand back and admire your handiwork.

And – in practice – the process was pretty simple as well. However, I’m a recovering perfectionist and had to constantly fight with my own nature and convince myself that all the mistakes were really just part of the charm. Right? Right?! At least my clientele seemed satisfied with the finished products.

One less item on my back to school to-do list, I guess. Spirit shirts. Check!

{By the way... my kids make it so easy to take pictures of them, don't they?}