Costner's Birthday Surprise from the Elves

It just so happened that the second overnight stay for the elves for this season landed on Costner's birthday.  Sage wrote a note and put it by the tree, reminding them that the next day was Baby Bleu's birthday...as if they'd forget!  So we shouldn't have been surprised when the next morning looked like this.

They had been busy and had left this note.  Sage had asked them a question about what the north pole was like and was thrilled that they answered.  Jaggar was irritated that the present wasn't for him.

But it was this boy's day, so he got to open the present.

And he did.

And what was inside?  (Jaggar clearly distracting all involved here.)

ANOTHER elf.  Costner turned one and got his own elf!  This was unheard of.  And he's a little blonde boy just like Bleu.  And his name?  Hal.   Yep, we laughed too.  But that's him.  Costner loves to get into what the elves have done each night, much to the dismay of his siblings.

So, now we have an entire elf family.  From left to right:  Caroline, Mickey, Hal, Cara, (our unnamed pocket elf, who gets to stay, but only comes alive at Christmas with the magic snow) and Rudolph.

Guess Who's Back?

Well, it IS the most wonderful time of the year, and guess who is back in town?  Yep, our crazy elves.  Sage had been asking for them since Halloween.  She actually wanted them to come trick or treat, but they were too busy finishing up some things at the North Pole so that they could come for the Christmas season.  So they sent a package with a few gifts and a letter explaining their absence back then.  But that's a memory because they are back and in full elf fashion, they hit the ground running.  Last week, I'd been gone all day and when I brought the kids home from school, Jaggar walked up on the porch and said, "ELVES!"  or actually "ELFS!"  Sage ran up to the porch and screamed with delight.  FINALLY.  I'd just mailed her letter that day, and they come fast!  We couldn't believe that they painted the house.  True story, I sent Travis a picture and all he could see was the red.  He thought an Alabama fan had sprayed the house to get back at him for all the smack talk.  lol.  It's funny that all he could see was the red because ironically that's all we can STILL see.  Yeah...the green came off so easily...the red?  Not so much.  So now we look like we live in the projects until Travis decides to give it a go at removing it.

 The kids were SO excited.  This is such a contrast to Jaggar's reaction last year.  Remember that?  lol I still have that pic on my phone.  He's into it this year, and it's a fight every morning between the two of them to tell me what the elves did.

 First morning?  Potato sack races.  Sage was not happy because Jaggar was blocking Mickey in the photo.  She wants the photo opps to show the full effect of what happened in the night.  More to come on their antics.  It's gettin' wild up in here.

Christmas and Thanksgiving in Kentucky

Because I wasn't days from giving birth this year, we did our usual tradition of driving to Kentucky for Thanksgiving and doing that and Christmas in one week.  The schools were only out Wednesday through Sunday, but I emailed the principal and they excused Sage's absence for the entire week.  We left the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and we made awesome time.  I have to say that the trip coming and going was great as far as the kids were concerned.  I even only hit minor traffic on the way back.  However, I was EXHAUSTED on the way back and fought sleep, which was nerve wracking.  Anyway, back to leaving.  We left some pretty warm temps here and went straight into the cold.  We even got snow while there, but it didn't cover the ground so Jaggar said, "That's not snow!  That's rain!"

Ready to go.  Travis didn't make it because he had the Iron Bowl and a lot of catch up to do here from having SO many TV shoots this year.

Jaggar had one thing in mind:  presents.  And we stretched out the presents ALL week, and they didn't mind a bit.  They each got one once we arrived.  Jaggar's Captain Hook boat.  He loved that thing and played with it all week, even firing a missile across the aisle at church.  ;)

Sage was thrilled with these footed pj's.  We ran into an older friend of hers at Khols getting some, so because an older girl had them, it was okay.  She LOVES them.

The adults thought we would wait, but that turned out not to be the case.  Mom got one.

I love baby in the mix here.  Sage and I made mom an origami owl type necklace, and Mom loved it.  I did not take a pic.  We found an actual origami owl seller with stock on hand in Mom's mall, and we had a blast.  I upgraded my necklace and love it.  It makes lots of noise, which I love in jewelry. 

Then...well, we were going to wait but ended up not.  I had pics on my phone and then didn't upload to my computer, but I got a really pretty necklace that Mom thought looked like me. And it did...and then?  Gosh I really should take a pic and post it, but if you see me, you'll see it.  Mom surprised me with a beautiful Michael Kors bag that I loved at Dillards weeks ago.  What I did not love was the price tag, but she worked some magic and got it.  It is perfect, and it is mine. 

Here, she opened the new boots we got her.  They look similar to Uggs.

The day after we arrived, Costner had a moment.  I did too, actually.  My grandmother is famous for her fried fish.  And that's no lie.  However, I don't even remember the last time I had it.  I know it's been since before I got married.  Well, Travis' favorite is her meat loaf, so she makes that every time we go because HE loves it.  So guess what we were missing out on?  FISH.  Well, someone caught some and she made it. that Sunday  Sage took one bite and asked for five pieces.  It's so good.  Bleu loved it too.

