Josh and Becca Thrap and Family

So we got a lot of snow here in Ankeny the other day.  Ok, not a LOT of snow, but enough that the roads were not clear and the kids could play in it.  Since the roads were not clear, I had to wait to go to the grocery store until after Josh came home last night (cause, you know, the remainder snow on the road melts in the sun in the afternoon so the roads are ok, but then I have all the kids so I can’t go.)  So I left home around 6pm.  I had several stops to make and here’s why I call it a success: 

When I go shopping, I have two nicknames, the Parkmaster and the Bargain Hunter.  It’s true that I may have started these nicknames myself, but they have caught on and now others know of my reputation in the areas of getting good parking and finding good sales.  Last night I lived up to both.  My first stop was the library.  I had a family video to pick up and Josh asked me to look for a certain book for him.  When I pulled into the lot I got the spot right next to the Handicapped space, and then inside the book I was dreading looking for was right on the first shelf!  My next stop was Hobby Lobby.  (BTW Kate, mine didn’t have that journaling set either and I KNOW it couldn’t have just sold out cause it was their first day of the sale and the roads were crappy and the other sets were all still there!  Grrrr!)  And just as I was pulling up to the store a vehicle left the very first spot, making it available for me.  Inside the store they did not have what I was searching for, but I  did find a couple of things that were clearance-priced and suited some of my other needs so, all-in-all:  Successful!  I made a return to Target and seriously debated going into Michael’s, but I thought that could just get me into trouble so I went on to the grocery store.  And, of course, I got good parking.  Now, while it was not neccessarily a “bargain,” I did FINALLY find the bread that I’ve been looking for for weeks so I stocked up and have put some in my freezer (BTW, if anyone knows of an available freezer I could really use one!  I prefer an upright, but if it’s free I’d take a chest too ).  I also found Josh some clearanced smoked almonds which I can’t stand but he loves, and then, the piece de resistance!  I got SNOWPANTS for me and Josh!!!  And they were only $5 each!  Now, they may be a bit big on Josh, and I’m hoping against hope that they will not fit me again next year, but to be able first of all to even find snowpants in my current size is no small thing!  And now we can enjoy the snow with the kids.  I’m hoping it’ll snow at least once more enough to take the kids sledding.  Of course I got some grocery items at slight discount from weekly store sales, but those were the really impressive things.