Throw her away

So I guess there always comes the time that sibling riverly rears its head. But I never expected it quite this way . . . On our way home from North Carolina (our thanksgiving desitination), Tori so matter of factly tells us.
Tori: I want to Throw Ariana away . . . (Hmmmm . . How do we as parents navigate this one. )
Mommy:Tori, we can't throw her away.
Tori:But I didn't want a Baby Sister . .
Mommy: Well Tori, you have a baby sister. We can't undo that.
Tori: But I wanted Twins.
Mommy: Really twins? You wanted 2 babies instead of one?
Tori: Yes, I want to throw Ariana away. Cause I want a baby sister and a baby brother.
Mommy: Oh my Tori. Well we can't throw Ariana away, she is your baby sister.

Mind you Ariana is screaming her head off during this whole interaction, so who could blame a 3 year old. But the fact that she wants to replace her with twins . . . Would twins somehow be quiet? One could dream right . . . .

No More Naps

Everyone with a 2 plus year old knows there comes a point when their children no longer want to Nap. Well in this house we still do a "Quiet Time" for 1 hour. No sleeping required, but it is to be spent alone, in one's room, doing "quiet" activity such as reading or coloring. Often times we enforce an In the bed rule too, which almost always ends up with a snoring Tori. But yesterday was not such a day, a babysitter put her in her "quiet time" in her room with her lap desk, markers, and coloring book. When she went to check on her, this is what she found! But Tori still swears, I DIDN'T SLEEP! She was like this for at least 3 hours! I wish I had thought enough to get the after waking up picture of Red Marker all over her face. It would have been a perfect compliment to the Green Marker that got all over her face purposefully (see earlier blog post here).

Santa before Thanksgiving?

Ok, so I used to wonder why on earth the malls started having Santa before Thanksgiving. I mean come on doesn't it seem like Christmas gets earlier and earlier every year? Well, now I am a Mom. Not just any Mom, but the Mom to a 3 year old who is petrified of Santa. At least for the last 2 years she has been. Last year we made several attempts to meet Santa, once even waiting in line for over 30 minutes, slowly inching our way forward, I would bend down and ask Tori "Are you sure you want to meet Santa ?" Yes was always her answer. Well her turn finally came, and guess what? She didn't want to do anything other than wave at him. She did actually stretch her arm out as far as she could, making Santa also reach his arm as far out as he could to pass on a coloring book. So all this to say, that I am not so keen on the whole waiting until after Thanksgiving, when everyone else will be waiting in line for my 3 year old to get to Santa and not even tell him what she wants for Christmas! (Never mind that we make it very clear in our house that Santa is not the one who gives the gifts). So on Monday of this week, a full week and a half before Thanksgiving, what did this Mom do? I took my child to see Santa of course! No lines, no wasted time, and great bribery for getting good behavior through the doctor's office! Well, I am glad I did, because Santa was able to take his time with us and warm Tori up. No she still didn't sit on his lap, but she did walk right up to him and give him High Five! Santa asked what she wanted for Christmas, and this is where things begin to turn for the worse. She walks herself behind me, acting her 3 year old shy self, won't talk and looks all nervous. Through both Santa and I we finally convince her to stand right in front of me, next to Santa, with Ariana in Santa's lap for the picture! Good thing I thought ahead and wore red too! Next year, maybe just maybe Tori will be in the lap too. Oh yeah, and in case your wondering. Tori did finally tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas, A Pink Ballerina Dress. So Santa promised he would tell his elves (AKA Mom and Dad) to get a Pink Ballerina Dress and put her name on it for Christmas. I think this Mom can accommodate this request, though the wrapping will not say from Santa, but the dress may just actually have her name on it!

Not to leave Ariana out of this story. Ariana is 6 months old now. And as most 6 months old, she loves to grab anything and everything within her reach. Especially things such as plastic bags (no wonder they have those labels - Tori never did this), paper, jewelry (I have already parted with wearing long dangle earrings, and 1 necklace bit the dust on my birthday), and well you guessed it, HAIR! Well where does Santa have hair? On his face of course, his long white beard. Poor Santa subjected to my 6 month olds tight and STRONG grasp through the whole ordeal of talking Tori into a picture. Look closely in the photo, and you will see what Ariana is clutching in her hand!

