Christmas Continued

Christmas at Nani's house was such a blast.  Sam got...more Thomas toys!  A battery operated Thomas and Peter Sam that run on a real track.  He loved it.  Since we missed Christmas in Columbus this year, they sent some special things to us.  Books from Michelle, a crowd pleaser for sure.  Marshmallow shooters and ammo pouches from JudyLynn.  Sam couldn't stop eating the ammo.  And, the boys also got some spending money and candy, always a favorite.  

These fellas sure are growing up fast.

Christmas at CedarRock - New Year's Day

I'm so thankful all these boys are great buddies.

Kayden received a special gift from Pawpaw and Kimmie... his own shoe shine kit.  

It's his next business venture.  He has already raised enough money to buy his own bunk beds last year by recycling and selling candy bars.  Now, Pawpaw is going to train him in the art of shining shoes so he can raise money to buy his own iPad.  

Sam loved his car-hauler toy and still plays with it every day.

CedarRock's Christmas visitor

Sam helped Kimmie open her present.  

He certainly has Christmas present opening down this year.

It has been a wonderful Christmas season this year!  

Now, the Burtrams are ready for 2013 and all it brings...

A Gift for Baby Girl

While we were visiting Nani, we made a trip to the Galleria mall with our buddy Addie Beth.  I promised Sam if he ate all his lunch, we would ride on the carousel.  I've never seen Sam eat his chicken nuggets and fruit so fast.  For a kid who was terrified of carousels just a few months ago, that smiling face has sure come a long way.

After our carousel ride, we decided to go and make something special for baby sister.  Off we went to Build-A-Bear Workshop.  Sam picked out a bunny rabbit for baby Lucy and even did a recording of him saying, "I love you, baby Lucy."  He picked out a heart for her bunny, kissed it so she would always feel loved, and placed it inside the bunny to be sewed up.  

He was so proud of his bunny for his baby sister.  

And, it was such hard work making a special gift for baby Lucy, he fell asleep with her rabbit in hand before we even left the store.  I hope little sister loves her special gift.  

Handmade Gifts

In our family, we typically exchange handmade gifts for the adults.  It doesn't have to be much, just something that says "I thought about you."  In year's past it has been anything from letter photo art, photo books...you get the theme.  

This year, I settled on these for Christmas gifts, photo ornaments for the tree.  After one semi-fail practice session and a second trip to Pinterest for a better tutorial, I came up with these.  I'm pretty happy with how these turned out, and I hope to continue this little tradition each year and have ornaments of all the kiddos as they grow. 

Michael's handmade gift went to Kimmie this year, a one-of-a-kind bird house made from a log found at CedarRock, some recycled tin, and an old railroad nail.  If I do say so myself, I have quite the creative husband when it comes to handmade uniques.

CHRISTmas Has Come!

In all my years, I have never woken up in my own home on Christmas morning.  We have always been on the road traveling.  Santa has found me at my grandparent's house and visitied us early.  He's flexible like that.  But this year, because of the boys' flight schedule, we stayed at home and had Christmas morning in our own home.  I missed seeing the crew at my grandparent's house, but it was really nice for once to wake up in my own bed on Christmas morning and spend the bulk of our day in our own living room and not on the interstate.

Kimmie and Pawpaw joined us for the Christmas morning fun, and it was such a special time together.  We watched as Sam unwrapped his gifts from Santa, and it was just what he wanted.  Thomas toys!

A happy boy with his Thomas toys!

Santa brought Sam a remote control Thomas with real steam!

Sam was a great helper opening gifts for everyone.

He even opened a gift for his baby sister...

Baby girl's first elephant gift from her Kimmie, a silver picture frame.  

Kimmie got a special handmade birdhouse that Sam also helped open.

When all the gifts were opened, we sat down together and gave thanks over Christmas breakfast.   Thanks to Uncle Drew for all the great new serving pieces and plates to make our breakfast table look so festive.

 After breakfast, we settled in for a long winter's nap.  How nice it was to snuggle up with my little family in front of the fire place and enjoy the day together.  

By evening, it was time to head out and pick up the boys from the airport.  Sam was so excited he couldn't even stop hopping around to put clothes on, so he went to the airport in his pajamas to meet his brothers.  It was a sweet homecoming, complete with a Christmas dinner at the hibachi grill.  

