christmas visit in gainesville

At this rate, it may take me until St. Patrick's Day to get through all of the Christmas posts. But I will do it so I have these records.

This year we all took some time off and went home to my mom's to spent some time with her and the family before Christmas. One night we went to a concert that my good friend's son was singing in. It was held in Gainesville at a neat place called Cymplify, which happens to be owned by one of the members of Sister Hazel. It was really cool when Ken Block got up to sing with the kids during the last song. Before the concert the girls had ice cream. Morgan did not want to be bothered with pictures.

On Saturday we took the kids to the Hippodrome Theatre to see A Christmas Carol. This is the same show at the same theatre that my mom took me to as a kid. The girls loved it! I had warned them about the potential scary parts and they both understood that none of it was real. It's such a small theatre that your so close to the action. The best part was Morgan giggling loudly three seconds after the rest of the theatre had already stopped.

My mom and Jim went with us and Jim snapped these pictures after the show. I just love this one of Addison handing him the phone for an Instagram picture. 

We had some time to kill after the show before meeting Allison and Cole for dinner. We headed to the mall to get the official picture with Santa. (You may need to click on it to view the larger version.)

And since we had more time to kill, I asked the girls if they wanted to get their ears pierced. I was SHOCKED when they both agreed to do it. Addison sat on my lap and went first. They did both ears at the same time and used some special code to trick her and I when they actually pulled the trigger on the gun. When it was done I heard some noise coming out of her that I thought was crying. It was actually a giggle as she looked at herself in the mirror.

After seeing Addison go, Morgan chickened out. Then as I was paying she was back in. She too sat in my lap. She didn't cry, but she wasn't giggling. She immediately turned to me for a big hug. Within 30 minutes she was back to her normal self.

After dinner we went over to North FL hospital to walk the pond and see all of the Christmas lights. This is another childhood tradition that I enjoyed experiencing with my own girls. 

Me and Cole. I can't believe how big he has gotten. I've enjoyed watching him grow and turn in to the sweetest young man.

 Me and Allison. Friends since babies. That makes it 36 years. Not very many people can say that.

Then there's my mom. She doesn't do pictures. At all. But I forced her too and this was the best we got.

My sweet family.

Sunday morning we went to church. Afterwards I made them take pictures.

 I'm trying really hard to be IN more pictures. Even if they do hate me for it.

I had so much fun creating these memories with my little family. I hope it continues for years to come.