Post-Thanksgiving Fun

I've never been one who likes the whole "Black Friday" shopping craze.  In fact, I don't even like the name--It gives me a bad feeling.  This one quote pretty much sums up how I feel about the entire day......"Black Friday :  Because only in America, people trample others for sales, exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have."  Not to mention, it gets earlier and earlier each year and completely dominates the entire Thanksgiving holiday.  I just hate it. 

 

So, rather than fighting the masses to save a few bucks, we did something much more enjoyable.  We spent the day with Matthew's parents putting up Christmas decorations and just enjoying each others' company.

 

Oh, I almost forgot to introduce you to Kyndall's newest pet.  He lives a wonderful, happy life at Nonie and Poppie's house and that's where he shall remain all the days of his little fishy life! (Mommy has enough mouths to feed, and poop to clean up without adding any extra!)  Kyndall first met him over the summer and the first time she saw him, she said "EYES!!"  I guess because his eyes were so big and therefore the first thing she noticed..??  So, ever since he has affectionately been called "Eyezee".  She talks about Eyezee all the time and she looks forward to seeing him each time we travel to Nonie and Poppie's house.  She's even been known to Skype with Eyezee.  Yes, it's true.  She loves this fish. 

 

So, Friday morning the first thing she wanted to do was feed Eyezee.......

 

 

Watching Poppie bring the Christmas decorations down out of the attic

 

Here comes the tree!

 

 

Helping Nonie trade out her Fall wreath for the Christmas wreath

Supervising operation Christmas tree

 



Huckabee

 



 

Cameron

 

Little helper

 

 

Admiring her work

 

Helping me put the ornaments on the tree

Setting up the nativity scene with Nonie (side note---Kyndall can accurately point to and name Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus!)

 



A few of my favorite ornaments on Nonie's tree........

 



 

Kyndall gave this picture ornament to Nonie and Poppie last year

Bought in the downtown Charleston market, right after we found out baby Hughes was a girl!

 



 

First Christmas as an engaged couple

 

 

Kyndall's first Christmas

 

Matthew's baby picture

I gave this ornament to the Hughes just a few weeks after Matthew and I started dating.  I bought the ornament and monogrammed it myself!

 



This is Kyndall's birth announcement---Cut into strips, curled, and put into an ornament.  Neat idea, done by Nonie!

 



Team work makes for a good finished product!

 



 

 

How ridiculous is this??  And yes, it will be FULL on Christmas morning!!

 

It was a beautiful "Black Friday", so of course we spent some time outside once all of the decorating was done

Kyndall's favorite thing to do is ride the wagon down the driveway with Nonie.  This is NOT Mommy's favorite thing.

 



 

Later that night we got dressed up and went to dinner and then to look at Christmas lights around Thomasville

 



 

How cute is this coat that my Mom and my sister bought her??

 

 

We are working on the concept of gifts being under the tree for LATER.

 

There's nothing Kyndall won't do for a "pop" (a dum dum lolipop) and I have no shame in whipping one out anytime she gets fussy!  I keep a stash in my purse.  So, on the way home from looking at Christmas lights she got a little tired of being in the car and I immediately stuck a "pop" in her mouth.  All was right in the world.  Later, after her bath, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and walked around the rest of the night with her tongue hanging out, saying "bue!" (blue)

 

And that's how we spent our "Black Friday"!  Much better than the alternative, I'd say!  =)