Mema hand made scarves for all of the granddaughters, and I got first pick.  You can't see it, but it's covered in sequins too.  So pretty.

A few days later, the kids opened more presents.  Sage LOVES animals, and I thought these Christmas ones were adorable.  She also got a Rudolph and Clarice best friends set of necklaces.  I thought for sure she'd give me the other, but she's giving it to Lydia.  Though, she did ask me to wear it while we were there.

I love this picture.  This will sum up his Christmas, I feel sure.  It's also my screen saver.  he got lots of clothes and pjs, but this is all that he cared about.

Jaggar is thrilled BECAUSE...

He got lots of despicable me things.

INCLUDING Minion goggles.  I can't not laugh when I see him in these.

Baby opening presents.

Checking out his clothes.

Jaggar's minion car.  That thing is so crazy.  It goes so fast, and it's a fight between Jaggar driving it and Costner chasing it.

And Sage got a Lego Friends set:  the high school.  This is new this year, and we both loved it.

Costner's puppy, which was a birthday present, and which will also probably migrate to Sage's room.

We had a wonderful time, and I have some Thanksgiving pictures but not enough.  I did a horrible job of taking pictures while there.  We actually did Costner's birthday party there, so I have a lot of pictures from that.  Sage and I built her Lego house on Monday night and into Tuesday afternoon while watching Christmas shows.  It's SO cute!

Santa's Debut

The day that we wait for all year, not Christmas, but close:  Santa's ARRIVAL, came just two weeks after Halloween.  We are always there for his debut, and it's never any less magical.  When I was little, he came in on a parade.  We don't quite have that, but he did come in on a train this year.  It was pretty awesome. 

Emily met us there with her kids.  We've been going together for a few years now.  The boys were excited.

 Now my video is horrible, but it does get how excited Jaggar was, and that is worth everything to me.  NO ONE loves Christmas like Jaggar.  He actually got upset when people would say, "It's Thanksgiving!"  So therefore, he hated Thanksgiving because it stood in the way of Christmas for him.  Anyway, I love him in this video.  SO precious and I tear up when I watch it.  Sage was also excited, but she is always reserved.

 Santa brought Mrs. Claus with him.

 Jaggar and Grayson sharing the joy.

 Then we went to wait in line to see Santa.  It actually wasn't that bad.

 Our cute crew

 The moment of Jaggar's life.  He's so ready.

 And he hated it.  Ready to be in the bed.  He's definitely my early to bed, early to rise child.

 Santa was more than ready to hold Costner.

 But Costner was unimpressed.

 Sharing what they want.  Jaggar asked for walkie talkies; Sage asked for an ipad.  Hmmm...

 The train that Santa rode in on gave free rides all night, so after we shopped a bit, we rode it again and again because everyone was gone.  Even though Travis had to go to Auburn from the mall, we had a great night.  Sweet memories.

OH Christmas Tree

As usual, we put our trees up pretty early, but I've not gotten around to posting any pictures...looking back, I didn't get around to taking many either.  Bleu is pretty much how I thought he'd be but a little better even.  I predict actually that NEXT year will be the year that I have a pile of broken ornaments.  This year, only one has been broken.  I'm loving sitting by the light of the trees with constant Christmas music playing.  It's truly my favorite time of year, and I wish it wouldn't end.

Christmas

I don't know that I'll ever have all of our Christmas pictures organized like I usually would, so these are what I have from my phone.  Travis has some on his camera, too, so (maybe) I will get to those.

I was so tired on Christmas Eve.  I was trying to do all of our traditions, and at one point, I was thinking, "I think I'm just doing too much."  But we just had to do it all.  Make Jesus a birthday cake.  Leave piece out for Santa,  Pack up the elves.  (I was really relieved to see them go this year.  Tired mommy here.)  Oh, find Mickey's snowcase.  That took a good 30 minutes.  Give baths.  Feed the reindeer.  Read the Christmas story.  Read the night before Christmas.  Travis' friend, Steve, was out of town, so Travis had to feed his dog for him.  He lives on the other side of town from us, so I was getting them in bed and reading the night before Christmas without him. Wrap a few more presents.  Add nursing either in between or during all/most of those things.  It was a LOT.  But...I wouldn't change it.  I have a Santa tracker on my phone, and we were watching all the cities all over the world change by the second as Santa got closer and closer to us.  See, it's already Christmas in Japan on Christmas Eve for us.  So that was really fun to see.  Sage was SO excited.  Jaggar kept saying, "Is Santa going to bring me too many presents?"

Elves ready to be picked up by Santa to go home.

 In case you wondered, Jaggar did come around in his hate for his elf.  I will tell you that one morning they brought a Rudolph ice skating rink where Rudolph, Hermey, Yukon and the Monster go around in a circle.  He loved them after that. 

 

 Costner stayed in the family room trying to catch a peek at Santa.

