Heading Back Home

So after 10 days of holiday celebration - we headed back home to Cincinnati from Michigan. Everyone always asks me - "How do you get everything in the car when you head home??" And my reply - "My husband & father-in-law's expert packing....." We got it all in this year - and Gavin was in the middle of it all. We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas - above all we are thankful that are families & friends are healthy and happy.... and that we were able to share this special time of year with them.

To see all our photos from the 10-Day Christmas Tour visit here:
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Gillard Christmas PARTY

It has been a Gillard tradition to host a Christmas Party each year - where lots of friends and family members attend to celebrate the holiday season together. It was so great catching up with lots of people during the party- and Gavin got all dressed up for the big party too.

Gavin had lots of fun playing with Samantha, Alec & Ryan

The Gillard Family

Here is the entire Gillard (and Ciuffetelli) family - it was great to spend Christmas in Michigan all together.

Getting Ready for Bed

G&G Gillard were getting the boys ready for bed - from reading stories to then singing songs together - it was the perfect ending to a Christmas together. We hope everyone enjoyed the spirit of the season with loved ones like we did.

Ty & Gavin - Christmas 2008

It is really hard these days trying to get them to sit still and take a picture together.... so maybe laying them on the floor is a winner.... cute PJ's - thanks G&G Gillard for a wonderful Christmas together.

Gavin 1 year-old
Ty 3 years-old

Gavin's 1st official Steps

Gavin has been "walking around" and "holding onto" everything for several weeks now. But he did officially take his own steps at G & G Gillards house... not walking yet on our own... but probably very soon.

Merry Christmas Daddy....

The Gillard Christmas

Cousin Ty, U. Tom & A. Heather came over for Christmas Day.... Gavin was so excited to spend time with Ty (and Grandpa of course too)

Look at all those presents - where do I start?

I love my new Little People Farm & Animals - maybe if I get on top of it the toys will come out of the box?

Christmas Morning

YEAH - Christmas Morning...

Gavin got to open a few presents before the rest of the gang came over (again - love that tissue paper)

And - we gave Grandma & Grandpa Gillard their present from Gavin.... a photo book that compiled all the fun photos of his first year with them and the Gillard family.... Gavin who is that - I think it is me?!?!?!

Christmas Eve Night

A regular tradition on Christmas Eve night.... Grandpa Gillard reading "Twas The Night Before Christmas" (or a similiar version - ha!)

I think somebody is tired.... but ready for Santa to come tonight!

We're off - to Michigan

So after spending Christmas in IL with my family - we headed to the beautiful state of Michigan to spend Christmas with the Gillards. Now a "normal" trip to IL to MI is about 6 hours 1-way - but due to the crazy winter weather that was hapenning that day (high winds, snow & ice) it took us about 9 hours.... so we were getting a little "car-phobic" by the end of that trip. Thank goodness Gavin took his regular 2 naps in the car - and the last 1 1/2 hours - we sang Christmas carols to pass the time.... whew.... we finally made it.

Our Favorite Past Time...

Climbing up and now down stairs.... both Grandparents have stairs at their homes - so this was a regular activity of Gavin's over the holiday break

So many Fun New Toys

Grandma - let me help you open your present... and look how a present can help as a stepstool






Look at my new ride - a John Deere Tractor







And - a new sled - I sure hope it snows again in Cincinnati so we can try this thing out (but mommy said only for a couple of days as she really doesn't like the winter so much)





And - my new Johne Deere "talking" toolset - pretty cool








I love my new books - and of course, the peek-a-boo ones







And a talking puzzle... I love all the animals and the noises they make

More gifts and more fun

So another fun day opening gifts, dinner together, visiting my Grandpa and spending time with my immediate family.... Grandma & Grandpa Cross, Uncle Ryan & Amy.... there were LOTS of John Deere gifts given at this Christmas.... love the hat Gavin! You will fit in just great at the farm now!

My Family

Here is my family - and it was great having us all together over the holidays...

Grandma & Grandpa Cross (my mom & dad), Uncle Ryan & his girlfriend, Amy

Cross Christmas - the whole gang

We always get my Dad's side of the family together over Christmas - this year at my aunt Kay & Uncle Tom's house. My dad has 2 brothers - and then I have 7 1st cousins - 7 boys and 2 girls (including my brother and I)... so lots of boys in this family.

