Christmas 2011 - Santa Comes

'Twas two days before Christmas, and we're grinning ear to ear.

Because Christmas at the Burtram's would come early this year!

I contacted Santa and he kindly agreed,

An early home visit was what we would need.

For on Christmas day, we would be in the car,

To visit our families who live near and far.

So we welcomed ol' Santa and opened our gifts,

Then loaded up the car to start our road trips!

Santa took the minimalist approach this year, bringing our gifts to each of us with a theme of "something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need," and of course a stocking filled with goodies too.

Sam seemed to be most impressed with the candy canes in his brothers' stockings.

We played a scavenger hunt with the big boys this year to find their big gift.  They each had the first of six clues hidden in their stockings and had to figure out the rhymes to find the next clue.  Evan knew his last clue was on the pickle ornament on the tree but, now to actually find it...

 After the scavenger hunt was over, we all sat down to open the rest of our gifts.

Books to read, trapper-keepers for school, new slippers and pj's, and i-tunes gift cards made the list for the big boys.

Sam got new sock monkey gear, a backpack, a "Llama Llama" book and Veggie Tales movie.  He also "borrowed" his brother's sparkling grape juice he got for New Year's Eve.  That Santa thinks of everything.

Folks, this is not photo-shopped, Sam's hair really looks this voluminous EVERY morning.

And what did Momma get?  A new fancy-shmancy sewing machine and a book to teach dummies how to sew.  Now to read the directions and sew something!

Whew, so much fun!  Now to clean up, shower up, pack up, load up, 

and head to the next Christmas stop!

Harper Turns One!

Harper's 1st birthday was a Winter "One"derland theme with snowflake decor and a dress to match.  Sam spruced up in his robot tie for the occasion as well.  

And, before I show this picture of our cuties together I would just like to say there was some kissing that followed (which I didn't get a picture of, boo), and since I am raising a gentleman, he didn't make the first move, just sayin.  But, I must say she has good taste...aren't they cute!?

Balloons were a big hit at the party, and Aunt Mindy gave one to just about every kiddo there.  Sam was admiring the balloons while Harper got ready to have her first birthday smash cake!

And, like all good parents do, Kendall and RJ opened all the birthday girl's gifts while the kids gathered around the singing Mickey Mouse and paid no attention to anything else.  Gotta love little ones.

A successful first birthday party by every measure!  Cute birthday girl, cute party decor, fun had by all!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the 1st day of Christmas, my uncle gave to me a partridge in a pair tree!

On the 2nd day of Christmas, my uncle gave to me two turtle doves and a partridge in a pair tree!

December 13 - Sam received two Christmas cards in the mail today from his favorite uncle Drew, both of which held Uncle Drew's signature trademark, prizes and stickers!  The first one contained the first line in the "12 Days of Christmas" song and a snowman stencil.  The second card had the second line of the song, two stickers and an angel on the cover with two shiny wings.  I had a hunch this was the start of something fun, but I couldn't be sure.  Tomorrow would tell...

So, we did what we do with all our Christmas cards and hung them on the garland around the windows to admire all season long.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my uncle gave to me three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pair tree!

December 14 - Sam received his third card today from Uncle Drew with three new stickers, and three sparkly ornaments on the front cover.  I think Sam is catching on too, judging by the pictures.  (Apparently, he also has a talent for reading upside down.)

  And, since Sam seems to be starting his own collection of Christmas cards, we decided we should display them all on his door to his room with his picture Scout sent him for Christmas.  He has quite a festive bedroom door this holiday season, and Christmas is still days away.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my uncle gave to me four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pair tree!

December 15 - Sam's card for today had four snowmen on a mitten on the front of the card and four new glitter stickers inside!  Sam was pretty grumpy tonight, so it was open card...and go. to. bed.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my uncle gave to FIVE golden rings...four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pair tree!

