Someone's Got A Hold Of My Heart

 Someone has a hold of my heart and her name is SCOUT!  I believe my love of holidays transfered through my veins into the heart of my baby girl.  She was such a trooper and a big helper trying to get Peters Valentines Day ready for him.  She stayed shockingly on task as we painted a V-day portrait. 

 Seriously skilled right? 

   Salted caramel cupcakes anyone?  Valentines day is just another Tuesday without some decadent treats.  I was won over when the recipe stated that I would be injecting caramel into the cupcakes and topping them with crushed Skor bars. 

I can partake in a gift I made for Peter, right?  I think I have already eaten the lions share.

Getting things ready for our Valentine, Papa Pete, was a blast.  After the painting and the cupcakes we even made it downtown to hit up the Phoenix Children's Museum and Smeeks candy store.  Where we took this photo.  Check out that mouth.  Is there even a question of who she looks like...I don't think so.

I love you my Valentines.

Between Love And Hate

i have tried to quit drinking soda many times, however it always slowly creeps back into my life....soda saturdays, special events/parties.  then it turns to most weekdays, at restaurants, during basketball games or movies and of course the weekend.  

whenever im having a long day i convince myself i "deserve" a soda.  telling myself "Peter doesn't get home till 9:30pm, how will i survive without a diet dp pick me up".  so i put Scout in her bike seat and take a ride down to QT where i awkwardly ride to the park balancing a 32oz in one hand where i push my baby in the swings till im done.  

but what i have realized is that soda is my gateway drug.  first its a soda then im eating a grip of cookies and ice cream followed by some sort of candy.

im making it public from this day forward i will never drink soda....ever.

not even on saturdays even if im having a bummer long day.

I'm In The Mood For Love

 When I caught wind of a chocolate festival which includes chocolate dipped bacon and jalapenos my interest was peaked.  My tongue was not up for the spicy jalapeno treat so I settled on a sensible chocolate cheese cake.  Scout was reluctant at first with swim suit season just around the corner....

  ...then she warmed up and was bummed when she was told to share.  

Valentines Day is never a holiday that we get into too much but since I've had Scout I want to do anything and everything holiday.  This is again proof that I am not willing to admit that my child is still a baby.

Drop Dead Legs

 In preparation for the upcoming holiday we are crafting all things Valentine.  My favorite so far are Scouts 'sock leggings'.  A good sport about most things that I do Scout is shaping up to be an amazing girl, real best friend material.  Not only does she let me dress her in ridiculous outfits (note the above outfit).  She also thinks everything I say is funny and applauds my dancing.  A real self esteem booster.

 

Under A Blanket Of Blue

It may not be a confession to many of you but something I rarely willingly tell people....I have a woobie (a blankie).  I have had it since I was about 4 and I take it everywhere.  Before Scout was born I made her a woobie and I think she loves it just as much as I love mine.  She willingly goes to sleep as long as woobie is by her side, rubs her face into it and just closes her eyes and falls asleep.  But after a few minutes she looks like this....just a woobie with hands and feet.  Don't even think about removing it from her face she immediately wakes up and puts it back.  This however is something she inherited from Peter. 

Last Of The Steam Powered Trains

 We had a great MLK weekend outside.  Growing up in the desert I never appreciated cactus and gravel landscape, but now I love it!  It is especially beautiful after a wet summer.  It was so green, with huge rolling hills of grass.  The fresh smell of Creosote in the air was amazing.

 We went to McCormick Park for the first time in ages.  I always loved the pueblo depot and old time stagecoach as a kid and was excited to see them still in use.  Scout really liked waving to the people on the train as they rode by while we were picnicking in the grass.  Needless to say, it was a great family outing.