Black Friday Notebook: Gifts for the kids at Toys R Us at 8 a.m.

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Shoppers were calm and orderly at the Toys R Us in Ontario, where long lines started at the checkout stand and wove through the aisles.

The busy traffic is a good sign for Rialto resident Simone Saldana, 44, who works in the warehouse of a Toys R Us store. This year, she’s been feeling pretty stable at her job and has saved up nearly $1,000 for gifts for her three children.

Before heading over to Kohls and Sears, she stocked up with a pogo stick and a Polly Pocket product.
Nearby, Sharlyn Vera, 33, was looking for four-wheel ATVs marked down 40% to $26.99 for her nieces and nephews. The pharmacy school teacher from Rancho Cucamonga is trying to keep her spending to about $30 per child, partly so she can buy some clothes for herself and convince her husband to buy her an iPad.

Rene Garcia, 43, was waiting to get his hands on a Little Tikes Gourmet Prep ‘n Serve kitchen set from Fisher Price, marked off $40 to $59.99. The Rancho Cucamonga construction worker is planning to spend $400 on gifts, including some for his 2-year-old daughter.

“You budget yourself and you try to get as much as you can for your money,” he said before heading off to Target.

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-- Rick Rojas