Just A Day Trip....

Saturday me & my little brood, Shawn included this time, headed out of town. Mission: luggage. We are headed back west in two weeks and we have only the luggage I received for high school graduation. Shawn almost needed to duct tape it closed after his last trip, so being the genius I am decided we each needed our own suitcase. I envision future (probably distant future) trips in the airport with every single person wheeling their own suitcase behind them so I'm not loaded down with anyone's but my own. Shawn agreed that wheely suitcases suited our needs much more efficiently than handled ones, and that we each needed our own. (Truly, I just don't want to have to dig through fifteen different duffle bags to find one pair of shorts for Landon in the morning.) So, off to the "city" to search. 1 1/2 hours we have to drive just to look for luggage. We left around 10, so of course just as we pull into town the kids are already complaining of hunger pains. First stop: BK. Playplace included. Landon discovered that with a little help from his siblings he could make it way higher than if climbing on his own. He didn't eat anything due to the exciting view from high up in the rat-like tunnels.

Next stop: Sam's club. We don't even have a membership, just an expired card. Tisha offered her card if we needed it, but turns out we didn't. I can always spend money in Sam's, but we (or rather Shawn) didn't see any luggage that suited his taste. Shawn is actually awful to shop with. When we have a certain item needed we have to go to every store possible within a 50 mile radius that might sell said item. Then when we've experienced every possible style, price, color, brand, texture, smell, whatever else you can possibly imagine, we end up going home empty handed to discuss for weeks which was best. A few months later we repeat the process and finally end up making a purchase. After Sam's we headed over to Macy's and found quite a few bargains. But, we hadn't scoured the mall yet. Off to the mall. I stayed in the play area with the kids while Shawn search JcPenney. Then we all headed to Dillards, Sears, and Target. Of course we stopped in a few more shops along the way just for fun. One happened to be icing by Claires, where my Kennedy got her little ears pierced. She was so brave. She looked like she was going to burst into tears, but pride held them back. Aren't they cute?After scouring the mall Shawn suggested we drive clear over to the south end of town to see what Kohl's had to offer. At this point I had to put my foot down. It was already 5 pm, I was exhausted, Landon hadn't had a nap, and Jack needed to run. I reminded him our trip was in

two weeks and luggage was a necessity, not an option. A purchase must be made today. I then reminded him of the awesome sale being held by Macy's. I guess I basically told him that we were going to back to Macy's to purchase our luggage together, or I was going myself to do it. Off to Macys we went, hand in hand, or rather, just together. After finding the exact pieces we needed to purchase, we realized Landon hadn't had his diaper changed since early that morning and they only hold up to 38 pounds. He was starting to leak. (What a horrible mother I am!) Shawn took him to the van to change him while the other 3 and I made our purchase. I wish I'd have had my camera to capture the grand exit we made. I was pushing and pulling the luggage for Shawn and I, Jack was pulling his own, Kennedy hers, and Ethan and both his and Landons. It was quite a sight, as you can imagine. Hunger pains again? It's only like---oh, 6 o'clock! My poor kids were starving! Back to the mall for the food court. Hot dogs for some, pizza for others, Panera soup and sandwiches for Shawn and I.

At this point Jack still hadn't been able to run yet. (Well, besides in between the racks of clothing in Target.) So even though it was nearing bedtime, we ventured over to Cosmo park. I wish I could do this park justice by showing pictures. It is huge. If I stand in the very center I still can't see all the mini-play areas surrounding me. It's probably pretty dangerous if your kids aren't predictable, or if it's really crowded.

Then we started the trip home. Shawn was happy that he was able to get the suitcase he wanted instead of the one's on sale that we purchased for the kids.

Fitting 6 suitcases in a mini-van already full of children is quite the task. The kids managed to smile even though their space was somewhat over-run.

We started driving into a storm

but off to my right it made for a beautiful sunset.

Mission: accomplished.