Yonker Christmas

We celebrated Christmas Day at my parents house and as usual...there is always lots of laughter and bewilderment at some of the gifts. We always have lots of fun picking stuff out for each other but there are always a few gifts that leave us with our jaws dropped. The kids were so spoiled this year (as were we all) and as much as they are on "toy overload" it was so fun to watch their expressions as they opened up gifts. Again, we are so blessed not only with the tangible but the nontangible as well. God is so good--and it is such an honor to celebrate Jesus birth.

Sydneys' "big" gift from Grandpa.

Harrison's gift from Grandpa Tom --yes, its over 6 feet (jaw-dropping).
Uncle Chad the Lion Tamer

Since you have to blow it up, it doubles as a pelt.

Gavin and Harrison tag teaming some presents.

Uncle Ky-Ky helped Gavin open up a big one.

He's a Hawks fan.

Post projectile spit up episode (all over Auntie Heather and her new presents) and post-blow out diaper (all over herself and Mommy). Heather and I thank you for those presents on Christmas, Sydney. No wonder she's looking so happy.

Dad and Syd hanging out.

Shark towel! - Gavin likes to imitate a shark "chomping" as he wears this.

One piece man pajamas...he asked, we gave. Yikes.

Gavin and Auntie Lo are cooking up something over there.
Kyle and Harrison taking it all in.

Our Family Christmas

Christmas morning we opened gifts just the 4 of us before church. Chad had been telling Gavin that Santa was coming for quite some time--to which Gavin would reply "ho, ho, ho." So that morning he definitely understood that there would be presents from Santa and his stocking would be full. It was seriously SO cute to watch a little boy "get it" and it makes me so much more excited for all our Christmases to come in the future. It was fun this year to celebrate our first Christmas in our new home with a new baby. God has given us so much in 2009 and we hope that we can use all his gifts to glorify Him.

Opening his stocking with Daddy--Santa brought both some fun things and some practical things. That Santa...knows just what needs replacing.

Two new movies! Yay!!

First look at his NEW train table...the look on his face was absolutely PRICELESS!
WOW!!
Telling us Santa brought him a choo-choo. And to this day, when you ask him if Santa came, he just starts signing choo-choo.
Did you ever see a kid so excited about new jammies?
Syd recieved her very first blue box from Daddy...the first of many times Daddy will spoil her rotten, just as he should. :)
A beautifully engraved hair brush....now we just have to work on the hair.

Acting Debut

Chad, Sydney and I were asked this year to be Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus in this year's Christmas Eve service. So...we said yes. Thankfully there were no lines we just had to be on stage for a little bit. Sydney was a precious little baby Jesus and although right before "showtime" she was all bright-eyed and alert, she took the opportunity right as we entered church to take a little snooze. She was beautiful though. And as cheesy as it may sound, when we were "acting the part" and I was staring at my new perfect little baby, I couldn't help but think about Mary and have a new appreciation for what she felt the day Jesus was born. The wonderment at the birth of your child is amazing...the wonderment at the birth of your baby, the Savior, is unfathomable.

Ho Ho Ho

Last year at Personnaire Christmas Gavin was terrified by Santa. This year we made huge strides. When Santa came in the room, there was fear and running to my lap. However, it only took a minute for Gavin to realize in that big bag, were presents for each kid! His fear then turned into "Mine, Mama? Mine?" So when it was his turn, he ran onto Santa's lap. Don't be fooled though...he was NOT giving that man a kiss.

Syd also had her first encounter with Santa and seemed not be fazed at all by this white-haired, big-bellied man...at least for now.

Patiently waiting for each our their names to be called.

Gavin on Santa's lap.

Yay for some new matchbox cars...just what we needed Santa!
Syd was totally cool with Santa.

Harris Christmas

This year as usual, we went up to Detroit to celebrate Christmas with Chad's family the weekend before Christmas. As always, we had a great time and Gavin in particular loved being with his grandparents, aunt & uncle and cousins. He just wants to run and do everything Kate and Morgan do. It's so fun to watch them all together. Syd on the other hand had a couple of rough nights--no sleep, lots of crying and some projectile spit up situations...nonetheless we survived and hope there are better nights to come. Here are the pics of our stay. Girls cousies first meeting!
Syd got lots of cuddles from Auntie Christa.
Uncle Nate is no stranger to holding baby girls.
Gavin experimenting with his snowman-making kit--carrot nose.

A little R & R with Daddy.

She is the "best gift ever."

Doesn't this look appetizing? Its tradition that on "Christmas Eve" Chad's family eats Oyster stew together. They say its a Norwegian thing...I say its a nasty thing!
As quickly as his first bite of oyster went in...it was out!
Napping with Daddy.
Moe & Kate are ready for presents!
The four Harris grandkids.
Kate LOVED her new horse from Gavin and Syd.
Morgan modeling her new "fancy nancy" wave in her new gloves.
Mickey Mouse!!!
This is how my festive little mistletoe enjoyed the festivities.
A whole set of play food from Gram and Gramp! A huge hit!
Grandma & Grandpa snuggling in with all the grandkids.
My little Mozart.
Hmmm...is that an 'A' or a 'C'
Our fam of four.
Grandma & Grandpa Norton's first time with Sydney.

Photo Shoot #3

Yes, yet another photo shoot. This one is actually official. When Syd was just about two weeks old we had a photographer from Bella Baby come to the house to take a variety of shots--newborn shots, family shots and some of the kids for her birth announcement/christmas card. Overall, it was a success. We got a ton of cute photos and although I was hoping for a more "creative" vantage point in some of the shots, the main thing was she cooperated and Gavin was smiling! yay! I look at these pictures and of course, just gush over how beautiful my two little blessings are. Here are some of my favorites (bear with me!)...