This picture says it all doesn’t it?? I have no idea why she did this but a very “Tori” moment for sure.

Totally real shot.? How could they possibly be making such silly expressions at the same time?? Is this the norm?? LOL.

Tori got distracted and was trying to tell me something about her teeth.? Ty is ultra light sensitive so those eye lashes are always batting about in bright sunlight.

I think the caption for the above picture should be “We are the pirates who don’t do anything.? We just stay at home and lie around and if you ask us to do anything – we will tell you – we don’t do anything.”? That would be my favorite Veggie Tales song (though I really like Where is My Hairbrush as well).

I saved the outakes post for last because it tends to be a family favorite.? 🙂

I have been so aggravated with Tori this week.? She is making huge messes that she cannot clean up.?? It feels like she is just walking around dumping everything out.? Flashcards all over my floor.? ALL the toys out of ALL the toy boxes in her room during nap time.? All of the boys toys dumped out in their playroom.?? Today she took the cake when Tanner came to me crying because she had taken apart all of his lego creations in his room and scattered the pieces all over.? I felt so sad for him I wanted to cry to.? Hours and hours and hours (he said at least a week) went into those projects and she wiped them out in a single blow.? I made her say sorry but she put no heart in it.? Grrrrrrr.? In fact, while I was asking Tanner questions like “can we gather the pieces tomorrow?? Do you think you can rebuild?” – Tanner would answer in this soft sad little voice and then Tori would repeat everything he said loudly in my ear? “He said NO mom”.? Annoyed I asked her to leave the room and she says “Who?? ME????”

Today Beth was over playing with her and she was not sharing a thing.? When I would get after her and ask her if she was willing to share she would say “No” very calmly.? When I asked her why Beth was crying she said “Because I took a toy right out of her hands.”?? At one point in the day, I asked her to exit the back of the trike while Beth was driving and she looked me straight in the eyes and wouldn’t budge.? She very rarely takes me on that defiantly.? Mama won.? She submitted.? Good grief though the wee woman has a mind of her own.? I told Kristi that she is my child that has an agenda as long as mine and I am finding it really important to convince her that I am top dog around here and not her.? She isn’t defiant in a mean spirited way or with anger or crying.? She just looks at you dead pan and adheres to her own ideas.? It doesn’t “look” challenging but I know when a child is laying the gauntlet down and the heck if I am going to let a 3 year old draw a battle line and then win it.??? Go back up to the first picture in this sequence.? Why did she cover both of her brothers mouths?? Power hungry she is.? LOL.

Tonight I needed a break so I told Jim I was going to run to Barnes and Nobles and sit and skim through books with a cup of coffee ALL BY MYSELF.? Tori walked with me to the door begging to come.? When I opened the front door she grabs me and says “You can’t go.? It’s too dark out there!? See?? It’s too dark!”?? (I managed to muster the courage hee hee).

I am so incredibly smitten with this small person I don’t even have words to describe it.? She is everything I ever could have dreamed of in a daughter.? She is more than I ever imagined.? Even at 3, I admire her.?? What an absolute joy and privilege it will be to watch her grow and to be her biggest fan her whole life.?? I feel that way about all three of them.?? I wonder who number four will be?? God has blown us away with the amazing gifts of our children and we are so excited to see what He has planned next.?? They are all so different – brilliantly unique – I love that.? They own their mama’s heart, that’s for certain.