 

 As I said, when Sage moved downstairs, her only concern was Christmas and being in that room with the fireplace.  She was afraid that Santa would not come if she was still awake.  So we just solved that problem by her sleeping in the floor of Costner's room since he isn't in there at night anyway.  She was excited to possibly hear Santa.  Jaggar was terrified to hear him and wanted nothing to do with anyone coming in our house at night.  Leave the toys and go, as far as he was concerned.

 But Santa slipped in and out unnoticed as always, and the kids were not disappointed.  I've got lots of video that I may or may not link to here, but here is their initial entrance.  I love how Costner had a tiny pile of things in the center, and that's what Jaggar runs to.  Unfortunately, for Costner, it was Rudolph, which automatically goes to Jaggar.  Fortunately, for Jaggar, Costner is way too little to care.

 The dogs always get gifts, but I have no clue why.  Yes, that is a Rudolph monster dog toy in there.  I will say that Chanel carries that Santa out every morning and brings it inside with her every night.  She hasn't lost it or left it since Christmas.  Pretty funny.

 Costner blends right in with all of those toys.  He was so impressed wth Christmas.  Oh, notice the line of Rudolph toys.  This may or may not be on video (I'll have to look), but when Sage opened a present, she'd go right to the next thing, burying presents and pieces in paper.  But Jaggar would carry each toy and line them up before he'd open another one.  It was SO funny...and SO how they are in real life.  I really have to stay on Sage to keep things neat and organized.  Pick up your clothes.  Put your towel in the hamper...etc etc.  Jaggar is my neat one.  I'll be like, "Where are you going?"  before a bath, and he'll say, "I have to put these clothes in my hamper."  Thank you, God, for at least one that cares.

 Santa did leave footprints on the fireplace where he stepped out of it again this year.  He also tracked some snow across the room.  The kids loved it.

 He looks like a doll.

 Notice his rattle.  It says, "My 1st Rudolph."

 A Christmas Where's Waldo type picture.  Gotta love it.

 This is the 2 week postpartum wrapping special right here.  I had a few things left for Travis that I needed to wrap on Christmas Eve.  That night, I was so exhausted, so I found this box that was a cute gift box.  Unfortunately, the cologne was too big to fit in there.  So, I literally taped....a paper towel over what it wouldn't cover.  lol...I'm not even ashamed at how ghetto that is.

 If I ever send Christmas cards, this one would be perfect. 

 Sage and Caroline and Mckenna's bed.  Caroline is what she wanted most from Santa.  Also before bed on Christmas Eve, Sage was frantically trying to make a list for Santa.  She said, "I have to make my list!"  I said, "Um Sage, he's on the way.  You've done that."  I think she felt like she needed to leave it as almost a checklist for him to make sure nothing was left out.  I don't think she was disappointed.  The bed here is awesome.  I love all of the accessories that come with it.  Caroline is beautiful too. She may be my favorite of Sage's.  Her or Julie, of course.

 I love this picture so much.  I have it in a 5x7 in his room.  Travis got so mad or frustrated, I should say, with me because I would not tell him anything I wanted.  He said that I was the hardest person to shop for because I like nothing under hundreds of dollars.  Honestly, I didn't want anything!  I had it right here.  He was what I wanted most, and I had him. 

 The more children we add, the harder it is to take a picture.

 So I'll probably start putting them in collages so you can see someone looking in each one.

 Jaggar loved his Frosty.  We officially have toys from every Christmas movie that exists.

 MY gift.  This was the only thing that I really wanted.  A shed.  Call it nesting or just my personality, but I was selling everything I could find on Craigslist before Costner was born.  I made some pretty good money and got rid of things that I wasn't willing to accept a quarter for at a yard sale.  But now I no longer have bikes, scooters, paint sprayers and pressure washers, and that huge car in my foyer and all over my house.  I've been meaning to take a picture of my empty foyer.  Thanks, Mom and Dad!  And Thanks to my father in law and that HANDSOME Nick for helping Travis build it.

 Costner in Sage's doll stroller.

Poor Costner Bleu-Jack.  Right before Christmas, I showed the doctor how he had a rash.  She just said something about poor sensitive newborn skin, so I didn't think much about it.  I did put creams on it, but it worsened, and on Christmas, it looked like this.  Worst rash ever, right?  Looks like a burn.  He never acted like it bothered him, but I texted her a picture of it the day after Christmas and she told me to switch diapers, nix the wipes for water, and called in some creams.  This moment is when it is just now normal again.  I will say that it looked amazingly better the next DAY after the creams, but it wasn't completely healed until now.  Costner has to wear name brand already.

I will try to get Travis' pictures up here too, but we did have a nice Christmas.  Sage said that it was the best one ever, and I hope she feels that way every year.  For the next week, the kids and I literally went from one pair of pj's to the next each day.  We never got dressed or left the house, and it was wonderful.  And also really hard to go back to the norm when that came all too soon.  Sage got a large lego set from Santa that I thought would be a project for her and Travis, but the day after Christmas, I found myself doing it.  695 pieces and 6 1/2 hours later, I finished it.  I actually enjoyed it too.

 And true to each year, Clark burned all of the trash.  This year, it was in the rain.