Seth, Brooke, and Paisley Merrill: Home for the Holidays!

So Seth was the best husband ever and got us tickets to go to SC for 2 weeks over the holidays. I was so excited I almost didn't complain on the LONG plane ride there! We were so happy to be able to spend time with my family since it had been 6 months since I had seen them...way too long. But when we got there, Seth had a burning up temperature and was really sick. I had never seen him so sick, and I figured it was the flu because none of us were sick and he was the only one who did not get his flu shot, despite my begging (he says he never gets sick). Seth said he'd just tough it out and participated in all of our activities, including an over night trip to Charleston with me. After about a week he was still running a fever, so we figured it was time to get some help. After one day on antibiotics he was feeling so much better. Then, on Christmas Eve he told everyone he was going last minute shopping, but was gone for four hours. If you know my husband, that is a little long for one of his usual shopping trips (by about three hours). Well, we were all sitting around when the doorbell rang. My mom opened the door and there was Ella! My mom screamed so loud it almost gave her a heart attack, and then Amber, Ty, and Seth came around the corner. They were not supposed to be coming home and had surprised us all! Best surprise ever! After that we spent the rest of the time all having fun together despite our close quarters. I was so sad to leave home, and I can't wait to go back again! Some of the fun things we did were: going to the zoo, going to Hopeland Gardens for Christmas lights, making Christmas candy trains a new tradition Seth introduced, going to Charleston where we went on a ghost tour and ate yummy food and shopped, going to Grandmother's house, going to the Roberts' house for Christmas dinner, going to a USC basketball game with the siblings, spending time with old friends, going to Bouncy Brats, teaching Madi to drive, Logan teaching me to skateboard (I loved it!), having a New Year's party at our house, and much more! Thanks Mom and Dad for having us! Here are a few pictures from the trip...