Actually, I decided to take the van instead of the pony.

Earlier this fall at our church campout there were several couples around the campfire that started talking about the beloved Ikea. There were a couple of the girls who had never been there, and others of us that carry a map of Ikea in our purse at all times. Just to brush up on where things are for the next trip. So this started the idea to go overnight and make a little girls get a way. We left Saturday morning at 8 a.m. I won't tell you what time we got there...because it took a bit longer than it should have.

So after a bit of shopping at Ikea we went for some deep dish pizza. This is a picture of lunch that we finally sat down to at 3:00 p.m. Then headed back to Ikea to polish off the 3rd floor of the store.

After our fix on Ikea we checked into our hotel. Our 5 star hotel Monica's husband found for about $60/night online!!! It was absolutely amazing! It ended up being only $20 per person!!! And my favorite part of our room was this....

It was a T.V. that was built into the mirror. I'm not really much of a T.V. buff, but how cool is this?? Cool enough to take a picture, is how cool! When you opened the double doors into the bathroom the T.V. automatically came on. It was kinda fun to have entertainment while on the throne. But really how clean do you think that remote is? Are any of you gagging at this point? Because seriously I thought about it, but it didn't bother me at all to change the channel.

After checking in to our room....We went in search for supper. We found the Cheesecake Factory at the Woodfield Mall. There was an hour wait to eat, So some us went shopping and one of us did this....

I had been needing a change, needing a fresh look....so off came 6 inches. I am so excited! I love it. After my cut....our table was ready at the Cheesecake Factory.

Our supper was so good!!!

Some of us, had some loud moaning going on during cheesecake. It is that good.

After our late supper....we headed back to our 5 star....and got an in-room movie. It was just like a little slumber party. There was more talking, more laughing, and little sleep going on for the rest of that night/early morning. But really who cares? Because no one is getting up with a baby/children during the night, or the next morning. I think I finally drifted off about 3 a.m.

The next morning we got ready & went to breakfast. Here is the hotel lobby, at the fire place.

Here's the group....Rose S., Rose Y., Me, Monica

Back row: Carla, Julie, Brooke.

My welcome home....was very welcome. Obviously, Jack is hot blooded...since he is wearing a tank top while there are snow flurries outside. And yes, if you're wondering if that IS a key chain hanging from his collar of his shirt. What? Don't your kids do that?

Look at this happy pants....I went along with him on a field trip today. He couldn't have been more giddy. Me either. It was so refreshing to have a little breather from the day to day. It just makes me appreciate my kids all over. We went to the Elco Preforming Arts Center for a musical about the children's book...If you Give a Pig a Pancake, and several other children's books. It was cute.

Quote of the day:

From William on Sunday:

His Sunday School teacher: Where did your mommy go today?

William: "She went to town a riding on a pony"