Tori's birthday, Erie County Fair and Marineland

On Tori's actual birthday, she celebrated at school with her preschool class. We brought cookies with lots of icing on top. As you can see, Tori ate the icing first and only the icing. At night, we took her to Cold Stone for ice cream and she loved having her own cone of cake batter ice cream.

We had a wonderful, but quick visit in Buffalo. We celebrated Tori's birthday with family and friends. We also took her to the Erie County Fair where she rode some rides and actually fed the goats. We also went to Marineland for more rides and this time feeding the deer. Tori was getting bold with the animals. One deer tried to take her ice cream cone of deer food, but she took it back and went to feed a new deer.

Happy Birthday Tori

Tori celebrated her second birthday this weekend with some of our family. This is the first of three celebrations. The next one will be at her preschool on Wednesday, her real birthday, and another in Buffalo when we go home this weekend. She definitely is getting the hang of birthday cake and presents. She is too cute...she can say that she is two...but holds up 5 fingers (can't get the others to stay down). She also can tell you she was born in Vietnam. Here are a few pictures of her first celebration.

First Annual Girls Weekend At the Beach

Last weekend we had our first girls weekend at the beach. Deb flew in (on a very delayed flight) to join us for girls weekend. Mom, Michelle and Micah drove in from Charlotte and the girls headed down to our condo at North Myrtle Beach. We enjoyed the sun, some shopping, good eats and good company. We even played some banana grams...its sort of like scrabble. I learned that my family is very competitive since they started without me as I helped Miss Tori in the potty (yes we are potty training.) I still managed to build my words first...sweet revenge. We had a great time and can't wait to make it an annual event.

This weekend also started Miss Tori's high interest in the potty since she figured out how to go peeps...even just a few drops in order to get M & M's. She also is a bit of a con artist...I swear she would only go a few drops to get M's, then sit down and go more for more M's. She earned lots of M's this weekend. She is still interested in going, but not anywhere close to full training. It's a start though.

Western Day at Preschool

Tori started Preschool this week. She had been on the waiting list and a spot opened. She did really well and when I ask her what she did each day...her reply...play kids. That was our goal for her and she seems to like it. Thursday was western day and the kids could dress up, so here is what Tori wore. Preschool is in the mornings and they have extended care in the afternoon if I have appointments or meetings. This fall we are hoping to start toddler gymnastics too.

Outerbanks July 2009

We rented a big house in Waves in the Outerbanks of NC with some of my family. We had a great time. We were right on the ocean...you just walked over the dune. We had our own pool and lots of space to gather. We had family meet from Buffalo, Charlotte and us from Fayetteville. We brought our jet ski too. The highlights are surfing lessons, a wild dolphin cruise and much family fun.

The Beach Makes a Wonderful Background

Each weekend we head down to the beach is like a mini-retreat. This weekend we brought the jet ski down and Nick and Ashley drove it all around the inner-coastal waters. On Saturday night, we went to the beach at night to look for crabs. We brought mini-flashlights. Tori had a blast with hers even though we didn't see any crabs.


Tori is always complaining about the sun...so here she is so hip in her animal print sunglasses...You go girl!

Happy First Anniversary Tori

It is hard to believe that just one year ago today Tori was put into our arms for the very first time and from that day on we are her "forever" family. One year ago, Tori was a peanut...just under 17 lbs and very shy. Today she is about 22 lbs and has blossomed into a sweet little girl who is coming out of her shell. She LOVES to talk and play outside. Here are some pictures of a typical summer day in her life now.


Tori doesn't like the sun in her eyes...so lately she requests glasses...that are hard to stay on because of her cute little nose.

We go from the glider, to the pink swing to the yellow swing to the slide. Tori easily climbs the rock wall to the top of the slide. She also loves the sand box and is always carrying a buck of sand as her purse. I think she is picking up on mom's purse frenzy. A girl just can't have too many you know.