Christmas is best spent with family
Christmas is best spent with family --Published 12.19.10 Cass Lake Times
By Allan Olson
“Is Christmas over?” Abigail asked as we were leaving our latest Christmas party on Sunday evening, getting ready to venture home. “Yes, Christmas is over,” I said. That answer seemed to satisfy her.
Why did she ask? Perhaps she, too, was ready to sleep in her own bed at home. Of course, another greater reason might’ve been that she has new toys in the van and new toys at home which she has hardly got to even look at.
We started our Christmas fun on Wednesday evening when we let the kids open their gifts. The stockings were first, and as Marcus dumped his out, he discovered the yellow Nerf bullets. “I got bullets!” he exclaimed. Then logic quickly settled in. “Why do I got bullets? I don’t have a gun.”
We didn’t say anything, just let him unwrap the remainder of his presents. Inside one of the packages was a brand new Nerf gun, ready to use. He was excited, and wanted to use it immediately.
The presents were only part of the fun over the extended holiday weekend.
On Christmas day, two of the kids and I spent a few hours sledding with their cousins. I wasn’t sure if my body was up to the abuse, but I was game. The hill, while not terribly long, had enough hazards in it to make it more interesting.
Abigail, my little daredevil, wanted some company on one venture down the hill, so I gladly jumped aboard. It was an interesting, if short, trip.
A niece was at the bottom of the hill, waiting to be knocked out of the way. We did our best to help her out, but it ended up that we got knocked away. We were careening down the hill, hit the niece, spun around and proceeded backwards the remaining few feet down the hill and onto the river ice. Abigail and I both ended up on our backs, off the sled, lying on the snow-covered frozen river.
I had snow down my back, and I had been dumped out of my sled and, amazingly, I didn’t get hurt. I started laughing, and because I was laughing, she started laughing as well, which made it even better. It was perhaps the best sledding experience I can remember, at least as a parent.
The two of us took another trip or two together during the course of the afternoon, but she had it on her mind to try every different sled available. Her best trip was whirling down the hill in a saucer; it was the only time she stayed in the sled, even after it left the river bank to land on the ice.
Myself, I took a few more trips down the hill as well. On one trip I found myself launched from the sled, landing on my feet and running on the snow-covered ice to keep from falling on my nose.
The sledding experience was what winter should be all about. Spending time outside with the kids. Thankfully, I didn’t break any bones or hurt myself too badly.
I fully intended to make another trip down the hill later that day, but I found my body saying “Don’t push your luck!” so I just let the kids have their fun.
As for the Nerf gun, my brother bought each of his nieces and nephews Nerf guns. Our house is now a war zone; at least when they can find ammo!
Thanks for reading. I hope you had a great Christmas, and have a wonderful 2011. As always, we appreciate your feedback and suggestions, so feel free to drop us a line at cltimes1@arvig.net.
By Allan Olson
“Is Christmas over?” Abigail asked as we were leaving our latest Christmas party on Sunday evening, getting ready to venture home. “Yes, Christmas is over,” I said. That answer seemed to satisfy her.
Why did she ask? Perhaps she, too, was ready to sleep in her own bed at home. Of course, another greater reason might’ve been that she has new toys in the van and new toys at home which she has hardly got to even look at.
We started our Christmas fun on Wednesday evening when we let the kids open their gifts. The stockings were first, and as Marcus dumped his out, he discovered the yellow Nerf bullets. “I got bullets!” he exclaimed. Then logic quickly settled in. “Why do I got bullets? I don’t have a gun.”
We didn’t say anything, just let him unwrap the remainder of his presents. Inside one of the packages was a brand new Nerf gun, ready to use. He was excited, and wanted to use it immediately.
The presents were only part of the fun over the extended holiday weekend.
On Christmas day, two of the kids and I spent a few hours sledding with their cousins. I wasn’t sure if my body was up to the abuse, but I was game. The hill, while not terribly long, had enough hazards in it to make it more interesting.
Abigail, my little daredevil, wanted some company on one venture down the hill, so I gladly jumped aboard. It was an interesting, if short, trip.
A niece was at the bottom of the hill, waiting to be knocked out of the way. We did our best to help her out, but it ended up that we got knocked away. We were careening down the hill, hit the niece, spun around and proceeded backwards the remaining few feet down the hill and onto the river ice. Abigail and I both ended up on our backs, off the sled, lying on the snow-covered frozen river.
I had snow down my back, and I had been dumped out of my sled and, amazingly, I didn’t get hurt. I started laughing, and because I was laughing, she started laughing as well, which made it even better. It was perhaps the best sledding experience I can remember, at least as a parent.
The two of us took another trip or two together during the course of the afternoon, but she had it on her mind to try every different sled available. Her best trip was whirling down the hill in a saucer; it was the only time she stayed in the sled, even after it left the river bank to land on the ice.
Myself, I took a few more trips down the hill as well. On one trip I found myself launched from the sled, landing on my feet and running on the snow-covered ice to keep from falling on my nose.
The sledding experience was what winter should be all about. Spending time outside with the kids. Thankfully, I didn’t break any bones or hurt myself too badly.
I fully intended to make another trip down the hill later that day, but I found my body saying “Don’t push your luck!” so I just let the kids have their fun.
As for the Nerf gun, my brother bought each of his nieces and nephews Nerf guns. Our house is now a war zone; at least when they can find ammo!
Thanks for reading. I hope you had a great Christmas, and have a wonderful 2011. As always, we appreciate your feedback and suggestions, so feel free to drop us a line at cltimes1@arvig.net.
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