Time to CATCH UP!

Well, how are you?!

We are doing well.  Busy as usual.

Tony's been on vacation from work the last 2 weeks but goes back to work on Wednesday the 2nd.  He had to use his vacation time or lose it.  It was good timing since our babysitter has been in Brazil and now she's moving to OH.  Good thing we found a daycare!

Tony's great Uncle passed away just before Christmas.  While he had some health problems, no one was expecting him to pass away when he did.  If you're the praying type, please keep his mom's side of the family in your prayers and thoughts.  They were all very close.

I'm currently in the process of getting a copy of my immigration paperwork.  It's been a long process and taken me almost 3 years just to get to this point.  I was supposed to hear something within 6 months and it's been almost a year since I originally sent in my request.  So I finally made a phone call and got an update.  They're requesting 2 more pieces of "evidence" from me (just items to verify my identity and change of name) so I'm hoping to get everything sent in a month or so.  (I have to wait to get certified copies of my marriage certificate in Arizona and they say it can take 2 weeks!)
I CANNOT wait until I get all this behind me and my paperwork in my hands!

Still no word from Food Network.  I wasn't really expecting to hear anything until after the holidays.  But the longer we wait the less hopeful we are.  However Tony has a great attitude about it, that just getting the interview was a win.  And it was.  But you can't help but hope for the big prize!

Kids are doing well!  Christmas was great and I feel like we didn't spoil the kids too much but they still got fun things that they really love.  Zoe's big present was a dollhouse.  Our house has been so quiet the last few days...She LOVES playing with it!  Success!  We also got her paints, paintbrushes, and finger-paints.  Another success.  She paints everyday.  She loves it. Zoe also got basic things like underwear, PJ's, and a fun outfit.  Oh and we got Knuffle Bunny Too, the sequel to Knuffle Bunny.  I'm going to be hunting for the 3rd book this weekend.

Noah got a fun activity table and Zoe is very eager to show him how it works.  She does forget it's not hers and tends to take claim over one half of it.  But at least she's willing to share half.  :)  Noah also got a Sock Monkey and he seems to enjoy chewing on it.

Tony and I's big gift to each other were ... believe it or not ... tattoos.  Tony got his first one early this fall and I'd been dying to get one since.  So it made a perfect gift!  Tony's first tattoo is of a fork and knife (which you may have seen in his audition video) and then his 2nd one is the word Focus on his left pointer finger (which he uses to 'focus' his camera).  My tattoo is the word Blessed and it's on my left arm.  I LOVE it and it means SO much.  Not to mention the guy we got the tattoos from owns a Christian tattoo shop.  (Tony did a story about it...)

I finally gave in and read the Hunger Games series.  All 3 books.  In a rather short time.  I didn't want to read them, but I started my job and EVERYONE there was like "You have to read them!!!" so I caved into peer pressure.  And now I own all 3 books haha.  I got the first one from the library and then finished it in 2 days and the 2nd book had a wait of 50 people, so I went to the store and bought it.

Okay.  Bored yet?  Here are some pictures:

Reading like daddy.  Yes, her shoes are on the wrong feet.

They get into trouble together.  And neither one of them likes clothes.

She was reading him a book before bed.

One of Tony's coworkers...Noah was very content.  Clear sign that Ty is a natural. 

She LOVED riding the horsey at a local restaurant.

Mesmerized.

Grams Gist crocheted this ADORABLE hat/cowl thing.  SO CUTE!

She also crocheted Zoe a hat and scarf.

And got them new ornaments.

So precious.

Zoe's drawing of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse".

My tattoo. It's on the inside of my arm but still visible.

Batman!