Holiday Season!

I truly do enjoy the Holidays! But I must say my favorite day of the year is the day after Thanksgiving - know to many as "Black Friday" but to me it's the day my favorite radio station begins! Yep folks the one station that is dedicated to playing ONLY holiday music! My husband just groaned when he realized the reason I had the radio on Scan was to find it! It is officially the time when I can play my Christmas CD's and my Pandora holiday station in the house when he's home! And he can't complain because it's only for a few weeks! And this week we'll be putting up the tree and possibly some garland  and a wreath on the balcony! I also found the most beautiful wall sticker thingy (can't remember what they call them) But since we're renting we don't want to run the risk that it won't come off so instead I'm going to print the saying on pretty holiday paper and frame it for the shelf next to the door! (Pics to come!)
Now to Thanksgiving! We ended up in Houston at my sister's house. They have recently moved into a new house and decided they would host the family. It was great! Her girls - Alaina - 4 and Alyssa - 17mths are so amazing! Alaina and I have spent enough time together that when we picked her up at daycare she knew me and would willingly leave with me. Alyssa and I haven't spent nearly that time together and when she saw me standing next to her mom she literally said NO and ran to hide behind her teacher! I should explain here that sister and I do look alike. Most people who know her and not me immediately know I'm her sister. And most people think we're twins! And Alaina looks like me! We're definitely all related. And my mom had picked up my Granny (84) and I spent one night at moms and on Wed flew with Granny to Houston. Her short term memory is basically shot but her long term memory is sharp as ever! She and my uncle told us about how the family ended up relocating from Gary IN, to Phoenix and she told us what it was like for her growing up in the 30's and 40's being a VERY light skinned African American Woman.  She told us about picking cotton during the cotton season and going to school and being teased because she was the lightest kid in her school (she looks white, nothing about her would suggest that she isn't.) And she also gave us a few of her recipes - one we used right away which is the one for ice cream! There is nothing like home made ice cream! Best moment of the trip (and there were a few great ones) My grandmother meeting my husband for the first time and welcoming him to the family! 2nd best moment, was when I realized that she remembered who he was as we were leaving to catch our flight and she told me that she was glad that sister and I had married such wonderful men. She "met" my hubby about 4 times before it finally stuck with her! I'm sure it helped that we were all staying together! The food was great, seeing my family as always was great! I always miss my sister so much when I leave her. I hate that we're not closer so I can be there to watch the girls grow up. But we try to see each other at least once or twice a year. It of course gets tough since plane tickets are expensive and driving is literally a cross country trip. But it's totally worth it :-)
This is longer than I wanted so I'll just say the food was fantastic! We did a little shopping on Friday and in addition to the homemade ice cream, I got some bluebell! I was a VERY happy camper! I am so blessed to be apart of such an amazing family. We certainly have our issues but we do love each other!
Happy Holidays people!