Looking for a Special Gift?

My friend Chrissie makes beautiful jewelry...stop. I know that's a "dime-a-dozen" phrase these days, almost like, "Oh, I SING TOO!" ;) But really, it's very beautiful and unique. She has an etsy store and her own personal website if you need something for someone for Christmas. OR, if you are like me, you buy things for yourself. One of her specialties and one of my favorites is her "nest" idea. Check it out. I have mine on right now actually. Here are her site links, and she was also on the news today. Check it out.

Chrissie on the news: Click here.
Her etsy site http://www.etsy.com/shop/chrissielarkin
OR you can go here: www.chrissielarkin.com

O Christmas Tree

Well, it's that time! While we were in Louisville, Travis (kindly) got out and set up all the Christmas decorations up to the point of us putting ornaments on the tree. I always want this to be like a Christmas special, and it very well could have been that way had I listened to Travis's advice. I didn't have to sing yesterday, so Sunday was the perfect day to decorate the tree. Both kids took great naps. The scene was set for it, so Travis said, "Would you like me to take Jaggar out somewhere so you all can do this?" "Oh no," I said, "I want him to be a part."

This is the part in my mind where I try to think that Jaggar understands and cares about...well anything. I mean, he loves us, but as far as tradition (see build-a-bear post) goes, he's 1 1/2. So a lot of time was spent keeping him from destroying things. I had about an 80% success rate with that...maybe even 70%. Sage, on the other hand, is just like me: all for it and she's old enough to be trusted not to break things. I did decide WITH my better judgment to not put everything out because I just don't want some things broken by Tornado. I'm already in need of super glue for 3 ornaments. The tree has now been decorated for a little over 24 hours, and I've redecorated the tree ALL day today. Jaggar runs to the tree, and I say, "Jaggar, NO. No. No." And he still takes the ornament(s) off and runs it over to me like, "Here! I got this for you." :) Anyway, here's some pictures of our fun.

First things first: Mid-air jumps. Why? BECAUSE WE CAN. That's how we Spences like to get things started. ;)Ha, sweet Sage. Note: I've got a 'play clothes/nap clothes' type drawer for her, and she gets THAT tank top and an old vest of mine (which you'll see later) EVERY TIME.

Ha!

Decorating

He's smiling because he's inching closer to the tree...probably about to remove something.

She loves that Santa hat.

Sage's face is funny here.

She loved putting the ornaments on.

Rediscovering ornaments

The mess. Also, notice Jaggar standing on top of the crate lid.

Jaggar's first Christmas ornament...so sweet.

And Sage's. How precious was she? To look at this picture and then 2 pictures up is crazy. How time flies.

Of course (obviously these are from Travis's camera)

"Let me stick this in your mouth."

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

(Oh, here's the vest. She says that she looks like her dance teacher, Ms Jessica, in this.) Here is our finished product.

More Thanksgiving from Travis's Lens

Well, we made it back to Alabama yesterday in pretty good time: about 6 1/2 hours on Thanksgiving weekend. Sage was great; she's just used to the drive. I told her how good she was, and she said, "So do you think Santa will bring me toys for Christmas?" Ha..guess she's making up for some not so good days. Jaggar...not so much. He screamed for a good part of the drive. I was so glad to be out of that car and come home to a clean house all decorated for Christmas. Thanks so much, Travis! I just looked through Travis's camera and found some more pictures from Thanksgiving that I thought I'd share.

Mouth full of foodPlaying with her new present from Nonni

Kevin's girlfriend, Caitlin, made homemade candy...and well, this is what they reminded me of.

And him too.

This is what my mom's house looked like the entire time we were there. It's just inevitable. I'm trying to pick up the box of crackers that Jaggar dumped in the floor here.

My aunt Rosie

Caitlin

Sage and Mikayla

With Papa

Mister getting into something he's not supposed to

Love this

Jaggar giving Tyler some love.

How cute is he?

Travis wanted Mema to pretend that she was eating the turkey.

Of course....

Duke and his evil eyes. Too bad we don't have a picture of one of the MANY times that Jaggar tried to ride him. What a good sport Duke was.

Bryan, Lindsay, Mema, and Tyler

Jake

Travis and his better half. :)

Presents from Mema

Today was our last full day in Ky, so we went to Mema's and had lunch with her. She wanted to give the kids her gifts, and of course, they (mainly Sage) were happy to receive them.

It's a princess bath set. Mom got her something similar to this last year, and Sage absolutely loved it. I was surprised that the shampoo inside smelled awesome. It made Sage's hair smell so good, and she's talked about it ever since then. She was thrilled to get something like this again.And J Cruiz had opened his gift before I even knew it. He got LEGOS fit for 1 1/2-5 years old. Perfect for BOTH of my kids. Such a cutie.

Sage with her other set from the new movie, Tangled, which we need to go see. Even though Jaggar got Legos, his favorite thing was the shampoo and lotion in that other set of Sage's. He loves small things that he can hold, and he seriously carried them around for a good 6 or 7 hours when I took them away from him to put him to bed.

Happy girl

Not a happy boy. He had a terrible rash...I'm hoping that explains the very rough day and night that he had. Sage whispered to my mom, "Now that's a pain in the butt." Sigh...what am I going to do with her??? :)