We just got back a couple of hours ago from Jacksonville- we spend every New Year's with the Suttons, our friends from college and alternate hosting. We have yet to break this tradition! We had a great time. Charlotte was SO good. We've had a problem with her before getting overexcited and knocking over Wyatt, who is 2.5, or having a super hard time sharing her toys with him. But we shouldn't have worried, as she was so good. She was even sad that we had to leave them.
Backing up bit, we had a great Christmas, too. Both girls got to carry the Baby Jesus up the aisle during the Christmas Eve service and lay him in the manger. I had to provide substantial help, of course. On Christmas morning, the girls got everything they wanted, but the big winner was Violet's slide. Violet is a climber and we often find her on top of things she shouldn't be on top of. So her slide is perfect, although she needs a little help to actually slide. She can climb up just fine on her own, as we knew she would. Charlotte loved one of her stocking stuffers the most- Disney Princess Squinkies. They're teeny-tiny little squishy figures.
A few days after Christmas, we went to Sea World and were so happy to see a former student who is a singer in a Christmas show there. We enjoyed stretching out the Christmas festivities.
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| With Kayla backstage after her show- we got to meet the animals from the show, too- camels, goats and sheep! |
We left Orlando for Jacksonville and since it was on the way, we took the girls to run around Stetson for a bit. They loved not being in the car, and we loved seeing all our old haunts. Sadly, our old dorm where we both lived for three years was recently torn down. We had a lot of memories there, the most important was that Jason proposed there.
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| Steps from Elizabeth Hall down to Presser Hall- well traveled by us during our time there. |
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| Holler Fountain |
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| Running around in the cold. |
In Jacksonville, we enjoyed catching up and letting the kids play together. Steve and Susanne gave the girls gift cards to Barnes and Noble, and Charlotte really enjoyed getting to pick out several books. She was very diligent about checking prices and making decisions with her allotted amount. We went to a Winter Wonderland in Saint Augustine and Charlotte loved the train ride, watching the figure skaters and opening the doors and exploring houses at the elf village. Violet liked the activity room and colored and played with trains. We had lunch today at the World Golf Village and headed for home.
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| With Wyatt in Santa's chair |
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| In an elf house |
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| Another elf house |
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| At World Golf Village |
We are wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!
