Burgess Family: December 2010

Christmas Day

Christmas day was so much fun and also so exhausting. My parents came over at 7:ooam Christmas morning so they could watch Owen come downstairs and experience Santa coming. It was so fun to see the excitement in his face when he saw his stocking filled, an empty cookie plate, and his Kitchen that he asked Santa for. He was on overload from the second he woke up until the second he went to bed that day, as was Autumn. After hours of everyone opening presents, my Mother-In-Law and I cooked breakfast, Quiche, Monkey Bread & Fruit, boy was it delicious. Once we wrapped up breakfast my parents went home to relax for a bit and we all got dressed and ready for the rest of the day. We all pitched in and made an amazing Christmas dinner which my Sister, Brother-In-Law and niece were able to join us for. My dad made Cranberry Pork Tenderloin, my Mother-In-Law made sweet potato casserole and I made lemon & almond green beans and cranberry salad. I was so stuffed but it was well worth being uncomfortable. After dinner we had round 2 of presents since my sisters family wasn't here in the morning, they do have a 2 week old after all. Christmas 2010 was so great! Thank you everyone for all the generous gifts, our kids are blessed beyond belief. And a huge thanks to God for the most important gift we could ever ask for, HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. Merry Christmas everyone!

Santa's leftovers

Here is what Owen came downstairs to.

Way, way, way too many presents!

Autumn first thing in the morning. Too bad she had no clue what was going on, and why in the world so many people were downstairs so early in the morning.

Owen took no time to start playing with his new kitchen Santa left him.

Autumn checking out her stocking.

Santa was even nice to Brandon and left him some stocking goodies.

Autumn's 1st Christmas was a success! She got lost in her tower of presents. And yes these are all her gifts! Seriously does a 5 month old really need that much?

Autumn's new princess bib.

Autumn checking out her first tea pot set!

Owen and Nana

Autumn in her new hat her Great Nana Burgess knit for her!

Me and my Dad cooking dinner.

Round 2 of presents. Owen was fascinated with my dad's new fishing pole.

Mother & Daughter

The very exhausted Bollinger Family.

Owens favorite Christmas gift of all, His Alphie Robot. He plays with this non-stop! Thanks Auntie Kiki & Uncle Chris.

Autumn's favorite gift, the keys from her first purse! She chews on these all day. Another big thanks to Auntie Kiki & Uncle Chris.

The girls hanging out. Its hard to believe these two are only 4 1/2 months apart. Poor little Autumn got Mommy's height. Sorry baby girl.

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve was pretty laid back. In the morning we went to church and then headed home and ate lunch. Brandon's Mom stayed home and watched the kiddos and Brandon and I went back to church to teach the 4 year old class for a couple later church services. We picked up a Costco pizza on the way home since we were kind of pooped from hanging out with 30+ 4 year olds for 3 hours and just hung out the rest of the night and prepared food for Christmas day. It was a great day. Here are some pictures of the kids all dressed up and a few of Owen leaving cookies for Santa.

All ready for church.

The Loves of my life.

Sweet Autumn

The kids hanging out with daddy after church.

Owen got to choose his 3 favorite cookies to leave for Santa and a carrot stick for the reindeer's.

Cookies for Santa

Owen and Autumn's Mimi came down from Colorado to celebrate Christmas with us, okay who am I kidding, not "us" but definitely our kids. Brandon and I know where we have fallen on the priority list. Owen was attached to his Mimi's hip the entire time she was here. About 2 nights before Christmas Owen and his Mimi decided to make some sugar cookies for Santa. They made a big mess and had an absolute blast doing so. I sat back and tried to remind myself, "its okay everything can get cleaned up." It was a fun memory for them and they really had so much fun. Owen loved decorating the cookies/eating all the sprinkles and m&m's.

Owen was a pro using the cookie cutters. Mimi just had to help him pick them up once he cut them.

They let the cookies cool overnight and then decorated the next day, hints the different outfits. Here is Mimi icing the cookies while Owen put on the sprinkles and M&M's.

He was very detailed while decorating. When he finished each cookie he had to wait for one of us to put it on the cookie rack so he could decorate the next one. Very particular.

Look how focused he is. Too funny.

Their final masterpieces.

Just in case you were wondering what Autumn was up to during the cookie making. Next year sweetie, next year.

2nd Annual Crappy Christmas Sweater Party

The week before Christmas Brandon and I hosted our 2nd Annual Crappy Christmas Sweater Party. The point is to wear really ugly Christmas Attire and the ugliest one wins! Its a lot of fun and everyone looked ridiculous. We made a giant ham and everyone else brought delicious Christmas dinner sides. The food was amazing as was the giant dessert bar that everyone pitched in on. The adults did an ornament gift exchange and the kids drew names and did their own little gift exchange. It was a really fun night and a bit chaotic with 9 kids 3 and under running around, but well worth it. Enjoy the pics.

Abby, Owen & Olivia. Look at Liv's shirt, her Mommy made it for her, it was pretty crappy. Too Funny!

Brandon, Owen and I in our really ugly sweaters. We even bought Owen one with a fuzzy teddy bear on it. Lol.

Autumn ended up with about 5 Christmas outfits this year, so instead of getting her some ugly sweater to wear we let her be the cute one of the family. Her Aunt Bev and Uncle Don sent her this adorable Mrs. Claus outfit. She looked so stinkin cute. Just a quick side note, the bow in my hair was part of the ugly outfit so please don't take it seriously.

This was seriously hilarious. Kaitlyn and I secretly bought Brandon and Matt matching sweaters. They had no clue until they both showed up wearing the same outfit! LOL. Matt tried to pay me not to post this picture, come on who does he think I am?