Christmas with the Hogans

My parents and Clara came down Saturday and stayed until this morning. They bypassed freezing rain and ice by coming a different route and once they got here the weather was beautiful. We had a great time celebrating Christmas and doing other things. We have been spoiled with so many guests and are very appreciative of you coming to us. Thank you for all the wonderful gifts and for coming! We love you!

A few present opening pictures... Thanks Mimi for the football cards.

The boys were excited to give Clara the necklaces they picked out for her.Thanks Clara for the Mizzou shirt!We went to the Plaza and ate at P.F. Changs - no tray dropping this visit!When we walked up to the top of the parking garage we had a serene view of the lights and in perfect timing the bell tower played a beautiful song. On Monday the weather was so nice - it was 53 degrees. So we went to Keegan's school playground. Here are the four of them on the balance beam- it took them a few tries to all catch their balance!Look no shoes in December!!!Aunt Clara! :)

A New Room and A New Smile

We began moving Keegan's room to the basement bedroom today. Wow it is going to be a much bigger project than I had anticipated. We are knee deep in stuff! Sam is moving to Keegan's room so the baby will be in Sam's old room. We feel they will do best having their own spaces. Keegan is thrilled about his new room and Sam is excited to be in Keegan's bunk beds! Keegan is sleeping downstairs for the first time tonight. He is really growing up. We've never had him this far away from us!! Here he is reading in his big comfy bed. He got the new bedding for Christmas.

Keegan lost his other top tooth while Mimi, Papa and Clara were here. Must be something about being around grandparents that make his teeth fall out! He bit down a cheesestick and out it came. Needless to say he had another visit from the Tooth Fairy. I love this sweet toothless grin. I love that he has both top teeth out at the same time...it is the cutest!

A Very Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. The boys continued to be appreciative, enjoyed giving to each other and said Thank you so many times to us and each other. They were very surprised and happy with their Ipod shuffles from Santa and had fun with all their other gifts. I am too worn out to blog so I will just let the pictures do the talking. We are going to work on finding homes for new things and get ready for another Christmas with Mimi, Papa and Clara!

Here is Christmas dinner. I cooked a lot of the day. One big difference of having Christmas on our own. I was very pleased with our Christmas dinner menu- we had T-bone, shrimp, chicken, ranch potatoes, asparagus and "Red Lobster" style biscuits. Yum!

Here are Sam and Josh at breakfast...

Here are some pictures of a sampling of some their new toys they got.
Sam showing off his IronMan guys...he has been playing with these for hours!

We got guitar hero from my parents! The boys rocked out. Josh loves it and Keegan loves it so much that he has a sore from where the guitar strap has rubbed him for the past day!

Keegan and Sam got this cool Star Wars book.

Sam was so happy for Keegan that he got Madden 2009 game for his playstation. Something that Keegan REALLY wanted!

Lazertag game for the boys from Aunt Jan! The picture speaks for it self!

Ipod docking stations for their new shuffles.

Actually sad that Christmas is over this year! Keegan was super tired yesterday because he woke up so early. When he was lying down to try and take a nap, we heard this traumatic crying coming from his room. A cry I had never heard from him before, he was truly upset. When Josh went to see what was the matter, Keegan choked through his tears and managed to get out, "I want it to be Christmas morning again." I was sad for him but I was also happy because that meant he had a great day. We all did! And we are ready for more time to be with the people we love!

Christmas Eve 2008

Yes Christmas is a bit nontraditional for us this year. We are away from our parents and the rest of our family. I miss them all very much. Josh had to stay back for work....that and the unknowns of weather and my pregnancy is the combination of what kept us here. A blessing in disguise really that Josh needed to work.


