I'm Melting!!!!

Last weekend was the BIG shopping trip with my sisters, nieces and daughters. We do this every year, the first weekend in November. We pile into our vehicles and head for Minnesota where no one knows us and literally shop, eat and drink til we drop! It is 3 1/2 days of non stop wild women fun. We stop short of getting arrested but otherwise nothing is off limits!

This is what my credit cards looks like after shopping for the last 3 1/2 days ! They are also still smoking!

I have been named the Shopping Whore! I came away from the weekend with more stash than anyone and am proud of it! Of course I have 10 grandchildren to buy for as well as my children. Then again, I can't forget myself. What's that saying? If momma ain't happy, no one is happy! and one thing that makes Momma happy is shopping. After this weekend Momma was extremely happy! I could wear a different outfit every day for the next 2 weeks and not repeat! Sweet!!!

Beyond the clothes was the bonding and fun with family. We laughed and teased and had such a great time all weekend long. There is nothing better. I came away refreshed and ready to face whatever they throw at me. This is what it's all about.

We have already set the date for next year and I have it marked on my calendar. I wouldn't miss it for the world!

The Company I Keep

This is my favorite time of year!

I start to think about Halloween and buying candy for the little ones who will come knocking on my door begging for a handful.

I think about deer hunting and how my big strong hubbs will go up north to the shack and bag us a "big" one for the freezer for food the winter. Just kidding, if he brings one home I have to help clean it and there's nothing nastier than that!!

I also think about Thanksgiving and turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Pumpkin pie for dessert and everyone taking a nap later after they have stuffed themselves silly.

But the biggest reason this is my all time FAVORITE time of the year? It is MOA time!!!

Every year at this time, my sisters and our daughters get together for a 4 day girl's weekend at the Mall of America in Minnesota and we literally shop, eat, drink and laugh til we drop all 4 days! It is such a great time! There is not a male or a child in sight and because we are out of town and no one knows us we can act however we want (as long as it doesn't get us arrested) and it's OK.
I count the days all year and look forward to the next weekend the minute this one is over. It is marked on my calendar and I always make sure I save vacation days for this trip.

I believe this is year 10 or it could be 11, it really doesn't matter. We have had baby showers, celebrated the end of marriages and the beginnings of relationships and just celebrated because we were all together. Sometimes we have gone to Broadway shows and other times we just sit in our jammies and watch movies. That's the point- it doesn't matter what we do- we have fun doing it because we're together.

Poor Hubbs has gotten used to the damage I do to the credit cards after all this time and doesn't say much. I do come home with a lot of my Christmas shopping done for the grand kids so it isn't a total bust. I also come home refreshed, renewed and ready to face whatever challenges life throws at me. Oh and I start marking the days off til the next trip. Can't start planning too soon.