Grateful

It's nice that we get to be parents for several years.  Each year we learn new things.  Last year we went a little overboard and I'm not sure why, with the Christmas gifts.  The kids were a mess and Stan and I felt really bad about the whole deal.  So we planned and prepared carefully for this year, not wanting a repeat of last year ever again and after all we all got a ski pass and it was expensive and Christmas isn't all about material gifts anyway. 
We were so glad as this morning unfolded quickly, everyone was so excited.  No complaints.  We missed the best reactions with the video camera.  It was all simple and great.  Exactly what I was hoping for.  I'll admit that I've had trouble with the whole Santa thing so this year, I got something very practical and usable for the Santa gifts and the cool gifts were from us.  An excellent idea given to me by a sister in law.  For next year we want to make gifts but we want to start right away coming up with ideas so we can start and work on them all year, if we need to.  We are pretty sure it won't be cheaper but they will be long lasting and the giving of them will be more rewarding, having put so much time and energy into them. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2012 was a busy and fun year for the Stan Torrie family.  We had wonderful family trips to Spokane, Washington, and Utah, with lots of weekend trips to southern Alberta full of fun family time.

Spencer (15 months)-He went from being a wee babe to a walking and running toddler this year.  He is a serious child who really thinks a lot about what is going on around him.  He has the cutest smile and a contagious giggle.  He LOVES his mom and wants to be near her all day long.  Thankfully he likes his dad now too so he’s happy to see him when he gets home from work.

Macy (5)-She finally got to start kindergarten in September and she loves school!  She is one of the oldest in her class and is doing really well.  She is adjusting socially and her teacher loves having her in class.  She likes to sing and dance and she has a very good imagination.

Joel(8)-Joel got to be baptized this year!  He is getting more and more active and loves sports.  He is doing really well in school and his favorite subjects are gym and recess.  He does well in all areas and is a good reader, even though it isn’t his favorite thing to do.  He’s also a great singer and piano player, but don’t tell anyone.

Brynn(10)-She just turned 10 and got to get her ears pierced with Macy for her birthday.  She was very surprised that mom and dad let her do it.  She is a great babysitter and helper with Spencer.  She is an excellent student at school and this year, thanks to her current teacher, is excelling in math and science!  She likes to read, sing, play the piano, and is very competitive in family sports.

Stan is still busy in his current government job.  He has spent much of the year renovating our home and spending time with us.  We have really enjoyed that.  He likes to play the piano and guitar and his favorite things to do are playing sports with the family, guitar, and singing around the piano.

I, Sh’Nell, have spent most of my year in the kitchen.  I’ve been experimenting with lots of recipes and like to try new things that are healthy.  I enjoy reading and exercising, and having real conversations with my kids.  It’s fun to have them grow up and be little people.

This year for an early Christmas we bought a family ski pass to a local small hill near us.  We’ve been several times already.  It’s so fun to have the kids enjoy the activities we enjoy!  It was Macy’s first time this year and she is a natural.

We are most grateful for our Savior and this special time of year we celebrate his birth.  We love and appreciate our family and we are grateful for our friends here who treat us like family.

Love to all

Stan, Sh’Nell, Brynn, Joel, Macy, and Spencer.

changes

I can't keep up with technology.  I haven't posted on my blog for awhile and now I can't properly make blogger function how it used to.  how do I make my family picture large like the last one.  Shouldn't it have done it automatically?