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!

More of the Fair: Rides

Sage was ready to ride rides from the moment we arrived.  After we had some lunch...and that was all of us (I ended up walking all the way back inside to feed Costner in the breastfeeding tent), we made our way out to the midway.  Not before we saw Fair Bear!  I think we saw him before lunch and right after Jaggar rode the bikes, but it doesn't matter.  Jaggar LOVES characters.

 Then the girls stepped in.  :)

 We had armbands, so that was unlimited access to every ride that there was.  And we made much use of that.  After we rode the merry go round (Costner too), we rode the Ferris Wheel.

 I do have a love/hate relationship with the Ferris Wheel.  I don't mind heights so much if I'm moving quickly.  It's the steady swaying up so high and even the sitting that bothers me. but I still enjoyed it.

 Costner was not impressed.

 The skies were beautiful.

 On to the swings.  I still remember riding these as a little girl, and I hopped right on there too. Travis said that I was the only adult on there but yet still smaller than some of the kids lol

 Jaggar LOVED this roller coaster.  Seriously, my phone ended up dying before the day was done and we were really riding.  (We had to go in and take a break from rides because of the heat, but we came back.)  But JAGGAR would ride ANYTHING.  And I mean anything if height wasn't an issue on the big rides.  Upside down, fast, twisted, scary, high...it doesn't matter.  There were times that he was screaming, and I thought it was too much for him.  But it was because he was having a blast.  It was SO sweet to see.

 They went down the slide like 3 or 4 times back to back.

 I had to take a turn, too.

 Cars

 Louie the Lightning Bug met us when we went back inside.

 Also when we were inside, I heard someone calling me by my first and last name, which was odd.  I turned around, and it was Conner!  Conner was my baby when I moved to Alabama with Carrie and BJ.  He was 17 months old, and I helped care for him for 2 years and he is still crazy about me.  Such a sweet, good looking boy he is growing up to be. 

The Fair: Part 1

On Saturday, my kids were up and ready to go to the fair.   No one was as ready as Travis.  Little Jaggar didn't even remember it because he was too small the last time that we went, but I had showed him some pictures from this blog to remind him.  Of course, he didn't remember, but a picture of him on a ride was enough for him.  I have quite a few pics, so I'll just separate them into what I think is enough per post. 

The rides didn't open until noon, but there are plenty of exhibits once you get inside.  I just thought the piece in the foyer was pretty.  Of course, it didn't show up great on my phone.

 After we watched the same dance company from last year that allows kids with special needs to dance (tears again), we walked and found the bird booth where they help injured birds.  It's hard to see in this pic, but a tiny owl is to Sage's left.  It was so cute.

 THEN the kids wanted their faces painted.  Actually, I didn't get a pic, but before this, we found a booth with "pandora" beads and bracelets.  Sage has been asking for one, but a hundreds of dollars bracelet just doesn't seem appropriate to me for an 8 year old.  So this was a nice fix.  I should have taken a picture, but her bracelet turned out very pretty, and she is very proud of it.  On to the face paint.

 She chose a rainbow tiger.

 The lady asked if she should paint around Jaggar's eyes, and I said, 'Do it just like the pic. He will sit there."  She was surprised at how calm and still he was.  He chose Spiderman.  I love how he has his hands folded.

 Finished product.  Isn't that cute?

 This was just funny.

 I don't know if this is the same pig every year, but she is ALWAYS breastfeeding.  Poor pig.

 Baby Bleu

 Remember the traffic school that Sage always did?  She's now TOO big for this and some kiddie rides.  Like literally, there's a height limit that can be too much for certain rides too, and it was crazy that she was above it for some.  Anyway, Jaggar was PERFECT for the traffic school because he's awesome on a bike, AND he thinks he can tell me when to GOOOO in the car every time I'm at a light.

 How cute is that boy?

 Precious boy

 The fam.  It was funny because Amber and my cousin, Lindsey and her mom were all at the fair, and we ran into them ALL, even amongst thousands of people. I actually saw Amber throughout the whole day and night.  Plus I ran into my friend Caitlyn, too.  That's my brother's girlfriend, Heather, who we met for the first time.  I really liked her too.