Last night Rory was challenging us--I can't even remember what about....Sammy was threatening her--if she didn't straighten up he was going to make her bottom red. She told him "No, it needs to stay white!"

Make a Smilebox greeting

Christmas program at school

Rory's preschool had a Christmas program. All the kids sang songs. I was pretty impressed with Rory. She stood up at the front and actually sang some songs. She seemed to be the most still 2 year in her class. She kept her eye on me the entire program and was very sure she made her teacher know where I was too.

Rory's Dance Performance

Rory had her first dance performance Friday night at the Round Rock Family Christmas night on Main street. She and all the other little girls in her class did excellent! When we first got there, we were running late, and I think the large crowd overwhelmed her. When we first walked up to the "backstage" she looked at me and just started to cry. I tried to calm her down, reminding her to she was going to get to dance on stage like Hannah Montana. Once she settled down and got comfortable with her surroundings, she couldn't wait for her turn. All the girls stood up on the "stage" and did their dance and there was no crying. The moms in the class, myself included, just knew someone would cry. At one point in the dance, they run around and flapped their arms like they are butterflies. Rory yelled out "Look, I'm a butterfly." It was really cute. I don't know if anyone else really heard or paid attention, but Sammy and I both thought it was great. We were really proud of her getting up there and dancing on her own. I think she was proud of herself too.

Potty training

So I think we are almost there! When we are at home Rory has been great in going to the potty and wearing "big girl" panties. She has had a couple of accidents when she has gotten involved in a movie or playing and forgotten. She definitely knows the difference between when she is wearing panties and a pullup. She'll tell me that she doesn't have to go sit on the potty because she has a pullup on. The big barrier for me has been when we go places and when she goes to school. I don't want to put panties on her because if she has an accident, then we have to have an extra set of clothes and just worrying about will we be somewhere where we can go potty. So, I have decided she knows how to do it, so I just need to put panties on her and go and just deal with the accidents. Yesterday morning we went to run errands. I kept asking her and of course her answer is no. (And too...pottying has to be her idea along with most things she does. Rarely when I ask her if she needs to potty does she say yes. Usually it's no and then a few minutes later she says, oh I need to peepee. ) She finally announced, "oh I need to peepee" but already had. We went to the bathroom anyway and sat on the potty. Oh well...keep trying. Then yesterday evening we went to Fry's with Sammy. It has been a while since we had even discussed pottying, I forgot she had panties on. So I had to potty and she went to "help" me. Then she took a turn...with a little resistence..but she peed! She kept saying she didn't have to, but as soon as she sat on the potty she peed. And was so proud of herself!! She has been in panties all day today and no accidents. She is a pro at pooping the potty. And nap time her pullup has been dry when she wakes up. So, I think we are pretty much trained....we have the rest of the weekend and all of next week at home with me and Sammy to finalize it before we try panties at school.

The witch did it...

With the celebration of Halloween, Rory learned about witches and ghosts, etc. We have been using the idea of a witch to steer her in the direction we want to go. "Are you are princess or a witch?" Witches scream and don't listen to their parents, witches use pacifers, witches poop in their pullups. If you run away from mommy and daddy, the witch will get you....

Yesterday she was playing in her toy room. Puzzle pieces everywhere, dolls everywhere, the floor was covered with some sort of toy. Sammy asked her why she had made such a mess and her reply was,

" the witch made the mess...."

Number 1

We spent the weekend in Portland visiting Sammy's parents. On our trip home, we stopped at Whataburger to get some drinks. Rory hadn't eaten much for lunch so Sammy asked her what she wanted. She paused for a second and then said, "I just want a number 1." Can you tell she's been to a drive thru a time or two.....

Texas State Aquarium

While we were down in Portland, Sammy's mom took us to the Texas State Aquarium. Rory LOVED it!! She held a hermit crab, saw a dolphin show, touched stingrays and saw lots of fish. The stingrays were amazing. They just swim around this small pool giving people opportunities to touch them. Rory liked the biggest one. She would reach down to touch him and if she missed he would come back and lift his wing up higher so she could touch it. She loved it! (my camera battery was low so it's kinda blurry)

Halloween party at school

Rory's preschool celebrated Halloween today. They had a parade and a carnival. Sammy and I went to the carnival with her. They had little games for the kids to play and they got prizes and candy. She had a lot of fun and loved being Sleeping Beauty. She kept saying, "I like my dress." She even wanted to wear her tiara. I thought for sure it would be lost or she would be annoyed by it, but I guess she wanted to make sure she was a true princess.

Ava and Rory

My best friend from 7th grade and on, Gretchen, has a little girl Ava who is about 4 months older than Rory. They live in New Braunfels and so throughout their lives we have gone back and forth to each others' houses and have met in between to visit. Some of the visits have consistented of lunch and walking around Walmart. Exciting....really for us it was! Gretchen discovered a Burger King in Buda-which is halfway-with a indoor playground. It's wonderful!! They girls haven't seen each other since July, and met each other with a hug. Gretchen and I had probably the best visit we have ever had with the girls while they ran around the play area, more entertained by the "wet floor" sign and the poles than the playscape. I think we have found our new meeting place....if only Burger King served alcohol!!!

