It Would Have Been Nice . . .

To have seen this on, oh say, Christmas Eve.

But really?  A week before March arrives?  I am already preparing to get out the spring decorations.  And this is NOT part of them!

Showing Me the Love!

A couple weeks ago, some of my seminary students really showed me the love.  For a whole week, I was welcomed with notes, chocolate, and gifts on the front seat of my car.  Then, one morning, a few girls were suspiciously tardy (and I mean really tardy) to class.  That was very unlike them, but I let it slide.  Then I discovered why.  They had been improving the windows on my car.

And one night, we came home to find our driveway covered in drawings and some super yummy cookies on our doorstep.

And finally they composed a song for me and emailed it to me (which I can't figure out how to upload here).

What a good group of kids I have this year.  I love them.  The future is in good hands with these youth.

ps. check out how awesome this weather looks.  That was last week when we were enjoying days in the 60s.  Now we are back to snow and biting cold.  Spring can't get here soon enough (even though winter has been pretty good this year).

Speaking of Baptisms

Looking at Jack's baptism pictures prompted me to look back at the growth of our little family through baptism pictures.  It was fun (and should I say, hmm, interesting) to see how our family has grown and changed over the last 7 1/2 years, marked by this big event in each of our kid's lives.  The kids have changed, but so have their parents.  Enjoy this little journey.

Birthdays and Baptisms!

Hard to believe my BABY is Eight--although with this one, he has never really been the BABY.  He was born 12 and just kept on going from there.

With the birthday of Jackson McKay Tolman, we did a family birthday celebration (party year next year!) with a little breakfast in bed, opening presents, and birthday dinner.

The highlight of opening presents was when Jack said, as he opened the pocket knife he has been waiting for basically since birth but knew he couldn't have until he became a scout, "Now I don't have to use a popsicle stick to smooth out my fingernails anymore."  It took me a minute, but they I smiled.

Then the grandparents made the trip east to join us for the really special event of the year--Jack's baptism.  What a wonderful feeling knowing all the kids have chosen to follow the Savior into the waters of baptism.  I couldn't be more pleased with all the kids, and Jack in particular, for making this choice to covenant to always remember the Savior, take His name upon them, and keep His commandments.  It's been a super hard year this year in our family, but the things that are lastingly important are all on track.  So we can weather the rest together.