Turkey Day in Chicago, Black Friday, and Putting Up Our Tree

Dustin and I packed up Thansksgiving morning, met his family in Paw Paw, crammed all six of us into our car, and drove to his grandma's house in Chicago to celebrate Turkey Day. Along with a lot of terrific-tasting food, it was great to see Dustin's Grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins that we haven't seen in awhile. After all the eating and visiting, we piled back into the car and drove back.

The next morning, my mom and I left my folks' house at 4:00 in the morning for some Black Friday deals--My sister, Courtney, wimped out on us this year! We bought a couple things and were back in bed by 6:15! Later that afternoon, Dustin and I went bowling with my family. Much to Sam's dismay, I had the highest score!

Dustin and I always cut down, put up, and decorate our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend. This year was no different. Growing up, my family had a tradition that when we put the Christmas tree up, we each opened an ornament that was symbolic of something we'd done that year along with a new book. Dustin and I have continued that tradition since getting married. This year, Dustin actually got 2 ornaments--An ornament of the Sears Tower because he worked at a law firm next to the Sears Tower and an ornament of a golfer with a "Closest to the Pin" award because he won that award while golfing this summer with the Chicago law firm. My ornament depicted the Chicago skyline with the running path along the lake because I spent a lot of time walking and running down the lakeshore this summer. Dustin's book this year is the Chicago Manual of Style, which is a book of writing rules, and my book is a Chicago Deep Dish Cookbook. Putting up the tree is always a fun time for us because it brings back memories as we talk about the different ornaments and previous Christmases. Sitting in the glow of our Christmas tree is one of my favorite parts of Christmas!