My House Continued - By Tori

So yet again, Tori matter-a-factly informed us of her house and her children! If you missed episode one of this story you can find it here

Tori: I have truck at my house.
Daddy: You have a truck at your house?
Tori: Yes, my house in the jungle. My son drove it there.
Daddy: Really? You have son?
Tori: Yeah.
Daddy: Your son is old enough to drive?
Tori: Yeah.
Daddy: Do you have any other children?
Tori: I have two.
DaddY: You have a son and what else?
Tori: A daughter.
Daddy: How old are they?
Tori: 4 months years old.

Quotes by Tori

Mommy's Don't Mow the Lawn . . . Quote by Tori- SMART GIRL!!!!

The Royal Ball

Tori got invited to a Royal Ball Celebration of a classmates birthday. It was a fun party where they designed their own crown, were adorned with tatoos (skull & crossbones for Tori) and flower and butterfly face art. They were presented with their own princess gowns and tiaras.

They had the privelage of going on an adventure looking for the birthday princesses friend. The got to dance and hunt for the royal treasure. It was a GRAND time!

Professor Tori

Tori was found reading this morning while Daddy fed Ariana. She said she was trying to be like the professor on the "Letter Factory". A Movie by Lead Frog that is amazing for Teaching Tori her letters and even moreso Phonics! She knows better than Mommy what sound each letter makes. What a Nut! Or is that a Nutty Professor!

Trick or Treat 2008

Dora Princess and the Cutest Boots Ever! Ready to Roll for some Halloween Fun . . .
Tori being 3 was much more into the whol trick or treating this year. We planned to only visit a few houses, of people we knew, and ended up visiting a whole lot more!

What a sweetheart Tori was. Ariana went with us, and every house, Tori asked a second piece of candy for her sister! How sweet. Some people weren't so understanding, but others gave her extra candy for having such a kind heart! These are the moments when you feel like everything you are doing as a parent is having impact! Not like the other moments when you feel like a failure (when having screaming fits in the middle of the grocery store!).

Quote from Tori- "we won't go to any houses with scary stuff . . OK!" Waving Hands so matter of factly!

Saluting our Men and Women in the Armed Forces? Or is that just the sun in my eyes?


Trick or Treat Give me Something Good to Eat "I need another piece for my sister"

Oh but I am content with my Pumkin and my Halloween card, YUM!

"Sleeping Boots"

My House- By Tori

So tonight we were so matter of factily informed that our 3 year old has her own house. Here is my best to state all that was told to us. I am not embellishing, her words alone are funny enough!

Mommy- DO you think we could make our dogs pink?
Tori- Yeah, and I have purple cats?
Mommy- Really, what cats?
Tori- My cats.
Mommy- Your cats? How many cats do you have?
Tori- 2 cats.
Mommy- 2 purple cats? Where do they live?
Tori- At my house (Mommy is thinking . . .really our house, what cats? I am allergic to cats, there can't be cats in this house)
Mommy- Really you have 2 purple cats at your house . . Where is your house?
Tori- Far Far Away, Near the Jungle
Mommy- Really? Far Far Away near the jungle? Who lives at the house with you?
Tori- Nobody, just me.
Mommy- Really, just you and your purple cats.
Tori- Yup, and my Pink Dog.
Mommy- What are your cats names?
Tori- Max and Rudy (these are the names of our 2 nephews, Rudy is the one we are praying for right now www.rudysbeat.wordpress.com)
Mommy- And what's your dog's name?
TOri- Teeny
Daddy- Is your Dog little?
Tori- No my dog is big, but he doesn't knock me over. My cats are big too, and they don't knock me over either.
Mommy- Do you have a Mommy & Daddy at your house
Tori- No, but you can come with me if you want to.
Daddy- Does Ariana live with you at your house?
TOri- Uh Huh
Daddy- Who changes Ariana's Diapers at your house
Tori- I do, and my sister helps me
Daddy- Really, your sister, what sister?
Tori- my sister Addy and I have a brother cot . . .
Mommy & Daddy are rolling with laughter and not sure where the story went from here . . . .

Begging amongst the family...

Tonight's dinner was carryout from Chipotle on our way home from a playdate for Tori. Several family members were not allowed to partake in the feast, namely Ariana and the dogs.

