Visit to Columbia...

Here you go, Tita...another blog post for you!
For our last little vacation before school starts back, we decided to go to Charleston, SC to hang out with my college friends, many of whom I haven't seen since before vet school started. We stopped in Columbia, SC last night to stay with my friend Sarah and her boyfriend Barney, and it's been great to see them. We've had a relaxing time of unpacking (from Sarah's trip home to OH), wrapping presents, making hummus, and walking her dog Boston. She's in her first year of law school, so we are both kindred spirits in trying to milk every last bit of relaxation from this x-mas break. We only have one week left!
In a few hours, we're planning to head down to Charleston to see everyone else at the beach house they rented. Should be nice to see the beach, although I think it's gonna be really cold.
Happy New Year!
-Shirin

Sarah in her room, unpacking her stuff.

Boston ready for his walk!

Playing with Boston in the little park in front of Sarah's house. She has a really nice little neighborhood.

Sarah making some awesome home-made hummus for the New Year's party and gifts.

She made one with roasted red peppers and the other with spinach. Yum!

Meanwhile, I helped by wrapping some of their presents for Barney's family.

Christmas Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Janice and I both got really nice rocking chairs from Gabriel's parents. How exciting...the first piece of my nursery!

Gabriel rocking a really big baby Brendan.

Gabriel got a computer tool set from his parents...he's stoked.

"Will Hustle For Food" says it all for Casey...ha ha ha! I think he got that from Cruz (not sure).

I got some really cute vegan shoes from Rita. I love them!

Cruz with new shorts and Bren with new boxers.

Cruz with a funny hat for his basketball team and a nice toiletries case for college next year.

Gene is a hoot...he had all these blue packages under the tree for each one of us that Janice said looked like fish from a butcher's shop...they were actually all matching t-shirts for all of us (we pose in them later...see below).

The hit of X-mas was Janice and Casey's homemade present. It's a hanging art piece that states all the distances to our most important places (people) from Athens, GA...we have Rock Hill, SC; Austin, TX; Shiraz, Iran; St. Pete, FL; and Lakeland, FL. I'll have to add Santa Clara, CA and Downers Grove, IL when I get home.

Brendan's cities and distances were all different, obviously, since he's now hailing from Austin, TX. London, of course, was important to him since he lived there earlier this year.

Three brothers.

A manly picture. From left: Gene, Casey, Cruz, Sam, Brendan (and Gabriel in front). There are 3 generations of the Geaslin/Beal family represented here.

Emily (Sam's daughter) got some new gear from Janice and Casey for our next softball match at the Ides of March...cute (she was happier than she looks in this picture, I promise).

Mamaw opening her present from Rita with Bren looking on.

Gabriel practicing "rock the baby" on 8-year old Emily...she acted a little more precocious than an infant would by pinching his nose.

The x-mas feast! I made my mom's Greek "chicken" recipe and it went well with all the other food. We also had salad, mashed potatoes, rolls, deviled eggs, various meat dishes, lima beans, broccoli, and a TON of desserts.

A family pic with our matching shirts from Gene. From left: Gene, Rita, Gabriel, Janice, Casey, Ashley, Cruz, me, Brendan, Emily, and Sam.

The boys...

The girls...

More Lakeland, FL and family pics...

Our x-mas break with the Beal family continues...

Three brothers catching up. From left: Casey, Brendan, and Gabriel. Casey is staying with his wife Janice's sister for x-mas, which is only a few blocks away from Gabriel's parents house. He has been able to pop over for several visits. I definitely love hanging out in the kitchen and chatting...it's what the holidays are all about, in my mind.

Gabriel and Brendan are just like silly little boys when they get together!

We went to visit a good friend of Gabriel's (Nick) and got to see his daughter, Lexie, dance for us (Gabriel did it with her)!

Lexie with a stylin' Guiness hat on.

Nick also has a new baby boy, Joshua. Here he is with his mom, Cassandra. Joshy looks JUST like his daddy.


Gabriel trying his hand out at holding a little baby boy.

Brendan emulating the little stiff baby...ha ha ha!

I love Rita's deviled eggs. She made them today...just the start of the x-mas day goodies.

Gene watching his boys playing Magic.

This family is full of wrestlers (Gabriel and Brendan), and they often try to subdue their parents with moves...I guess Gene is trying to get back at Brendan for once.

Janice with one of her sister's (Michelle's) puppies.

Brendan, Gabriel, and I went over to Michelle's house tonight to hang out with Casey and his sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. From left: Michelle (mom of 5 and sister of Janice), Erica (Michelle's 3rd child and only daughter), Heather (Janice's sister visiting from CA), Brendan, Donnie (Michelle's 4th child), and Janice. We were playing them in Pictionary.

We also played a Charades game with props...Gabriel's doing something with one of them here.

Brendan aka Bren Bren and Casey aka DJ Mingle Mixx.

You know we're happy when we're winning a game!

Michelle's 2nd son, Matt, demonstrating his saxophone skills. Erica, his music stand, was really sleepy.

Athens, GA and Lakeland, FL

We spent the week back in Athens, with Gabriel working at the vet school like normal, and me working on the house at home. On Friday, we headed down for our 8 hour drive to Lakeland, FL to spend 5 days with Gabriel's family. We arrived Friday night and went with his mom to pick up his brother Brendan from the airport in Tampa. He flew in from Austin and is returning next week after Christmas. Much to Gabriel's happiness, his brother (Brendan) and nephew (Cruz) have been playing Rockband with him a bunch and really rocking it out! It's been a lot of fun.
The holidays are great!
-Shirin

I worked Thursday night at the ICU and this is what I found when I got home.

What could Santa have possibly left me? An early present?

Aaaaiiiiii! An Ipod!!!!!

We had an older one we got from my mom for Gabriel's birthday (a hand-me-down from my Aunt Martha and Uncle Ken), but it had started not working that well. Since Gabriel and I LOVE to listen to books-on-tape while we're on road trips, it was the PERFECT gift for me...just the night before we hit the road for an all day drive. Isn't it cute? My new one is called "the fatty" (or phatty, not sure) and it's about a fourth of the size. I named him "Zip."

Gabriel and Brendan rocking out Saturday morning. Brendan already knew how to play the drums for real and was really good at playing along with the songs almost immediately.

As if he didn't get enough of it at home, I found Gabriel in Best Buy playing Guitar Hero...we'd gone there with Brendan and their dad (Gene) to x-mas shop and this was how he spent his time.

I like to play too, now and then.

Brendan bringing down the house!!!!!

Cruz trying his hand at the drums.

We also played our new board game that Gabriel got from Anahita for x-mas, called "Therapy." It's really fun...Cruz won too!