Black Friday

Call us crazy but we get into the Black Friday madness. I always loved that day at the mall when all the shoppers crowded the store and kept me busy for hours. Then when Des started dating Mike, much later after I wasn't working at the mall, I joined them for Black Friday. I didn't need anything, but I went and still thought it was fun. Then I just kept going. Not once had I looked at an add and thought, I have to be there early to get that specific item. I did think, "Ooh, I hope I get a door prize" (which they don't do anymore really).

This year was a little different. Ryan was here and he was ready to go. I tried to talk him out of wanting to go but he was so excited to be a part of "the mob." He thought he would see pushing, shoving, elbowing, fights....so pretty much what he saw on the news. He even remembered the news coverage of Walmart from last year. We couldn't talk him out of it once it was an option.

We tried to get Ryan to take a nap before going, since the stores open at midnight we thought it was a must. Generally Ryan falls asleep in 5-10 minutes. He took a whole hour! And he even tried to act like he had fallen asleep just so he could be up with us - we didn't buy it, of course. He finally got 1 1/2 hours of sleep instead of the 2-3 hours he should have gotten. No worries, he was raring to go.

We started out at Target and saw just what Ryan was hoping for - a line that wrapped around the building. We weren't standing in that huge line so we got hot cocoa's and by the time we got them the crowd had dissipated - outside, that is. Inside it was madness. Ryan said "This is just like trick-or-treating, but you have to buy stuff!" The things we wanted weren't there and other things we were going to get weren't worth the wait in line, which was twice the size of last years. Bye, Target. On to Macy's. Ryan didn't elbow anyone even though there were plenty of opportunities.

At Macy's we didn't end up getting anything but everyone else did. We were only 2 hours away from the rest of the mall opening so why bother going home? We peeked through the little stores that opened early, too. We spent a lot of time in Eddie Bauer because they have all the crazy gadgets, Old Navy where we got Ry some pants for super cheap (he was so excited *note the sarcasm*) and we stopped at Subway for breakfast sandwiches.

The whole time I was asking Ryan if he was ready to go, we could go. He was so excited he was telling us that he was going to go Black Friday shopping with us every time he gets a chance. He was practically jumping up and down. Luckily I took a nap too. I was buzzing from the energy like everyone else. On to JCPenney's where I was victorious for the one thing I did want but wouldn't have cried over if I didn't get it. Boots for 70% off, but the awesome part was that they were the last pair in the color I wanted and they just happened to be my size. If that's not fate I don't know what is.

We met up with Mike at Sears where he was buying a tv, of course. He apparently needs to buy a tv every year on Black Friday. Then on to Fred Meyer. We got there just in time for the doors to open. Britt got games and what did Mike get? Another tv, of course. What else? Bruce was tempted to buy one too, but we didn't need one. Maybe next year we'll upgrade.

Enough! We've been shopping for 6 hours, it was time for us to head home. Well, some of us. We dropped off Mike, Des & Britt and they were off for more shopping and Christmas tree hunting last we heard. Ryan said he would keep going but it was going to be 6am by the time he got into bed. That was insane. He fell asleep in 2.5 seconds. Just long enough for his head to settle. He slept until lunch and I think his hunger woke him up. He'll sleep well again tonight. Crazy kid ended up with 2 new pants and a new dvd ...and memories of his first Black Friday experience. I think when he grows up he's going to want to be like Mike. He'll get caught up in all the madness and start buying anything and everything his credit card will allow.