My Weekend

My weekend started after work Friday morning. We met Daughter for breakfast. At 11:00 The Husband God Gave Me and I hit the road.

Our first stop was to an antique mall in Holland, Michigan. I could have become a really really poor woman there, but, I only bought three things. An Eiffel Tower tea cup for Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law, just because I thought it was cool. It was actually Limoges china made in France, and not china made in China. And, for myself I added a children's cup and saucer to my small collection. The graphics on this one are wonderful. Also for myself I added to my extremely small collection of Zells. This one, a small bowl with a dutch boy and girl on it, joins my small collection of a cup and saucer and a baby plate.

Our next stop was in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Here we found a delightful sale on the porch at the Cracker Barrel. This inspired us to pick up a map of all the Cracker Barrel's, as they were all having the sale. I got a very nice wrought iron lamp for $5.00 and two small quilts for the same.

Then, it was on to some serious driving, as we hit the usual traffic jam in Indiana. I seriously regretted all of the coffee I drank.

After four hours in the car, we arrived safely in the town of West Dundee, and were happy to find a Cracker Barrel right on our corner. So, we took Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law to dinner there. It was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL to see them again! And very nice to shop some more. They were still extremely tired from travel, so they went back home, and we continued on...

...to shop at Spring Hill Mall. I was pretty tired by then also. I do remember that we found a Michael's Craft Store and I used my 40% off coupon on a paper crafts magazine. Ahhh...back to the hotel to glean more IDEAS.

On Saturday morning we drove to Gurnee to meet my aunt, uncle, cousin and her two daughters (they drove down from Wisconsin) for breakfast at Cracker Barrel (really...and cracker barrel isn't even paying me to advertise for them!). They are the nicest people in the world, and it was a pleasure to have breakfast with them. I feel sorry for everyone I know who doesn't know my family. They are great people. And, the shopping was good too. We bought three mugs, another quilt and some little baskets. I also bought a lunch box with a Kewpee doll in it, and some stacking boxes that make up a doll house (my three year old friend is going to love these).

From breakfast, we crossed the highway to the Gurnee Mills Mall. I found a scrapbook/stamping store and spent all my time and all the rest of my money there. THGGM continued to shop, as scrapbook/stamping stores don't do a thing for him. He found some fantastic buys though, and was a happy man. I bought two sets of alphabet stamps - one of typewriter keys, and one of typewriter print letters.

From there we traveled to Daughter-in-law's family home, were she and Oldest Son will be living for now. The drive from Gurnee across Northern Illinois was lovely. Illinois is certainly a lot more than just Chicago. We had a lovely visit with Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law and their friends and family. The food was wonderful too. Yum. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back!

We left at 4:00. It was really hard to drive past IKEA and not stop. But, we had to be home by 9:00 so I could get medications organized for my parents, and THGGM had a baptismal tank to fill. The drive was uneventful, until we hit Michigan. Then, it was blowing snow all the way home. We slid around a bit, but it wasn't too bad. I was angry though. Why snow, at the end of April? Monday and Tuesday of the week had temperatures in the 80's. With the wind on Saturday, it felt like 20.

At 9:00 i dropped THGGM off at home, and I went on to my parents.

It was a great trip. Great to see the Chicago skyline. Great to watch the planes land at O'Hare. Great to see Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law after their semester abroad. Great to have breakfast with the relatives from Wisconsin. Great to have a really good start on my Christmas shopping.

Christmas...it's eight months from today.