Monday, February 28, 2011

February Fun

For being the shortest month, this February has felt very long! I think that has to do with all of our craziness with weather and being so busy with the end of the swim season. But we made it through, and had a great time doing it! Here are some of our fun pictures of Tori - enjoy!!!
One day, Tori decided to wrap herself up in a few blankets. I love that she didn't unfold them first - she sure looks warm and cozy!
Our little multitasker - who says you can't play with your baby doll and drink your milk all at the same time?
Tori put herself into kitchen-chair prison...
and figured out how to bust out!!!
I just love this picture - it makes me wish I knew what she was thinking!
Loving the crazy hair when the ponytail holders get lost during nap time!!!
Just one of the girls!
Oh, how we love this girl, her smile, and her cute pig tails!!!
Our sleeping beauty!
Tori is starting to discover the joy of coloring - she is getting to be such a big girl!!!
Happy February - we have really enjoyed you, craziness and all!!!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

A Stately Weekend!

Last weekend some of the boys' swim team made State! As it turns out, Pike hasn't had any State swimmers for quite some time - this was a really big deal and so exciting!!! So, yesterday afternoon, Tori and I headed downtown to cheer on 7 boys and our coach!!!
First, we had to make a stop to see all of our dear friends at Riley! It has been ages since we have visited and it was so nice to catch up with everyone. Tori had a great time being the center of attention (as usual)!!!
Then we were off to the IUPUI Natatorium for the State swim meet. The guys qualified for the first relay event and it was so neat seeing Pike up on the board....
Here are some of the guys on the way to their heat- they were very much in the zone!
And here is Coach Allen getting ready to coach!!!
The relay had been seeded #27 prior to the meet and they ended up finishing at #21. Sadly, they didn't make finals today (you had to be in the top 16), but they all swam great and improved on their previous time!!! Pike also had a participant in the 100 butterfly. Again, he didn't make finals, but made a good showing at the meet!!! Of note, the Indiana State record for the 50 free was 20.40 seconds and has been in place since 2004. That is until we saw it crushed by a swimmer from Brebeuf Jesuit High School - the new record is now 20.11 seconds! All I can say is that kid is fast!!!
Here is the view Tori and I had of the warm-up pool on Friday! (Such a great facility!!!)
Even though none of the Pike swimmers made the cut for finals, we decided to still attend the rest of the State meet today. It was really fun having Jared in the stands with us - yeah for another person to help keep Tori entertained!!! Tori did really well today, but I think she was a little tired of being stuck in such a tiny place for so long.
It totally cracked us up when she covered her own ears when things got a little too loud for her!
Luckily, we had her new bear toy that helped a bunch (thank you so much, Monica!)!!!
All in all, it was a fun swimming weekend and a great way to end the season!!! I know that Jared has really enjoyed coaching, but he is also looking forward to having a little more time on his hands! Having said that, I also know that he is really going to miss it, too!!!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Be Mine...

This year Jared and I are holding off on our Valentine's until swimming is over. But that doesn't mean that we let the day just pass us by. Jared totally surprised me with these beautiful flowers!
And then he made me figure out the significance. It took me a bit, but I finally got it - this is our 4th Valentine's since we have been friends (the yellow carnations-there really are 4, one is just hiding in the picture), and our 3rd since we have been married (the white carnations)! Yep, Jared is pretty sentimental and I love it!!!
We had a heart-shaped pizza for dinner - which was enjoyed by all!
Jared and I gave Tori a new book for Valentine's Day...
and,I know this is a shocker, she loved it!!!
Happy Valentine's to all, we hope it was full of much love!!!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

We Made It!!!

Just in case you were wondering... Tori had a fantastic first day in nursery! Jared took her in and got her all settled. When he slipped out, she was sitting in her chair like a big girl and eating her snack. The nursery leaders said she didn't react at all when he left. I have to admit that today was a rough one for me. I was a little weepy all day long. I know that seems silly- Tori was only down the hall with several ladies and kids we know very well- but it seemed a little lonely not to have her with me. And then there is that whole our baby is growing up thing (I have a feeling I may never get over that). So, we both made it through today - Tori just did a much better job than I did. Hopefully next week will go better for me and just as great for Tori!!!
Here is Tori all ready for her big day!!!
And no - Puppy didn't go to Nursery with Tori!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Going International

The Youth in our Stake had an International dance this evening. Jared and I were able to chaperon the event and it was a great one! There were 6 tables set up representing different countries and then the kids rotated between them. At each table we learned about that country from someone from that country or who had served a mission there. We also got to try food from each country - so yummy, especially the German chocolate!!! Once we were done with the rotations, there was a dance for the rest of the evening. Everyone was encouraged to wear international attire. So we pulled out Tori's Chinese outfit she got from Grandpa Allen last Christmas. It is still too big, but we rolled up sleeves and pant legs and we were in business! She was definitely the belle of the ball!!!
Here is a better view of her entire outfit!
Jared was also able to wear some of his Korean attire he got on his mission!
Sadly, I don't have any international attire - but I still had a great time with Jared and Tori!
Tori had a fantastic time dancing throughout the evening! She got in a little fist-pumping action with Daddy...
and even participated in the Limbo!!!

Tori also made a new friend. It was so much fun watching these two little girls run around together!
I am so glad that we were able to be at this dance. It was great being able to support our youth and to get to know them just a little bit better! We really have some awesome kids in our Ward and Stake - we love you all so much!!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Nursery: Here We Come!!!

