The Kohlmans

I've made a new list. Surprise! Here are 30 (or so) things I want to accomplish before I turn 30 in 2016, in no particular order. {somewhat unrelated picture} 1. Go to Paint the Town or similar event with friends 2. Professional goal (I'll post specifics when things are set) 3. Buy animal print shoes or colored pants 4. Read 6 nonfiction books 5. Bake bread monthly 6. Monthly Pinterest projects 7. Run another 5K 8. Write a will 9. Update my books read list 10. Digital detox week 11. Complete Blog book 2014 12. Become a Google Trainer 13. Send a handwritten note monthly 14. Have a birthday party for Lincoln centered around his interests (a themed party) 15. Girls' trip 16. Learn to drive a manual transmission (Daniel, I'm looking at you here!) 17. Catch a fish 18. Take family pictures for someone else 19. Go to Cirque du Soliel 20. Learn to knit 21. Visit Cathedral of the Plains and the Sternberg Museum 22. Eat at a food truck 23. Take pictur...

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Or, at least, one of the most wonderful times of the year! I have always loved the holiday season, particularly Christmas. Don't get me wrong, Thanksgiving is great, and by no means do I want to ignore it. But I will take any excuse to stretch out the Christmas season, so we celebrate the two simultaneously (since i am thankful for Christmas, after all). As Lincoln grows up, I do want to make sure that we spend time talking and learning about the "reason for the season," and preparing our hearts. I want it to always be about more than the presents (even though I'm not giving up the presents any time soon). This year we are going to start by lighting Advent candles at supper time and reading stories from Lincoln's Jesus Storybook Bible . To do that, we first needed an Advent wreath. Traditional wreaths aren't really my style, so I searched the web until I found one that I liked, then put my own twist on i...

Last April we spent a morning at the Emporia Zoo , and Lincoln loved it. We decided to go back earlier this fall, on a Friday we had off school. He liked watching the little monkeys and the prairie dogs. Other than those two animals, Lincoln was most interested in the playground. He got a chance to run off some steam before we went to lunch with Grammy, Grampy, and Aunt Leah.

Just a few fun phrases Lincoln shared with me tonight while I rocked him to sleep. He's quite the talker these days! "Uh-oh. Daddy car. Wipe. Mama, Daddy wipe." Oh no! Daddy's car had snow on it. Mama and daddy wiped the snow off of the car. "Back. Side. Uh-oh me!" When we were playing in the snow in the backyard, I fell down. "Don turch. Me! Dama turch!" I want to go to church with Grandpa John and Grandma. "Shoot da ball! Me. Up. High!" I shoot the ball high. "Timb. Daddy head." I want to climb up daddy to sit on his head. "Mamaan'dada" Mommy and daddy.

We woke up this morning to the first snow of this winter! Lincoln was a little concerned about the snow on daddy's car at first, but he didn't have any hesitation when we went out to play this afternoon! Reaching out, ready for daddy to throw the snowball at, well to, him. He loved when the snowballs would hit him in the belly and explode! This is his "I don't like this" face. He definitely did not want to be down in the snow and got very mad when he would fall. When we got too cold to stay out, we had to bribe him with the promise of a cookie and apple juice to get back inside. I know he's excited for his new venture out into the snow, whenever that happens!

While Brad and I were at the World Series game, Lincoln got to have a sleepover with Penny and Silly Todd. I think he really enjoyed having Pen and Todd to himself for an evening. Of course, when you get roast beef and mashed potatoes for supper... ...and try out a new hairstyle in the tub... ...and eat ice cream while watching the Royals... (even though it is COLD!) ...it's bound to be a good day! We missed our boy a whole lot, but we know he was in one of his "happy places" with people who love him very, very much! And we know he missed us, because every time we talk about going to a game now, he makes sure to add "Me! Game!" as if to tell us that he is coming, too.