THE LAST SUMMER TRIP BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

WITH SCHOOL STARTING NEXT WEEK, I WANTED TO TAKE THE KIDS FOR ONE LAST FUN THING TO DO, TO MAKE A GREAT ENDING TO SUMMER VACATION. THE IOWA STATE FAIR STARTED YESTERDAY. I CHECKED HOTELS, OUCH!!!! EVEN ECONOLODGE AND SUPER 8 WANTED $125 FOR EACH NIGHT, I DON'T THINK SO!!! THE COMFORT IN AND SUITES, EMBASSY SUITES AND MARIOTT'S WANTED BETWEEN $200 AND $300 FOR EACH NOT. THIS WAS NOT LOOKING VERY PROMISING. AS A LAST RESORT I WENT TO PRICELINE. I PUT IN A COUPLE OF NAME YOUR OWN PRICE REQUESTS AND I WAS TURNED DOWN. I WAS ABOUT READY TO GIVE UP. I WENT BACK TO THE PRICELINE WEBSITE AND CHECKED ALL LOCATIONS IN DES MOINES, IOWA AND NAMED 90.00 A NIGHT FOR A 3 1/2 STAR, THAT WOULDN'T BE TOO BAD. I DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH HOPE. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, THE MARIOTT DOWNTOWN DES MOINES, IOWA ACCEPTED IT. NOW WE ARE OFF TO THE STATE FAIR TODAY, THE BLANK PARK ZOO TOMORROW AND THE SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA ON SUNDAY BEFORE WE COME HOME! I AM SO GLAD THEY INVENTED PRICELINE! IT SAVES SO MUCH MONEY!!