Family, Places

Christmas Travels Part II- Georgia

 

DSC_0878

Dahlonega is a beautiful little town nestled in the North Georgia Mountains and home of one of the first major Gold Rushes! We have made a little tradition of doing a family photo shoot in the square. The Christmas decorations make the tiny town that much more magical and we love walking around to all the shops.

DSC_6795

This year my step-sister Caitlyn was able to come do our family pictures and we absolutely LOVE them! Thank you so much caitcarrphotography.com ! She shoots locally in North Georgia, all over the US, and internationally as well. Here are some of my favorites from our Christmas session.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

At the end of our photo shoot we enjoyed the chocolate we picked out and Lochlan got to try her first little morsal! I think she liked it!

 

We tried a new Italian restaurant called Grape Vine’s  for lunch and it was super delicious.  Logan and I might even try to sneak away for a date night next time we’re up there.

We only spent two days in Dawsonville this year, but managed to squeeze in time with both our families. It’s so weird to me having all of our family in the same town. Growing up, my grandparents lived pretty far away from us, and in entirely different sides of Virginia. So we would go visit each set separately for a week over the summer, or a holiday. It was so nice to get that cherished time with them. And it was always super relaxing and filled with fun events. Of course I’m remembering this from a child’s perspective, and it probably wasn’t so stress free for my parents. It’s nice to have everyone together so close, but when we go back to Georgia I feel like every single tiny second has to be planned out to make sure we can fit everything in. I must admit, I’ve become quite good at it over the past couple years. I’m so thankful to have a great family to spend the holidays with, but orchestrating the trip does a number on my stress level, that’s for sure! Haha

It’s also really awesome that Miller Grace and Lochlan have so many cousins the same age as them. As in, literally born in the same year! Somehow Logan and his brothers all managed to have a baby in 2015 and then again in 2017! I guess we’ll have to wait and see what 2019 looks like?? Haha The kids have such a blast playing and I love that they get to make memories together!

IMG_9026
So exhausted after playing with her cousins

IMG_8271

 

One of the neatest gifts Miller Grace was given was my late Grandfather’s medical equipment.

Miller Grace tells us time and again that she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. My Mom found a little shop in Dahlonega and had a bag embroidered with Dr. Miller Grace, and filled it with my Grandpa’s stethoscope, octoscope, reflex hammer, band-aids, wraps,  and splints. She even got a white doctor’s coat to match!

 

IMG_8279

We decided it’d be best to leave the bag and all its belongings at MooMoo’s house so that MG doesn’t end up performing surgery on her sister. And it will make playing with it that much more special event when she visits.

DSC_6866

 

It was a great couple days with our family celebrating Christmas. Although it can be so crazy, it’s also filled with a ton of love, laughs and great times!

 

Family, Places

The Donut Hole

Logan got in around bedtime Friday night after his first week away and Miller Grace was THRILLED! She asked him to bring her a special gift all week, and he did not disappoint! He showed up with a cake topped with paw patrol figurines, and she has slept with those little puppies every night since. The first night he was gone I ended up moving her to my bed around midnight and I heard her say, “Oh Hi Daddy! You bring me a special present?” in her sleep. It was so sweet to know she was dreaming of him but a little sad since it was his first night away. She was also super excited because Daddy got her a new car!!! The way we keep our cars, it really might be hers one day! Haha ( Read Bertha’s story here).

We woke up and MG said she wanted Waffles, so we decided to take the new car for a drive and go to one of our local favorites, The Donut Hole.

IMG_8543
Check out that roomy back seat, with enough space that even Darla got to ride in the middle!

 

It was SO delicious! I had the Gulf Coast Omelet and it did not disappoint. Filled with shrimp, crab, peppers, onion and cheese, I had it with a side of tomato slices and a biscuit. YUM!!

IMG_8570

Logan had the Special which gives a great sampling of everything yummy: Pancakes, Ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns and a biscuit.

IMG_8565

Miller Grace and Lochlan ended up splitting a pancake instead of waffles and we went home with a whole meal’s worth of leftovers.

 

IMG_8578.jpg

Miller Grace got two sprinkled donuts on the way out, one for her and one for her bestie!

IMG_8581

It was such a beautiful day. We’re trying to savor every last weekend down on 30A.