Whats a Christmas Gram I Want One?

I love every minute I get to spend with Peter and Scout (I love cam and gus too). 

With Peters crazy work schedule, Scout and I have spent a lot of our nights just the two of us ....until Peter gets home late.  However, when Peter is home he really makes the most of it.  Despite the late hour that Peter gets home from work he always wants to celebrate the holidays by getting hot chocolate and going to look for lights, bake Christmas goodies, or watch one of our many Christmas movies.   

This holiday season I have really had a lot of time to reflect on how grateful I am for my husband who is always trying so hard to make me happy, who loves spending time with Scout and I, and is so willing to work even though it is hard to be away sometimes.

I miss you today. 

A Litte Empathy Please

(Dangerfiled family photo tradition)

I have to brag about this kid for a second.  So if you hate adorable stories about super cute babies stop reading.

 

The past few weeks I had been feeling really sick.  Cold, fever, really bad sore throat.  The other day I was feeling really lumpy after a night of no sleep and Scout comes up and says...

Scout:  "Mom hurt?"

Me:  "Yeah, my throat hurts."

Scout:  "Sorry mom. Sorry"

Me:  (tears)

 

After which she walked behind me and gave me a back rub.

 

This Thanksgiving I am very thankful for a husband who has taught our daughter about empathy and that when moms not feeling well she likes back rubs and for a beautiful baby girl who is going to be the best big sister ever.

Prescott Fall

 We took a quick trip this weekend up to Prescott to play in the cold.  Scout thought that the fall leaves were the best.  She loved running and kicking them in the air.  I have love watching her grow up and experience all the new things in life.  Kids make everything new and exciting again.

 At Watson Lake we saw a bald egale as we jumped around on the boulders and admired the rocks.

I love all my days with these two, they make everything fun.

Scout Strength

I have heard of old man strength, but baby strength?  Scouts ability to out muscle babies twice her age always astounds me.  I have a theory that some of the steroids I took as a child still lingered in my tissues and while she was in utero they leached into her body.  Here she is doing her nightly pull-ups before bed, you know just to work off a little energy.

Fall for a Day

 

We had the brief feeling of Fall this last weekend so Peter, Scout and I took advantage of every minute.  Evenings in the park with friends and the night of caramel apples just topped off the Fall weekend.  All three of these little girlies where so cute and fun all evening (Lola and Recker too, not pictured).  They had so much fun eating caramel apples and candy.  The weather put everyone in a great mood and got me that much more excited about checking activities off of my Fall TO DO list.  Next, visit a pumpkin patch.

 

Pie-licious Holidays

 

I love getting in the mood for the holidays.  Decorating, crafts, long outdoor outings and baking being my favorite parts of the season.  So when I woke up this morning with pie on the brain I had to bake.  Unfortunately, I have never made a decent pie crust.  In holidays past it always ends up too thick or too dry, I was determined to make a good pie crust from scratch.  Although my pie is not the most fall flavor, peach, I was still very pleased and in a wonderful holiday spirit when it turned out so beautiful.  I hope it tastes as good as it looks.  Now this November come Thanksgiving I won't have to settle for the store bought crust.  I have two months to figure out how to make the edges pretty.     

September

Getting out of town is a must when the weather is still in the 100's and October is approaching, so we headed up north to Rose Creek.  It quickly got me in the mood for the holiday season with the cold weather, loads of delicious food and all my family being around.  Vacations are extra relaxing when you have lots of kiddos around who are willing and able to take care of your kiddo. Scout had a blast with all her cousins and I didn't have to lift a finger.

Now I am officially ready to start the holiday season, bring on Halloween.

 

August

I'm not sure why but this kid has become like the funniest person to me since she turned one.  Before turning one I would have told you she was a pretty serious soul. But recently she has become a great dancer (not a skill she obtained from either of her parents...maybe shes been watching her uncle Ty).  She sings beautifully, meows like an angel, tries really hard to jump but can't,  and has a hilarious fake cry. 
I love having her around. 

 

I hope all of you also spent your August shirtless like we did.

July

 I was feeling like I needed to update my blog, so I uploaded all my photos from my camera and this was about it.  July has been a boring month for us, a lot of inside time which doesn't extend beyond naps and netflix.  When we do get outside I make sure that water and popsicles are involved.  I hope August has more in store for us than July did.

