Monday, February 14, 2011

7 IS a LUCKY Number, Right?

I am totally late and I feel horrible about it, but my BABY had a birthday...her seventh to be exact. The day itself was not super exciting, especially with Daddy out of town for work, but Mommy tried. She dressed up special in a new outfit, then O, Liz, and I paid her a surprise visit at school with a Happy Meal for lunch. She was pretty pumped. Then I headed back to school at the end of the day for the mandatory bright pink Rice Krispie treats (or for those of you that have noticed my affinity for the Cake Boss, "cereal treats").

She got home from school and we had to be normal at least for a little while. I made her do her homework, etc. (I know, I'm a bad mom. I've accepted it.) Then for her birthday dinner. I asked her what I could make for her special day. She wanted Macaroni and Cheese from Noodles and Co...so that's what she got. Then we got to pick Daddy up from the airport, so she got to stay up late on her special day. She was pretty pumped!


We had her friend party on Saturday. She was pretty happy with how it turned out. I have to admit, she was a little more demanding this year than in years past. Usually she is just happy with whatever we come up with. This year she had a few requests, but nothing huge, and she was very appreciative.
I can hardly believe that my little girl is seven years old! One more year and she will be baptized. I am so happy to have such a wonderful angel in my family. Tori loves to help, loves to learn, loves to try new things, and loves to prove me wrong. I love watching her and listening to her stories, and her thoughts! She has grown up and changed so much in the last year I can hardly believe it! I will have to post pictures if/when I find the camera, but for now, words will have to do. As a seven year old Tori reads incredibly well. She has been reading to the family out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. She flies right my words like enormously and doesn't even hesitate when she reads the scriptures and finds words that I can't even define for her.
Though math isn't her favorite subject, and she gets frustrated sometimes, she is in the highest math group and works really hard at it.
Tori has been taking piano lessons for about 6 months now, and has gone from crying every time she sat on the bench to "hey Mom, listen to this..." all the time. She rarely asks for help and often moves ahead of the songs and pages she is assigned.
My T monkey is a little bit moody and temperamental, but who would expect anything different from a daughter of mine? She can be a great helper, a good friend, a good example, and best of all a nice sibling (when she wants to!).
I am so thankful that Heavenly Father allowed me to raise this little angel, and I am grateful for every day I get to spend as her mother!

I LOVE YOU VICTORIA!



Monday, February 7, 2011

Long Lovely Locks

I told you in the last post that I had to get family pictures taken because this was gonna be a big week, well, here's why...
I have had short hair for most of my adult life. Then I decided to grow it out just a little bit so that I could wear it in a pony tail at girls camp (that was almost two years ago now). After a friend passed away from a brain tumor the day after Thanksgiving 2009 I decided that I was going to grow it out long enough to donate to Locks of Love. Well, I did it...after going through my own personal trial I needed a pick me up. I needed something else to talk about. So, Mandi chopped 13ish inches off. Here you go!

The before...

The during...


The after...