Christmas Day 2025

Christmas Day 2025

We had a very relaxed Christmas Day. It didn't start until about 10:00 am because we were working around Tanner and Erin's schedule. First, they started by opening gifts at their house and then went to Erin's parents' house. Park and Aubrey were happy to sleep in, and after opening stockings, we enjoyed a delicious Christmas breakfast that Brian made for the family.

I found snackle boxes and filled them with sour candies, goldfish, chocolates, and a cheese and caramel popcorn mix. Parker's stocking included knives and a Carhart beanie. Tanner's had Mexican Coke, slippers for Erin, and a gift card, and Aubrey's had an Owala water bottle and a sweater.

I asked the kids to send me their wish list ideas with the link to the items included. LIFESAVER! I thought of my mom and my mother-in-law going from one store to the next-for years- to try to make everyone's Christmas magical. Bless them. I'm so grateful for the internet.

In addition to lots of regular gifts, I did a little bit of Thriftmas shopping this year. I found some books for Kaide, Erin, and my dad, and brand new golf shirts of Facebook Marketplace for the boys. 

Tanner with his new golf shoes. He had a golf Christmas this year and received lots of golf accessories from the Flores family, his family, and us. 

Erin showing off her cute pink Owala. (And their Christmas jammies are the best!) We also gave her some clothes,  puzzles, a travel hair dryer, etc.

Parker got this cute weighted bunny for Kaide. His big gifts were a rifle bag and a Carhart jacket.

I wasn't great at taking pictures this year...but Aub was in her usual spot on the recliner. She received lots of clothes and fun accessories like socks, earrings, and hair clips. 

We sure missed Brinley and Derek on Christmas Day. It was fun to see the kids exchange gifts with each other over Thanksgiving when they were in town.  They were also very thoughtful in the gifts they chose for Brian and me. (I want to have a record of some of what we exchanged because I think it's fun to look back on.) The kids gave some woodworking items. We all chuckled because nobody was exactly sure what they were giving him....so I'm just going to leave that there.

Here are some kind gifts they gave me. Aubrey: Bath and Body soap and a mascara she loves. Tanner and Erin: a soft sweater, pretty layered necklaces, a candle, and chapstick Parker: the new Survivor game (He knows I love games and that show.) Brinley and Derek: several pretty gold bracelets and new cookie sheets.

For several years, Brian and I have decided on a budget and buy and wrap our own gifts. It has worked well for us and helped simplify such a busy time of year. We also know just the gifts to give-hee hee.  

I think giving and receiving thoughtful gifts is one of the many ways Christmas brings us closer together.

Bri, me (Erin), Tanner, Erin, Aubrey, Parker & Kaide

It's a bit blurry...but I sure loved chatting with Brinley and hearing about her Christmas day with the Atkinsons.

Kaide LOVED his 49ers helmet and new football. He also loved his new soccer jersey from his other grandparents.

Also...it's very clear "who wore it better!" (Sorry Parker...) 

Tanner and Erin were moving on to their next family gathering (!), and we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Vore's to say hello. It was so fun to end up there at the same time as the Birds.

Brit, Hudson, Adam, Grandpa, Gram

Bri, Parker, Braddock, Ella & Aub

I sure love these two. They are the best parents a girl could ask for. We got my mom some matching green pajamas, and of course, made a Shutterfly photo calendar for them. We also gave my dad a little Jeopardy calendar that has daily questions and the book, "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom.  Someone shared part of that book in their talk, and my dad had never heard of it. Now he is reading it to my mom each day.

It's so weird to come home to a quiet, bare house for Christmas afternoon. We rested, read, and Park and I went on a long neighborhood walk.

Brian and I made dinner together. (I mentioned next year maybe we should just do a simple breakfast so he had more downtime on Christmas day. I hope he will consider it.) For our second year in a row, we loaded everything up and headed over to enjoy the meal with Grandpa. My mom goes to bed at 5:00, and so he is pretty homebound each evening. It was fun to be together. 

We finished our relatively quiet Christmas day by trying out the new Survivor game from Parker. He was so sneaky and deceptive in his game play, and if I am remembering correctly, he was the sole Survivor.