Black(out) Friday

The girls and I are back. 
I am actually feeling a bit sick (again, ugh) and driving home this time seemed longer than usual.  I had a hard time keeping my eyes open as the babes were sleeping in the back.  The sun was shining most of the trip until we hit Austin where we were greeted by grey gloom.  Welcome home! When Lucy woke up arriving at her own house she instantly went into tantrum mode, crying for "Gaga and Papa's house! Misconsin! No Lucy's house!  Please!!"  It was so nice to come home to a clean house (Thank you, Tony!!).  It was almost as if the house has barely been lived in all week ;)
We had an overall great trip back home, but decided today it was time for me to get back to life and routine and gift making (it is now officially Christmas season, haters!) before the three of us start driving my parents and Jacob crazy or vice versa.  My dad watched the girls while I got some shopping in with my mom and my mom watched the girls while I went out Wednesday night in Hudson.  I had intended to just go "for one and maybe an appetizer" with my friend Jessica and, well, you can guess (or you saw firsthand) how that ended up.
I actually enjoyed the dreaded HHS reunion that is downtown Hudson.  Hudsonites, can someone please tell me how I (along with everyone else) end up at Ellie's shortly before barclose? 
A couple of highlights -
1. An old friend told me that Blogging While Boobing is what he wakes up for in the mornings.  Thank you, Dave!  That made my day and motivated me to write when I returned home.
2. Telling the bartender at Pier 500 that I'm Alison Holmes's best friend and suddenly I have free shots in my face.  In retrospect, that could be where the night took an interesting turn and led to decisions like a visit to Dick's Bar.
3.  The ride home packed into the Ganz's mini van.  Thank you again, Mrs. Ganz! I owe you!
Needless to say, Thanksgiving started on a shaky note.  Tony came to join us for the day and we went to St. Paul for Thanksgiving lunch with the Otto clan.  I am thankful to be married into such a wonderful family.  I sincerely love my in-laws.  After spending some time with them, we returned to my family's for dinner. 
No, I did not go shopping on Thanksgiving and no I did not (though tempted) get up early this morning for Black Friday.  While making a return for my mom at Old Navy on Wednesday, I was told they would be open on Thanksgiving day and then again at MIDNIGHT until 11pm tonight.  Babygap was also trying to entice me with teasers about door buster specials at 4am. I, consumer extraordinaire, have struggled with my love/hate relationship with Black Friday.
I get it.  I understand times are tough and cosumers only have a certain dollar amount they are spending this year.  Each retailer wants the largest percentage of  them and I understand.  The specials and the excitement of being there earlier than everyone else to get good deals does sound a bit exciting to me, but I don't understand why every year the stores are opening earlier and earlier.  When I am celebrating Thanksgiving with my family I want to be in the moment there with them, not dipping out early to get up early to shop and deal with the cut-throat coupon clippers of America at the ass-crack of dawn.  This midnight business is beyond me.  What's next?  Being open on Christmas?
Do you understand why I love Christmas so much?  Yes, there's the decorating and the music, the fireplaces and seasonal movies on TV, the shopping and the magic of shopping :)  BUT Christmas is unlike every other holiday (for many reasons) in that it is the one guaranteed day off every year.  Christmas is my favorite because there is the hustle and bustle and then one day it all stops and there is silence.  The silence is what makes Christmas so special.  Every person's top priority that day is spending time with their family and just taking one breath of fresh air in unison.  From an America that used to be closed on Sundays, seeing Thanksgiving as another day for progress, business, and consumerism makes even me sad.  So I am boycotting Black Friday and taking in another day at home with my loves.  I am avoiding Target at all costs, though I have a list of things I need. 
To conclude today's post, I wanted to put together, in one spot, my list of things I am thankful for that have been compiling over the course of this month.  I encourage you to make a list as well, if you haven't done so. 

Christmas decorations
My husband, Tony
Discounted after-season decorations
My workout partners
A JoAnn Fabrics in Austin
My youth
My supportive husband, Tony
Tuesdays off
Did I mention my husband, Tony? I could really gush over him all day...
My blog readers and fans
Austin Police
Etsy.com
My amazing parents (and entire family for that matter)
Margaritas
Starbucks Christmas cups
Hair appointments (and bleach)
Extended holiday visits in Wisconsin
4 Wheel drive
My beautiful, beautiful baby girls. I sometimes think I don't deserve such amazing blessings in my life.

There are many people who would love to be able to make a similar list consisting of simple things like a complete meal or a hot bath.  This is my official reminder of how blessed I truly am. I encourage any of you to call me out if ever I become ungrateful.  In return, I will do the same ;)