GIRLS WEEKEND

This past weekend was amazing - 3 of my best friends from Florida came to visit us in Birmingham. Jackie, Paula and Liz stayed with us for 4 days and we showed them all around the Ham! They arrived on Friday morning and Josh picked them up from the airport while I worked a half-day. We met up for lunch and went to the delicious Saw's BBQ in Homewood. Afterwards we did lots of shopping and stopped by to say "Hello" to Mr. Vulcan.

On Saturday we slept in, chatted up during breakfast and then made the trek out to Oak Mountain. (The pic you see below was very graciously taken by our chauffeur and my husband - Josh.) We decided to climb down to the waterfall that we love and it was quite a climb since everything was still very slippery. We all managed to climb down and then back out of the valley in one piece - however, let's just say that some of us struggled more than others...

Josh: "Jackie, just move your foot to that spot right there..."

Jackie: "Don't you see that is impossible as I am already doing the SPLITS?!?!"

Becca: To Jackie - "They all have longer legs than us - NOT FAIR."

Becca: (Grunting in frustration and fear.)

Paula: "Becca, haven't you done this before?!?"

Josh: "Yes, she has..."

Sunday was Paula's birthday and so we ordered her favorite cake Edgar's Bakery and we sang to her on Saturday night after Josh and I made dinner.

On Sunday we went to church in the morning, Baha Burger for lunch, outlet shopping in the afternoon and then dinner at Jackson's for Paula's birthday - busy but very fun day!!

I am so thankful for such a fun and relaxing weekend with friends. Lots of girl time :). Poor Josh was a little overloaded with Estrogen, but he was amazing as he baked cookies, cooked dinner from a Pioneer Woman recipe (haha), drove us everywhere and just plain put up with us. Love you, Babe.

This 4-day weekend was a much needed break before my upcoming work travel schedule:

Next week - Pennsylvania for a new project for Lock Haven University

Week After - Gainesville for progress visit and UF housing Reception onsite (Hopefully I can update!!)

Following week - Possibly to OHIO?!? (Don't think I've been there before...)

FIRST SNOW...

Last Sunday night, January 9th, we got our first snow of this winter here in Birmingham. The storm that came through brought lots of rain and and about an inch of snow - this created a layer of ice that covered everything. We ended up having our first official "SNOW DAY" (on Monday) since we have moved here - no work or school for us!! It was kinda nice to relax and have a 3-day weekend.

You can see Molly surveying the damage from her spot on the "veranda" (as we like to call it.) She was very restless and could not understand why we could not all just run around in it - after Josh slipped on the ice in the parking lot while walking her Sunday night, we decided to stay inside as much as possible until it melted some.

CHRISTMAS IN FLORIDA

Sorry it has been so long since the last post - Josh and I had a very busy and exciting 10-day long break from work and school over Christmas/ New Years that we spent at home in Jacksonville with our family and friends. We had a lot of fun!! We arrived in Jax on the 23rd and spent time with Josh's family on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Christmas lunch we went over to Josh's Grandparents' house and then headed over to my mom's house for Christmas dinner.

Melissa and I on Christmas Eve

Molly on Christmas Eve - Stylin' it for the Camera

The Annual "Fun" Hewiett Family Pic - we had to work
hard to top the Human Pyramid from last year :)

Molly was exhausted after all of the festivities

Christmas Night at My Mom's House - Family Pic

Kids with Aunt Lala

On Monday after Christmas Josh, Melissa, Josh's Dad and I went to Islands of Adventure. It was a rather chilly day but we were glad to endure it in order to ride roller coasters and get a glimpse of the new Island that just opened last summer...

This may be my favorite picture of the day :)

Melissa and I before Spiderman in 3D

Heading into Jurassic Park where Melissa convinced us to ride the water ride...

... the aftermath - but at least we saw the dinosaurs :). We were able to immediately dry off on dueling dragons...

Our first glimpse of Hogwarts :)

Dad and girls in Hogsmeade

Josh and I in front of the Weasley's Car

These are the crowds we faced to see Harry...

Waiting in line in front of Hogwarts Castle to ride the Harry ride...

End of the Day - in front of the Hulk

Monday at Islands of Adventure was a lot of fun - I am so glad we got to go. For the rest of the week we got to hang out with our family and a few of our wonderful friends that we do not get to see that often. We were so fortunate to get this break to spend in Jacksonville and celebrate the Birth of Christ surrounded by our family. We love and miss you all.

Think this gets me caught up on what we have been up to last month - this next week should be interesting - there is a storm coming in to Birmingham tomorrow that is supposed to bring snow, I am going to Baton Rouge for work all week (supposed to be driving on Monday - we will see if the roads are icey) and next weekend 3 of my best friends from Jax are coming to visit for 4 days - I can't wait :). Paula, Jackie and Liz arrive on Friday and leave next Monday. We will be busy showing them around Birmingham which will I am sure include: shopping, hiking, eating and lots of other fun things we think of. I am so excited to see my wonderful friends and so thankful they are coming - the last time we were together was when Jackie got married last April. Will update on how next weekend goes!!

"32 AND RAINING"

Like everyone else in the country, we have been having some horrid weather the last few days - well mainly frigid. I think there were 5 days in a row where it did not get above 30 degrees here in Birmingham - awful... I am not used to this.

So yesterday we got somewhat of a different forecast - it will warm up a bit and we will get some rain for the next few days. They said "Wednesday morning it will begin to rain and eventually raise to above freezing by the end of the day...." My first thought was "Sweet, that means it might SNOW!!" I love the snow here and inevitably it snow might mean a "SNOW DAY" or at least a short work day and then snow afternoon? Boy was I wrong... instead it meant sleet and lots of ice on the roads!! Scary stuff!

