The start of a new decade

We've been home for a week now, I think we're settled in. It sure was amazing to have a two week holiday. I've noticed it has taken some people all week to get back to normal routine, one of the ladies at work has been calling people by the wrong name. She called Miss Neufeld, Seinfeld, and Mrs Lewry, Flurry, it made me laugh and want ice cream at the same time. Luckily, I didn't have a hard time getting back into the swing of things, Monday came without much notice.
Kali is happy to be back at school and I'm glad she's there, although, I did miss her. She's learning about space this month, the stuff she is learning now is so up to date, my knowledge is foggy and from 20some years ago. She told me this week that she knows more about everything than I do, so I had to prove her wrong... 5+5? 10+10? She sat quietly in the back seat, HA, I do know a little more than you. Funny thing, I thought I knew more than my Mom, and I still think I do.
Spence is working hard on some Energy Audits and a couple re-designs, he actually had to stay late Wednesday night. A friend called for him while he was at work, his friend told me that I should have a hot dinner ready for him when he got home. I said "if he's not here when we eat, too bad", I was chastised to show a little compassion, and that was my plan.... until I fell asleep putting Kali to bed. Spence is a good man, he re-heated his dinner and washed all the dishes.
My highlight of my week was Volleyball night, Tuesday. Our stake does women's volleyball from 8:30-10:30pm. It was REALLY fun, it took me a few minutes to get my game on and my serve. Luckily no one is too competitive, we have all ranges of talent (and patience).
I dragged Spence and Kali to the Arena last night to watch some Ringette, we watched 7 year old, and 12 year old girls. I loved it!!! I had to tell Spence the rules as it went, and Kali was making friends, running around not even watching the game. I really wish she was more interested in sports, that's almost reason enough to want more children.
Well I'm looking forward to using the new manual tomorrow at church, and for our new 11am time slot.

The Greatest Vacation EVER!

We got home from Nauvoo last night, it sure was nice to be out of the car and to sleep in my own bed. We went to visit Mom and Dad Torrie on their mission. I loved the one on one time we could have with them, we had a blast. Mom and I played some games, not near enough though, she hasn't played in a while and when I beat her it was just like old times. I loved seeing Mom and Dad as church history missionaries, Mom loves history, she knows so much. When we would meet other missionaries they would say one of two things about Mom, either that she is such a hard worker or runs around like a crazy lady ( I think they were jealous of all her energy and zest for life). What a great example she is to us and our Kali.

Dad is having lots of fun in Nauvoo too, he is a teamster who takes care of the horses, he gives site tours and just like Mom they perform in a great musical called "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo" Dad and Mom are so talented. We went to their show 3 times while we were there and recorded most of it on our camera. I loved the songs and the stories.



I loved Christmas in Nauvoo, really I think it was the best time for us to go. I hate the crowds and the busyness of big family Christmases, and I loved having Mom and Dad all to ourselves. We saw all the sites, my favorties were: Carthage Jail, the Blacksmith shop, Lucy Mack Smith home, John Taylor home, Brigham Young home, the mansion house that belonged to Joseph Smith and the Family Living Center. All the sites were really great, although having so many things that Kali couldn't touch was almost too much for her (and us). There is a special spirit in Nauvoo, especially at the Temple and the LDS sites. We went on a community of Christ tour, I sure wished our church owned those sites too, it would have been amazing. My testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith has increased and my appreciation for the Saints at that time increased too. I've been to many places and this is my favorite so far. Thanks to Mom and Dad for serving the visitors to Nauvoo and the Lord. Here are a couple of pictures of Mom and Dad, I love how you can see the name tags.

Elder Torrie after a long day.

Sister Torrie after a long day

I can't believe November is almost over, Christmas is really creeping up on us. In 3 weeks we should be in or close to Nauvoo, IL to visit Grandma and Grandpa Torrie. We have Christmas parties coming up, for both of our jobs, Christmas baking to do, Kali's Christmas concert and we have to make sure our car will be up for the 24 hour drive there and back..
Kali is going to be star of the week this week at school, we made her poster yesterday, she is pretty excited, I think she gets some extra privileges. Spence just got back from his winter camp with the Scouts, I'm really glad that he can do that with them. I would rather be dead than go on a winter camp, I have a hard enough time sleeping outside in the summer.

Things I've done this week:
- I just changed jobs this week, from a Montessori School to a regular preschool. I work for the Catholic school board and I requested that they relocate me, luckily I'm at the best preschool now. It makes a huge difference to be at a place with nice, happy people.
- I also got ambitious and carpeted the stairs going to the basement, they look great. They were kinda dangerous before and ugly with glue from whatever had been on them before.
- I had fun helping out a friend by watching her boys last week, I took them to their swimming lessons and couldn't get them out of the pool without getting wet. I'm taking them tomorrow, but I think I might have a better plan, swim with them before the lessons.
- I gave a talk in church today about the goals our ward is working on. We do specific goals each week, it was fun since the talk was only 5 minutes long. I hope my name is scratched off the list for another couple of years.
- Last Saturday, we went to the Temple with our ward, Spence did all my father's work. What a blessing it was and an amazing experience, I love the Temple, it was amazing to be there with our ward. I really love our ward.

Well, Christmas is that time of year of extra stress. I hope I can slow down and share some special moments with my family.

I have a family here on earth...

