Wickedly Wonderful!!!

Oh my.  To say that our road trip to Des Moines to see Wicked was awesome is an understatement!  We laughed and sang from Keokuk to Des Moines.  We giggled over lunch.  Then, we went to the afternoon performance of Wicked.  I did not think that I would like it nearly as much as I did.  I had tried to read the Wicked book and couldn't even finish it.  I did not like the book at all.  However, to see the play, the musical, the story unfold on stage is incredible.  And it all makes sense!!!!  The lady sitting next to me, was at her 3rd showing of the play.  I can understand why!  If you've not seen it, and if you have the opportunity to go, I highly suggest it!  I will go again should I get the opportunity.  Amazing!!!!

After the play, we were off to our motel.  (We had hooked up with Amy and Chris upon getting to Des Moines, so they were our official tour guides!)   The motel was an expensive disappointment, however, being the resourceful group that we are, we managed to have a good time anyway!  When there wasn't a table large enough for us all to play cards... we took our own along..... we improvised and played something different.  Which only led to a whole, whole lot of laughter and silliness!  We had a blast!

Sunday morning we were up and at 'em at a not so bright and early time, but we did get checked out of the motel prior to the official check out time!  Yeah us!  : )   It was an IHOP for breakfast/brunch, which only included more giggling and laughter and good times. 

Then, oh then!  We went to, gasp, Bass Pro Shop!  I find it uniquely us that we were all happy to spend quite some time wandering around a sporting goods store, rather than hitting up one of the large malls in the Des Moines area.  And, Santa was at Bass Pro Shop.  We got our North Pole Boarding Pass  (I kid you not.  We had to have one to see Santa)  and all 10 of us lined up and waited for our turn to talk to the big guy.  Bless Santa's heart, he wasn't fazed at all by the fact that 10 people wanted their picture taken with him and that the youngest one of us was 13!  The "elves" were wonderful, too.  We even got to giggle at the stuffed reindeer that the photographer wiggled at us right before she took our picture! 

We did some Christmas shopping done while there.  We got a kit to make 4 gingerbread sleighs, which will be created Thanksgiving evening when we are all together again and will be on display for the holiday season!  heheee

Coming home, we giggled and laughed and sang.  Oh yeah, and we did manage to get lost.  Our car "took the scenic route" twice, in fact!  Got to visit a few little towns in Iowa that I'd never been too before.  It all worked out tho, and we all made it home safe and sound and with happy memories!!!

I am beyond thankful for my family and friends.  Bruce got sick, and was unable to go.  Eric and Dustin had to work.  Peg and Amber's maid of honor, Ashley, went with us instead.   It doesn't seem to matter what the combination of family and friends that we have when we get together.  We have happy, blessed, wonderfully wicked times!   Which makes me happy and blessed and very, very Thankful indeed!!!