GLENPOOL, Okla. -- Santa came early this year for the Glenpool Fire Department. Some of the kids were fans, but others... not so much.
"I actually work tomorrow so today we’re going to get all of that knocked out and start early in the morning and see what Santa brings," GFD Capt. Sam Shanks said.
Santa has to cover more ground this year in Glenpool with the fire department welcoming seven babies over the past year.
"Instead of having one inflatable we had to have two inflatables to keep the kids occupied," GFD Lt. Kendall Dykes said.
The picture of the newborns went viral in the spring, and now they’re all celebrating their first Christmas together.
"It all just kind of happened at once and didn’t even realize it until we took the picture that it was kind of an amazing deal," Shanks said.
With a smaller department of about 25, these firefighters have seen themselves grow up over the years, now into fatherhood.
"It’s been the best 12 years of my life and I work with a great group of guys," Dykes said.
While they say it isn’t easy to be away from family especially during the holidays, they make it work by bringing the bundles of joy to their home away from home.
"It means a lot, too, because we’re a really tight knit family and I know the kids will be close together, too, and they’ll always have an extended family, if you will, so it will be a good deal," Shanks said.
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