Tori the Star

Tori did a great job of reciting the Christmas story from Luke 2:8-14 at our ward Christmas party on Saturday. She practiced for weeks. Then she amazed even me by standing confidently in front of 200 people and reciting clearly and without fear. She keeps saying she was the star of the show. I'm a bit biased, but I agree!

Kindergarten!

We have an excited Kindergartner in our home!

Tori has loved her first two weeks of Kindergarten. I love to hear about all the things she chooses to share with me about each school day. It's so fun to get a glimpse into that amazing mind of hers. I'm so proud of what a confident little girl she has become.

Here are some pictures of her first days of school:

Right before we left for school on her first day. 

She was so proud of the dress she picked our for her first day. 

She says it makes her feel fancy!

She's spinning with excitement!

In front of the school sign with her friend Greg.

They are happy to be in the same class.

Tori was so excited to see Isabelle!

Waiting in line to go into her classroom.

Tori and her friend Drew on his first day of Kindergarten. 

Poor Drew was sick the first week of school.

Do you speak my language?

I have often been surprised and amazed my Tori's understanding of human nature. She seems to intuitively understand things that even I struggle to understand.

For instance, one day a couple of weeks ago, Tim and I were not meeting eye-to-eye on some subject. I can't even remember what it was, but I remember that we both seemed to be missing the point of whatever the topic was. We were joking about it, when Tori (who had apparently been listening the entire time) contributes to the conversation with:

"Dad, I don't think you know how to speak Girl."

And the proverbial nail was hit on the head! We had a good laugh about it. Yet behind the humor, I am amazed how a 5-year-old girl can understand so well that sometimes the problem between boys and girls is simply that we don't speak the same language. What a girl!

Baby Mae

Tori is so excited to have a new cousin! 

Baby Mae was born on July 1st. 

Isn't she beautiful!