Sunday, August 31, 2008

Playing With Our New Toy


We spent the day at Lake Jordan today with our new family toy...A Yamaha Wave Runner...aka Jet Ski. Mike and Nick christened the jet ski and we all spent the day riding it and just enjoying family time at the beach.

Ashley's friend Ashley, from Methodist, spent the day with us. She got a little tangled as she tried to save the Kan Jam Cans and a roll of paper towels from blowing away as the wind picked up.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Thursday, August 28, 2008

A Special Visit With Lily



Here is a short video clip of the girls: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5719889579940662351&hl=en

This week, Tori and I traveled to Raleigh, NC to see Lily, Cathy and Phil. Lily is also from Thai Nguyen Vietnam. Our families waited together and met in Vietnam. We are hoping to keep the girls close over the years and this was our first meeting since we returned home to the US. The girls are about two weeks apart in age...they were so cute. Lily taught Tori how to push the stroller.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

First Trip To New York City for Tori


Mike and I took Tori to New York City this past weekend. We took Ashley to college and Nick was visiting in Buffalo, so we headed to the Big Apple. We took Tori to the Central Park Zoo where she liked looking at the animals, but didn't want to get too close in the petting zoo.


Then we went to FAO Schwartz where Tori fell in love with the Ladybug from "The Grouchy Ladybug" book by Eric Carle. She carried it all around the store by its leg.

We also took her to Build A Bear to make a bunny. Tori also had her first ride on the Carousel. She was fine until it started moving and then I think she thought it was real and got a bit nervous.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Moving Into the Dorms at Methodist University






Yesterday Ashley moved into her dorm room at Methodist University...The light packer that she is (Ha! Ha!), it's amazing she can actually sleep on her bed with all the other goodies that filled the room.

I also wanted to include a picture of Ashley and new set of wheels. After a slight debacle in her car shortly after it arrived in NC, Ashley has a new set of wheels. She has a 2005PT Cruiser Convertible and is thrilled.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Happy First Birthday Tori Bear!





Today Tori turned one year old. In the few months she has been with us she has already accomplished so many things...
1. She can say mama, dada, hi ya
2. She can use sign language to ask for more
3. She can walk and is trying to run
4. She loves books
5. She loves to swim
6. She loves her bath
7. She is using a cup, but not giving up the bottle any time soon...she demands it at times
8. She can salute (Nick taught her that)
9. She can make a disaster of the sun room, repeatedly emptying her book and video baskets
10. She has learned she can tolerate the car seat if she sleeps in it
11. She went to daycare for the first time (she will go part time when I need to go the doctor, appts, etc.)
12. She loves to harass the dog by taking and giving her toys, playing in her food and water, and not letting her get to her mama
13. She has been to the ocean twice and now likes the wavy water, but still dislikes the sand
14. She can fall asleep easily when going for walks in the stroller
15. She still fights going to sleep and wakes up 2-4 times a night
16. She loves to hear the same book read over and over many times in a night
17. She is eating regular people food
18. She likes to ride in her new Step 2 Convertible (trying to keep up with her big sister)
19. She loves to blow kisses, give hugs and show she loves her family
20. She is definitely attached to her family well! We are thankful to have her in our lives.

Happy Birthday Tori Bear!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Swimming at the Nagowski's (Tori's New Pool)


Ashley and Nick had fun playing with Tori and her new swimming pool. Tori loved splashing in the water and spraying the hose.

Tori's Christening



Tori was christened at St. Gabriel's Church with Ashley and Nick as her godparents. We had a party at Creekside after to celebrate Tori's Christening and Ashley's high school graduation.