We love to read!!!

I have always loved to read! I have no idea how many nights I have stayed up into the wee hours because I had hit 'the point of no return' and just had to finish my book before I could sleep. So, I am thrilled that Tori is a fellow book lover. It has been so fun watching her relationship with her books grow. Her latest- speed reading!!! She definitely gets this attribute from Jared - he is the fastest reader I know! I just wonder how she can take it all in so quickly...

I love how much joy she gets from those pages! Jared and I both hope that Tori's love of books and reading will stick with her for her entire life!!!

Ode to October!

Looking back over our 206 pictures from October I realized that we were super busy this past month. I keep thinking that our picture taking will slow down one of these months. But as Tori keeps growing and learning new things, I find myself reaching for the camera just as often. Here are some of my favorite pictures from October that didn't make our other posts. Hope you enjoy!

Tori had a great time carrying this box around. I love that she has her 'grandpa phone' clutched in the other hand. Definitely a girl on the go!

I have no idea why, but Tori loves to climb up and play in her stroller!

It's just so rough waiting for your bottle to warm up when you are hungry and tired!

Tori has now moved into the stage of feeding herself, which can prove to be a little messy at times. Especially when she has oatmeal for breakfast!

Yep, she is still our little princess - even when drinking a bottle!

Cleaning out this cupboard is so much fun (and happens several times a day)...

but it can sure be exhausting!

One morning it got really quiet, so I went in search of Tori. I had last heard her in our room and as I glanced inside I found her like this: on top of the tote with a sock in one hand and her empty bottle in the other, kicking her legs back and forth. She was having a great time!

Tori loves her little stoop- it is perfect for looking out the window to see if the neighbors' dog is out playing!

One Saturday, our ward met at the church to do some outside cleaning of the building. As you can tell, Tori jumped right in to help!!!
Naps with Daddy are still one of Tori's favorite things! I just love how she cuddles in!!!
Toy boxes have many uses!
Here are a few pictures of 'The Torsinator' on our practice run!

Pooh Bear is a very intimidating side kick!

And a hanger can always come in handy when defending the world!

Our friends Sam and Cheryl got married yesterday. They asked Jared to be their DJ, which he was super excited about. The only thing that worried us was how Tori would do being at the dinner and reception for so long. We shouldn't have worried at all. She had a great time getting to know the dance floor...

hiding under the tables...

and best of all was the Daddy-Daughter dance! (Congrats Sam and Cheryl we are so excited for you two!!!)

It hit me the other day that Tori has run out of 'first holidays.' But there are definitely aspects of each that she will still experience for the first time. For instance, this was her fist Halloween to eat candy - and boy was she in heaven!!!

Happy October everyone, we hope it treated you well!!!

Trunk-or-Treat Fun

Last Christmas, Uncle Dillon gave Tori her nickname of 'Torsinator'- which is still one of my favorites. As we have been approaching Halloween, we told Dillon that if he could tell us what the Torsinator looked like we would try to make that Tori's costume. Well, Dillon took the challenge and came up with an awesome picture of our little superhero. Now it was up to us to bring the vision to life. I must admit, we have spent several weeks finding and making all of the pieces. But we finally finished everything up last weekend. Dillon (and the rest of the Allen pose) got a sneak-peak on Sunday, but Tori's costume got its official debut at our ward's annual trunk-or-treat activity this evening. I was very excited to see how it would all pull together since we didn't do her mask on Sunday. I think it turned out awesome!!!

Here is our little Torsinator! (I am still so happy that she let me put makeup on her face!)

We started out by having dinner in the gym at the church. At one point I turned around and Tori had picked up a few things. Yep, she was a pumpkin thief! Luckily the Jenks weren't worried and let her play with them all through dinner!

Here is our Superhero family - I think we look pretty great and ready to defend the world!

After dinner, Tori decided to try out a few of her super powers. She practiced her flying skills a little, or at least the take off part!

The second time she looked a little more fearsome!

Being a superhero is hard work and required a few breaks!

Here she is working on her faces to scare away the bad guys. Thanks for your help Natalie!

Here is Tori's first reaction to her stash of Halloween goodies!

I love that the first things she really picked up were the play dough!

