Christmas - the Harris Family way

When I was growing up, my parents emphasized that Christmas was about being with family and spending time together.  They made a point to celebrate Christmas with each family, teaching us that Christmas was whenever everyone could be together.  So as a kid I always had three Christmases.  One in Mentor with our immediate family, one with my Mom's family and one with my Dad's family.  It meant that I got to see all of my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents, spreading the excitement out across a couple of weeks.  It made the holidays so much fun and as an adult I realize it probably made things a little less stressful to eliminate arguments about whose family got December 25th.  Starting this year, we have the same thing going for Nate.  We hope he has equaly fond memories of spending quality time with this aunts and uncles. (and hopefully, someday, cousins)

We started our family celebration with Mass on Christmas Eve.  Here's Nate dressed for Mass in his adorable outfit from Tania and Raul.

Christmas morning brought Nate a mountain of gifts.  Santa brought him blocks, a stride-to-ride dino and this fisher price toy I can't really describe.  His grandparents bought him just about everything else in the toy store.  He fell asleep half way through gift opening and had to resume after his long nap.

As we all know, Santa has such a busy night, he couldn't possibly stick around and talk to all the kiddies.  So on December 26th Santa came back to Nate's Grandma and Grandpa's house to say hello.  (Thank you Crusher for pulling some strings at the North Pole!)  Nate was able to thank Santa and put in his request for Santa's second visit to our house.

Santa also brought Nate one more gift because it seemed Fisher Price made something he didn't already own.  I imagine Nate is saying,"Yeah, yeah Santa, enough about you.  Let's get back to this toy you just brought me."

And as if that wasn't exciting enough, Nate got to stay at his grandparents' house when Aaron and I left for Maryland.  He is too little to understand what being spoiled rotten means but I'm pretty sure that's what's happening.  He'll fly home tomorrow morning with his grandparents in tow.  Then we'll celebrate Christmas here in Maryland on January 1st.

We hope all of our family and friends had an equally enjoyable and blessed holiday!

A note to my Mom and Dad:  I joke about Nate's haul, but seriously, thank you.  You are so generous with all of us.  Nate is a very lucky boy.