2013 already?!?!?

It's been so long since I wrote last, I don't even know where to catch up.  Maybe my New Years resolution should of been to write more?! How is it even 2013 already, anyway?

I guess I'll start with the holidays.

Thanksgiving was good...mostly because Ryan was actually hear this year to join in on festivities.  We had a low key day and went to my Aunt Rosie's house with my parents.  We're used to having lots and lots of people around for holidays since my mom's family is so big, but I guess as you get older more people start kind of doing their own thing.  

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day were good, too.  Chris, Emily, and Rena came down that Saturday and stayed through Christmas day, so it was nice to have more time with them and get to play with Rena.   She LOVES our jungle room and because of this, I told Ryan we just can't paint that room yet.  Anytime Rena would disappear, we knew immediately she was trying to go upstairs to get to her "y-yon" and "llellephant".  She knows so many animal sounds and is growing up so much.  It's officially announced now too that Rena is going to be a big sister sometime around June 3!!! So exciting!! Here are some pictures:

Well, she doesn't look TOO excited for her Cookie Monster kitchen, but she really did like it!

Zoe opening up her present from her sister, Roxie.  Yes, this really happened.

This would be so cute if Rena would ever stop moving! 

Grandma trying to open up Rena's presents for her...what was she thinking?!

Well if Grandma is going to open them, might as well sit back and relax

They love playing together!  Really!

Rena Brynn found Uncle Ryan's wallet...smart girl! 

Just a weiner dog and her papa

Those little eyes just can't handle the flash!

Mom & Dad on Christmas Eve...they purposely coordinated the green & red

Daddy, Rena & Grandpa

I don't know a ton about kids, but I know this is not a happy baby.

Rena gave her a hug...HOW CUTE IS THAT!

Trying to give a kiss

This looks interesting

I need some help here people!  Grandma got me way too many presents!

My mom testing out the quilt Kim made for us....we looooooooove it!! 

Of course New Years Eve snuck up on us, and since last year we spent the day halfway across the world from each other  we played it low key this year.  We drank and watched a little Walking Dead (OBSESSED by the way) and then watched the ball drop from Times Square.  The older we get, the less exciting we are...and I'm okay with this.

Zoe needed New Years champagne, too.

Alright, let me think...what else is going on in our lives?  

On weekend we went to visit our good friends Ashley & Robbie who live in Portsmouth, about 2 hours away from us.  Ashley just had a baby a few months back, and I love lovin' on her! 

I think this is one of the ONLY times I've seen Ryan hold a baby.  This needed to be documented.

My attempt of getting a cute posed pic didn't work, but I tried.

Norah Mae <3 face="face" is="is" nbsp="nbsp" ow="ow" p="p" sweet="sweet" that="that">

That's all the pictures I have for you right now.  

Things are looking up for Ryan for work, and work is going well for me right now so no complaints.  In fact, you just happen to be reading the 2nd most powerful person in Virginia at ADP's blog right now. :)

Kim & Ron (mother and father in law if you haven't figured that out by now) were gracious in gifting us with experience money for Christmas, so now we're going to EXPERIENCE a cruise to Belize City & Cozumel in March!!! Can. Not. Wait.  It's such a busy time at work right now, it feels great to have this to look forward to.  It's a Royal Caribbean cruise for 5 nights and we think the ship is going to be really fun!  We're talking Putt Putt, a surf pool (I don't know if that's what it's really called, but it's one of those pools that you can surf or boogie board on, you know?), ice skating rink, Johnny Rockets & Ben & Jerry's!  Woop!

Hawk Eyes

When it comes to eyesight, I'm pretty much blind.  The eye doctor once told me that my vision is around 20/200 (where most people can see something at 20 ft away, it looks like it's about 200 ft away to me).  So, I'm pretty much legally blind.

Even though my eyesight is awful without glasses or contacts, a blind person could of spotted what I saw this morning.

I was going about my lazy Sunday, and walked into my bathroom and spotted this:

What is that! An owl?? Once I got closer to the window, I was convinced there was an owl just perched up on a tree right near our backyard.  I freaked out and had Ryan come look, and he confirmed it was NOT an owl, and instead an animal eating, ravenous, sharp clawed HAWK.

Just a few days prior, some of our neighbors told us that they saw a hawk swoop into a tree down the street that was hosting a squirrels nest and IT FLEW AWAY WITH A SQUIRREL.  They said they have been at their house for 15 years and have never seen anything like it.  Immediately I start to think, "THIS HAWK IS GOING TO EAT OUR DOG!".  I mean really!  Zoe doesn't weigh that much more than a squirrel.

My next thought, "I need to google this and see how many dachshunds have died from hawks." Extreme, I know.  But this is what I came across:

http://ohiothoughtsblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/mean-dachshunds-sidekick-kitty-trick.html

and this:

http://dachshundlove.blogspot.com/2011/01/louisiana-dachshund-barely-escapes.html

Scary!

I went in the backyard (without Zoe of course) to see if I could get a better picture of it with my camera.

There Mr. Hawk is, just hawk-eyeing away into our backyard.  I then realized since Zoe hadn't been outside the whole time that I spotted the bird back there, that it probably had it's eyes on the mole that lives in our backyard.  I would be happy for Mr. Hawk to take that mole away!  He's destroying our backyard and Ryan hasn't gotten anything to scare it away or kill it yet.

Once I realized this big ole bird could help us, I calmed down a bit and just let him be.  Someone walking their dog eventually scared him away, but I'll be on the lookout every time I let Zoe outside to see if Zoe might become prey.  Let's all hope this never happens because my life and everyone around me would be miserable for a long, long time if something ever happens to her.

On another note, here are some other pictures I've taken lately:

Zoe was subject of my test holiday photo shoot.  What a good sport :)  (Yes, that's our Charlie Brown christmas tree in the background....I've had that tree for years and suddenly it's WAY too small for our living room.  I'm too cheap to buy a big one right now, so I'm going to wait until after Christmas to get a good deal on a huge tree :) )

Our decorated fireplace mantle :) 

Patrick flew in from the UK for Thanksgiving!  Dinner out before he left us again :( 

I was visiting a daycare at one work day, and came across this gem of a car.  Just a mom, her kid, and her 9 cats.  Purrr.  My favorite is the hand drawn cat on the tire.  WOWOWOWOWOW people. are. crazy.

Just another day in the office.  I love my job!

We're famous!  

I will update more soon!  I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving! I know I have tons to be thankful for!