Dillon, thank you so much for helping us come up with Tori's costume!!! It was definitely a huge hit at the activity. Every time I looked at her I couldn't help but smile and think how fantastic she looked! I think we may enlist your help again next year, if you are up for it!!!

Hey Coach!

Jared is Pike High School's newest Assistant Swim Coach! He has known about it for a while and has been anxiously awaiting getting started. Which happened today with the first swim practice of the season. Even though it will be much more time at the school, Jared is so excited to be coaching! I am really excited to see him in this role as well and can't wait for the first meet where Tori and I can see him in action as 'Coach Allen!'

Here is our Coach in all of his swim coach attire - looks great doesn't he!!!

Another thing I am really excited about - the first time I hear one of the kids say, "Hey Coach!"

Bowls are great fun!

Tori loves playing with bowls, but has recently added a new dimension to her play - they must all be upside down!

I just love watching her play - it is so much fun!!!

I'm Rocking my Baby!

My emotions have been rather tender and close to the surface lately. Part of that has to do with being released from my calling as Young Women's Secretary. I know I am going to miss my girls so much. They have been such a great example of strength to me and I have loved every minute I have been able to spend with them! I really think the other part comes from daily reminders that Tori is growing up. As I watch her learn and discover, I am so glad that I get to be here to share those things with her. Today I ran across a poem I am sure most of you have heard before and it struck a cord in me.

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby, loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby, loo.
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo,
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo,
Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby, loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs;
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

I think that as women we tend to feel like we aren't 'enough' or doing 'enough.' No matter how much we get done, we tend to focus on all that we didn't get to. I think this poem was what I needed to see today. Dishes, laundry, and cleaning will always be there, but my baby is growing up. And that is exactly what I don't want to miss!

Buddy Walk

This year we were able to once again participate in the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk. It really is such a great event for raising money and awareness for all the services available to families and people with Down syndrome. It is also a great way for Jared to stay in touch with all the wonderful people he worked with in the lab on campus.

It was a little cold this morning, so we made sure to bundle Tori up! She looked so adorable!!!

We ended up having quite a bit of time before the actual walk started. Tori had so much fun basically pulling the petals off these flowers. It's a good thing there were so many of them!

I just love this picture, Tori looks so little!

After attacking the flowers, Tori noticed this little step- the perfect height for her to sit on!

She was so excited for the Buddy Walk to start!

And then we found more steps to go down!

One of the teams had a little pony with them, so we took Tori over to meet it. I'm not sure what she was thinking, but she seemed just a little nervous.

All of Tori's running around and playing before the walk wore her out and she only made it to the halfway point before she gave up!

Here we are walking with the rest of our team. This year we were the "Roper's Murine Corps" team. You'll have to ask Jared about the name, I'm not sure what it means. But, I did really like our shirts - they are my favorite so far!

Tori was so worn out, she even slept through lunch! At least she looked comfy!!!

And here is our whole group enjoying a fabulous lunch after the walk!

Yeah for the Buddy Walk, we can't wait until next year!!!

A Very Important Word

Today Tori said a new word. A word that at least two people have been anxiously waiting for her to say since the day she was born. And that word was "Grandpa" - although it sounds a little closer to "ampa!" I have a feeling that two hearts will be melting once they see this!!!

Hurrah for Grandpas - we love you oh so much!!!

Can you tell we like football?

Jared and I both really enjoy watching football. We have always joked that Tori likes football too and just hoped it was true. She always seemed to be paying attention, we just didn't know how much attention! Here is our proof (along with a bit of coaching from Daddy) that our baby girl is a football fan too...

Our next goal - to get her to say "Not so fast, my friend!"

Hair!

Tori's hair has finally started to grow! Or at least all of the sudden it seems longer. Last night after Tori got done with her bath, I decided to play around with her hair a little bit. We made a very important discovery... her hair is now long enough to hold a bow!!!

Tori looked so cute, but way too grown up!

So tonight, Jared did Tori's bath and had some fun playing with her hair as well. Here is the Daddy-do!!!

I love how crazy it is!

It cracks me up that both Jared and I have had a great time with Tori's hair, but in vastly different displays. Guess it just proves once again that every girl needs a Mom and a Dad!!!