Christmas morning

B was the first of the kids up this morning. He opened up his stocking then proceeded to nap until the rest of gang got up.

Because there was no cars on the streets, I took the opportunity to take L out for her first drive on streets. She was pretty excited and did a good job. We drove across Ridgeland, up to Randolph and back down East. She practiced her left and right turns and braking. She's getting better. The only hiccup came when she was at a four-way stop and a police office pulled up to one of the stop signs. Even though it was her turn to go, she waved the officer through. She didn't want the first car she hit to be a police car. I'm sure we looked suspicious.

We opened presents by age so I was first, then Andy. I gave him an ISU alumni sweatshirt and a sound bar for the TV. The sweatshirt was a surpise; the sound bar was not.

E got a cupcake pan (that she wanted), cupcake liners, an Apple watch charging station and an AOE sorority license plate frame.

B got two new games for his Nintendo Switch.

We gave Mayu a gift card to Forever 21, a KEEP Collective bracelet with a few charms and a Fuji Instantmatic camera. This was her opening the camera. She was pretty excited.

L got an art drawing kit, a boatload of bath bombs and a thing that will let her listen to music on her phone while simultaneously charging it.

An overview of the living room while L was unwrapping her presents. We also opened presents from Mayu's family. Each kid got a pen with their name on it that writes different colors. We also got cookies, earthenware mugs, coasters and a music box.

Oops. Almost forgot the pickle present. We sent all the kids out of the room and hid the pickle. Here they are trying to find it.

And L found it! Her prize? A box of Pocky candy.

Brother and sister getting along. I think that's my present.

Mayu opening her stocking. She likes Milano cookies. Who doesn't?

And this is a tradition Andy and I started years ago - a nice frosty margarita as a reward for getting the house clean as we wait for the family to arrive.