Christmas Day

The boys were very nice to us and did not get up until 7:45 am. Logan just wanted to bound down the stairs and I would not let him so he was pouting again.


The scene Santa left for us!!!

The must have pic. See how happy Logan was?

The presents Santa left

Putting together the telescope. If you know how to use one we would love to talk to you. We are stumped.

More present opening

Logan present opening. He just wanted to play with the toys, not open anymore.
After a yummy breakfast we bundled up and made a scary trek in the snow down to the grandparents.

Our cute Logan Bogan

The grandkids

Wrestling with Uncle Tim.
Then off to the Neu Grandpa's for more present opening. I also left my camera there so no more pics after this.:(

Logan excited for more pressents

It was HUGE!!! (just boots though for the boys)

Alex playing checkers with his grandpa. Alex is our gamer.

Logan hiding from the crowd to play with his remote.
That night we headed to Andy's parents house for more presents and the yummy candy table. The snow did not stop while we were down there so we ended up being snowed in for a day. It was a lot of fun to see family and just enjoy the holiday season. We are grateful to all of those who made this a wonderful Christmas for us.

All tuckered out on the ride home.

Christmas Eve

Alex decided this year he wanted a new Christmas Eve tradition, sledding. We bundled all up and headed up to Old Main hill. The boys lasted 30 minutes but it was a lot of fun.

Christmas Eve Part 2

I like to do our nice dinner on Christmas Eve since it is not as hectic as Christmas Day. We enjoyed some yummy food and then we did our traditional Nativity.
In Enrichment this year they had Nativity blocks that we could make. This has been perfect because the hurricane can do anything he wants to them and not break them. Alex decided that we did not have enough people to act out the nativity so we used the blocks. This pic is Alex being the star and Logan imitating.

We then opened our Christmas Eve jammies and Logan was done. He thought he would get to open all of the presents and he was not a happy camper at all. I tried to do the typical in front of tree with jammies shot and Logan would not cooperate. Here our the attempts.







Then off to bed for the kiddos to wait for Santa.

Christmas Card

I wanted to do a fun Christmas card to everyone but I just could not get my heart into it. I am sorry!!! If you read our blog I am sure you know what we are up to. If you are not sure post a comment and I will send you a synopsis.
Here are several choices for our "card." Which would you like?

The yikes pose

The let me go pose

The plotting my escape pose

Last but not least, the fine but this is it pose

Angles among us

I hesitate to write this post due to exposing one of my layers. However, this is my journal so I want this memory to last. I will be general enough but specific enough for my memory. If you don't get this blog it is OK it is meant for me.
This has been a tough couple of months for our family. I feel like I am living on a roller coaster and can't figure out how to get it turned off. There have been unspoken worries in my heart and I just gave them to my Father in Heaven to take care of. Well let me tell you miracles happen and there are angels watching over us. We have been blessed beyond measure with others generosity. I am not sure if those people will ever read this but I wanted to say thanks. You will never know what your kindness has meant to our family. I am grateful for dear friends who have followed inspiration just to call and say hi. I know I am known and watched over by someone not of this world. Thank you to all of those who have followed the promptings. You are a true friend and I am grateful.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. I know for whom the holiday is for and I will forever be indebted to Him for my life and the life of my family. The Gospel is so true and so powerful.

Alex's Play

Alex has always been my drama king. He is very artistic. When I found out his class was chosen as one of two in his grade to participate in the first drama program I was stoked. He was in the play The Water Cycle Channel. He loved every minute of it. He was a great snowflake. I am sorry the pics and video are so bad. My camera does not do great from far away.

