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Christmas was good to me this year even though Kyra was with her father and hasn’t experiences all of it’s rewards. I’m one of the fortunate ones though.

Drake got lots of tractor related things, his not so silent obsession really hit home with his grandparents. Kyra’s basic theme in gifts was security this year. Yeah, she’s an 8 year old who needs the ability to keep her things away from her brother, but still accessible to her. Prior to Christmas her nicest things are hidden in the top of her closet (she can’t reach the top of her closet either), so for Christmas she got luggage locks and foot lockers and locking things.

The kids got a few clothing items, but honestly. There is an amazing thrift store system here where we live, so I haven’t bought them clothing in a real store since I can remember. I haven’t even shopped in a real clothing store since living here. Stephen bought me my last real clothing purchase for my birthday last year. We all seem to have our dressers stocked though, we’re ready to go.

It’s the other stuff that occupied our Christmas though. Now, our little house is just a tiny bit smaller.

Stephen was actually surprised when I got him the home brewing kit. He had been looking to get one a few months ago, so I wasn’t sure what he would think when he actually had what he wanted. He had marked it as something he couldn’t afford. He works much too hard for that though. He’s always the one to sacrifice financially for our family. He does it willingly, but it still shouldn’t be him going totally without his wants. I hope he enjoys the process of making beer as it seems like an interesting hobby, more of a science.

I’m convinced we are firmly within the low end of middle class America though. It’s got grip on us like you wouldn’t believe which is making moving ahead really hard. I was watching videos about the economics of America the last few days. I don’t really know why as I honestly should avoid that type of information. It could make your head explode and understandably so.

Anyways, that is what is happening here over the holidays. I hope you had a great Christmas as well.