Ice Skating Fun

This week I took the kids ice skating during Christmas break while dad had to work.  We get there about once a year so we aren't very good.  Jack spent a good amount of time up close and personal with the ice. But we sure had a good time.

Seriously The Best Thing About Christmas!

Despite my ever-increasing feeling that Christmas is a bit overrun year after year by "stuff and busyness," there were really a lot of great memories for us this year.  But what was the best thing?


It wasn't the endless sweets--some generously donated by friends, some eagerly made by us, like our favorite holiday treat, krumkake--this year dipped in chocolate for a little added fun. {Did I say that was a good memory?  Yikes, I have eaten myself silly and now am really going to pay for it at the gym come Monday morning!}

It wasn't the holiday concerts {which were many}.

.

It wasn't the Nativity story we acted out from the scriptures.

{and they were sore afraid!}

It wasn't the Christmas Eve Jammies that are essential {but almost didn't happen--see below} for it really to be Christmas around here.

It wasn't the waking up at 4:30 a.m. {seriously, they get worse the older they get--we made them leave us alone until 5:40, by which time they thought they were going to DIE if we didn't go down stairs!} to go check out what was under the tree.

It wasn't our Christmas Day tradition of heading to the Waukee cemetery {well, behind it, at least} for a little sledding.  Thank Heaven we got a bit of snow yesterday!

It wasn't Skyping with all our Grandmas and Grandpas--which makes us feel like we're with family even when we're not!

No, all these things were good.  But the best part of the holiday this year was the giving my kids got to experience on a whole new level thanks to some pretty crummy behavior.


Here's how it happened. I get that things are crazy and kids get excited at Christmas time.  But that is no excuse for the fighting and bickering we felt earlier this month.  So last week, instead of getting to go caroling to some families in our ward with some treats, our kids got a pretty fed-up mom and dad with a pretty good lectu...I mean lesson on GIVING as the true spirit of Christmas.  And the kicker was the threa...I mean challenge for each of them to provide one thought-felt gift to each member of the family--that couldn't be store bought but needed to be a homemade item or service--for Christmas Eve, or there wouldn't be a Christmas at our house.  And the demonstration of that was my taking what few gifts were under the tree, putting them in a large garbage bag, and taking them out to the trash!  I meant business and they knew it.


But here is the BEAUTIFUL thing that happened.  They spent this past week focused entirely on what they were going to give to each member of the family on Christmas Eve.  I know the motivation started out as a means to earning back Christmas. But it really turned in to a week of each of them thinking about what others would like and what they could do to fill those wants.  There wasn't much talk of "me, me, me" during the week, but rather a real feeling of giving and love.


So last night, with thirty {well, thirty one actually.  We had one additional wrapped gift holding a picture of the Savior and some scripture to read about his life as the greatest of gifts} thoughtful small gifts under our tree, we began our Christmas Eve celebration.  After acting out the Nativity, we each handed out our personal gifts to each other.  And I was so impressed with the things the kids came up with.  

{Just a sample}

From Jack and Josh to Mom and Dad:  A hand-made pop up book entitled The Year without Christmas

From Josh to Emmie:  A hand-carved and painted dolphin

From Olivia to Dad:  A framed poem

From Emmie to Mom:  A organization box for office supplies

It was seriously the best thing about this Christmas.  The kids really are great and thoughtful and I love them so much.  They really felt the spirit of Christmas with this activity.  And with how much I am about traditions in this family, this is definitely a keeper.  Christmas will not be the same from now on without beginning with the gifts of love we give each other.


Merry Christmas All!  How grateful I am for the supernal gift of our Savior who made it possible for us to make it home! 

A Couple Funny Things

My kids have said a couple things lately that have been laugh-out-loud funny to me.

Last week, while celebrating Kris's birthday with a little Chinese food, Jack dug into his fortune cookie.  After reading his fortune--{something like}You will find your way out of the maze of life--he looked up eagerly and asked, "Did it work?  Am I in a maze?"  {I guess we all have a different idea of the power of fortune cookies.}

A couple nights ago, while reading a Christmas story about a cow named Abigail, Olivia stopped the story to say, "I can't imagine a cow named Abigail."  To which Josh chimed in, "What? Abigail is THE cow name of the world." {Isn't it obvious? :-)}

What's in a Tradition?