Bogey her best friend

Tonight we went to Best Buy and then ate dinner at Craig Os. Before we went to Craig Os we went into Petland and looked at all the animals. They had a lot of really cute puppies, birds, rabbits, and these gerbel/rat things. Rory of course loved the rat things and I could see Sammy's wheels turning contemplating getting her one. When we came home Rory greeted Bogey and started telling him all we did..."we ate dinner, and saw the animals..." it was really cute!!

Hook 'em Horns

I see you....

Here is the new toy Daddy bought for Rory. A "my-fying glass." And an example of what a great/tolerant dog we have!!

Already...

They are barely two and already acting like hanging out nearby mom is not cool......

there was a bench right by where we was standing.

Makeup

Here is my little doll again....

Chuck E. Cheese

We went to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. Rory had lots of fun!! She loved the characters that were up on stage singing. She rode thjs horse ride probably 20 times!

Ariel Fish

Here is our new pet. We acquire the fish from Aunt Carrie. Rory picked out her name and it seems pretty appropriate....

Little Dancer

Our remodel project...

Is this why it's taking so long.....???

Dance class take two....

We tried a dance class back in June at the studio where I had taken classes. It didn't go so well. The class was suppose to be kids only and the moms stood outside and watched through a window. Well, Rory didn't want to have any part of that. She cried and screamed all 4 times we went. I even tried to let her cry it out and left her in the room, but she figured out how to open the door. So, I found another class through the City of Round Rock that lets the parents stay in the room. She is much happier about that. She is the most vocal one in the class and doesn't seem to follow the crowd as well as the others do.....she had lots of fun and said "this is awesome" a couple of times. Of course not when I was videoing. She requested when we left to get ballet shoes and a skirt which we did right away!

Rory's first day of school

Today was the first day of Mother's Day Out. Rory is going to Grace Episcopal Preschool in Georgetown. She goes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-1. She was very excited about going today, but once she realized I had left, she started crying. I probably would have cried too, but there was a brief parent orientation after I dropped her off, and I didn't want to look like a baby crying in front of the other moms. The report from Ms. Kara, the teacher, was that she only was upset for about 10 minutes. There are 7 kids in the class-all girls. That will be a change from the 2 boys she usually plays with. Ms. Kara reported that Rory loved the class library (surprise, surprise!) and played dress-up. Rory told me on the way home that she played Cinderella and had a glass slipper. She said she had a good time at school, and that Ms. Kara kept telling her that "Mommy would be back." I think we'll have a little bit of a transition, but I really think she is going to love school. I know I will enjoy the time to myself and hopefully be a better mother because of it.

Lunch with Uncle Kyle

Today we went to have lunch with Uncle Kyle. We went to Central Market, which is just across the street from Kyle's apartment. They have a playground, which is great entertainment for Rory. Kyle went down the slide with her a couple of times. We didn't stay too long because Kyle and I were hot. Rory had red cheeks and was sweaty, but kids just don't care.....

Rory's commercials

It's funny the things Rory recognizes. When she was barely talking, so would point on the TV and say ATT when she saw the AT & T world symbol. She can pick out a KIA anywhere. She surprised me the other night when we were watching TV and said KIA at a KIA commercial, and then right after that she announced Honda. I looked up and sure enough it was a Honda commercial. Saturday morning she really surprised Sammy and I. We went to the corner store right by our house-Q mart. When we walked in, she said something, but we didn't understand. When we left, she announced Quiznos. We looked at each other, wondering why she was saying that. Then we looked at the door and there was a big Q. Where in the world does she know Quiznos from? Well, today I saw a Quizno's commercial with her and sure enough, they show the Quiznos logo with a big Q on top looking similar to the Q in Q mart. Wow, do you think she watches too much TV?

1st Haircut

We went to get Rory's first haircut today. She was not too keen on it. It took all of 3 minutes from the time she got buckled in the chair and she cried the whole time. I think she was more upset that she was away from me than she was about her haircut. Who knows!

Little Mermaid Song

Here is video is Rory's singing. She has been singing the Little Mermaid song over and over. Can't understand all the words, but it goes something like....
"Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun, wish I could be part of their world..."
Something like "my collections complete"....I'll have to find the actual lyrics so you can compare....she is really into music and singing right now. So fun!!

Fountain Park

Yesterday we went to the fountains at Brushy Creek Park. We had never been before. We with Rory's friend Colton and his mom. She took a little while to warm up and get the idea of running through the water, but once she got she LOVED it. She kept saying, "I'm taking a shower." I even think it's fun for the adults. We should of had Rory's birthday party there because when we got hot, we could have gone and cooled off in the water. =)

Mommy's 30!!

Our next project

Dress-up

This is one of my costumes from my ballet recital. Doesn't she look cute???

Jeep like Daddy's

Here is a picture of Rory's birthday present from Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Naomi, me and Sammy. She still needs a little drivers' ed. Her little buddies that live down the street (same age) are pros at driving. She is still a little timid. Sammy will get her out there practicing though-can't let boys beat her!!

ISR

We are almost done with our ISR lessons. She is doing very well and isn't crying anymore (I am getting in with her). She actually asks for "more" when we get out of the pool. I think Thursday is going to be our last day. She is floating well and flips over to swim to the side. If she can't reach the side she flips back into her float. Sammy is going to go with us to lessons on Thursday(since she isn't crying anymore...) and hopefully we'll get some good video of her.

Princess Bed

Here is Rory's new bed. She even helped put it together after much insistence. Sammy let her put in a few screws and she even drilled them! She slept great in it!