Gainesville!

The girls and I made our annual southern migration last week to visit the Krank side of the family in Gainesville. This year's trip was so much better than last year. We stayed healthy, Lily was easier on the flights, we slept better and because the girls are older and more capable, we had a week jam-packed full of everything we could possibly do in Gainesville in one week in January.

June had a blast getting to simply play outside again. Papa's garden was perfect for digging, planting and getting dirty. She and Lil were quite entertained by arranging snacks for the birds and squirrels.

We finally took a family picture. I've wanted to do this on the last few trips, but always forgot.

On Tuesday, we checked out the Santa Fe Zoo. It was small, but had lots of animals for the girls to observe. And it was such a different experience from concrete jungle zoo in Chicago.

After the zoo, Papa helped the girls make lemonade with lemons he grew himself. The girls had never had lemonade before, but that didn't lessen their excitement. June guzzled hers down and declared it delicious.

After Aunt Chele got off work, we visited Westside Park.

Wednesday was June's half birthday. So we started the day with a giant cookie to decorate in honor of the occasion.

Then we headed to Morning Side Nature Center's farm to feed the animals. Last time we visited a farm, June was very hesitant and cautious. This time, she as full of enthusiasm and fed the animals over and over again.

After the farm, we hit up Satchel's for dinner.

Thanks to an early dinner, we had time (barely) to catch the bats emerging from the bat house. It's been years since I've seen it, but it was neat to see them all come flying out right overhead.

Thursday we checked out Get Air, a new trampoline park. They have these in Chicago, but we've never been. Lil tired early on (as did the adults), but June was full of energy the entire time.

After trampolines we need to refuel so we headed to Publix for subs and free cookies!

On Friday, we went to the Natural History Museum. We went last time we visited Gainesville, and again it was a lot of fun.

Look scared! 

Friday afternoon Aunt Chele took us to Depot Park. It was a beautiful sunny day and the park was amazing. We can't wait to come back.

Friday night, we tempted fate and delayed bedtime to go to the Gator gymnastics meet. We got to make signs, color, play games and get our hair ribboned and glittered by the Dazzlers all before the meet kicked off. The girls loved learning the Gator traditions, eating pizza and popcorn for dinner, dancing to the music and cheering for the team. Because it was so late, we didn't stay long, but it was a lot of fun and definitely something we'll try to do again next time we come to Gainesville.

We had such a wonderful time in Gainesville, visiting with family, playing with my old toys and visiting our favorite home-town spots. Mike said it looked like so much fun that he wants to come with us next time. My favorite parts were the gymnastics meet and just getting to be outside so much. It was a much needed break from the bleakness of Chicago in January.

It was a such a great trip, but exhausting too. June was a trooper all week, but then when we got on our flight home from Atlanta, she curled up and went to sleep VOLUNTARILY! She also passed up a snack, which immediately set off my sick kid alarm. She had a mild fever for about 24 hours after we got home. But after resting on Sunday, she was back to her usual self!

To see all of our photos from the trip, click here.