Last year I was so excited to go as a family to cut down our own Christmas tree for the first time ever.  It was going to be a new Tolman family Christmas tradition. So imagine my surprise when, as I announced our plan to go cut our tree this year, all the kids complained that they didn't want to go.

The reason?  Because it wasn't our tradition.  Emmie particularly waxed nostalgic for our poor old Christmas tree that she missed desperately last year with the addition of our live tree.  So out came the dusty Christmas tree box from the garage to bring back our old tradition.  

You should have seen how funny the kids were as they shaped our artificial tree.  They were having a great time remembering years past when we set it up together.  Emmie was thrilled that she was tall enough this year to open up the taller branches.  And they equally loved looking at the eclectic array of ornaments, many with their names on the bottom, that they have received, one at a time, over the years of their lifetimes.  {Jack was bugged that he had fewer than Josh--not liking that he has been on this earth a shorter time than Josh.  He wants the count to even out.}

I guess it really isn't about the type of tree we set up.  It's more about creating memories with our kids that will last a life time.  That is a great thing about this time of year.

What other traditions are we continuing?

**Reading one of our favorite Christmas stories together each night.  So far we have revisited {on the dates they were read}:

1st--Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect

2nd--The Elves and the Shoemaker

3rd--Shall I Knit You a Hat?

4th--The Race of the Birkebeiners

5th--The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomy

We look forward to reading many more before the season is over.

**Putting up the Nativity story, one figure at a time, on our advent calendar.  You would be surprised at how much fighting goes on with this tradition to make sure everyone gets an equal amount of turns hanging up a figure.  Josh even wants his turn!

Watching our favorite Christmas movies together.  Love this shot of Dad and his girls watching the Grinch.

Still looking forward to baking for the neighbors, singing carols {by ourselves and along with our Christmas CDs}, delivering secret santa gifts, playing in the snow {if we have to have snow, we at least want it before Christmas so we can enjoy the spirit of the season together.  Will it ever come?  We sure hope so--just not on my concert day next Saturday!}, drinking lots of hot chocolate, watching the mail each day for Christmas cards {hint, hint}, and just enjoying the spirit of the Christmas season together.

What are your favorite traditions?  Here's to a great season full of the true meaning of Christmas!

Happy Birthday to the Greatest Man I Know!

{And that's saying a lot!}

A couple days ago Kris celebrated his 42nd birthday.  How I love this man!

Here are 42 reasons {a few among many} why I love him so much!

1.  He loves to cook meals at the end of his work day!

2.  He tells me he loves me at least 10 times a day.

3.  He is a great father to our children.

4.  He looks distinguished and oh-so-handsome with his salt-and-pepper hair.

5.  He is meek.

6.  He is strong.

7.  He has a solid testimony of atonement of Jesus Christ.

8.  He is fun to talk to.

9.  He sends me random love emails.

10.  He faithful honors the priesthood he holds.

11. He serves others.

12. He provides for all our needs and many of our wants.

13.  He is my best friend.

14.  He takes me on dates.

15.  He lets me control the checkbook.

16.  He never raises his voice to me.

17.  He takes his kids on one-on-one dates.

18.  He is kind.

19.  He brings me flowers.

20.  He supports my crazy obsessions.

21.  He tells me I'm beautiful--even when I am obviously not.

22.  He does the dishes.

23.  He cleans the house.

24.  He is a great example.

25.  He is humble.

26.  He laughs at my jokes.

27.  He shares my brain--often making the same comments at the same time.

28.  He doesn't care what car he drives so I can drive the car I like to drive.

29.  He takes me on adventures.

30.  He helps me with geography--which I am terrible at--by taking me places.

31. He is a romantic.

32.  He is practical.

33.  He likes to cuddle.

34.  He willingly watches chick flicks with me.

35.  He teaches his children principles of the gospel.

36.  He shares his light.

37.  He studies his scriptures daily.

38.  He likes to hold my hand.

39.  He works hard at his job and church callings.

40.  He shares my values and beliefs.

41.  He plans for our retirement.

42.  He loves me despite all my weaknesses. 

I Love You Kris.  Happy Birthday!