Girl Trip 2009

When Azure was a baby we started new tradition.

the boys had been going on annual Frostbite Challenge trips

and we thought it was time for some girl adventures.

Our first girl trip

we took the ferry to Juneau for some real shopping

(they have a "mall" and had a K-Mart)

One year we went to their cousin, Christy's wedding in Arizona.

Anyway ... we have had to miss one here & there ...

but as a rule, the GIRL TRIP is sacred time -

not to be messed with!

This year we all met in Provo for Halloween weekend.

Why do we include a picture with Brad, you ask?

We were supposed to be on the road by noon ... but I had to stop in at the production office, and as fate would have it, Brad was on 215 the same time we were, just a mile or so behind us.

So we slowed down to a ridiculous speed (for us) and waited for him to catch up so we could wave. That was a thrill :)

By the time we got out of the studio, Brad was headed our way, so we met at a gas station for a quick kiss good-bye.

Brooke wasn't supposed to arrive till a day after we did, but her sweet hubby talked her into an early departure. This meant we got to start of our GIRL TRIP right! We had all been saving money for this trip for a while - everyone secretly popped some cash into a container and Friday morning we divied it up for a fun shopping game.

We each had the exact same amount of money with which to get the BEST DEALS.

We began the day at NAME DROPPERS an incredible consignment store

in SLC. They only have top-of-the-line name brands

(thanks for introducing us, Yayoi!)

We were all supposed to be shopping for ourselves to get the very best deal of all, but Brooke and Sierra morphed the game and started picking out amazing (sometimes outlandish) outfits for each other to try on. The boutique lady was very accomodating with our giggles and picture taking. After all, we did spend a good chunk of our allotment there!

Hard to say who won during that shopping trip:

Caci got an AMAZING pair of Theory gray slacks for just $20

Azure got that darling jacket you see in one of the pics above

Sierra got a very cute white puffy vest

(Brooke just shopped like crazy for Sierra)

and me?

Well ... actually, I think I won.

I got a black wool, fully lined, J. Crew coat.

Originally over $300 for just $37.

AM I A SENSIBLE SHOPPER, OR WHAT?!

Next stop:

IKEA

My grown kids have been telling me for years that I need to go to Ikea. If you've never been, it's worth the trip!

We were all STARVING when we arrived, so we stopped 1st at their food court.

SO YUMMY.

We had SO MUCH fun there!

I think Ikea ranks right up there with Disneyland.

(definitely better than Lagoon or the Adventure Dome)

We got some great deals there - all of us.

But winner:

Brooke got a rocking chair!!!!

Also during the GIRL TRIP:

facials

games

and

HALLOWEEN

We were a group of

cute

but DEAD

dolls.

Can't wait to see what we do next year of our GIRL TRIP.

THANKS GIRLS!