Colorado Ski Trip-Rocky Mountain High!

Ok NOW, we are done with all of our Holiday Travels...yeah and it's only January 14th! We've had a lot of fun doing so much traveling, but I think I speak for Danelle and Lane when I say we are all glad to be back in our own beds and not living out of a suitcase!

Lane's family decided to do their Christmas up in Colorado and so they rented a house and let us all go Skiing/Snowboarding while the kids were babysat by them! Brilliant right!? And it just so happens I have a snowboard and all the gear...

Danelle loved hanging out with grandparents, all the aunts, uncles and cousins- her and Dietrich got a long really well! This is them hanging out in the "Pirates Cove"
Opening Christmas presents- they were a pretty good team!
Well, she did get a little distracted... this is a pretty common occurrence around here lately...how do I keep her from eating paper all the time!?!
My brother-in law has some ski pictures so I'll have to get them from him, but here's a shot of the gorgeous view... this makes me love snowboarding that much more! We couldn't have asked for better weather!Lane and I took a hike up to Adam's Falls and it was quite peaceful with the snow falling and the beautiful mountains.
This is on a drive, checking out Lane's old house where he grew up in and all the places he would hunt and fish.

The deer that he missed. ;) kidding
After his family left on Friday we stayed till Monday with my friend Tracie and did some more visits and sightseeing. This is at Garden of the Gods. I love how it will snow, but then clear up and there will be blue skies and warm weather- I love Colorado!Danelle decked out in her "ASPEN Style" ski outfit.

Thanks Tracie for letting us stay with you! I hope Brooke wasn't too traumatized having Danelle terrorize her all weekend!
*sorry I only had a picture of us first thing in the morning!

New Year's Traditions

These are our "new" New Year's Traditions! We started to have crab legs for New Years Eve back in PA with some friends of ours the past couple of years, and decided to keep it going.

On New Years Day we decided to start doing fondue (how can you not when you husband has access to so many wonderful cheeses). We just got one of these babies, and what better way to start off the new year (and good eating) than with melted cheese, and chocolate dipped sweets!

Christmas 2008

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas- We just got back from spending ours in California! The week went so fast, but it was fun none the less. It was so good to see so much family, and Danelle had a lot of fun with all the attention she got!

This is some of the Metcalf cousins getting together (Congrats Belle & Kent, far right- they're pregnant with twin boys!!!! You so don't look pregnant with twins!)
Our little family on Christmas day. Guess which two just woke up from a nap... So many Christmas Eve traditions, but of course the most common- opening 1 gift! Thanks Jensa and Ryan! Yours was the lucky one! I knew I could count on yours for a good one! She loves her new toys!


Reading in Luke is also a good tradition! Danelle helped her dad by reading her own version however... hers included a monkey.
I was so excited Danelle got to meet her GREAT Grandma Metcalf for the first time!
Do you think she's a Denver Bronco's fan like her daddy? I totally thought of Granny when I got this one- Lane's Grandma LOVED the Broncos too. She didn't take the news of their head coach being fired too well.When you work as hard as she does to rip open gifts Christmas morning, sometimes she has to take off some, ok all her layers.Mmmm. What would a trip to California be without some good ol' In 'n Out!!! She had her cheeks chalk full of french fries!!! What would happen the next few days was inevitable I suppose...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas
Lane, Elise & Danelle

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!