For years Brett and I made the trip to Atlanta over Christmas to visit his family. We had lived there for years and it was like going home. The first pictures I could find from those trips was in 2009. We were heading into the city and I noticed the Peachtree Plaza Hotel (round building on the left) was missing a lot of windows. A tornado had come through in 2008 and it took 2 years for them to order and replace the windows.

The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree on the top of Macy’s at Lenox Mall.

My sister Debbie and I went to Atlantic Station and walked around. They had a huge Christmas tree that you could see from the interstate (Debbie was standing under it). The 2nd shot is from the Station. I’m sure the view has changed a lot with more buildings going up every year.

We had a cold trip in 2010. Above is me in sweats taking a picture of the tree at Brett’s parents.

The forecast called for snow but we really just got frozen rain. It didn’t stay long.

I found a chipmunk in Brett’s parents backyard. I think he thought I was going to try and steal the acorns in his cheeks. We don’t have them here in the Tampa bay area and I missed seeing them.

I saw my first cedar waxwings down the street. I went for walk before dark on Christmas eve and saw them in the trees. I ran back to the house and got my camera and they were still there.

Heading back to Atlanta for Christmas in 2011.

I had heard there were good birds at the Oakland Cemetery in downtown Atlanta so I bundled up and headed out with my camera. I saw my first nuthatch there.

I found Margaret Mitchell’s grave. She wrote Gone With The Wind in Atlanta.

Me being a tourist in my old town. My sister and I went to the Christmas Village in Stone Mountain Park. I had my old Nikon bag with my Nikon D90 in it back then.

Buddy always made the trip with us. This was Christmas 2012.

I went back to Oakland Cemetery for a cold walk on Christmas Eve, You can see the gold top of the Georgia capital from here.

I saw my first dark eyed junco on this trip. There were several here and they were very accommodating.

It wouldn’t be a Christmas blog without a cardinal in it even if the snow is fake and there were plenty at the cemetery.  Brett’s family eventually moved down to Florida so we don’t get up to Atlanta as much as we used to and not for Christmas anymore.

Have a Merry Christmas and stay warm if you are up north!