Side note/Lesson to Floridians on what sleet is (because I thought I knew too and then I actually experienced it): Sleet is when the rain freezes right before it hits the ground. I knew this... but i thought that meant that it would look like snow and rain mixed together - NO!! It looks, feels and sounds like very small hail. I experienced this first hand on my drive into work yesterday - I am sure that I looked ridiculous as I was freaking out, trying to figure out what was hitting my car!!

Another thing that happens when it "rains" and is 32 degrees outside is seen in the picture below:

4" Icicles were hanging from the Pathfinder when I left work yesterday evening. Crazy stuff!! Just thought I would fill everyone in (mainly the Floridians) on the weather here in the Ham. I have to say - I am looking forward to spending Christmas in Jacksonville where it will hopefully be warmer this year :)

ONE OF MY BEST MEMORIES...

... Of my Dad was actually the night of my highschool graduation. We had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants (that is no longer there...) in Jacksonville - LightHouse Grill. My entire family was there along with a few friends, and of course my boyfriend - Josh. Dinner ran a little later than expected so I had to leave early since I had to be at the auditorium an hour before. It was decided that Josh could take me and then possibly start saving seats for everyone... just as we were heading out, my Dad screamed - "Oh, and I'll join you!! I can help Josh save seats." I am sure that at this point Josh was panicking at the thought of spending any length of time with his girlfriend's dad by himself - but he hid it very well. Keep in mind - we were only 18 and had only been dating for about 3.5 months. We get into Josh's car - Josh driving, me in the front and my Dad slides into the middle of the back seat. As we began the drive, the radio kicks on and my Dad is like "Sooooo, what are we listening to? - Do you have anything good?" Josh says, "I have Queen." (Knowing that I knew all of the songs after learning them from my Dad's CD.) My Dad - "Great!! Number 5, please!!!"

Over the next few minutes I was more embarrassed (or so I thought) than I had ever been in my life. I listened in absolute horror as my Dad belted out every word to (as loud and as high-pitched as he could) on of Queen's Greatest Hits, "Fat-Bottomed Girls." I remember getting out of Josh's Taurus and thinking that Josh may run away and never speak to me again.

This is still one of my favorite (and funniest) memories of my Dad. Josh and I talk all the time about we can embarrass our kids just as well as my Dad did us. I am so thankful for the many wonderful memories I have of my Dad who was there to love, mentor, guide, teach, discipline & yes, embarrass me for 19 years.

7 years today... I love you and miss you, Dad.

NEW ADDITIONS

We got our Christmas decorations up last week and I am excited about the new items that have been added to the mix. We have most of the same decorations for last year... but we have two main additions that make very big statements.

The first is the lovely tree that you see below - Josh and I used some of our Birthday money to purchase this beautiful 7' (artificial) tree a couple of weeks ago. I was very excited about it. Our first 2 Christmases in Jax, we got REAL Christmas trees (which are still my favorite). However, once we moved to Alabama - we were not here for Christmas week anymore and did not want to leave a real tree while we were gone (fire hazard?!?!) We decided getting a decent looking artificial tree was the next best thing - here she is. She is a beauty!!



The next exciting addition to the Christmas decoration collection at the Hewiett House is seen below:

Our nativity is complete!! The last piece that we needed was the actual stable - and my mom surprised me with it for my birthday last month - very nice!! Although the nativity still has no better place to sit except the bar (which will hopefully change in our new place next year), it now looks like a set meant to be together. I think this is (and will always be) my favorite Christmas decoration - such a simple statement of what CHRISTmas is about - the birth of our Lord. I also love that our first 4 Christmases as a married couple were spent collected all of the pieces.

That's all of the new decorations for this year! I just got an email notice that our shutterfly Christmas cards we ordered should arrive today!! Maybe will be motivated to address them and get them out tonight! (Be expecting your copy very soon!)

DAVE BARNES & SEAVER FEVER

Sorry for the lack of posting - things have been quite busy at the Hewiett house... Thanksgiving was great - we got to go home to Florida and spend it with both of our families. We are counting down the days until Christmas - which means another break from work and school and lots more time with family & friends!!

We have been busy shopping, decorating for Christmas, wrapping presents,etc. The Christmas parties officially begin this week with my work party this Thursday night!! (Will update later...)

This past weekend we started our Christmas celebration off to a very fun start by attending a Dave Barnes Christmas concert. He is absolutely hilarious - check out this video of him dancing as Santa Clause - his friend was headed to his house in order to film his annual Christmas Extravaganza video and walked up to him dancing in his living room.

On Sunday evening I joined a friend from work to go meet Kirk Cameron and hear him speak at a Boy's Ranch here in Birmingham. He was a great speaker - he of course did a few impressions to feed the "Seaver Fever" and then immediately began to share his testimony - I was so excited to hear such a clear and genuine presentation of the gospel.

He asked that his body guard be in all of his pictures so that there could be no appearance of scandel with him being alone with any women - very respectable!! The only thing I was upset about was that I completely did not even think to bring my FIREPROOF movie for him to sign - that would have been awesome - o well.

That about sums up our weekend - we have a very busy few weeks ahead of us - here are our upcoming Christmas activities:

December 9 - Rebecca's Work Christmas Party (Josh comes too!)

December 12 - Holiday House Tour with my friend from work

December 13 - Work Christmas Potluck

December 14 - Small Group Christmas Party

December 21 - Viewing of "Elf" at the Alabama Theatre with our Small Group

December 23 - Leave for Jax after work!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!