Waiting in the wings

The big snowflake

His small snowflake

Voice Male and Christmas Fun

I am going to date myself in this post. When I was a freshman in college there was a new "band" on the scene. I immediately fell in love with one of the members who was also a freshman. We never met, he went on a mission and he left the band. The next year I was roommates with girls who knew another member of said band. His brother also lived across the way from us and I dated his roommate. This was back in 1996 when I fell in love and 12 years later I am still in love. The band.... Voice Male. They are all accapella and are AMAZING. If you have not heard them google them and listen. Everything they do is with their mouth.
They do an annual Christmas concert up here and every year I have had something going on. This year I did not so I went. My hubby is not a fan of the band but my son is so I took him.
I decided to make a day of it. That morning we woke up to falling snow. It fit the mood of the day. We headed out and decided to shop first. Alex was able to buy for everyone on his list. Then off we went to the concert. I have not laughed that hard in a long time. Now you have to understand these guys are probably all in their late thirties yet act like they are stil freshmen. There jokes were so corny but they made you laugh. It was an amazing concert.
Afterwards I continued a family tradition that started over 40 years with my mom and her dad. We went and had ice cream at the Bluebird and even sat at the soda fountain where my mom sat. My mom had taken me there when I was in school up here so this is now the 4th generation exposed to the magic of that place. We enjoyed our desserts and then headed out in the majestic snow. It was sad to see our "date" end but we had to get home to babysit. Thanks Alex for enjoying the magic of Christmas and a touch of nostalgia with your mom.

Mom and Alex off on our date.

Alex at the theater

Alex and mom (self-portrait)

The 4th generation

Yummy ice cream!!!

Catch up!!

I have been in a funk the last couple of weeks. I am not sure why I just am. I have a ton to blog about so I am just doing it in one post. Sunday we were sitting around being lazy when the phone rang. It was the North Pole calling. Alex thought it was one of Andy's friends but it was not. The jolly old man picked him for a phone call. He loved it!! Alex talking to Santa.
On Dec. 1 we brought up the decorations for the house to make it feel festive. We are missing one of my fave traditions, our village. There was no way I was putting that out with a hurricane on the loose.:) Logan helping.
Alex putting up the ornaments.

Logan putting up his ornament with dad's help.
On Thursday we decided that it would be a good night to see Santa so we went to the mall. Alex went right to Santa and talked with him. Logan took a little more coaxing but eventually sat on his lap. After seeing santa we wondered the mall for a bit. Logan kept finding his way back to the Santa display. At one point Santa talked to Logan from a far by saying, "Hi Logan." Logan took off running yelling, "dad,dad." I am not sure if he was scared or excited. It was a fun night.

I am so mad I had my finger on the record button when Logan went after something. I went to grab Logan and as I did that the video stopped:( Alex requested a telescope for Christmas.

We have had a lot of nights that we have gone for drives at Logan's request. He loves to see the lights on all of the houses. He takes after his daddy in that when they get bored they like to drive. Thank heavens it is cheaper to go on the drives now.
We are enjoying this Christmas season and are excited to spend next weekend with our families. I will also share a little secret with all of you. I love getting Christmas cards but I hate sending them. I know I am horrible. I will post one on my blog does that count.:) We hope you all are having a wonderful season and I will post when we get back next weekend.

Three new posts!!

I have put three new posts on at one time. Scroll down to see the fun events of this week.

The Weekend!!

We had a great holiday weekend in SLC. We spent Thanksgiving with Andy's parents. It was weird to have such a small setting for Thanksgiving but it was fun. Grandpa and grandma took us to see Bolt. It was a really cute movie.
On Friday I was crazy enough to volunteer to work at 3 am. My plan was to sleep when I got off at 7 for a few hours. Well I woke up at 8:45. My in-laws had a very nice birthday breakfast for me and then I got to go back to work for a couple of hours. That night we had a birthday party at my family's house. It was a lot of fun but by 6:30 I had hit the wall. Alex stayed and played with his cousins. I ended up in bed at 9. Yeah happy birthday to me!!:)
Saturday we had lunch with my dad. That was fun to see him for a bit. Then that night we went to the Cowie annual family party. My great aunt, who is 93?, comes every year from Hawaii to visit. We set this party up so she could see everyone easily. I have a special bond with her, we share a birthday, and I have always connected with her and my grandma. I wish I lived closer to one of them. They truly are very special people in my life. Alex is actually named after their dad.
Then we came back home and chilled on Sunday while Andy put lights on the Christmas tree. It was a great weekend filled with family, too much food and not enough sleep.
I am so excited for the Christmas season.

Alex wanted the drumstick. He was surprised how big it was.

Dad and Logan enjoying dinner together

My cute boys at the theater

The stairs have a better view

Grandpa, Hayden and Logan watching the kitty

The gift basket I won. It has lots of fun stuff in it. Must get crafty.

Logan ready to open my presents

Logan's masterpiece

Frosting turkey cookies

Do you think Logan liked the cupcake?

Attempting to hit the pinata

Smack!!

Tough Alex got candy flying