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!

B Whitt Christmas Gift Giving

Merry Christmas! We got together Christmas Eve afternoon to exchange gifts with each other because Shea and Kyle were going to be with the Henrie's for Christmas Day! Shea made me this cute scrabble puzzle announcing our cute new grandbaby!

Our family is growing.....
Easton.....
Shea and Kyle gave Jensen this funny gift "Snowman Poop" on the bag it says

"I've heard that you've been naughty

Now listen, here's the scoop.

I'm running short on coal this year

So you get snowman poop."

Funny! They made him think for a minute that it was the only gift they were getting him. It was classic, we all laughed, especially with the look that was on his face.

Shea gave Jordyn this cute "To Do Board"
KJ and Shea....
Kyle...
And Remi got a bone....

Traditional Family Christmas Dinner

For the last 4-5 years, Boomer and I decided that we wanted to do something traditional for our own little family. We do a lot with extended family and friends but didn't really have any traditions of our own at Christmas. We either take the kids out to a nice dinner or we have a special dinner cooked at home. (We've had steak and crab at home or gone to Tepanyaki etc.) This year we went to Texas Roadhouse and enjoyed a nice meal together.

Easton was wide eyed when he saw what he had ordered. RIBS!! I have to say that he did great at finishing "All this food!"

Shea and Kyle
Jordyn and Jensen
Boom and I
Easton finishing off the ribs!
We wanted the kids to feel like we had things planned and that it wasn't just dinner, but that we wanted to spend time together enjoying the holiday.
I showed the kids how to dip Oreo's
Jordyn and Jensen.....we had quite the system going
Jensen was losing interest....quick
Kyle and Jordyn having a great time as usual
Easton and Shea had the job of smashing the skor bars and peppermints
Boomer decided that he wanted to carry on the tradition that his uncle had at family parties of "The Sack Christmas." He didn't feel like it went as smooth as Uncle Howard's, but with a few tweeks, it will be just as amazing next year.
We gave the kids gift cards and lotion....
and a gift that was special for each of them.

We had a great evening and loved being together. We are so grateful for our family and the special part that each of the kids play in our lives. We are so blessed to be their parents and are proud of who they are becoming.

"Our Chocolate Biness"

For our Christmas gifts to friends and neighbors, my Mom and I decided that we would dip Oreo's. I have to say that they were amazing! However, after dipping over 600 oreo's, we decided that we should go into the "Chocolate Biness". Hahaha! we had a great time together and I even think we decided that it should be a Christmas tradition. Thought the finished product turned out great and I got much feedback that the Oreo's were delish!

Finished Product!
The Oreo Factory workers
Chief Oreo Dipper
A look at the factory

Logan comes for a visit...

Elder Whittaker's best friend Jake Taylor was getting married on December 1, 2011. Jake's only request was that Logan be in attendance, even if it was only in cut-out form. We have had a great time with Logan (cut-out) since December and we have sure had a great time having him around.
Elder Whitt was able to be in our Christmas card picture this year.
He had a few smooches from Kels and Mandy...
Had a few pictures taken with his special girl...
Mandy was a bit freaked out by the cut-out, because it was pretty true to Logan's actual height.
Even Easton had to have a photo with him. We loved having him around for the holidays and enjoy having him down in the family room with us while we do things together as a family. Can't wait to have him home for reals....