Big Brother Steps In

Yesterday afternoon, Tori decided to slide and play in her sandbox while I worked nearby on the lawn. She played for a long time and then Ollie came out and put an end to her fun. He persuaded her to come and play with him and put the lid on the sandbox. He assured me that Tori wanted to play with him. Yeah, right! We keep telling him that Tori has a mind of her own.

Twins, Aug. 28th

Tori doesn't know it, but she is getting twin cousins on August 28. Ave and Alivia are set to arrive, and we're going to see them around September 8. She loves babies so I can't wait to see her reaction to them. No doubt she will love them and attempt to call them Abby after the baby at the sitter's. Meanwhile, Ollie has been asking about us having him a baby brother and how long that might take. We're trying, but Ollie may just have to settle for Tori.

Exhausted

Tori had a good time at her play date and fell asleep quickly last night, She didn't even fuss about going to bed and woke up groggy but happy. Mom and Dad are still deciding on this meeting but plan to go again, so hopefully, Tori and Ollie will behave themselves again.

Just Like Big Brother

Tori idolizes her brother and has to do everything he does. She's 2 years younger, but she keeps up with him the best she can. He runs, she runs, he paints, she paints, sometimes I wonder if we don't have 2 boys in the house.

Then there are times that Tori will play by herself. She'll get the play food out and cook something. She'll grab the potato heads (which Ollie has outgrown) and create things with them. She's also into Babies, Animals and certain clothes.

Sometimes she has to be like big brother Ollie and take things to the sitter's. This morning it was a Care Bear that she sleeps with at night. She took it this morning and held it all the way to the sitter's eating her apple around the bear. She refused to get out of the car without it, leaving her apple behind on purpose. She carried the bear all the way inside and had to show the sitter after she watched Cailliou for a few minutes. I'd be surprised if the thing isn't attached to her hip all day long. Luckily for the bear, she didn't choke it like Ollie did his bag.

Oscar the Grouch

Tori has new markers, and this morning, she colored herself green to greet the sitter. These markers don't wipe off as easily, so Tori will not be herself until bath time tonight. Naughty girl! She sure does like to paint, draw and color. That easel that Grnadpa Steve made Ollie is getting a real workout from Tori.

Baby!

That's what Tori yelled yesterday at Best Buy. She loves babies and I can't wait for her to see Alivia and Ava in September. My cousin is scheduled to have the twins at the end of this month. We hope to go see them in September when my uncle comes down for a visit. I haven't seen him in eight years, so the family get-together should be a blast!

Freshly Painted

What did Tori do last night? Got a bath and then got out her paints and turned herself pink, blue, orange and the whatnot. She stayed clean enough that she didn't have to have another bath, but boy, was she messy, She loves to paint, draw, write and color. She is our little artist, so I am decorating the wall above her bed with SImpson cartoon characters of several family members. We all got Simpsonized this weekend. What a hoot!

Tuckered Out

After a week with Grandma and a weekend with uncles and aunts, Tori was exhausted. She was a bit cranky yesterday and didn't want to get up this morning. It will probably take her a couple of days to get back to normal. Ollie camped out in Mom and Dad's room last night on a baby bed mattress and slept in as long as he could too. Too much action.

A Few More Days

Annie is leaving town for good on Sunday. The kids know it, but I don't think they realize how much they are going to miss Aunt Annie. She is the only family member nearby, and for four years, she has spoiled the kids rotten. They love to roughhouse with Aunt Annie. Oh well, she says she will visit and plans to take the kids for a week next summer.

A New Room

For weeks now, Tori has been sleeping in the office in the lower bunk. She liked it so much that we moved the office stuff downstairs to the living room and switched all of her stuff to that room. Her old room is now a playroom filled with toys. She seems to like her new room, especially the top bunk which she is working feverishly to get up to. So far, Ollie climbs up and Huts or I push Tori up there. She does know how to climb the ladder, though, and will probably be managing that by herself real soon.

Off to A Rocky Start

Unlike Ollie, Tori got upset this morning when we left and cried. As I walked out of the apartment door, Mom was talking to Tori and trying to coax her into watching a movie. I am sure she is fine right now and is probably eating lunch and getting ready to take a nap. I envision Tori falling asleep in the bedroom, leaving Ollie and Mom to nap in the other room.

Talker

Tori may not be into skeletons and brains like her brother, but she sure likes to talk. Yesterday afternoon in the car, the two did not stop talking for one minute. She even got on the phone with Grandma and said "Hi!" The words are spewing forth now, and she needs your full attention. If you can't give it to her, then she will get it by yelling until you finally acknowledge her. Oh, and by the way, all babies and dolls are Abby (the baby at her sitter's). Don't bother trying to tell her otherwise. Tori won't hear of it.