Snow tires! My first year married to my EX he proudly presented me with snow tires, because I needed them!

Snow tires! My first year married to my EX he proudly presented me with snow tires, because I needed them!

A spitoon! When I was a kid, I didn't know what a spitoon was, so my grandmother put a holiday flower arrangement in an antique Limoges spitoon that she had in her house and gave it to me that Christmas. I was probably the only kid getting one of those that year! I still have it - 30 years later - with a flower arrangement in it!

A spitoon! When I was a kid, I didn't know what a spitoon was, so my grandmother put a holiday flower arrangement in an antique Limoges spitoon that she had in her house and gave it to me that Christmas. I was probably the only kid getting one of those that year! I still have it - 30 years later - with a flower arrangement in it!

My husband surprised me with a $250.00 gift certificate to Spokane's Davenport Hotel. It has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and is so extraordinary. My husband also said he wouldn't go with me, that I was to call my friends over for a girls' night out and dinner and use of the pool and spa." Now that was a real gift! Since we have 6 children he knows I don't get out much. Well I ended up taking my boys on a surprise overnight stay after a football camp at the end of a school year. At ages 16 and 11, the historic and artistic beauty were not lost on the boys. They were pleasantly surprised and had a great time there--6 months after Christmas.

The most unusual holiday gift I've ever received was also one of the most meaningful. My brother and sister-in-law are very compassionate people and love to help others in need. One year they gave gifts through Samaritan's Purse in the names of each of their relatives. In my husband and my names, they gave an amount of money that would buy a goat for a poor family. In my children's names, they purchased chickens for another poor family. I thought this was such a great idea, a perfect way to give a gift with real meaning. It was a great way for us to start talking to our small children about helping others in need too. We appreciated it so much.

That's easy ... 3 slow cookers. It's called "lack of communication." My mom knew I wanted one so she passed that on... To my husband, my sister, and my sister-in-law. We were laughing so hard we were nearly in tears when I opened #3! Fortunately they were all different sizes and models, and I've made good use of all of them.