Kali had one of her debuts today singing in sacrament meeting. She sang "Families can be Together Forever", Spencer and I were her back up singers. We had a few practices and Kali would not hold notes long enough and she'd come in too early, finally with the patience of our wonderful Relief Society president and pianist, she got it. She was so unfocused during practices that I told that I would spank her in front of everyone if she did not behave properly. Then I told her that I would reward her with anything she wanted if she did well, I'm not sure which worked.
We were announced to sing after the high council speaker, just before he finished Kali "desperately" needed a tissue for her nose. Spencer went to retrieve her as the speaker sat down, I sat hoping they would come NOW, I was not prepared for a solo. After what felt like 5 minutes we went up to sing. Our ward had like double the people it seemed. We sang the song together until the second verse where Kali had a solo, "While I am in my early years, I'll prepare most carefully; So I can marry in God's Temple for Eternity," . Spence and I almost couldn't sing, the spirit really touched us, I would have been bawling if I'd been sitting in the congregation. One of our friends told us how proud he was of Kali even though she was not his child. We received many nice compliments, but really it was Kali who did a wonderful job, she is our star.

Primary Presentation... check

Kali had her primary presentation today, on the way to church we talked about last year and having Grandma and Grandpa Torrie there. She really misses them. The presentation is probably my favorite sacrament meeting of the year. Kali's teacher said she was so well behaved and encouraged the other kids to be reverent too, I'm glad she's a good girl. She loves to sing, I could hear her the loudest at the end of the verses, I think she likes to have a strong finish. Everyone had a part, Kali's was "Reverence and keeping the Sabbath day holy strengthens my family", we had to remind her of that today a couple of times. The Bishop read the part in 3 Nephi where Jesus took the children one by one and blessed them and where the angels surrounded them, I really felt that today. Those children who can't sit still, put their hands in their noses and mouths, sing too loud or not at all, still have bed head or the most beautiful dresses but lovingly wave at their parents are just the ones that our Savior loves so dearly. If only we could be as innocent as a child. Church was totally focused on families today, it made me feel the spirit, it was a good day.
Next week we've been asked to sing "Families can be Together Forever" as a family. We have to sing it in C so that I can do it. We practiced tonight... it may be a gong show, we'll see, I better pray real hard.
Our Super Saturday was yesterday, I taught a class making block nativities and using vinyl to decorate them, I think I will give one to Kali's teacher. I made a watch with beads and a frame with a glass insert that says "Family", Kali has already put that in her room. She begged to come to Super Saturday, she loves crafts, I had to tell her that it was a day for Mommies to get away from their kids, she didn't like that, but had fun with her Daddy anyway.

October 28, 2009

Well, Spencer just bought a 1978 Honda Mini Trail bike. He loves it. He got it last week and he's been working on it almost everyday, I went to bed at 9pm almost every night last week. Before he actually brought it home, he slept about an hour a night thinking and looking for parts for this bike. He is seriously CRAZY. He dug a hole in my garden to make a hill to do some jumps off, he rides it around in circles in the backyard, he seriously loves this thing. Kali also loves it, maybe it will be hers someday.


Last weekend our stake did a mock disaster. We had to pretend the power was out, the water was contaminated and all the stores were closed for 36 hours. We used candles and flashlights, we had lots of stored water and we had enough food, so that was good. We couldn't use our furnace though because it uses a fan to blow the heat, so we were cold. Spence has a single burner stove so we used that to cook soup and boil water, for dinner we used our BBQ. I think we would do okay if we were really in these situations. Just not for too long.

We had some friends stay with us this weekend, they have 3 kids ages 4,6,7. They had a Adoption seminar all weekend so we got to babysit, it was interesting to have 4 kids ages 4,5,6,7. Spence thought it would be fun to have kids like this in real life, I liked that they played so well together, but it is a lot of work. Kali loved it, she wanted them to stay longer, but our house just isn't big enough for 8 people long term. Our friends are renovators, they gave us some invaluable advice for our next projects, it makes me excited, I just have to save up some money first.

I'm freaked about the flu, so I think I will get the shot. I just don't want to wait for 4 hours in a line up. President Monson gave me some good advice last night: "Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rain may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us."

October... and i'm freezing.

I can't believe I used to wear shorts in 10 degree weather. I think I was so used to 30 degrees, this is like a slap in the face.
I missed writing for the past couple weeks, nothing really exciting has happened.
This weekend we went to Sparwood, BC and stayed in a Bed and Breakfast, it was neat, my first time at a B&B. http://www.bobbyhutchinson.com/
The wonderful lady who owns it is fabulous, she is a novelist turned biographist (not a word, but made it up for a lack of a better one), she used to write Harlequin Romance novels. Her home was very comfortable and clean, I suggest it to anyone, it's only about 4 hours from Medicine Hat. She put us up in a room with a King size bed, and Kali was going to stay in a room with a double bed... but she slept with us. That was fine with me, even though I would love to have a king size bed, she would go undetected when she crawled into bed with us and that's not cool. Kali loved the idea of staying with someone and not at a hotel, she chatted Bobby's, the B&B owner, ear off. That girl cracks me up at how social and curious she is. When we woke up we had breakfast. We had delicious waffles, bacon, fruit salad, o.j., and Spence had a BLT. She had a menu and we could choose whatever we wanted, the food was great, we left full, and with a signed copy of one of Bobby's Harlequin romance novels. The real reason we went was to meet a guy in Fernie to buy a truck. Spencer bought a PURPLE ford ranger with 4WD, it's a bit of a fixer upper but that's his specialty. We caught some conference in Sparwood, then in Taber and drove home late last night. I was glad to be home. I think my favorite talk from conference was Elder Bednar's, I think he's great. I'm excited for the Ensign to come out.