Our September Snapshot!

Every month I think that we are going to finally slow down.  And I am starting to realize that things never slow down, they just speed up a notch or two.  So, I think I need to just hold on tight and make sure I don't miss any of the ride- it sure is a grand one!!!
Tori is doing fabulous with her potty training- we have #1 down during waking hours and nap time!  For some reason she has been really scared and reluctant to go #2 on the potty.  So, her incentive has been this big, huge sucker that has been sitting in eye sight for some time now.  And since this is a picture of her licking it- you know what that means!!!

Some nights it is just much easier to clean Garrett up after dinner by throwing him right in the tub- clothes and all!

 Garrett loves playing on the slide and is so close to getting to the top all by himself!

For how happy Garrett usually is, he has one of the saddest faces I've ever seen!

Tori told me this was her sad face- I'm not buying it!

All warm and cozy in her bed- with a few friends, of course!

Tori has decided that she quite enjoys picking out her own clothes.  On this day, she went down for her nap wearing the pink shirt, her rainbow pants, and the socks.  When she woke up, she came out wearing this!

Loving Garrett's new dance moves and as a bonus I caught Tori's legs in the background! It makes me so happy to see these two dance together- or at least by each other!!!

And here's just a bit more- this boy has some moves already!

Tori is discovering that anything can be climbed upon- yeah!

One afternoon we were skyping with Grandma Allen when Tori asked me to move the computer onto the ottoman because she wanted to read Cinderella to her.  It was one of the sweetest things ever to watch her read to Grandma- she even showed her the pictures!!!

This is one happy little girl!

We love dance parties in the kitchen!  (Oh, Tori is wearing Jared's under armour that goes with his swim suit- another day of picking what she wanted to wear!)

I really don't know how you can look at this picture and not laugh- oh, how I love my Tori girl!

Garrett has always loved books, but has just recently really started to sit still and enjoy us reading to him for longer amounts of time.  I love seeing my two boys reading together!!!

Our little man has figured out how the push toy works- he is starting to get the hang of this whole walking thing!

Thanks for all the fun times and memories September- you were fantastic!!!

Temple Groundbreaking!!!

It has been nearly two years since it was announced that a temple will be built in Indianapolis.  And this morning we finally were able to participate in the groundbreaking!!! Since there was limited space at the actual temple site, the groundbreaking was broadcast to all of the local church buildings.  And as all of the lights were off in the chapel, and our kids were pretty rambunctious, we spent most of our time in the foyer.  But we were still able to listen to all the wonderful talks and music!  We did sneak back in to see the actual groundbreaking- we wanted out kids to see it as well!  Hurrah, within the next two years the Indianapolis temple will be completed.  We are so excited to watch the building take shape and can't wait for the wonderful blessing it will be to have a temple only a half an hour away!

Tori and Garrett had a grand time playing and reading books in the foyer!

Tori also colored some pictures while Jared supervised!

Garrett loved being able to play and crawl around- we have a wiggle worm on our hands!

Here is what our temple is going to look like- it is going to be beautiful!!!

But, even more beautiful than the outside, are the amazing covenants and things we can learn inside!  When the time gets closer, we would love to take anyone interested on a tour before the dedication!!!

Pike Homecoming

I really think that Homecoming is my favorite extra activity (outside of swimming) that we get to take part in at Pike High School!  It is so fun watching Jared put his outfits together for the theme days.  And we just love the carnival and then, of course, the big game!!!

Monday was College Day- you'll never guess who our Mr. Allen represented!

Tuesday was Superhero Day!  Since Jared always wears a tie on Tuesdays ( I wonder how many of his kids notice this each week?), he borrowed an awesome Superman tie from a friend in our ward to complete his look!

Wednesday was Hillbilly Day- Jared looked pretty hick-ish to me!

Thursday was tie die day and sadly we have no tie die.  We even checked two Good Will stores and struck out-sad.  Which brings us to Friday and School Spirit Day!  Friday is always the best because of the fun festivities!  

Tori discovered that she loves to push Garrett in the stroller!  We were all so excited to be on our way to the carnival!

Tori is a pro at the ring toss- she even got a sucker to prove it!

The girl told her to try and get as many marshmallows in the box as she could.  I don't think they expected Tori to walk right up to the box- she is one smart girl!

Jared didn't do nearly as well- but not too shabby!

 Jared and I weren't sure how Tori would react to the bounce house.  Holy cow- she loved it!

Showing off our Red Devil pride- so excited that we are all in this one!!!

Garrett was definitely all ready for the game with his noise maker in hand!

Daddy and Garrett at the big game!!!

Tori was in heaven with her big bag of popcorn!

Mommy and Garrett cheering on our Pike Red Devils!!! (At half time the score was something like 34 to 0!)

