Can we PLEASE buy school supplies?

Photo from Lauren "Miss Ann's" classroom

So on the duo's last day of third grade, Lauren climbed into the car and immediately asked if we could go buy school supplies for fourth grade.

Grace gave her the ultimate, "Wait. What?"

We were heading home to pack for vacation... NOT going to Target to buy glue sticks. With George and Grace looking at her as if she were an alien, she was totally voted down.

Vacation distracted her, but upon our return home she began asking - on the weekly - if we could purchase supplies. She really upped her campaign for school supply shopping mid-June when she discovered that the school supply list was already on the school's website. By early July, she was asking 2-3 times per week if we could go. Once she saw that supplies were in stock and that 15% of Target had been devoted to school shopping, there could be no more stalling. She had the school's list and her own personal list. We agreed to purchase all the school supplies and maybe two or three extra items. Lauren was appreciative, but said that she would also bring her own money in case she saw other things she needed.

"Mommy. I'm going to need a lot more things for fourth grade."

Finally, during the third week of July, we headed to Target. Waiting for the tax free weekend was a non-starter because the inventory would be "picked over" and "all the best stuff would be gone". Grace and George were somewhat interested and excited, but they could not conceal their incredulousness (and maybe a smidge of disdain) over Lauren's giddiness.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I would rate the trio's excitement level about school resuming as follows:

George: 3

It's not that he doesn't enjoy school. Certain tasks (read: coloring) are not his favorites, and school attendance interferes with his ability to play. He is very interested in reading - but only at night (before bed) and certainly not during the daytime, during prime playground time.

Grace: 6-7

Grace likes school and enjoys learning. She has the typical excitement level about returning. She was neither dreading it nor was she wishing the day would arrive sooner than scheduled. She was excited to get her supplies and outfit, but she also wanted to have fun over the summer, too.

Lauren: 10.

A full, red-lined 10.  To the tenth power.

Lauren thinks the number of weeks off during summer is excessive. Honestly, she would have been happy with a mere two weeks off. Now that she is back in a classroom, she is on cloud nine. During the hard summer days, she organized daily "circle time" with her American Girl dolls and completely reorganized her classroom (in our basement). We drew the line at buying school supplies for her students.

If you think about it, missing an untapped market like that (AG-sized supplies) seems very outside the norm for American Girl.