me time.

last week i took a trip all by my big girl self.
i took my big suitcase so i didn’t have to think while packing.
i brought 6 pairs of shoes for a 5 night trip.
but that’s the beauty of free bag check… no over thinking.

my chicago bestie picked me up and took me straight down to Michigan Ave!
what a treat!
we shopped and walked and talked and ate for 11 hours straight.
literally.
my dream day.  🙂
and we were dumb and took NO photos at all.
who am i?

i got to spend time with her family who are three of my favorite people in the world.
i was able to to go to my former church on sunday ( i even worked in the nursery!).  they treated me to chicago foods, tok me by my old house and saw the neighborhood.
we watched The Intern (could’ve been better but could’ve been way worse so it was… OK)
but mostly i was so happy to get lots of face time with Jen.

jenny has been through almost everything with me as a mom and a wife.
we met at church but also lived on the same hall in our apartment building… Glen Oaks forever!
there was one apartment between us – Frank.
she & dave were newlyweds and we were two years in.
we only had little bitty Lauren back then.
she even stayed with Lauren when we went to the hospital to have scott!
we were in a small group together that met every monday night for 8 years!
she’s been there for everything.
she was in the room for talby & annie’s birth.
she would’ve been there for sean’s but he was born so fast that even craig almost missed it.
Jenny’s my girl.
and i hate that we live so far apart.

after a few days jenny took me to meet up with Shannan for the second part of my trip.
and it just so happened to be National Margarita Day!
so obviously we celebrated.
we are proud americans – we had to!

love both of these girls so much!
and when i am with them i am not the tallest lady in the picture!
🙂

i had never been to Goshen, Indiana before.
i loved it.
we ate fancy pizza.
went thrifting.
laid around in yoga pants.
had massages.
ate fruity oatmeal.
watched season 4 Parenthood.
and i finally got to see Straight Outta Compton – just ask shannan about my rap history knowledge…
we talked till late and over breakfast and all day in-between.

Howard liked me.
at least i am pretending that he did.

that blanket is a HUGE “quilt” that is crocheted!
each block is different!
it’s dreamy… i am hoping a certain college aged daughter will agree with me.

she made me tacos and homemade salsa with Siley’s help.
praise hands!

one funny story i don’t want to forget was that silas asked me in front of their whole family
“hey Megan… do you like Coors Beer?”
i laughed a little and said “do i like Coors beer?  well… it’s not my favorite but i would drink it”
shannan said “WHAT?! Silas!! Why did you ask that?”
cory laughed and said “Silas why don’t you ask her again..”
Silas slowed down and said “Megan… do you like Cory’s beard?”

HA HA HAaaaaaa!

i told him i thought it was actually a pretty cool beard.
🙂

and then… Goshen had a surprise blizzard!
no kidding.
the day i got there her kids were riding bikes in shorts and then we woke up the next morning to this!
we haven’t had snow in kansas in two years!
i have missed it so much.

calvin shoveled the snow for the entire block!
what a cool dude!


Ruby and Silas made a snowman in minutes.
they played in the snow all morning because school was canceled of course.

we were bummed to hear my flight was on time so we loaded up and made the long drive to airport.
but shannan spotted this GIANT thrift store about 5 minutes before the airport and we had time so we hit it.
and just as we were getting ready to go.. stating our disappointment in how big the store was with so little to offer… i saw some black eyed susan peeking out from behind some other “art”.
i said “this has potential” and we wandered over.
it was this gorgeous original oil painting in every beautiful color with all my favorite flowers.
we both died.
then we couldn’t find a price… and you know what happens when there isn’t a price at a thrift store… no sale.
we weren’t going to stand for that.
we called for a manager.
she wasn’t as thrilled.  she wasn’t going to budge. she told us to come back in two hours when it has gone through pricing again.
we said “we can’t come back – we don’t live here”
then she offered $20 in a frustrated voice.
S O L D.
the manager told the cashier “give it to her for $20… if we wait it’ll have a hole in it by 8:00”
so true.

shannan is providing foster care for my painting until we find a way to ship it.
i told her to hang up and enjoy it!  Why not?!
make “Jack Baker” proud.  (the signature in red on the bottom)
it was the perfect ending to my trip.

i came home rested and happy.
i loved having time with my friends one-on-one.
i enjoyed the sleep.  the talks.  the massage.  the snow.
i was so happy to get a break from regular mom life.
and just as happy to come right back into it as well.