Thanksgiving was spend alone on my couch trying to get rid of an allergy attack. Mom and Dad had the opportunity to go to Spain for a business trip for Dad (and sightseeing for both) and it just happened to fall over the Thanksgiving Holiday (cause Spaniards don't celebrate Thanksgiving). So I stayed in Gainesville and was blessed with a cough, sore throat, and no voice for a few days. I was able to Skype with Mom and Dad and with Tiffany and the kids. I did manage to make myself go to my friend Maranda's house on Thursday so that I could enjoy some traditional Thanksgiving food and we even did some Black Friday on Thursday shopping. We were home by 11:30 PM and bed before midnight :)
I went home the weekend after Thanksgiving to have the Southwell Thanksgiving, cause Mom and I just couldn't stand not having our traditional foods. It was a nice time, but some how I failed to take any pictures of us all together.
December brought the end of my fourth to last class of my Bachelor Degree along with birthday and Christmas. I was able to take a week and a half off of work (and life) and go home from December 14-26. We had everyone over to Mom and Dad's house for my birthday dinner (which for me is the best birthday present ever!) and then on Monday, December 17, Mom, Dad, and I took off to Charlotte, NC to visit my grandparents. We spent a few days up there and came back through GA in order to get some apples. It was a whirlwind of a trip, but good to be able to visit with the grandparents for a few days.
Christmas was very low key for us this year. We all gathered at Mom and Dad's house for Christmas Eve. We had dinner, went to church, then came back for presents, cake and ambrosia (a Southwell tradition). The kids loved their presents from Grammy and Papa and the hooded towels that Aunt Robin made were hardly looked at (although, I've been told that they are a BIG hit now :) - hopefully I can get some pictures soon and update). After spending 12 days with my family, it was time to go back to Gainesville and return to work. Jay almost broke my heart when he asked "Do you have to go back to Gainesville?". He had such a sad look on his face and that is why it is SO HARD to leave them each time!
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| Front view of 2 of the towels |
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| Back view of names |
In January Miss Adalynn was baptized and we were all there for the blessed event. It's always an adventure when you get the 11 Southwells together and even more so when we add two Brownings into the mix. Let's just say that after two restaurants and an hour and a half we decided to go back to Steven and Tiffany's house and grab some sandwiches. The kids did great considering it was well past their nap time before we even started getting their lunch together!
I've been home a lot over the last few months and have no pictures to show for it :(. I will be going home for my final Spring Break in March and will definitely be taking pictures. I have special things planned for the three older children. We should have some fun!!
What's coming up? Three birthdays in three weeks! Our birthday season begins soon. Mom will be coming up to Gainesville for her birthday and I have some fun things planned for us. Then the kids' birthdays come in March/April. I've been informed that the two oldest will not be having a party as they are going to Disney for the first time for their birthdays, but the little monkey should be having a party near his birthday at the end of March. I, of course, will make sure to take our annual birthday pictures and post them.
Hope that it's not 4 months before I''m back on here, but with finishing up my degree (which will be completed December of THIS year!!!), working, and spending as much time as I can with those adorable children I call mine - I just haven't made this a priority. . . Sorry :)