Now several of my cousins have had kids - so there are 9 great-grandchildren already - 7 boys and 2 girls... Gavin is the 2nd youngest of the bunch now. Here they were opening presents - and this isn't all of them either...






Gavin loved playing with his new train

Santa Baby....

I think the Santa hat may be a little too big... but still really cute... and soft!

Kastner Christmas highlights

Uncle Ryan and Gavin coloring on the dry-erase board

(I hope those markers are not permanent??!?!?)

What's in that big box?? It looks bigger than you Gavin....

We were so excited to meet Wing (Andrea's boyfriend) and also to see Carsten (Alyson's boyfriend) again

Great-Grandpa - I just love your new scarf.... do you think I could borrow it sometime???

Tissue paper - seriously mom - why don't we have more of this at home more often.... who needs toys with this?!?!?!

YEAH - my very own lego set

Do you think my Santa hat is soft Grandma???

Family celebration - new location

Earlier in the week, my Grandpa went into the hospital after having chest pains. Once we arrived to IL on Dec. 19th - we headed straight to the hospital to see him. And after several tests over the weekend, they concluded that they needed to do by-pass surgery on his heart. He is doing great - recovering well - but because he was in the hospital - we all celebrated Christmas in a conference room together so we could be with him and my grandma. A little different than normal - but we had a great time together of course.

And look at that Christmas spirit - Santa hat and all.....
Great-Grandma & Great-Grandma Kastner with Gavin

10-Day Christmas Tour

The Gillards have been quite busy the last 2 weeks - as Christmas is a very busy time of the year for us (and of course for everyone else too). This is our 3rd year of the 10-day Christmas Tour - where we head to both families in Illinois (Cross/Kastner side: Stacy's family) and then up to Michigan (Gillard/Shoemaker side: Scott's family). I felt like I had to start out our tour with a photo of Gavin opening presents (let's just say he did this quite often - everyone is just so giving.... and he is stocked up with toys for quite some time now). We didn't know if he would really get into the whole "opening gifts" process.... but he sure did. From ripping the paper to pulling out tissue paper - he just wanted to keep doing this vs. playing with his toys... that was pretty funny. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas as we sure did - and lots to update over the past 2 weeks.... enjoy!

1st Haircut - Snip...Snip...Snip

The day had finally come - Gavin's hair was starting to get a little out of control so off to get the first haircut. He sat on my lap like such a big boy and sat very still for the most part too. He looks so big in these pics - and then we got a book at the very end to look through to keep him still for a little longer.

However - Gavin's favorite part of the entire experience - getting a blue balloon - he was playing with it all the way home in the car too.

1st Birthday cake video

Finally, the footage you have all been waiting for. Well, maybe not, but my wife has been waiting on it. Our brother-in-law, Tom, took a nice video of the 1st Birthday cake consumption from beginning to end and we want to condense for everyone. I started playing with the video editing software and here is the video over a month later. I figured out how to do all these wonderful things, but could not ever get it to save correctly. Anyway, here is the edited video featuring 5 stages of cake eating:

Anticipation
Singing
Nibbling
Both hands in
Celebration

And then we conclude with a damage assessment. Enjoy...

I know Santa is right there...

Seriously Mom & Dad - I know that that strange guy in the big red suit is on the other side of this tree?!?!?!

Still not convinced that he wants to be here....

Reindeer ears made him a little happier (actually Daddy looks pretty happy here....)

More pics to come after Christmas. The Gillards' are heading to Illinois and Michigan to spend time with family later this week - so we wish everyone a very Happy Holiday!

The Guy with the Big White Beard - Oh My!

Yes - you got it right - it's Santa. Of course, Scott and I have been so excited to take Gavin to see Santa this year. Each year, our community where we live hosts a Breakfast with Santa - so of course, the perfect place to take him. There is really not much to say after looking at this photo - Gavin really wasn't all that into the guy with the really long white beard - he was pretty freaked out.

This was a VERY different experience vs. the one from last year (Gavin was less than 1-month old last year).

Here were a few other shots with Santa - and then Mommy had to join in on the fun - sat on Santa's lap too.

Big Red Chair

Gavin has recently learned how to get in and out of his own red chair - all by himself.

As you can see here - sometimes, it is right on the edge.... and also, he really has no fear when it comes to getting out of the chair - usually head first. But he has found a fun new place to sit.....