Tori turned 18 months old today! Which means that on Sunday she will officially be in Nursery (the class at church for kids 18 months to 3 years old). I really don't know how I feel about this transition. I am excited that Jared and I don't have to try and keep Tori entertained for the last 2 hours of church. But, this is really hitting home that our little girl is growing up! She has her own class at church now! She will get to start making new friends and be just that much more independent. It really feels like some kind of rite-of-passage thing that she has gone through. And while I know that she is going to love being in Nursery, a little part of me wants to pull her back!
Just recently she has been going through another developmental surge. It seems like all of the sudden more and more things are starting to click into place. For instance, the other night we were getting ready to go and I asked Tori to go find her shoes. This is what she came out with:

So, not her shoes- but she knew what I was talking about and even got it on her foot!!!
Today we took some pictures with Tori's Bear to show how big she is getting. It sure is getting tricky getting pictures with props. Yep, Tori is holding Bear, but not holding still at all!
And then Tori worked on her throwing a bit (poor Bear)...
For some reason, Mommy's sweater was way more fun than Bear!
Yeah- we finally got a good one with Tori holding Bear!!!
Hurrah for growing up! It really is an adventure watching Tori discover the world around her! So Nursery - here we come!!!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

A New Game

This afternoon, I was the first fan to watch Jared and Tori's new game! I'm not exactly sure what to call it- so, for now, we will call it 'Golf with a Twist!' All I know is that Tori was having a blast playing with her Daddy!!! She is going to be so sad when he has to go back to work tomorrow. We have both totally enjoyed having him home this week!!!
Golf with a Twist
Tori loves their new game!!!
Her hair cracks me up - we need to figure out how to get her ponytail holders to stay in!
We love watching Tori run - she is getting really fast!!!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Facial Expressions Galore

In the last couple of weeks, Tori has started using tons of facial expressions! She is starting to use words a little bit here and there, but nothing really consistent yet except Mom and Dad. So we have been loving the facial expressions - it is like another window into what she is thinking. Today we took Tori out to play in the snow - and she brought along many expressions!
Tori loves to be outside!!!
Watching Daddy clean ice off our driveway!
Tori made this face right after Daddy threw a snow ball - I love it!!!
This expression came right after Daddy hit her with a snow ball!
Tori's very first icicle!
Tori's expression right after she dropped her first icicle!!!
Yeah - we have plenty more icicles!
Her second icicle went right into her mouth - followed by some lip smacking! (I have no idea where she picked that up)
After we were sufficiently freezing cold we went back inside and Tori had her first hot chocolate! After the first sip, she didn't seem to like it much at all. (I wish I had captured that look - it was priceless.) Luckily, we talked her into trying it again. She realized it was actually pretty tasty and proceeded to down the rest of her drink - I think she is a fan!!!
I am loving the facial expressions - can't wait to see what else she has in store!!!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Ice Storm 2011- Day 3

The storm really ended yesterday, but our world is still covered in ice and school is still out - so day 3 works for me. Although, the sun finally did come out today and things are starting to melt a little bit. So now we have icicles, instead of just ice, on everything. Jared dubbed today as 'The Meltdown' - which is partly because of the actual melting and I think because he is starting to go crazy being stuck at home! To combat this, we made a family excursion to WalMart this afternoon. I know, it's pretty sad when going to WalMart is an exciting adventure. It felt so nice to be outside! We even commented on how warm it felt - which is sad since we can still see our breath! I really wish I had taken my camera with us on our outing. Everything looks so beautiful with all of the ice on it - talk about sparkly! Jared did take some pictures around our house to show all of our melting- they turned out great!
Yep, still lots of ice!
But it is slowly starting to thaw out!
A really cool picture of the tree in our front yard!
And lots of icicles!!!
Jared got another call this afternoon - tomorrow will be snow day number 4! That has to be some kind of a record. I guess the entire parking lot at the high school is still an ice rink. When I think of a ton of high school kids driving on that, I am glad that Jared will be home safe with us!!! The girl's swim team still have sectionals in the afternoon and evening - I am sure that Jared will be glad to get out for a bit and coach!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Fun Family Night

After 2 snow days, Jared and I both assumed that he would be heading back to work tomorrow. So when he received the call that school was cancelled again, we decided to celebrate! We made some awesome homemade cheese pizza for dinner! I was quite impressed that we could pull it off without having planned ahead. Jared is really the one that saved the day - he made some very impressive pizza sauce from scratch!!! While we were waiting for our pizza to cook, we played Wii Mini Golf as a family! I'm not sure what Tori thought of the whole thing - but she is a natural and beat me a few times!!!
We ate our pizza in the living room (a rare treat), while we watched a movie. Tori loves it when we eat in the living room because she gets to use her booster chair! I don't know why, but she loves her chair!!! This is really what Tori did while we were 'watching' our movie:
She had a ball standing up in, and then dancing in, her chair!!!

Then Tori discovered that she could move her chair all by herself- she had a great time relocating around the room!
Once she found a new spot, she wrapped herself up in a towel and actually watched the movie for a few minutes!!!
After the movie, Tori was in a really silly mood - which means we got some extremely cute pictures of her!
I just love this smile!!!
Followed by a crazy face - so fun!
Somewhere along the way, Tori lost her ponytail holder and ended up with a fin!
Yeah for a fun family night in the middle of the week!!!