By half-time the kids were pretty much done with the game.  So, we swung by to see the Homecoming Court- Tori loved all the pretty dresses!  Then we enjoyed the marching band show from the sidelines!

Tori and Daddy waiting for the show to start!

So, Tori had been dancing all night, but not quite this long- it was so cute!  I hope you enjoy Tori's fabulous dance!!! (I love that she ends with an arabesque- thanks Angelina Ballerina!)!!

Hurrah for another fabulous Homecoming week- can't wait for next year!!!

Wood Badge

For one weekend last month, and then this past weekend, Jared was able to attend Wood Badge.  Wood Badge is an awesome leadership training offered through the Boy Scouts of America.  Basically, it teaches the leaders how to run their troops by having them put everything into practice.  While perhaps a bit of a step up from regular scout camp, it did crack me up when Jared told me they had to carry their camp songbooks around with them at all times.  I can just imagine a bunch of adults randomly busting out into a fabulous rendition of a fun camp song!!!  While Jared learned a ton about scouts and running his troop, he also learned so much that will help with his teaching and also in our family.  So, even though it was a bit rough being without him for two entire weekends, I am so glad that he took this opportunity!  
This is Jared's Owl Patrol formal picture!  (Back) Lord Robert Baden-Powell (an actor representing him), Stroh Brann (Course Director), Rob, Dave, Bryan (Patrol Guide); (Front) Mike, Jared, Jim, and Jeff. (Since Jared was the only one at Wood Badge in a  Venturing Class A uniform- he is pretty easy to pick out in his dark green!)

 Jared getting ready to launch his patrol's bottle rocket!

This is Jared's Owl patrol- (back) Jeff, Mike, Jared, (front) Dave, Rob, and Jim. (I personally love the guys in the background making faces from the Buffalo patrol- some guys never grow up!)

It was so sweet to watch Tori give Jared a huge hug when he got back from his first weekend at "scout camp!"  We all missed him so much!

Jared and his awesomely small tent- he barely fit in it!!! But he did enjoy having a true backpacking experience his second weekend!

These are all of the owls that were at Wood Badge- this is a pretty wise bunch of folks!

I think that Jared passed of his campfire making skills- he was pretty proud of his huge bonfire!

This is Jared's group project presentation- it focused on bringing physical fitness more into the troops.  His group took first place on their project- they did an awesome job!

Scouting is definitely in Jared's blood!  I can't wait until he can start sharing that love with Garrett!!!

11 Months!!!

Garrett is 11 months old- it's so crazy how fast the months seem to fly by!  This month has been full of many fun, new things for our little guy: he has been pulling himself up on everything and stands up in his crib, he actually crawls for real now, he can climb up an entire flight of stairs, he loves to clap, and he makes an awesome face where he crinkles up his nose!  A few weeks ago, Garrett decided that he no longer wanted to eat baby food.  So, we just cook things well, cut them up really small, and let him have at it- he has been totally loving feeding himself!  This month he went to his first State Fair and his first football game!  He got his seventh tooth in (number 3 on the bottom).  Garrett also got a clean bill of health from his pulmonologist- no more breathing treatments unless he starts having problems again! Our little guy also loves to blow kisses and give very drooly baby kisses!

Garrett is our little ham- it is so fun watching him be silly!!!

Here is his cute crinkle-nose face and a whole bunch of teeth!

His bear never stood a chance!

 Garrett is already proficient at a musical instrument!

This is what happened when I tried to take a picture of him in the chair next to his bear- at least one of them held still!

He is starting to look like such a big kid!

Garrett loves climbing up the slide!

Tori was so excited to have her picture taken with Garrett- too bad he wasn't in the mood to pose!

Yeah- we got a picture of Garrett, Tori, and his bear!!!

Our First Garage Sale

Our housing edition does a community garage sale twice a year- and it is huge.  So, this time around we took the plunge and had our very first garage sale.  For all the time it took to get ready, I thought we had a fair amount of things to sell.  Until we got them all set up outside- um, not so much!

Here's our little setup!  

Jared and Tori had breakfast outside while manning the garage sale! (I'm really wondering if we should have sold waffles for our sale- we may have done better!)

 Tori had a grand time being Daddy's helper and getting to eat outside!

 Mommy and Garrett took a turn at the garage sale while Daddy went in search of clothes for Garrett!

 Garrett had a ball bouncing to his heart's content in the garage!!!

Tori loved playing with everything she could get her hands on!  The socks she is wearing were in the garage sale, but no more!

 What a silly face!

So, our grand total earnings for the day- we made a whopping $10.30!!!  Hurrah for our first garage sale!  And then we spent a total of $11.45 for all of these cute new clothes and shoes for Garrett!

Our take on the day, we basically traded things we no longer were using or wanted and got new stuff we do need and want- we just swapped!  And, even better, we got a whole bunch of stuff out of our house!  I'd say we had a pretty productive day!!!