Back at home, more gift giving, more unwrapping.  More quality time together.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Waiting on the King

I hate to wait.  I will avoid it at all costs. I will fill wait time with making to-do lists, checking Facebook on my phone, reading the book that stays in my purse in case I find myself waiting somewhere.  I really have no idea how to wait, really wait.  With undivided attention and focus on what is to come.  

But, I'm realizing God needs me to learn how to wait and to fill my wait time with Him.  To use that time to think about and pray to him, to focus on what is to come with undivided anticipation.  This is especially true when the thing I am waiting on is the celebration of the birth on my king on Christmas day.  

Christmas eve service at our church has become a family tradition that I hate to miss.  It's our time to slow down, to stop the Christmas elfing that has to be done, and await the celebration of our savior Jesus.  To sing and worship and thank him with undivided hearts and agendas.

Sam's favorite song right now is "Bless the Lord, O My Soul," and it was on the song list for service tonight.  We stood and sang it together, and it made Sam's night to know the words to a song in big church.  To hear his sweet little two-year old songbird voice singing this song is to know the joy of the Lord when we sing praises to him.  It was a special time of real waiting on this Christmas eve.

After service, we visited Carl the camel waiting in the lobby of our church for all to see, because a Christmas eve service isn't complete if there's not a camel involved, right?!

We returned home to put the final touches on our first Christmas at home as a family.  The stockings are hung, the gifts are all wrapped, the cookies and milk are set out.  The nativity is complete, the little one is asleep.  And now, we wait...

Santa Sightings

Santa Sighting #1

School Pictures - Major Fail

Sam heard the words "Here comes Santa..." at school and began shaking with fear.  He was not even interested in being in the same room with him, much less take pictures in his lap.  After much tears and fear, they decided on this pose for Sam's pictures...

Santa Sighting #2

Bass Pro Shop - Success

With the help of Kayden and Cameron, Sam was won over by Santa and even sat on his lap and cautiously smiled.  His cousins did it first, he watched and decided he would not be outdone.  He climbed up in Santa's lap and told him he would like Thomas toys for Christmas.  

He also rode on the carousel twice which was also another big win since he wasn't too sure about that either.  Again, older cousins doing it and smiling about it was very helpful.

Santa Sighting #3

Our Church - Surprise!

Sam and I were leaving church after a long meeting, and no one was still on campus...we thought.  We opened the doors to the main lobby and there stood SANTA!  Sam was speechless with surprise, and so was Santa.  After a moment of shock for both of them, Santa said, "Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!" Sam could only smile and say, "I saw you at Bass Pro."  Since I think we really caught Santa by surprise, we quickly waved and walked on by so he could get back to work.  No pictures this time.

Santa Sighting #4

Breakfast at Chik-fil-A - Smiling Success!

Just before our gift wrapping shift at the mall, we went to grab breakfast at Chik-fil-a, and Santa was there having breakfast with all the kiddos.  Sam walked right up to him, sat on his lap, again asked for Thomas toys, and smiled for pictures.  Santa even gave him a Buzz Lightyear toy to keep.  I think we have officially overcome all fear of Santa.  He was so excited and even slapped him five when we left.  

Lucky Number 12

Most people have a "lucky number."  More often than not, it's the date on which they were born. It's true for me as well.  My lucky number has always been 12, born on the 12th.  But as I get older, I'm realizing nothing is really about being lucky, it's about being blessed.  

And, I am truly blessed.

In an entire century, a triple number date will only occur 12 times.  Two of those twelve times in this century are now significant dates to me.  The first, 10-10-10 was my very last day as an expectant mother.  The next day I would lay eyes on my sweet boy for the first time, and fulfill my dream of becoming a mom.  It was a day filled with anticipation, a little anxiety, but mostly joy, great joy.  

Now, 12-12-12 is also a date I will never forget.  When it comes to anatomy ultrasounds, there are two schools of thought.  Some couples choose not to find out what they are having and be surprised when their child is born.  Others choose to find out whether they are expecting a boy or girl at the ultrasound.  We have found out our babies' gender both times at the ultrasound, and I wouldn't change those decisions.  The first time around, we were able to build our excitement for the sweet baby boy that was on his way.   And now, on this day, we are able to celebrate and anticipate the arrival of his baby sister.  A girl!  We are having a baby girl!  Another triple number date that will go down in my books as a day filled with anticipation, a little anxiety, but mostly joy, great joy!

Meet baby Lucy...