She's One!

A year of Danelle! The top left picture is 1 month, on down to 12 months!!! (click on the photo to enlarge it) She never was a "sleepy newborn" :) Do you like how she's so alert in all her photos! What a wonderful joy in our lives! We love you so much Little D!

Here are some of the things we did for her 1st Birthday on Friday. Chuck E Cheese was a hit. This was her reaction the first few minutes... total awe.....
She's her daddy's girl. Cowgirl at heart...
Beep Beep! She knew how to use the steering wheel and everything. Do you think it's to soon for her own power Barbie Jeep? ;) Maybe Ava can get one first...
Stuffed her face with pizza.
Opening presents... she loved kicking the balloons around the room.

She's sweet and cute and so much fun! Our little cupcake is turning one!!! Hence the cupcake cake. We even taught her to hold up the #1 with her finger!
"Testing" the cake first.
Starting to gain momentum.
Loved the cake, but was for sure tired and ready for bed!
Here's to another great year!!!

'Tis the Season!

We have been B-U-S-Y! But what would the holidays be without a little hustle and bustle! Here are a few of the things we've been up to.
The big thing to do out here is check out Austin's Trail of Lights


I pretended that it was cold and bundled up. It was actually 68 degrees... at 7 pm ;)
We were at the neighbors making Christmas cookies, and Danelle just ADORES their dogs! Well, just animals in general.
Gingerbread house...check (Danelle helped eat the gingerman)
Our church Christmas party was a lot of fun. They used an old barn and had a delicious dinner!
You'll be happy to know we have raised a very confident child.
She LOVES Santa! She just stood and watched all the children go up and sit on his lap.

She didn't cry. She just looked at him, like "Uh, ya. So what's so cool about you that all these kids are waiting in line to meet you?"
She loves to walk... everywhere. At the mall she would walk up to every window and stick her face on it. Cute outfit or what!?
Her new favorite thing is to ride on dad's shoulders, and back ("horsie rides"- total cowgirl in training)
As requested, this is a picture of the table runner I "quilted" and I have a matching blanket/throw also.

Lastly, we went down to San Antonio for 2 days and got to see the Alamo.
She was so excited to get up close to the horse. (I love her expression :)
"Remember the Alamo!" It's a lot smaller than you'd imagine-do you see it there in the background... Clearly Danelle was more impressed with the nearby giant Christmas tree.

"Say Cheese"

I had my first experience with taking photo's for Christmas cards today.

Let's just say, it may be my last.

I felt some pressure to make the first one we did spectacular, with amazing outdoor professional photos, hand crafted cards with embossing, and maybe even those cute new "photo stamps". But then I realized that I would have that standard to live up to every year. So although it's not my best photo ever, it will do. Leaving plenty of room for improvement next year.

She may seem sweet and cuddly in the above photo, but let me tell you folks... she can run, and she can scream squeal.

*note-the above photo is not the one we used for our Christmas card, we did opt for a family one instead.

Oh yeah, THAT holiday...

Don't worry, I wasn't going to forget all about Thanksgiving and skip right to Christmas... We spent 2 weeks with Lane's family in Missouri, and it was a very nice and relaxing Thanksgiving in the country!
Danelle chowing down! Mmmm she loves her some turkey leg! Lane and his dad pheasant hunting in IowaWhen your mom-in-law own her own quilt shop you get to do as many sewing projects you want!

Our family photo- Danelle's first Thanksgiving!
Lane and his Brother-in-Law Dave, built a boat- no joke!! (I forgot to take final photo) Michelle, you should take one and email it to me! :)
This is the only way to do turkey in Missouri- one Deep fried, and one smoked! Mmmm!
Hanging out with the family (Steph came from California, Katy from college and Uncle John and Carole from Mississippi)
You know your heading in to Missouri when you see this... we were happy to be driving behind this guy for so long on our way to his parents...!

"Fall"ing in love with Texas!

It's Fall Y'all! I'm a little surprised how quickly Texas has felt like home. It might be because it feels a lot like where I grew up in So. California- the climate being very similar. However the fall here is much more colorful (but still has the 70 degree temperature!) These are some pictures I took on my jog with Danelle today.

In this picture, you can see how it runs past downtown.
I had to add another picture of Danelle's "random toys". I don't know if other kids do this or not- but she loves the non-toys as toys... (that would be a tooth brush she has there...)


This trail is several miles long and it runs along a river. Danelle loved feeding the ducks and swans.

This would be our sleepover friend for Thursday night- Tootsie. Danelle was in love to say the least. Special note- I learned to make hair bows for Danelle finally, one of which she's showing off here!!! I can't believe how much you have to pay for one of those things when I could make it for $1 myself!

Riviera Maya & Cozumel Island

WARNING: If you hate seeing a bazillion pictures on blogs, please stop reading right now!

Ok, for the rest of you, here are the pics from our vacation. Lane and I had a blast to say the least! All-Inclusive is the way to vacation! We stayed at the Aventura Spa Palace and I don't think a better hotel exists! We decided to keep it really low key and not over plan our activities. We did some golfing and snorkeling on Cozumel Island(thanks to Lane's wonderful Spanish skills- he talked them into taking us out on our own private boat to do it! gracias! :) Most importantly we chilled out on the beach!

Snorkeling on Cozumel Island was awesome!! I'm sure for Lane it wasn't all that great though since he's been scuba diving so many times- places like the Red Sea to name a few!

Viva Mexico! (like the flag in back :)
On the ferry ride over to the island! Beautiful clear blue waters!Lots of this going on during the vacation!

Golfing- well me trying to golf at least...
Courtyard in our hotel.
More hotel shots... many resturants and bars, and cool tiki huts for spa/massage stuff...
One of the MANY pools with swim up snack bars and drinks! Many (virgin) pina coladas!!!!

So many staff members!!! And it was not crowded at all being November and all!Beautiful grounds!


Best room service ever! I loved eating breakfast out on our patio with the ocean view!
Me in paradise!!
Yeah, that would be a double jacuzzi in our room, overlooking the beach! Staying out late! Man it's been awhile since we've done that! Thanks grandparents for babysitting!

She's Walking!