Can't Forget These

So, after I posted the last blog, I looked back through our pictures and realized that I had forgotten these two gems. These were taken on Sunday right before we walked out the door for church. Tori looks so cute and very grown up with her pig tails!

This picture makes me laugh! It looks like Tori is getting ready to step onto a stage and sing her little heart out!!!

Loving our little girl and her fun personality!!!

January Jolliness

As January draws to a close, it is time once again to reflect back on the fun memories we have had. So, here we go!

Grandpa and Nana Harrison gave Tori a pez dispenser for Christmas. It didn't take her very long to figure out how to get the candy out. A little unconventional- but biting the candy works great!!!

I think this is a great use for our treadmill!

We have a lot of fun with her hair that is ever growing longer!

Tori like to keep the pillows company while we make our bed!

Tori has recently realized that necklaces, bracelets, and bows are pretty - and she loves to check herself out in the mirror!!!

Yeah for our little Tickle Monster!

Tori has been learning body parts this month. Here she is showing off her ears!!!

Here is Tori helping out with the laundry (she was not happy that she couldn't get out of the laundry hamper)!

Yeehaw - we have a little cowgirl!!!

This month Tori learned how to climb from the chair onto the table - we are not excited about this development!

Tori loves, loves, loves cheese!!!

Last week we tried something new with Tori's hair - pig tails!!!

There were tears while getting them in, but she looked so cute when we were all done! Definitely worth it!!!

Happy January - it was a great month!!!

Mommy's Little Helper

This morning we had pancakes for breakfast and for the first time, Tori helped me make them! We made sure she had her own apron and gave her a measuring cup so she wouldn't try to grab anything hot. Tori did such a great job helping out - she is hired!!!

That measuring cup sure tasted good!

Just waiting for the first pancakes to get done!

Mommy's little helper!!!

As a side note - when we were done cooking, Tori ate 3 whole pancakes- yummy!!!

One Happy Zebra!

Tori was in a very silly mood this morning - so, of course, I pulled out our camera! I think that Zebra's must be very happy creatures, because we had one running around our house!!!

Tori loves her toys - especially Puppy, Bear, and Pooh Bear!!!

And she also loves trying to grab the camera!

Here Tori is making a crazy noise!!!

Hurrah for blankets - they are great fun, too!

Bear's tail is really yummy!

Yep, we have one happy Zebra!!!

Happy Saturday from our zoo to yours!!!

Swimming Around!

Jared has been super busy with coaching swimming for the past 3 months. It has taken up a ton of time, but he really loves being so involved at the school and especially with the swim team. Tori and I try to make as many meets as we can to support our Coach! Most of the boys on the team call Tori "Baby Allen" and she loves all of the attention she gets from the kids and their parents, too! It has been fun for us to step into a team and I have really enjoyed all the things I learn at the meets as well! It is amazing the wealth of knowledge I pick up from all the Swim Moms - basically all of the great gossip, such as who the team heart throb is! Most of all, I love watching Jared as a Coach - he is so great with the swimmers and helping them to get better! And Tori absolutely loves looking for her Daddy during the meets!!! Hope you enjoy the pictures we have gathered through the last few weeks... it is a good way to picture how Tori keeps herself busy and a few of our Coach Allen!

Tori loves sitting on this little ledge at the Pike Natatorium.

And sometimes she loves to sprawl out on the same ledge!!!

This is not the first soda pop she has lifted from someone else - at least this one was empty!

Tori loves to play in the puddle from the drinking fountain!
Dancing on the garbage can - it's a good thing Daddy was right there!

Tori loves running along the bleachers - especially the top row, which makes me super nervous!
Here is our Coach getting ready for the meet to start!
Tori loves Daddy's water bottle - it is the only way she will drink plain water!Coach Allen hard at work!
Tori loves it when the meet is over and we can go find Daddy!!!

Our future swimmer...

All ready to get up on a block!!!

Tonight Tori apparently wanted some pretzels - they ended up everywhere!

Pretzels anyone?

And then we had a reading break!

Hard at work, again!!!

Finally, the last relay!!!

Yeah Coach Allen, you are the best!!!

Content

Tori has always been a pretty laid back kid and very content with her life- for the most part anyways! For the past several months, she has had a great time playing with her toys and not always requiring me to be involved. Recently, she has added babbling into her play time! I love standing back and watching her talk with her toys or read to herself. Jared and I have a feeling that once she starts talking, we are going to be in for a real treat!!!

Hurrah for play time - it really is the best!

Early Dismissal

The Indiana school system has two wonderful ways they deal with inclement weather- a 2 hour delay and an early dismissal. Both are pretty great. Instead of taking a snow day and then having spring break cut short a day, they just have school start a little late or get out early. Brilliant, it you ask me. The kids still get most of the school day in, and from our perspective- we get more time with Jared! Today was one of those early dismissal days!!! So, Tori and I went out to play in the snow while Jared was shoveling the walks!

Tori had a great time running up and down the driveway...

helping Daddy with the shovelling...

cleaning off the bush...

and especially playing with Daddy!!!

Here is Tori's very first snow angel! (She was not a fan of staying on the ground long enough for me to get a picture of her actually making it!)

I think that Tori is starting to like this snow stuff!!!

A Girl and Her Elephant

Or in other words- Tori and Ellie! Tori loves, loves, loves her new pillow pet. It is so funny watching them play together. It usually consists of Tori running over and dive-bombing poor Ellie. It's a good thing that Ellie is such a great friend to Tori and takes it all without complaint!

Yep, these two are fantastic friends!!!

I think I could watch Tori play with Ellie all day long!!!

A Fort-able FHE

Tonight we decided to shake up our normal Family Home Evening routine a little bit. We still sang a song, and had a little lesson, but we actually had an activity as well! Jared had the fabulous idea of making a fort! I don't know why we haven't done this before with Tori, Jared and I both loved playing in forts when we were little. So, sadly, Tori made it a whole 17 months without playing in a fort - but she sure made up for lost time!!!

It didn't take her long to figure out how to get inside!

She loved hanging out with Daddy in our fantastic fort!

Tori thought it was some much fun getting out of the fort - she laughed every time!!!

For some reason, she didn't seem to have as much fun hanging out with Mommy in the fort!

And we got a huge scowl when we put the fort away - Tori is getting very good at expressing herself with one withering look!!!

Hurrah for a fun FHE - and for another first for Tori!!!