Picasa

I was playing in Picasa this morning..I am not creative and don't use this product enough to know all of the cool things I am sure it does..here is what I did today with this beautiful picture..love love love this precious little girl..so blessed I get to be her Mama

xoxo,
Brandi

Rainy Days

Norwegian Popcorn Balls

Here is a recipe that GiGi and I made last week...they were oh.so.yummy!!!!

Taste testing before we get started :)

In a medium saucepan put one bag (14 oz) of caramels - remove wrappers

1 cup of condensed milk - you aren't required to pour it on your hand like me

2 sticks of butter and melt on low heat

while an adult watched the stove - I cleaned up the caramel wrappers

on a cookie sheet with edges pour Rice Krispies and spread them out

taste a couple of Krispies while an adult coats a bag of marshmallows in the caramel mixture

Roll the marshmallows in the Rice Krispies - sorry no photo

Put on wax paper to cool - pose for a super cute picture w/ GiGi

Store in refrigerator or freezer

Side note - if you get tired of rolling the marshmallows you can make a big blob like we did :)

Enjoy!!

Here is the recipe written out in case we missed a step with our photos :)

2 sticks butter

1 bag caramels (14 oz)

1 cup condensed milk

1 bag marshmellows

1 box Rice Krispies

On low heat melt caramels with butter and condensed milk.

Coat marshmellows in caramel mixture and roll in Rice Krispies.

Put on wax paper to cool. Store in frig or freezer.

New Friend

Over the weekend Mama gave me a new Halloween decoration to play with.

Introducing..Princess Pumpkin Head!!

She played with me all weekend and I love taking her "eyes, no, and mouk" off and rearranging them :)

Sticker Fun

My latest obsession...STICKERS...GiGi is always on the hunt for more stickers to send to me...last week I got this in the mail from her and then I put my new Halloween stickers to use right away!!!

Thank you GiGi

xoxo,

Tori

Dear Mama

I love you!!

xoxo,

Tori Elizabeth

St Louis Zoo

Tuesday October 11, 2011

GiGi came to visit me this week!!!! As if that is enough excitement I got to play hooky at school on Tuesday and Wednesday and hang out with her all day!!!!

We went to the St Louis Zoo on Tuesday - which by the way is VERY.COOL.AND.FREE!!!!

Elephants - I'm not really into looking at the camera

There were some Halloween decorations - Cute bats!

Me sitting on a seal

the jaguar was so pretty

"hi long necks"

"bye bye big monkeys"

Mama and I on the carousel - blurry b/c we ride fast :)

GiGi and I rode a Somali Wild Ass

checking out the penguins

Wednesday we went shopping in the morning and then stayed home in the afternoon and played...

showing GiGi how big I am now!

paying with my new toy GiGi and Papa bought for me ~ thanks!!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

For our first pumpkin patch of the year we visited Rombach Farms in Chesterfield MO. They had a ton of fun stuff to do and we participated in almost all of it!!

Mama and Tori riding the train

First real pony ride *note how tight she is holding on* so cute

hiding - toddler style

Family picture - Gma Patty, Bryan holding Tori, Dustin

Grandma Patty and the kids

Happy Fall ~ xoxo, The Gripka's

going through a fort with "boy"

posing on the big big pumpkins

cute kids on the school bus

onto the next fun thing with Grandma

pumpkin picking ~ so many to choose from

helping Daddy put the gourds in the wagon

Welcome Fall

Over the weekend we had a couple of visitors..Cousin Dustin from AZ and Grandma Patty (Daddy's mom). We had a fun filled weekend with lots of playing and hanging out.

I hadn't met Dustin until this visit and immediately fell in love with him. I can say "Dustin" if you ask me to but I preferred to call him "Boy" He played with me from morning til night. We had so much fun together.

Grandma brought a car full of toys for outside play. These toys were bought quite a few years ago for Bubba when he was little like me. I am SO happy and thankful she kept them in good condition so I could play with them too! Mama didn't get the camera out while we played with them but I am sure she will soon. The toys included: lots of bubble gadgets, Cozy Coupe Car with gas pump, tricycle, t-ball stand, Little Tyke golf set and horseshoe game. I will be busy playing outside for ever now!!

Boy and I jammin' to his music

Playing golf inside

Daddy and Dustin playing video games

We are so thankful that we were able to spend the weekend with family. I can't wait until the next time they visit!!

PS. pumpkin patch pics coming :)

Hollywood Homecoming - MSSU

Last weekend we visited Joplin MO for MSSU's Homecoming and to see Bubba!

We had a fun time going to the parade, tailgating with the Sigma Pi fraternity brothers and friends, hanging out with the Stoller's, and having lunch at Papa Joe and Nanny Vikki's house on Sunday.

The drive is long (4.5 hrs) so we won't be doing it a lot but we sure do enjoy visiting!

Tori, Grace, and Korey

Mama and Sam (Mama used to babysit Sam and her sister, now they are sorority sisters)

Sigma Pi float - 1st Place

cute parade watching girls

Mama and Auntie Kristy (only missing Auntie Sarah)

"cheese"

Bosley (Dexter's puppy) gettin' Korey

me, Mama and Brian Robin (Shuga)

Bryan and Brian

mmmm cheetos!!

Giving Nanny Vikki some loves

snack time with Bubba at Papa Joe and Nanny Vik's house

having a smoothie with Auntie McGee in my monkey jammies and piggy tails to match!