Norah's First Christmas (Part II)

We have a new family photo! Jason set up the tri-pod and put the timer on the camera (thanks, Mom R) Sunday before church so we could get a family Christmas photo to commemorate Norah's first Christmas. We only took 2 photos (Norah wasn't looking at the camera in the first one--its pretty tricky getting an 11-month-old to smile at an un-manned camera!), but I think this one turned out pretty well! I especially love the way Norah is reaching for Daddy's hand.

And now...the rest of the story. After opening Norah's presents at our house (and combating the soon-to-be-legendary, "Pot-Holder Fire Fiasco"), we headed out to Grant and Paige's house to "crack 'em open". We had a great day!



We arrived to find Uncle Grant, wearing a festive hat, which he'd dubbed "The Landry". (Not everybody would be able to pull-off a hat this cool, but Grant made it look easy). Since he'd already had to wait until TEN THIRTY to crack 'em open, Santa Landry, quickly set to work distributing packages to everyone.

Uncle Grant even let Norah try "The Landry" on for size. (Guess she shares her uncle's ability to look good in super-cool head gear)

Mom R took handled video documentation for the day, while Santa Landry continued passing out gifts. (Grandmother gazed, hopefully up at "The Landry", wondering if Grant would bestow the honor of wearing it upon her, but alas, only Norah was found worthy)

Finally, Jason opened a package with a note inside. It said that he would have to follow some clues to find his gift, and if he failed to find it's location...then Grant would get to keep it! Those cluse were hidden in some pretty crazy places!

All of his super sleuthing paid off. The final clue led Jason to a "safe place" (Grant's gun safe), where Santa Landry awarded him with a beautiful new rifle.


Grant gave Grandmother an awesome set of bear furniture. Grant designed and made them himself--isn't he talented!? Grandmother loved them, and so did the rest of us.

Mom R got an amazing surprise, too...real diamond earrings from Grant & Paige. She was shocked, but very appreciative. Jason's and my gifts to her weren't nearly as exciting, but Grant said it was ok since we delivered the prized "first grandchild".

After all the paper was cleared away and about a million heartfelt "thank you"s and "I love you"s, the guys went outside to try out the new gun. Mom R and Grandmother went over to their house to prepare Christmas dinner, and Paige, Norah, and I went for a long country drive (that aided us in helping Norah settle down and take a nap after morning filled with Christmas excitment) It also helped us work up a good appetite.

Dinner was delicous! We had chicken and dressing, salad, chicken fried deer steak, brown & serve rolls, green bean casserole, and baked beans with sausage. And for dessert, German chocolate cake (Grandmother even left the coconut off of half, just for Jason!), a double-crusted cherry pie (Paige cookie-cut Christmas tree-shaped pie vents in the top!), and of course, my (slightly burnt pot-holder flavored) oatmeal pie.

Somewhere amid the shuffle, Norah developed a bad case of "Bow Bottom", so we decided it was time to call it a day. It was a wonderful Christmas day, that reminded me just how thankful I am to have so much loving family living so close to us.