I am Thankful

I'm thankful this week that I had Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23 to rest. Those days are scarce around here. I am also thankful that after the technician at Nissan told me that my husband needed an $1,191.83 muffler, my husband found a guy to install it for $125 cash.  I am thankful that I had the whole day off on Wednesday, November 26 to get the oil changed in the truck, go grocery shopping and cook food all day in preparation for Thursday. In addition to that, I am thankful for Thanksgiving Day. It's gaining on my favorite holiday's list. Although everyone doesn't appreciate it like I do, I enjoy spending time with family at my moms and spending time with family at my en-laws. It's an entire day to visit, to eat, and to relax. For me, it is NOT a day to shop. To be honest, I hate that every holiday is being sucked into commercialism.  Why can't we just push those sales back to Friday? Why does everything have to be about either making money or saving money?
I am thankful that I got to experience a true thanksgiving when I was a child.  Back then, EVERYTHING closed on Thanksgiving and family spent the whole day, afternoon and evening together.  All that shopping waited until Friday.
Traditionally, I utilize Black Friday as a day to put up Christmas decorations. This year, we opted for a day of fun at Gaylord Opryland's ICE exhibit and snow tubing.

Stroker

 Jennifer, Libby and Christopher

 Christopher and Jennifer

 Bucket and Jennifer

 Brooke

 Brooke

 Our family, along with my brother in law and his family went snow tubing, walked through "T'was the Night before Christmas Exhibit" and the Opryland hotel.

 

We had dinner at Solario, while at the hotel.

Brooke wanted to finish the day with a little shopping, so we hit the mall. I guess by that time, everyone else had already went home from shopping all night the night before because it wasn't too crowded.