Toria-isms

After a tiring day at the "Kwanza celebration" at the U's Museum of Fine Arts we arrived at the Training Table for a late, late lunch. Toria was like a Mexican jumping bean and could not for the life of her sit still. She was up, she was down, she was dancing, she was jumping. Now, I'm usually a bit of a stickler on table manners, but after an exhausting afternoon and in a basically empty restaurant, I was giving her some leeway. Well, even I, the pillar of patience(not so much) reached my limit. In the nicest tone, yet with a hint of sternness told her to, "Sit down on your knees or bum, right now." She sits down, sticks her finger in her ketchup and in just as firm a voice states" Mommy, stop being mad at me." Doug and I laughed so hard.  Maybe you had to be there, because as I read this it doesn't seem as funny. But, I promise, it really was. 

A Star is Born

Toria had her first little dance show  and I have to admit that I was a little worried about how nervous she would be with so many people watching her. Apparently it's confirmed. I DO NOT have a shy kid. Despite being far past the hour of her slumber, she was flitting, bowing and clapping like a little sprite. As many of the other little tots were crying for their mommies, she just kept on dancing, kicking, and passe'ing(not quite sure the correct plural for that one) away. She loved every minute of the cheers and adulation. My only concern now is, will I ever be able to get her off the stage?

Forced gratitude

So, one of Toria's new things is to make sure that as we sit down to a meal everyone thanks me for preparing the food. Generally goes like this...

Toria: Mommy, thank you for the food. Daddy, can you say thank you to Mommy for the food?

Doug: Thank you for the food, Mommy

Toria: Skylar, can you thank Becca for the food?

Skylar: Thank you for the food 

Toria: Rome, can you thank Mommy for the food?

Rome:(silence... give the kid a break he's only 8 1/2 months old)

And so on, until all those seated at the table have thanked me for the food.

So, this is cute and funny, but it truly is the start of every meal at our table. Hence, I tend to hear this pretty much 3 times a day.

Well, today she added a spin...

Toria: Thank you for the food, Mommy. Daddy, can you thank your wife for the food?

Ok... are you really 2 1/2?

The most wonderful day of the year!

Our Christmas morning...

Stocking stuffers doing their job

Bubbs in his new headwear from Aunt Leann

Bubbs not getting the present thing, but being very overwhelmed and tired

         Toria Loving her new scarf, hat, and puppy w/ matching hat

Shoveling snow...

Shoveling MORE snow

Rome still not caring about the presents, but loving it all

daily ritual

is it just me or does everyone feel like they are unloading a dishwasher, loading a dishwasher, or washing dishes 24-7? i'm not complaining, just stating a fact.  i guess if i did more takeout, then i would do less of this... but alas, i love to cook(most of the time) for my little fam... thus my ritual continues...

My Men...

Oh how i love them!!!