November 28

I do so enjoy a good Black Friday. And this year's edition was about as good as they come.

Abby and I headed out for our annual run-o-the-stores at around 8:30 and stopped first at the Mother Ship for drinks: hot cocoa for her, an oat milk peppermint latte for me. (It was supposed to be a peppermint mocha, but I think I confused the barista when I threw the "oat milk" in there. I missed the mocha but didn't feel like sending it back for a re-make.)

Then we hit our customary lineup: Walmart, Five Below, Old Navy, Ulta, the mall (which featured several stops, including Abby's favorite (Francesca's) and the Lego Store for this year's addition to the dining room table Winter Village scene. (It's a train, and Isaac will put it together for me. Choo choo!)), and Target. And then after lunch at the Cheesesteak Shop we circled back around to Ulta to get shampoo and conditioner that Isaac requested.

With the shopping complete, we returned to the house where the boys and I all watched the last quarter of the Bears/Eagles game (and it's still surprising to me that the Bears are actually good this year) and Abby went for a run. 

Then we piled into the Explorer and headed over to our usual tree lot in Livermore. Upon arrival we discovered that a different --and less festive-- vendor had taken over the spot, so after a quick Googling, I located our usual vendor's spot in San Ramon. And off we went. We got stuck in some of the infamous Outlet Mall Black Friday-Induced Freeway Traffic, but got there eventually. When we did, we admired the giant inflatable snowman, watched as Adam --and then Isaac-- performed an impromptu dance routine set to the sounds of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," took an array of photos with the various available Adorable Christmas Picture props, and of course, picked out our tree.

When we got home once again, Adam and Isaac lugged the tree around back and erected it in the family room, where it now shimmers with the aid of festive color-shifting lights. Dinner involved Mountain Mike's pizza during a showing of the Christmas classic "Home Alone," followed by --at Isaac's insistence-- a screening of "KPop Demon Hunters." I just finished reading over one of Isaac's college application writing prompt responses and everyone else is in bed (or at least in their respective rooms) for the night. 

I'm now pretty tired, but I am grateful to God for each and every blessing that I had the gift of unwrapping today.