I haven't been blogging in a while, but I have been crazy busy! I went to an amazing day before Christmas Eve wedding for my uncle and his new wife, Jeanne, followed by a great Christmas Eve and Christmas with the family! I then took off Christmas night for Denver to meet up with my best friend Aliey (from Australia) who is visiting my friend Geoff in Colorado! After a few days with them, I took off for Australia! My trip didn't go quite as expected, but it ended up turning out wonderfully. For those who haven't turned on the TV in the last few weeks, there was historically high flooding in Queensland, RIGHT where I was visiting. I experienced some pretty bad weather with about 2 weeks straight of nonstop rain, was evacuated from my hotel on the river which was eventually under water, and ended my trip with sunshine and an incredible last few days on the beach :) In the one month that I was gone, my little nephew learned how to crawl, stand up on his own, and is getting his first two little chompers! I've chronicled my winter break into a photo blog.. enjoy!

My cousin Samantha and I at her dad's wedding.

Me and my monkey on his FIRST Christmas :)

Jackson likes gossip mags just like his Auntie !

Overlooking Vail

Showing off my grill.

Me and Aliey!


Me standing on the median of the very flooded highway.

The spider we found in my friends apartment. They all failed to mention to me that this was the FOURTH one they'd found and killed since I started staying there..

:) at Gold Coast

Mikey and I.


Feeding an elephant at Australia Zoo!

Bindi, Terri and Bob Irwin (Steve Irwin's family) at Australia Zoo

I budged in front of someone to take this picture of Bob Irwin with a lizard.. Little did I know it was Terri Irwin standing right next to me (see reflection...)

Seaworld in Gold Coast.

My last full day in Australia, getting a new tattoo :) It says 'no worries' -- a very common Australian saying, and is written in my mommy's handwriting.

I have an ortho appointment next Monday, so look out for another update then!

A candid picture of my profile! I am jutting my jaw forward in this picture to be able to make a kissy face, so it's not a very good representation of my actual profile. I was laughing because my nephew was being goofy, hence the failure at actually making a kissy face. As you can see, there is a lot of tension in my chin from bringing it forward.

I hate my profile, but I love this picture too too much :)

I went in for my fourth (scheduled) appointment at the ortho today. I actually had to drive home from school on Friday because the wire on my upper right was poking into my cheek and driving me crazy. I didn't want to be stuck dealing with it through the weekend and the week, until today's appointment.

Today I got my wires changed! On both top and bottom, and they're bigger! I always get excited with wire changes, because I feel like leaving the same wires on is just keeping me in limbo and I am not making any progress. Well, they bumped me up to 20's! Does anyone know the actual sequencing of wire sizes? I am not sure what I would have started at ?
I am in the midst of finals week, so wish me luck! I have two on Monday (Genetics and Zoology) and a presentation on Tuesday. I am trying to spend a lot of time at home in the next few days between my finals, as it feels more 'Christmas-y' here than it does in my sorority house. I will be jetting off to Australia right after Christmas, so I am thinking it won't feel much like the holidays once I land in 85 degree weather. I am trying to soak up as much of it as I can now!

It's Jack Jack's first Christmas, and we are all SO excited, so expect a few pictures after the holidays :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!