I find myself being overwhelmingly grateful for my family...my mom, sister, dad, and Josh's side of the family as well also aunts,uncles and cousins who have called many times. I even got to share in their "terrible" singing on speaker phone! I am grateful for my amazing children who got a long so well today. Keegan can be really mature and was so excited for the holiday. He looks out after his brother and for me. He has been so helpful. He even went out in the freezing rain to pull the trash cans down into the garage for me. He told me that he slipped and fell several times even had the trashcan on top of him. He told Sam at dinner tonight that if he was really good he would share his money that he gets from the tooth fairy. And Sam is just so snuggly and full of laughter and funny comments. He also looks out for me and his brother. He always includes Keegan, by getting him a drink of water when he doesn't even ask or making sure Keegan has a blanket. And for my husband who is such a hard worker to take care of his family and he never complains. He worked today until 4 and never said anything about it until I asked. And we can't forget this little child who is moving around in me!


So as we are about to approach tomorrow, a day full of gifts of "things" I wanted to take this moment to be thankful for my gifts - the people in my life.



We made some really cute ornaments this afternoon while Josh was at work, using yellow wooden stars, pictures, Modge Podge and glitter glue. It was very peaceful while we listened to Christmas music.

Brushing Modge Podge- this stuff is really cool!

Sam adding some glitter effects.

Love them! In their new jammies!

Timer pic on Christmas Eve




Keegan read us 'Twas the Night Before Christmas tonight. He read it with great expression and even acted out parts.With Dad and ready for Santa and the Tooth Fairy!

Christmas With Grandma Yvonne and Papa Skip

They got to come through KC ealry on their way down to Grandma White's house. We had a lot of fun opening presents. The boys are sooooo enthusuastic about each of their gifts and they were extrememely appreciative, saying thank you and giving hugs after each present. Thanks for making the trip and being so thoughtful in each one of your gifts you brought to us.

All of us together opening presents.







What loving grandparents - look the Cyclones fans brought them camo Hawkeye hats!Sam got his own left handed putter! Do you think this is how Tiger Woods practices his put? With no pants? :)

Keegan got his own snowboard!This book was to both the boys - Grandma signed and said to my grandsons who love Barack Obama as much as I do.Sam looking so sharp in his snow googles!

Very fun!

All he wants for Christmas is his top front tooth...

Keegan's top two front teeth have been loose for well over a month now. He really doesn't mess with them much but a trip over the ottoman and falling on the dog gave the loosest one a nice shove on out of his mouth. I wanted him to have both out in time for Christmas so he could truly be wishing for his "two front teeth". Keegan waited to put his tooth under his pillow until tonight so that the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus can come on the same night! There is going to be a lot of air traffic around our house tonight!

I officially don't have a belly button.

21 weeks - Holy cow that belly is getting big!






Sam felt "it" move the other day for the first time. His eyes got really round and he started giggling! He kept referring to the baby as "her" and said "Her trying to break out of there."


22 weeks - And bigger!





Everyone has felt the kick and now you can even see the kicking!

Went to my perinatal appointment. Everything still looks good...my next appointment in two weeks will be my last of that kind with the perinatalogist. So we are praying that I "pass"...24 weeks was the magic number when I was put on bed rest with Sam. I am hopeful.

Not able to get a profile pic this time around. Here is a front facial view..kind of funny looking.

This is looking down on the head (on right) and there is a little hand - 4 fingers and we saw a thumb!

I'm already in love with little him or her!

A visit to Santa

We went to the great outdoors to see Santa...well not really, we went to Bass Pro Shop. They have kids activities about every weekend. There is a genius in charge of their marketing and promotions, they have creative ways for getting customers in the door. But they don't get me, we usually don't spend a cent.

Anyway, what am easy Santa visit. We waited in line for maybe ten minutes, got a free photo, could take our own pictures and the Santa looked very "real". Keegan wanted to know how you could tell if it was a real or fake beard. I told him to pull on it and then he would know...no I didn't really say that! Not even sure if Santa asked them what they wanted. But Sam informed me later that he doesn't really care what Santa brings him, he can just bring him whatever. Which is good because they were both wanting PSP and not sure Santa is up for that this year, you know even the economy effects Santa!

Santa's Workshop.

Here they are with the Big Man.

Photo courtesy of Sam Slaughter. You can just barely see the reindeer in the background.


Cute brothers!

Thought I would write a letter to Santa too.

Keegan looks like he is thinking very hard about his letter.

This is my fav picture of the day! :)