Parker woke up early Christmas morning, went into the living room and turned the TV on, never looking to see what Santa brought. I heard him come into out room to wake us up so I headed out and woke Alex up so they both were able to see their gifts for the first time together.

Alex got the toy Dragon he had been asking for and Parker got a puppy. A pound puppy that is, as in stuffed toy which was the next best thing for him since he wanted a real one but he loves this one.

They had lots of fun going through their stockings and finding metal airplanes, pez, and an orange.

Next we opened gifts as a family. Parker and Alex both opened up what they got each other which happened to be the same thing “Light sabers”. Each wanted to get one for the other not knowing the other was getting one for them. They opened them immediately and began dueling.

The big gift for the boys was their new bikes. We got them each a new 16’ bike. So they are excited to as they put it “have real bikes”.

I bought a book for Brandi off ebay. I got her “ Gnomes” by Wil Huygen, illustrated by Rien Poortvliet. It’s a hardback 1977 first English edition. I found it on ebay but I needed to get it ordered and to my house by Christmas so I managed to talk a seller into ending their auction sooner and they did. She was very helpful and guaranteed that I would get it by Christmas and it arrived, gift wrapped even, on the 24th just in time.

Later that afternoon Brandi’s parents and one of her brothers came over. (the other brother and his family was out of town and we will be seeing them Jan 1st)

Brandi cooked a Turkey and all the sides that go with it.

Later we took the kids bike riding. They rode to the school at the end of the street and all around the parking lot.

Here are some photos: