A Christmas Story

Our Christmas story is probably the same as most of yours, but here's a brief summary of our Christmas fun 2008.

The festivities started on Sunday afternoon at Grandma Burst's house where we opened presents, ate dinner, played with toys, laid in front of a roaring fire place, and played with the coolest humidifier known to man. Sam loved opening his new book.

Nick got a new tripod camera stand from his mom and here's one of the cheesy pictures you get after everyone stares at the camera for 10 seconds waiting for it to go off. The kids are wondering why the camera keeps blinking.

Grandma Burst made gingerbread ornaments for the family, but it looks like they didn't make it to the tree....Nick, what happened to the head?

Tuesday we left for Salina and Santa Claus didn't disappoint. He brought more toys than the kids knew what to do with. Sam got a garbage truck, Mabel got a doodle pro, and Max got a ring tower. It was a lot fun. Max is even learning to sit up.

Grandpa Anderson, a.k.a pilot Mel, got a Geotrack airplane set for Christmas. Max especially enjoyed watching the planes fly by.

Mabel and Sam fought over toys of course, like most siblings do....Sam was very protective of his new garbage truck, but Mabel snuck in to play every so often.

After so much playing with toys, you get tired. Mabel and Sam shared a bed together. They did pretty well, except in the middle of the night we'd hear Mabel say "Sam, stop." We'd look over and Sam would either be laying on top of her or his feet were in her side.

Here's the girls in their new pajamas. Shannon (the one of the left) and my brother, Tyler announced that they are having a baby around the first of June. We're very excited for them!!!

Every year, my mom makes these caramel, marshmallow crispy balls. Mabel really got into it and spent a long time moving the candies from the bowl to the tray, from the tray to the bowl, and back again and again. It's a good thing she has such patient Aunts who love her!

My brother Tyler is quite the artist and makes gingerbread (graham cracker) sculptures every year. They won the gingerbread trophy two years ago with their house complete with an outhouse. This year, they brought this prize train....no one else even tried to make one after seeing their masterpiece. We all enjoyed this great centerpiece.

After we got home, the kids finally opened the candy in their stockings. Sam and Mabel were so excited when they saw their solid chocolate Santas.

Mabel loved her chocolate Santa....the only thing left of it was a brown hand.

After a great weekend of food, candy, and plenty, Sam decided to strip down and inspect the damage on the scale......what do you think his New Year's resolution will be?