that's a wrap

Well... my time in DC has come to an end, and I am back on Southern soil with the friends, family and casseroles I have so dearly missed. I have had dozens of blog posts in my head for the past few weeks, but I can't bring myself to write them until I update this blog in a chronological order. I also have this crazy, irrational idea that if I don't document an event, then it really didn't happen. Like I said... irrational. So here is my feeble attempt to compile some highlights from the past month into one post. Get some snacks and buckle up, kids. It's gonna be a long one.

Here goes. Ahem.

My family came to DC for Thanksgiving. (Yep... we're going way back.)

We watched the parade,

went to the Norman Rockwell exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery,

ate Thanksgiving dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill,

saw A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre,

and saw some landmarks.

It was glorious.

You know what else was glorious? Having my friends Alison and Ann Elizabeth come to visit the next weekend.

We ate cupcakes in Georgetown,

whipped our hair back and forth by the Potomac,

sadly, we sang this clever Willow Smith song the entire weekend

galavanted around Eastern Market,

sipped cider and took some 18th century dancing lessons at Mount Vernon,

and watched the SEC championship game on an iPhone.

War Eagle... there, I said it.

It was oh so fun, and I'm so thankful they were able to come join me in the city I've grown to love.

The rest of the month was spent celebrating my roommate's birthday,

doing Christmas stuff around town,

and convincing my fellow intern to participate in a live nativity at our office Christmas party.

Not many people realize that the original manger was an outgoing mail box.

And yes, Joseph's staff was actually a yard stick.

I even got this sweet surprise on my last day in DC. The snow was beautiful, but it sure did make for some difficulty getting home.

Speaking of home... I discovered that while I was in DC, my family was hard at work making our house look festive for Christmas. This is what I came home to:

Santa can be so clumsy sometimes.

We may now be known as the Tacky Todds, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm so grateful for the past three months. It felt great to be stretched, challenged and ultimately strengthened. I loved every minute of the experience, and it's a season that I will always treasure.

But right now, on this Christmas Eve Eve, as I look at our classy Christmas inflatable decoration, I realize...

It's good to be home.

And that's a wrap.