December 23rd (part one)

We started a new tradition this year…not sure if we will really make it a tradition but here it is…usually the only gifts under the tree for our children (from us) are practical things like new tennis shoes, belts, pjs, etc.   This year I had bought each of them a toy…really there were two boy toys and they were both to “trigger and campbell”.  Anyway, we were told by some friends that they let their children open up the gift from them on the 23rd because by the time they get to christmas morning, they have been opening gifts for days AND santa presents total over shadow the parent gifts.  I thought we would give it a try.  So I let each of them open their toy from us….well, let me say this…miss priss got to open her toy because she was being sweet.  The boys had to wait a few hours for behavioral issues!  This was Larkins first unwrapping a gift experience.She was thrilled with her new tea set. Ha!Orrrrr…the boys were THRILLED with Larkin’s tea set.Then Daddy got to open his presents from the kids.  They painted him a picture!Trigger painted a picture of his daddy.Campbell painted a picture of a blue truck…with a red road.And after a few hours of working really hard to make good choices, the boys got to open their joint gifts.A mailbox (because they LOVE mail) and a hide and seek tiger game.

I like opening these early this year…we shall see if we do it again next year.  It will just depend on the present situation.