Shop 'till U Drop

The hour: 0400
The mission: Tackle the Christmas shopping list

Phase 1: Arrive at Walmart in Waverly to line up by our designated products, study map while
waiting in line and strategize the next move to acquire the desired items on the list. At 0500 hours, carry out mission. Meet up with Mom to ensure all has been accomplished prior to getting in line at the checkout. Enjoy some complimentary cookies and water while waiting in line. Listen intently to other customers as they share their strategies and discuss their purchases to make sure no deals were overlooked. Check out at 0530 hours and load up the van to prepare for phase 2.

Phase 2: Arrive at Target in Cedar Falls. Hit restrooms prior to grabbing cart. Start down isles
stopping at desired doorbuster spots. Check lists and continue to make way through
the store acquiring items needed and checking off the lists. Pace is a little slower
during this phase as the urgency to acquire has subsided and more thought needs to
be put into the purchases. By 0730 hours, we make our way to the check out. Get
through line and decide we need to refuel before heading to the next phase.

Break for breakfast at Village Inn. Good timing, got there right before the crazy rush and only had to wait for about 10 min. to be seated. Ate and strategized next phase. Also did some people watching...always interesting.

Phase 3: Hit the loop by Crossroads Mall. Stopped at various stores picking up the one or two
items on the lists. Made our way through the loop. Discussed stopping at JC Penny... saw parking lot and decided to forgo this location. Made our way to Toys R Us and then on to Menards.

Phase 4: Menards....not originally a phase of its own, but once there knew it would be one...It
was crazy!!! At 1100 hours the parking lot was still packed and inside there were people everywhere. We really only needed a couple of odds and ends...no doorbusters and thought that since the 5 hour doorbuster sale was done we would be able to slip in grab our stuff and go. Not so much...they were out of some of the odds and ends that we needed...shop vac bags of all things! Anyway we made our way to the checkouts and much to our surprise the line wrapped all the way around the store and then weave through various isles ending at a point where you choose to go to the garden center to stand in line or the regular registers to stand in line. We strategically chose the garden center. Whew...on to what was phase 4 but has now become 5.

Phase 5: Hit College Square Mall for those certain stores the kids like to shop for clothes. It
was 1145 hours and most deals ended at 1200 hours. Quick effective decisions needed to be made in order to get in line and recieve the additional % discount. Success!! Off to Younkers to check into some gift ideas and then one last stop at a final store.

By 1235 hours we were ready to drop....time to head home. We had put in a full 8 hour day of shopping by this point. Although we had so much fun it didn't seem like 8 hours. We were feeling pretty successful at our attempt to accomplish the mission. Only a couple items left that will require online shopping and a couple more short trips to town to get the list totally done. As crazy as it sounds this has become a tradition that is much looked forward to. We always have a lot of laughs and enjoy spending the day together.

Until Next Year....