Anna and I ate and ran at Granny's on Thanksgiving so we could go camping with my sister and her girls! Every year we all go to Canton to shop, and since Sarah and Kevin have a camper, they always stay at a park. Jen and I have been going on this annual trip for about 8 or 9 years now, but since she's in Alaska, it seems a bit crazy to ask her to come back to Texas for a day-long shopping excursion and a couple of nights in a tent. It only makes sense to start taking my kids. Anna's finally old enough for all of the walking that's required, so the timing was really perfect. I have been looking forward to this, and so I started getting her prepped earlier in the week by talking about camping. By the time Thursday rolled around she didn't even want to bother with Thanksgiving dinner, she just wanted to go straight to the campsite. Next time I will just hold off on telling her where we are going until we are in the car and headed there. ;)

It was dark when we got there on Thursday, so I was really glad I'd sent my tent up ahead of us, and Sarah and Kevin had found time to put it up for us so I didn't have to try to do it in the dark. I was even more thankful after I heard that one of the poles had broken on them, and so they had to find a way to get the pole together without the tension string. "/ There was some duct tape involved, but I can't say I'd of been able to do that. Kevin is super handy! And he even set us up with a light and had a heater running in the tent when we arrived. How sweet is that?!

The next morning we got up early and headed to Canton for some Black Friday madness!!!

Our first stop....funnel cakes!  And insanely hot hot chocolate!  Sure, we'd already eaten breakfast, but who can walk by a perfectly good funnel cake vendor at 9:00am and not buy one?  We all burned our taste buds with the hot c… — Our first stop....funnel cakes! And insanely hot hot chocolate! Sure, we'd already eaten breakfast, but who can walk by a perfectly good funnel cake vendor at 9:00am and not buy one? We all burned our taste buds with the hot chocolate... In fact, the roof of my mouth was still peeling this morning. "/

Anna was super interested in handing the vendors money.  She saw the girls doing this and wanted to give it a try.  Too bad she doesn't wait around for the change or get the concept that she's handing them cash in return for something... &… — Anna was super interested in handing the vendors money. She saw the girls doing this and wanted to give it a try. Too bad she doesn't wait around for the change or get the concept that she's handing them cash in return for something... Maybe next year. :)

This is how she rolls!  I don't think Anna really understood what we were going to Canton to do, but she quickly caught on.  She's quite the shopper.  Our $200 didn't really last long with things like Indian head dresses, toys, bracel… — This is how she rolls! I don't think Anna really understood what we were going to Canton to do, but she quickly caught on. She's quite the shopper. Our $200 didn't really last long with things like Indian head dresses, toys, bracelets, and sunglasses to buy.

This was lunch time.  Can you tell it was insanely windy! — This was lunch time. Can you tell it was insanely windy!

I brought the wagon just in case Anna's legs started hurting.  Good thing I did.  She didn't really sleep in it, but she and the other girls used it extensively the second half of the day. — I brought the wagon just in case Anna's legs started hurting. Good thing I did. She didn't really sleep in it, but she and the other girls used it extensively the second half of the day.

Oh yeah.  That's my girl.  :)  I love me some turkey leg!  She, Carson, and I devoured that thing. — Oh yeah. That's my girl. :) I love me some turkey leg! She, Carson, and I devoured that thing.

The next morning the girls had a short-lived tea party.  :) — The next morning the girls had a short-lived tea party. :)

This is what it looks like when you try to do anything crafty with 5 little girls.  It may not look like it here, but it was a little bit chaotic. — This is what it looks like when you try to do anything crafty with 5 little girls. It may not look like it here, but it was a little bit chaotic.

Since Cora and Anna tend to fight a lot...Sarah and I took Cora to the play ground while the other girls went fishing with Kevin.  The wind made for some rough fishing weather, so I think Cora ended up getting the better deal. :) — Since Cora and Anna tend to fight a lot...Sarah and I took Cora to the play ground while the other girls went fishing with Kevin. The wind made for some rough fishing weather, so I think Cora ended up getting the better deal. :)

I learned a lot about Cora this weekend.  She talks WAY more than I thought she did, and she's ridiculously mischievous.  :) — I learned a lot about Cora this weekend. She talks WAY more than I thought she did, and she's ridiculously mischievous. :)

Anna's already asking when we will get to go camping again, so I'd say the trip was a success! Thank goodness she wasn't a grumpy camper, even with the first night being fairly cold. So, it looks like I've found my new shopping buddy! She might cut into my personal spending budget, but oh well. I'd say it's a win-win.