2013...

It's been awhile.  I have been feeling like I am neglecting you and my blog.  I even came on and wrote two different posts the other day, but, disliked them and deleted them.  I thought it best to give a recap of the last month to 6 weeks of the craziness.

Miss Mia found mommy's hat

December was a crazy month, starting right from the gunshot of Thanksgiving.  We had my sister here for Thanksgiving, 2 celebrations, much cooking, eating and giving thanks.  That catapulted us right into December and Christmas shopping, baking, parties, and everything else.

Union Station

Tony had a car accident in December.  The insurance company decided to total our car.  Now, we had to figure out what to do.  We needed a second car, but really couldn't take on a second car payment.  After weighing decisions it came down to the final two: 1. buy the Nissan back and fix it ourselves, take a salvage title, only liability insurance.  Or 2., buy my sister's '96 Mustang, get it here from Mississippi, and use the money to fix it up.  We decided to go with option 2.  Tony's had the Mustang for about a month and has fixed a number of things on it already, most notably being the odometer, which had been stuck at 186,000 for the past 6 years or so (according to the CarFax).  P.s. Tony is fine, he wasn't hurt in the accident.  I should have noted that first - sorry.

Mia and Tony on the stairs, Union Station

Olivia is having an 8 year-olds Christmas.  She got many gifts.  Has been trying to figure out if Santa is real or not and is routinely calling us out on our Santa-rific stories.  She had a blast having her aunt, uncle, and Grandmother here.  She has been obsessed with a new tracing board from Uncle Mike. 

Olivia and Mia

Mia, in typical four-year-old fashion had a great Christmas.  She has been playing with all of her toys, and like her sister, was so excited to have family here for Christmas.  Both kids are healthy and happy and have been getting along pretty well.

Aunt Cari and Mia

In family news, we also got our first family dog.  The girls are smitten, as is Tony.  He's a good boy and we are really glad to have him here.  The cats are less than thrilled and have been in the basement since he came home.  We've tried to socialize them, but because the dog wants to play, the cats want to hide.

Upset, yet alert kitty

For me, I spent the Holidays shopping, cooking, cleaning, wrapping.  I have been playing with makeup and hairdos, thinking about what things I can change about my appearance soon.  I have bought some clothes and shoes and can't wait to wear them (starting tomorrow).  We went to have Christmas at my aunt and uncles' house and were thrilled to spend the holiday with my grandparents and cousins that we rarely get to see.  We've had very little snow, but, it's been cold and getting colder every day.

Snow!

We did take our tree and decorations down.  We took them down before New Year's, mostly because the time was available.  I hope you had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or any other holiday that is celebrated, as well as a Happy New Year.

Here's to 2013!

Happy New Shoes!