Christmas Day on the Plains

On Christmas morning we got up and drove to Brookings for Part II of our Christmas celebrations. We arrived just after lunch and had a yummy ham dinner. We spent some time with Eric's grandma and then took her back to her apartment later that evening. Then we opened presents and watched the fun commence with Anthony (nephew) tearing into his stuff. He was really aware of what was happening and got all kinds of goodies. Eric picked out his hunting gun (plastic) and fishing pole (real!). He also got a doctor's kit and got right down to business taking our heartbeat and declaring I was "sick; really, really sick -- call the ambulance." We have a budding physician on our hands, folks. He then proceeded to use his pager and radio to dispatch the ambulance. Good fun. He even dabbled in the veterinarian world and took Lily's heartbeat (from her spine) and declared her "ok." Whew - glad that's taken care of!! :)

At some point he busted out his plastic rifle from Eric (which smokes, by the way) and held it up like he just conquered a battle field. Then he was walking around the living room shooting at imaginary foes. He even had the one eye closed and tongue sticking out while he was bracing himself against the foot stool. I don't think Eric has to worry that he won't have a hunting buddy when A-man gets older.