 

Family Reunion, Fourth of July and Fun

We had a blast this past week at the Backus Family Reunion up in Dolores, Colorado.  Peter made quick work of building a dam so that the babies and mamas could lounge without being swept down river. We rode motorcycles, swam, lounged in the beautiful weather and ate the entire 3 days we were there.  It was sad to come back to the valley. I touched the car window as we rolled into the driveway and it burned my hand....at that moment I wondered why we live here.  Needless to say, I had to remind myself that winters in Arizona are beautiful.

 

 

 

 I am sure the rest of you enjoyed 4th of July as much as we did.  The unexpected rain was slightly chilly while we rode the slides of Wet n' Wild in the morning with the Dangerfield family.  I was glad we didn't bother taking Scout to a fireworks show that night, she jumped and cried every time a firework exploded.  Luckily, we were able to enjoy some large fireworks the neighbors were setting off over at Gilbert Jr. High, so we weren't completely without a show.

        She eats like her dad right?             

A First For Everything

 We have had a big month so far and there is still more to come.  After six weeks of interviewing with Touchstone, Peter was finally offered a job as a Brief Strategic Family Therapist.  He will be going into peoples homes and having family therapy sessions.  We are very excited that this has worked out.  Not only will he be getting a regular income he will also be getting his hours to eventually become an LCSW and be able to open his own practice....someday. 

This last weekend we went and stayed in a cabin with the Dangerfields in Flagstaff.  We got to celebrate Scouts 1st birthday.  She shocked us all by consuming her entire birthday cake.  I seriously wish I had video of the cake eating feat, it was a very impressive moment in her life that I'm sure she will want to remember.

Post cake eating.

 I'm glad that she is finally excited about receiving presents.  She loves her new bike and screams when we take her off.

 

 Claire receiving one of Scout's world class back rubs.

 Spelunking with dad.

Here is the Dangerfield family at Lava River Cave.  It was a blast!

 

We also went to the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course where I embraced my fear of heights.  40+ feet up in the air hanging from a cable and walking/swinging/jumping from logs and ropes.  We got a fabulous workout and had a lot of fun.  It is a must try if you are spending the day in Flagstaff.

On the way home, we couldn't help ourselves from stopping at Slide Rock.  It was a great conclusion to an amazing weekend.

Leaving This Town

Matthew is gone....he left for Salt Lake and will soon leave for Argentina.   I still remember the day Matthew was born.  I was in the second grade and my mom, Granny D, rode her bike down to Houston to tell me he had been born.  Its strange to think that so many years have gone by.  Its been fun to reminisce, Matthew remembers Ty and I helping him learn to ride a bike, and how he had the most ridiculous batting stance as a t-ball player.   Matthew we will miss you tons, you are such a sweet kid always so nice and pleasant to be around.  You will be a great missionary.  We will pray for you constantly and just always remember that your family loves you.

-Lacy, Peter and Scout 

Ragged & Dirty

Scout and I love our morning routine.  Time with dad, walk, make the bed, swing, water the garden.  I love that she is very adventurous and always ready to play.

 Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of her fully in the garden digging.

 However the digging is just her effort to find the premier dirt to eat.  I don't even try to stop it any more she just loves it too much, and there is something about a dirty kid that i just love.

Summer Wind

  With the promise of 72 degrees and windy weather, Lindsay and I took the kids out to the desert and played at the Usery Pass park. 

 

 Scout holding on tooth and nail as Olive rocks them back and forth. 

I feel like all outings are all about what do we have to eat, lately I've been making kettle corn thanks to the whirley pop.  I've never really been impressed with any of Scouts abilities until I saw her consume an entire bag of popcorn, she didn't even stop for water or to go to the bathroom. 

Just so we are all aware I'm really impressed with everything my child does.  Especially her ability to make people smile.

East-er Indian Princess

I know that I claimed that I would make at least one post minus a certain baby girl, but Easter happened and I love holidays and babies.

 

Surprisingly, Scout enjoyed picking up eggs more than I thought she would, and she loves her new sock bunny. Easter wasn't quite the flop that most other holidays have been, a 10 month old can enjoy candy and fun.

  

 Scout had the run of the yard with all her cousins, aunt/uncles, friends and grandparents doting over her....spoiled rotten.

 Not being the only baby around the dangerfield's house is getting to Scouts ego.  So in order to stick out a bit from the crowd she has taken to weight lifting and flexing in order to showcase her massive biceps.  You should see her abs...she is going to reveal those later this summer in her babykini. 

We are very blessed to have a Heavenly Father who atoned for our sins, and are grateful to celebrate Him this season.

Happy Easter!