Things that come back to bite you...

We got home tonight from Chick-fil-a and I told Tori to take her shoes off and put them away. Her response? "Do you talk to your children that way?" Wow. Sass from a 3 year old. I was biting my tongue to not laugh while beginning the timeout count.

I-POD for Pirate's Night??

We went to PIRATE's night at Chick-fil-a tonight. They handed out eye patches to all the kids as they got there. A lot of the staff was dressed up like pirates, and they even had actors guild people there. It was a great night! Tori asked Alex "Why does that girl have her iPod on?" She was referring to the eye patch that they were giving out to all the kids. All night she kept calling them iPods. It was to cute to correct her and scary the age we live in when our three year old knows the word iPod. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, we met Mini-Moo for the first time. Finally a cow Tori will approach. But oh the lies we had to tell . . "Where are the cows now?" They went to sleep in the back of the store Tori. "Can I see them? ", No Tori, we can't go in the back of store. "where do they take a bath?" In a big trough with a hose in the parking lot, VERY Early in the morning before any customers come . . . "OK". But meanwhile, Mommy is thinking- oh the tangled web of lies we lead to apease our children. This from the Mom who is not promoting Santa Claus in part because I don't want to raise a child who thinks her parents lie to her . . . Hmmmm . . Where do I go from here.

No Deal!

So we have apparently played the "Deal or no Deal" game at Gattitown and Chuckie Cheese too much! Tori wanted a "snack" after dinner last night. I told her she could have a snack if she ate 2 pieces of broccoli first. Tori's response was, you guessed it "NO DEAL!" We lost it! Needless to say after offering more deals, such as 3 broccoli then a snack. The Deal was finally settled with a "Mommy can you get me my 2 pieces of broccoli". I love my girl! She is a veggie queen, so this really was not that unusual that she did concur, I think she just likes to test her boundries . . .

That was Rude!

Tori was telling us about her day at school. "
Cheyenne wouldn't let me in the playhouse. It wasn't nice. I wanted to play in the playhouse, but she wouldn't let me. That was Rude!"

This reminded us about "How Rude: from the days of Full House in the 80's. I have no idea where she learned what RUDE even means, but this had to have been the cutest thing. Alex and I burst out laughing!

The Laundry Princess

So my little Tori is not so little anymore. She just keeps getting bigger and bigger. But I am so grateful that my child is learning to be such a wonderful young lady, despite her mother :) I was folding laundry last night, and what does Tori do? She decides to help me with it. She pulls clothes out of the laundry hamper. Next thing I know, she ahs taken one of her T-shirts, gone to the corner of the living room, laid it on the floor and folded it. She mimiced me in the way I fold T-shirts as best she could, and I have to say, I am a proud Mama! 3 Years old and she is willing helping me with laundry and doing a pretty good job. As she grabs for more clothes, she gets Mommy & Daddy's clothes and says "These are too big for me", then proceeds to fold more of her clothes, continuing to hand us ours. Then she comes to Daddy's boxer shorts. SHe wants to fold them. Alex offers to talk her into an easy way of folding them (in half & half again), But no, she will have none of that, she proceeds to a 3 year old attempt to fold them into 3rds. When asked Where did you learn how to do that, her response was "Mommy". Apparently little eyes are always watching. Even in the non significant things in life, like doing laundry. I am so blessed with this little precious girl. Back to the boxers, she did an amazing job folding them, and we have decided these can never be worn again, the must forever remain to honor the moment of Tori's first laundry folding.

Sweetness

My baby refuses the bottle and the pacifier . . . But she has found her thumb! I put her on her belly for Tummy time and this is the result!

My Jolly Green Giant

So in the car to my parents house in St. Augustine, FL my 3 year old decided to get a little too creative with her markers. Here is the picture. I don't think I need to say more, other than she is at least not permanently GREEN!

And Mommy has officially taken away marker privelage in the car.

Finally Caved to the trend

So I am finally doing it! I am blogging! Who would have thought this day would come. A friend finally convinced me that it was a great place to journal and be able to store the fun memories of everyday life. So here I am, officially a blogger. I will not promise to update daily or even weekly, but when life shoots me fun stories to tell, I will be sure to post them here. So the day has come, Teresa is officially a blogger!