# eighteen

Christmas was wonderful! I had a nice Christmas and was able to spend a lot of time with my family and friends! On Saturday, December 27th, we had our family Christmas party! It was so much fun! I got many nice gifts! I am looking forward to the rest of my break! I do not start school again until January 20th! Today is my friend Natalie Hahn's birthday and tonight we are all going out for pizza to celebrate! I hope everyone else had a fabulous holiday! Ciao!

numero 17

I am finally home for Christmas and I am so happy to be home! I worked so hard all semester and I am glad to finally have a break. I ended up with all B's and one A for the semester! When I got home from Columbia my family and I went to Historic St. Charles. We went to the antique shops that were all decked out for the holidays. It was so much fun. Afterwards we all went out to eat at Pasta House...so good! On Monday night Laura, Jordan, and I went down to the Hahn's house and we had some Christmas Joy! We all decorated a gingerbread house and made Christmas shaped chocolates. After all our hard work and creativity in the kitchen we all had some hot chocolate! It was so much fun and a great way to get into the spirit of Christmas! Yesterday Steve and Zack came over to exchange Christmas gifts. I gave Steve a really nice sweater and he gave me some slippers, black nail polish, and a diamond necklace! It is so beautiful! I was really suprised! Well today is Christmas Eve! Tonight my family and I will eat snacks and watch "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and "It's a Wonderful Life"...two of my favorites! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

Sedici

Last night I saw the Magic Tree! It was so amazing! For the past fourteen years this family in Columbia decorates a crab apple tree in their front yard! The first year they decorated the tree it took 3000 lights. Now it takes about 7500 lights! It was nice to get away from my homework last night and admire this beautiful tree! :) Only 11 more days until I get to come home for Christmas! I can't wait!!!

XV

Finals are coming up really soon...I have so much cramming to do in the next couple of days just to get my final projects done and start studying for finals! Ugh...this is the worst time of the academic year! I wish I could just sit back and enjoy the holiday season! It has been so cold lately...had some snow flurries the last couple of days...maybe there is hope for a white Christmas this year! :) I will be heading home on December 18th and I can't wait! I am getting ready to go to my Italian lab...hopefully we will get out early I have so much to do! Hope every one makes it through their last weeks of work and school! Good Luck! Gotta go to lab...Ciao!

Fourteen

Well I had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! I am back in Columbia now...I wish I was still at home. I miss home already! Just three more weeks and I will be home again for an entire month for Christmas! YAY! We spent the entire day on Wednesday putting up all of our Christmas decorations! That is always fun...but very time consuming. Thanksgiving dinner was beautiful. We had dinner at my Aunt Susan's house and she set up a lovely table that fit our whole family! After dinner we all played BINGO, like we do every year, for prizes! It was so much fun! The day after Thanksgiving we have a wonderful tradition! All the girls go antique shopping and all the men go shoot guns on some farm! Fun! Antique shopping was great. We went into this wool shop and I bought a yard of wool fabric to make a purse with! When we got back home for the evening Zack and Steven came over and we decorated our main Christmas tree! I love all of our traditions and parties during the holiday season. I am sad that I am going to miss two of the Christmas parties because I will still be here in Columbia studying for finals! I hope my finals go well! :( We shall see! These three weeks are going to be very stressful...I hope I make it through! Well I should probably do more homework before I go to sleep! Happy Holidays everyone!

13

I am finally home for Thanksgiving break! I love being home! I don't want to go back to Columbia this Sunday! :( Wednesday we spent the entire day putting up all of our Christmas decorations. We go all out on the holidays, our house totally transforms. I love it! Last night my sister Laura's boyfriend, Zack came over along with my boyfriend Steven and we decorated our main Christmas tree! It was fun! This morning my family and I watched the Thanksgiving parade and the dog show like every year. We are getting ready to go to our family Thanksgiving feast at my aunt's house. Well I probably should start getting ready! I hope everyone has a FABULOUS Thanksgiving Day!!!

dodici

AH I am stressed! I have been so busy with homework, studying for tests, and writing papers I haven't had any time to do what I want to do! I started the fourth book of the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. I really haven't gotten very far, because I don't have any time...Maybe I should hold off on the book until I can relax...like during Christmas break! I can't wait to go home this Friday! I have a huge paper to write during my week long break at home, but I am excited to be home for a week just the same! Laura and I are seeing the Twilight movie on Friday...at least I have Friday to look forward to! That is what is pulling me through this week..I just keep thinking I will be heading home this Friday...man and it is only Monday! BLAH! I think I have a cold now...I haven't been feeling very good! Well I better get back on the books...I have a lot to do! I hope everyone has a lovely week...hopefully it will be way more relaxing than mine! CIAO!