We are home from our quick Thanksgiving Trip downstate. I, like Aunt Barb & Uncle Dennis, was happy to spend time with family, but really happy to be home just the same. We spent Wednesday through Saturday morning at Janine's house. Thanksgiving brought a house full of 40 people. All of Ryan's siblings were there but Rochelle and her family. (They did come over to spend Friday with us though! The nails still look great, thanks Chelsea!) I was pleased to finally see Macey for the first time, and a cute baby she is. He big sister Emma is still the most beautiful child I have ever seen! I got to spend some time talking to Ryan's Dad, who is doing very well after his first week of chemo. Let's just hope it continues that way.

I did learn something: Black Friday shopping is so not for me. Yes, I've done it once or twice in the past and have always said I'll never do it again. But I wanted to go along with Ryan's Mom and 2 of my sister-n-laws for the fun of it. And wow. Too many people. And we didn't leave the house until 10am, so we had already missed the early morning craziness. (And Alida loves that part of it!)

This evening has been spent doing some laundry and putting things away from the trip. I still have a few things to unpack and then more laundry to do.

Tomorrow will be a busy day. I have already pulled the Christmas Tree and all the trimmings out of the closet upstairs. The tree will be put up tomorrow morning and we'll decorate in the afternoon. I have to keep working on my 10 page paper since its due Monday. I also have to go over my exam another time to recheck answers and try to find those few that I am having trouble finding answers to. The boys also have homework to do, must not forget to do that. And there will surely be more laundry to attend to. Possibly I will even get some online Christmas shopping done. More unpacking. And I will want to sit my butt on the couch to relax a bit as well. Sounds like a plan to me.

My folks are headed back downstate in the morning. Norm & Dominique left this morning. It was nice to see them for those few days. Perhaps they will visit us more now. The kids really liked having them here, especially Brendan as I have a suspicion that he has a tiny crush on Dominique :)

Hope all had a good Thanksgiving. Now its time to decorate for Christmas! I love this time of year!!!