A Shopping we will go...

Well, I am back from my "girls get-a-way shopping trip"! It, as usual, was fantastic! More than fantastic, it was awesome! I had such a fun time! I absolutely love this trip- I look forward to it every year, it is my recharge weekend away- well, a day and a half, but close enough! We, meaning Julie and My Hien and I left on Friday around 3pm for the mall. We met Alicia, Cassandra, Carrie, and Melissa around 4 at Pottery Barn. I usually don't shop there, but this time I got some really good deals (hooded bunny and flower towels for my girls- normal price $40 (as if!), down to $20 (still not gonna sell), down to $10!) That is more like it! So so cute! That was my first purchase! Then we traveled to Old Navy, which is not an outlet store anymore, so they took my 20% coupon, and I bought Leah some really cute shoes and cream gloves for my new coat! We all used the coupon, (the people are so nice) so we all saved a little! We hit a few more stores, not too exciting, before we hit Harry and David. Now, getting chocolate at Harry and David's is a tradition! Everyone gets something there! It is like an unwritten rule! We all get some yummy treats, for me, it's Dark Chocolate Moose Munch (chocolate covered caramel popcorn with decadent nuts covered in chocolate too, and whatever else covered in more dark chocolate- can you say, dreamy?!) It is like Heaven in a bag! I think I ate the entire bag by myself in a day! I haven't eaten much else- good thing I only get it once a year! By the way, this is the bag I bought for my father-in-law, mine is empty, remember?! So by now it is 6:30, and we meet up with Tina and Karen to go to dinner at Bob Evans- our restaurant of choice each and every year. For some reason, the food tastes much better with girlfriends and without children- hmmm...interesting!

But beforehand, I head to check into our hotel- not good....Well, as I look at the hot tub (a must have, very important), I notice it is not running.

The front desk girl says, "it broke this morning."

I was like, "What?! No way! We come here specifically for the hot tub!"

She says, "sorry", in a very unsympathetic, "like I care" way! (She was probaby 18, she doesn't know how much time away from your crazy family is appreciated and how mothers need it!)

I was so disappointed, but didn't know what else to do, so I checked us in anyway. Well, as I went into Bob's to tell the girls the sad news, they are not happy to hear that either, so, Tina says she will take care of it- I love her- she so took care of it, alright! So, Tina and I march back to the hotel, and I stand meekley to the side of her as she nicely tells the girl, who I am sure could careless, that we will not be staying there, and we want our money back. We end up calling the hotel we normally stay at (about 2 miles away) and checking in there for the same price, but with the working hot tub!! Yeah, you go Tina! She is awesome! She will do what the rest of us are afraid to do- and we love her for it! We stayed at the hot tub until 11- it closed at 10, but we were the only people staying there, so they never said anything to us! It was so fun- we sat around and talked and told stories like sisters do! I love this part! It is so fun, and part of the get-a-way from it all. The funniest story was of Tina telling us of a nasty VT house and the "shake" in the bathroom- she will have to demonstrate for all those who missed it- it is just too funny for words! And as always, we love hearing stories from Lish of "Charles"- they are priceless! We all share funny things our kids and husbands do, or don't do, and laugh till it hurts! We ended up back in Lish's room until 1 ish then we went back to our room where we finally shut up around 2:30. I am pretty sure we went to bed laughing!

Up and at'em at 8 am for breakfast and to the mall by 10. We left around 3pm with lots and lots of deals. We usually go in November, but from now on, we will for sure go in December- the deals, despite the cold are better! So, all I have now are receipts and bags of gifts to wrap, including my own, my new dishes- Merry Christmas from my parents and Dana's parents! I am so happy!! I have great memories of the fun that will have to hold me off until next year- only 364 days to go!! Thanks for the memories, girls!! I love ya!

Oh, and the best ending is coming home to a clean house with kids fed and no tragedies while I was gone! I love my good husband-(even if I do tell stories about him-that's part of the fun story telling)- I promise he is a great catch!