{local love} holidays in highland park

friday night: date night. it was A's turn to plan the surprise date - a christmas-tastic afternoon/evening in dallas.

{galleria!}

first stop: the galleria. shopping, lattes, and the biggest christmas tree this side of rockefeller center. we watched the kids ice skating around the tree and stayed long enough to see the cheesy light show. we talked about our crazy weeks and did a lot of people-watching. one sweet hello kitty hat and one cozy grandpa sweater later we headed south for phase II of our date.


christmas lights in highland park. we're not talking inflatable snowmen here, people. they take their christmas decorating very seriously. a christmas tree in every room, a string of lights on every branch of every tree in every yard {no lazy zig-zagging here}. you can do your own driving or take a carriage ride through the town. either way it's definitely the best christmas light situation in all of dallas.  

{memory lane}

towards the end of our christmas lights tour, we drove by my old elementary school. we got out and peeked into the windows and played at the playground. it was such a perfect winter night - cold and clear, with the brightest moon ever. we played a little basketball and then crossed the street to the soccer field. i vividly remember running laps and playing kickball there, back in the days when my biggest worry was about which keds to wear with my color-blocked tee shirt and christmas was at its most magical.