Thanksgiving in Kentucky

We had an amazing Thanksgiving. Knowing Keith would have to work at Christmas and we wouldn't be able to travel then, I desperately wanted to spend Thanksgiving with friends that we consider family. I called up the girls in Kentucky (Sarah, Brynn and Brittany) and they were all so sweet and offered to forgo anything they might have wanted and open their homes to us to share this holiday. 

Keith worked a half day Wednesday and as soon as he got home, we were back on the road heading for Lexington. The kids did great and only cried the last 30 minutes. I think we got to Lexington around 9:30 that night. It was so wonderful to see Sarah, Andy and Cooper and be able to stay in their cute home. Emmett was a pill that night and refused to sleep longer than 30 minutes at a time. The next morning was Thanksgiving and we spent it lounging, talking, playing, watching the parade and eating a yummy pancake breakfast. Kenzie absolutely adores Sarah and was excited for her to do a ballerina bun for her.

 Around noon, we made the hour trip to Louisville and I amazingly held it together as we drove past all of the places I loved so much. Brynn hosted dinner and the Barratt's joined us. The food and company was incredible. Morgan and Mackenzie didn't miss a beat. Their friendship is so special and it made the trip all the sweeter to see them together again.

After dinner, we played games and hung out. Keith and I didn't make big plans for our trip because we really just wanted to enjoy being with friends again. Brynn and Danny were brave enough to have our girls stay the night Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A couple in the complex that were out of town for the holidays offered their space to us, so Keith, Emmett and I slept there. On Friday, we went to a place called Catch Air which is basically a big building full of trampolines. The kids had fun and we were able to see the Haskells and Halls. We did a little black Friday shopping and played games again.

These two tried their best to match every day

Saturday was packed. We met Kameron and Jodie Kuhni for breakfast at our favorite place, wild eggs. It was great to see them and felt nice to be able to talk about non-dental school topics. We had lunch with Suzy and Nate Hicks. I always have a blast hanging out with Suzy and my girls love her boys. After lunch, we stopped by the Isaac's so we could see them and I could spend more time with Sarah while she cute Allie's hair. She was also nice enough to cut Kenzie's hair. The day before we left for Kentucky, Kenz took matters into her own hands and chopped some big pieces off the front of her hair so it was good timing.

That night we went to the Saxton's house and had dinner with the Barratt's. The girls left for a bit to shop and get some gelato and when it got too late, we went back to Saxtons to join our families. Keith and I had too much fun and definitely overstayed our welcome. I think it was around 11 PM and they pulled up beds for our kids and we ended up staying the night. The next day I so badly wanted to go to church. It had been our plan the whole time so that I could see everyone. Unfortunately, their ward meets at 1 PM and we let the traffic and our whiny kids scare us off. We stopped by Snyder's for a last goodbye and then spent a couple more hours with Barratt's. The drive back took so much longer! We went through Chattanooga this time around and ended up in terrible traffic so the drive took several more hours. It was bittersweet to be "home" in Atlanta. While living in Kentucky, we always enjoyed our trips away but were happy to come back. Going back to Atlanta felt like a weight was put back on my shoulders and I had to mourn moving away from the people I love all over again.