Happy Birthday Danae!

Danae needed a little help from Uncle Jason to get the birthday cake mess started. She didn't get nearly as messy as I was expecting, but we still 'tossed' her in the tub after cake.

She was a little overwhelmed with everything, but was good tempered the whole time. It was great to have everyone who could make it here to help celebrate! She love all of her new clothes and toys...even the educational ones...Anna...

All I have to say of this picture is she is her father's daughter! (sorry so short...busy...busy)

Our Little Accomplishments

We didn't take Danae out for Halloween, I had worked that day and had to be in dark and early for work on Sunday morning. Tonya and I dressed Danae and Ronin in some costumes some one gaver her on one of our days off before Halloween. The idea was to get a good photo op, but we took what we got. The pony outfit was very hot and Danae wasn't too hip on having the "head" hood on, by the time we put her and Ronin together for a picture, she was over it and wanted out and NOW.

Danae is walking like a pro, she even tries running...not always with a lot of success. She was very cranky on her first birthday...I told her she has many more to come so she just better start accepting them :)

Michael got the wood burning stove all finished and boy does it make a difference, not NEARLY as drafty and heats the home quite nicely...another fan or two to help move air and we'll be set. The fireplace above (last year) was built into the wall. Michael and Nando knocked out the wall in July and Michael has been tinking with it since. It was all set and fired up by mid October, just in time for the five days of cold before it warmed up again...

Didn't he do a GREAT job!

As for me, I held my first public self defense class and thanks to a front page article in Sedona's paper the week before the class, I had a good turn out and it went well. I'll keep working on making this little business venture grow...so far, it is showing promise.

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...