December 16th - Today was Sam's Christmas party at school.  He had a great time, and I guess it put him in the right spirit to open cards because he yelled incessantly to go out and check the mail until I took him.  Today, Uncle Drew sent a card with five stars on the front and five new stickers inside.  He was unusually impressed with his stickers today, as you can see...

 And, I included this picture, with our real reaction faces, just to make this blog authentic.  We are really enjoying our 12 days of Christmas cards, really.

First Hair Cut

I'll be honest, Sam has a mullet.  Well, had a mullet.  A full out "business in the front, party in the back" cotton-top blonde fashion faux pas.  So, off to Keisha's we went for Sam's first haircut.  And, true to my supermom status, I didn't even bring a camera.  Hooray for cell phone cameras, as mediocre quality is better than nothing at all.  

Anyway, I sat him in the chair...immediate tears.  I guess one too many trips to the ENT where sitting in a chair meant being held down by 3 nurses while the doctor "vacuums" the goop out of his ears has left a lasting impression on my boy.  So, I had to sit in the chair with him, and this is as close as we got to smiling...

He actually did really well and Keisha is a pro with the little guys.  She gave him a great trim where he still looks like an adorable baby boy, minus the mullet.  

Monster Cookies

There are some family traditions that just keep getting better over time.  Our monster cookie tradition is one of them.  Ever since I can remember, Grandmom has made monster cookies, Madge Smith candy and homeade fudge for Christmas.  We looked forward to these yummy treats all year long, and they became a staple item for the holidays.  As we grandkids got older, we began "helping" her make monster cookies.  The recipe is HUGE and so is the mess, which makes it all the more fun!  

Now that we are all grown up, we have passed down the tradition of monster cookies to our kids.  Here is the next generation making monster cookies with as big of smiles as I ever remember when I made them myself.

JudyLynn and Michelle have been heading up the monster cookie effort for several years now, and they make sure to include all the new members of the family.  This was Becca and Sam's first year to participate in monster cookie making.

The kids rolled the dough into balls and grandmom arranged them on the pan.

Sam just about went unnoticed when he quickly reached into the bowl to grab 

a "monster" and shove it in his mouth!  Little stinker!

I wonder if she knew when she got this recipe and started making these cookies long ago that it would develop into a family tradition as special as this... You can't replace these memories or this lady.  My Grandmom is one of the most special people I know.

Please notice how many kiddos lost their shirts in the cookie making process.
Did I mention it's a big messy recipe that makes the best cookies in the world?!

Show us your messy monster cookie hands!!!!

The finished product...the first pan of piping hot monster cookies and the fourth 

generation of boy hands (that were thoroughly washed) that made them!

Bass Pro Shop Santa

Thanksgiving cooking and lots of little boys in the house are not a good mix.  So, I figured the best way I could "help out" (since I don't cook) would be to take the boys over to the Bass Pro Shop that's just a stone's throw from Nani's house.  JJ, Becca and I loaded up all the boys and set out for outdoor world.  The boys loved all the animals, especially the bears and fish.  

After we finished watching the fish for a while, we went over to the kids/Christmas section of the store.  Sam was caught chewing ornaments... JJ actually got him to look the right direction for a picture.  It was major stimuli overload with flashy, shiny things everywhere.  

Brayden stopped long enough for a couple pictures before he met up 

with Pops and was gone again.  This kid is seriously cute!

Kayden found what he wanted for Christmas.  I included the price tag in the 

photo so Santa would have all the information he needed!

Cameron accumulated a collection of stuffed animals in the stroller he wanted to buy...

before he remembered he needed to go potty.

And, Rudolph showed up to hang out with the kids while they played.  Sam liked him FROM A DISTANCE, but Cameron was brave enough to have his picture taken with him.  And, where there's Rudolph, it's a safe bet the big man in the red suit isn't far behind...

We got to see SANTA at Bass Pro!  We took all the boys up to have a quick picture made with him.  It was touch and go until Santa pulled out candy canes, and he was able to win over three of the four.  Sam, however, was not impressed and not happy to see the man with the bag.  Oh well, maybe next year!