Danae's Wishing Well

Testing the waters...


...picking the perfect rock...

...Plop...

That was fun...since we'll never run out of rocks...we can do this all day long!

Stick Horses

I drew up a pattern for these stick horses and you can get quite creative with them. Michael devised an idea to keep the stick in sturdily. If you (meaning family and friends) would like the pattern, let me know and I'll e-mail it to you. Anyone else who might be viewing this...please visit rustichorseshoe.etsy.com where you can purchase the pattern.

I was so excited that I created them from scratch, I just had to show everyone! Maybe I can sew afterall...well, I have yet to make any clothing (real sewing)!

First Solo Steps!

I have been wanting to post about this since last week, I haven't been this excited in a while. I was trying to get a good photo to go with it, no such luck...so I won't hold off any longer.

Last week, October 2 to be exact, I came home and Nanny Judy passed off Danae as usual, helping her walk to me. Nanny Judy let go a little bit before she reached me and Danae kept coming! She took her first solo steps and I was home to witness it (just wish Michael could have been too). Its a week later and she will take about ten to twelve steps, almost always someone has to be in front of her coaching her...but the little stinker "took off" on us the other day in the leather store. We stood her on the floor while we looked at some things and next thing we know, she is walking away from us and laughing all the way! Michael caught her as she was falling.

I love watching how excited she gets when she walks on her own!

I know, I know....now the fun starts. Bring it on!

A Trip to Cortez

Michael, Danae and I took a road trip to Cortez, Co to visit my friends Ahna & Jon and Danae's little buddy Jack. It was a short trip but a nice little get away. The morning before we left, we hiked by Ahna's house and looked at some Indian Ruins. By the end of the hike, both kids were asleep...fresh air just relaxes a person!

We took a drive to Durango and Jack and Danae held hands in their carseats, not to mention they kept swapping pacifiers...guess the one you don't have is the one you really want...until you get it...then wait...the one you just had is the one you really want and you need to get it back. It was a blast watching them play and entertain each other. Danae was ready for her nap in this picture and Jack had his funny bone tickled since he kept cackeling (which was so cute).

Thanks again for your hospitality and great food, Ahna! If Michael could, he would have us all packed up tomorrow and moving to Cortez. The farmland with the mountain backdrop was beautiful. ...and so much of it looks like Arizona while so much of it doesn't.

We stopped at the Four Corners monument. Michael has never been and I was around 7 when I went. It was quite busy for a Tuesday afternoon. Danae's not even one and she has been to Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah (of course Arizona)!

Her little friends are all boys....

So I have realized most of my friends with young children have boys...so Danae has her little group of boyfriends. This is Jack. He is three months older and lives in Colorado now, but hopefully they will still get to see each other fairly often.

Caleb is three years older than Danae and just adores her and kisses her about twenty times each time we visit. Thats ok, I think its absolutely adorable...especially when he tries to go for the lips and his Mom or Dad reminds him to kiss her on the cheek.

Guess a closed Milk Bone box is no match for Danae, we caught her chewing on one and she seemed to be enjoying it!

Danae has been enjoying her baths more and more. She has four little rubber duckies: MARINE duckie, Police duckie, cheerleader duckie and Mexican duckie. She has also discovered how to pull the plug, so unless we want bath time cut short I have to keep her from that one.

She is not picking her nose, she is pointing to her brain! Whats funny is she did this so quickly I didn't know that it is was the picture I got until I was uploading them...then it just cracked me up!

Danae loves to walk outside, when your holding her hands of course. She now gets excited when I get home and we go for a little stroll outside. She is definately forming a litte 'tude...but she is still as sweet and adorable as ever! Her new favorite thing, other than walking around, is feeding Mommy and Daddy...

Update

I have no pictures to post at the moment...I will soon. But, it has been so long since I posted I just wanted to give an update.

I turned 30 last week and Anna and Alex put together a wonderful surprise party with the help of everyone who attended. THANKS...I loved it...even if I kinda knew something was up. My amazing family and some of my awsome friends were there...it was GREAT!!!!!

Danae is getting more vocal all the time. She walks very well when holding hands and is constantly pulling herself up on things. She loves to crawl as fast as she can and look back to see how close you are. She just giggles so much and when you are really close she will plop to her belly and kick her legs, giggling the whole time while she waits for you to catch her.

Michael was the jeep driver for an MTV program "tough love" for one of the couples in the series. He dresses a very handsome 1800's cowboy, so even though he isn't a jeep driver...he's the mechanic...his boss wanted him to do it. (she is a little partial to handsome cowboys...well, alot partial).

I have been trying to get my self-defense business up and moving (Practical Defense for Women). I am really excited to get it going, I have a couple of pilot classes set up and hopefully it snowballs from there...it can be a slow snowball even...I'm ok with that. :)

Cowboys, Clowns and an Angel

Its been a while since I have updated. A couple of weeks ago we participated in National Day of the American Cowboy in Sedona. My Dad, Anna and Nando also participated and my Mom, Mike's Mom and Step-Dad were there to take it all in and get heat exahustion too! It was too hot for Danae to be with us all day so Nanny Judy took care of her.

Anna and Nando were the Rodeo Clown pooper scoopers and I just loved the costumes!

Dad rode with the Bill Williams Mounten Men.

Michael and I carried the banner in the parade and participated in the gun slinging skits.

Anna, Nando and Michael gave the mechanical bull a whirl...there were a few people in line so I went into the air conditioning inside the store and when I came out I had missed Michael's ride :(

So we have the cowboys and the clowns...what about the angel. Well who do you think it is? Danae of course. Here are some pictures of her lately. She has cut her teeth by chewing on spurs...our little cowgirl in the making. The pink dress was made by my cousin Nila...isn't it adorable!!