2011...Another year come and gone

I can't believe that 2011 has come and gone. The time seems to be flying by. I find that the older I get the faster my life seems to go by. This year has been an amazing year. One that has been filled with ups and downs, successes and opportunities, PATIENCE and hope. We are so blessed to live where we live, to have the family that we do, and to have the Savior and the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. We look forward to many more joys, tears, success, and opportunities to grow. We are so grateful for the freedoms we have and the blessings that fill our lives. Goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012!

John and Cathy's Redneck Christmas Party

John and Cathy's Redneck Christmas Party!

John and Cathy have "themed" parties every Christmas. This year it was a "Redneck Christmas". As you can see, most everyone came dressed in theme. It was pretty funny and a bit shocking at how some people were pretty true to the Redneck theme. Fun party....Fun friends.
"Candy and Joe"....a.k.a. Boomer and Marnie
John and Cathy
Yes....I think Troy and Cari take the prize for their costumes
However, Doug and Nancy were pretty classy!
Todd and Annie
All I could think of, was he looks like a truck driver.....interesting
Doug and Cari
Nancy, Boomer, and Todd
These were the totp 5 costume winners! Hahaha! I don't usually like to dress up in costume, but I have to say it was a pretty funny party and I would have felt out of place without a costume. Thanks John and Cathy for hosting the party!

Whittaker's on Christmas Day

We are truly grateful for the legacy that Nana and Papa Buss left for us. We know that they are up in heaven protecting, guiding, and loving us. We are grateful for family and that even though we have trials and obstacles that make us stronger, we are grateful for family that loves us. We wished we could have spent more time together this day, but we had to run home to call our missionary. He is truly doing amazing things and is diligent and obedient in his service. We love him and are so grateful for him and his example. We look forward to being able to spend Christmas with him next year.

Whittaker Family Christmas Day 2011
Kissing Cousins...So grateful for kids that love each other and that want to share in each others lives. We missed Shea and Kyle (with Kyle's Fam), Logan (serving in Costa Rica) and Tanner and Steph(with Steph's fam)
Tamz refused to be in any of our portraits, so we had to be sneaky and take one without her thinking she had to pose.
Cari, Troy and Annie
Me and Cathy. Love her!
John insisted he was part of the group...
What handsome boys....J, Talon, Boom, E John, Todd, Chase and Troy
Such beautiful girls....Tay, Meg, and Jord
Last year John and Cathy incorporated into our Christmas Day festivities, the nativity. The kids play the parts and the rest of us listen to the scripture and sing the songs. It has really added to our Christmas Day and we've decided that it is now officially a tradition.
Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus heading to Bethlehem, by way of their cow? Well, it works.
Our numbers were sparse this year, but it was still fun to continue with our new tradition of the Nativity! The most important part of the day.
Our Wisemen, Angel, Shepherd, and Joseph
The End!!!

Christmas Morning....rise and shine!

Our traditional Christmas morning picture. Missing Shea and Kyle (stinks when they have their own lives and family) but we think of them and know that their spirits are always here with us. I guess I should have put on a white shirt for our pajama picture. So grateful for all our many blessings. I know the Lord is mindful of us all.....

Every Christmas Boom takes a picture of the outside of our house on Christmas morning. Some years there is much snow, but this year NO SNOW!! Its been a very dry year.
Christmas morning....
Jensen made sure Logan was at the festivities, even the traditional stairwalk to christmas!
Jensen wanted the Coug's retro hat. I don't think it's been off his head.
Our missionary...we've had such a great time with him this year. Its been fun to be reminded of him and the great service he is doing.
E was showing us the Christmas ornament that he made this year. Funny story...when Jensen was in 3rd grade he made the same ornament and we put it on our tree every year.
Jensen got new ski gear, because he has gotten so tall that he has grown out of everything...E is sporting new goggles too!
Boomer got a new ski helmet....isn't he cute!
Jordy....
Boomer gave me the Temple Square Christmas Village. I am so excited to set it up next year!
Gege and Pop have come every Christmas morning to see what the kids get from Santa. We are grateful for them and for all that they do for us. Don't know what we would do without them.

A Bogh Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas from the Bogh house to yours! This is our traditional picture on Christmas Eve. Its fun to look at years past and see how much the kids have grown and to see our expanding family! As always it was a great Christmas Eve, full of joys and fun with being together.

As always, a funny pajama picture on the stairs....
....and a more serious one!
Gift giving........Shea, Kyle, and Jaxon
....Pop....
.....Jensen and Devyn. Pop decided to share his talent with the g-kids.....
....Gege....
.....Todd....
....Jordy....
.....Jensen....and Dev....
....Gege's gift from Shea and Kyle was a present with a twist....
....all the grandkids participated in the gift, spelling their names with scrabble letters....
....Gege had to spell the last name. "baby!" This is how Shea and Kyle announced to Gege and Pop that they would be great-grandparents in July.

We had a fabulous dinner and then went caroling and gift giving to my Dad's uncle Charlie and aunt Edna and then to visit his aunt Blanche. This part of Christmas Eve is my kids favorite. We sing at the door and then give them a goodie basket. These people have played a major part in our lives and we enjoy visiting with them every year. Each Christmas Eve, when we leave their homes, we wonder if they will be here next year to share in our holiday.

We thank Gege and Pop for always providing a great Christmas Eve, but more than that, by being involved in each of our lives all year long. We love you!

The Christmas Eve Fort

Every year on Christmas Eve, the kids build a fort to sleep in together. The fort builders are dwindling, but the fun lives on.
It tends to be a sleepless night due to the room being extremely hot, floor sleeping or too many people in the bed. this year Jord woke up in the middle of the night to Jensen playing her iphone and him saying "Jordy, aren't you just so excited?"
This is a better view of the actual fort. I love Christmas traditions!