Meeting Stephen

In January, "Aunt" Katie flew in from Monterey, CA and brought her boyfriend Stephen home for all of us to meet!  We spent a fun weekend together and headed out to Chandler Hill winery for a relaxed gathering.

We love our Aunt Katie!  And it's hard to believe in January it was warm enough to go without coats!  Of course, as I'm posting this now it's 107 degrees outside here in St. Louis!  Ugh!

Uncle Bragg, Auntie Joyce, Grammy and Pappy having some fun.

Cousins!

Uncle Bragg and Logan are on their respective electronic devices!

Claire and Logan stay busy with their games!

Logan took this picture of Pappy, which I love in b&w.  

Nice job, Logan!

Aunt Katie took the kids out to romp around the deck.

Cute or what?

Adorable family.

The vineyards are pretty even with no leaves on the vines!

Uh-oh.  Logan going crazy with the camera!

Love that cuz!  And a few months later, Katie announced that she and Stephen got ENGAGED!  Yippee!  We are happy to welcome Stephen into the family.  And now we get to plan a WEDDING!  FUN!

I love my family!

Mama

Christmas 2011

On the actual night before Christmas, Mommy had to work an overnighter at the hospital.  Bah Humbug!  

Amazingly, Santa found his way to our house anyway.  That Santa.  He never disappoints.

I got off work at 7 am on Christmas Day and made it home before the kids even woke up!  Here they are, ready to see what Santa brought them this year!

Dig in, guys!

Oh, Mommy in scrubs.  Now that is a look I hope to never sport again!

Pappy got a new photo editing program!

Now that is one cute Christmas elf!

Claire looking very glamorous in her new dress up clothes!

Who's up for a smoothie?

My favorite part of this picture is Maggie in her Christmas sweater!

Logan and his new "farting dog" and Grammy.

Grammy and Pappy got a very special new photo book:  Koglins 2010

And that is when Mommy passed out.  No more hospital shifts for this mom!  Ever!  

Love you guys,

Mama

Twas the Night (or two...maybe 3) Before Christmas...

And all through the house...

...Pappy was acting his age, as usual.  

Push-ups now?  Really, Pappy.  

....and while Mommy was busy working an overnight at the hospital, Santa came and dropped off some goodies!

Sleep tight, kids.  Fun awaits you tomorrow.

Love,

Mama

A Family Gathering

It's hard to get families together, sometimes.  So it was a treat when your Aunt Terry and Uncle Allen came to visit us in November, and your Grandpa Larry, Step-grandma Mary and Aunt Sarah and Uncle Paul all stopped by.

 Grandpa Larry, Aunt Terry and Cousin Grace

Cousin Andrew, Logan, Aunt Sarah and Gavin, Uncle Paul, Step-grandma Mary, Grace, Grandpa Larry, and Aunt Terry

It's so important to document your time with family, kids.  You guys grow up way too fast!

Love,

Mama

Wild Lights at the Zoo

I've been wanting to go to the St. Louis Zoo's Wild Lights event for a few years now, but it seemed like every time we had a night to go it was freezing outside!  So we took advantage of one unseasonably warm late November evening to finally go.

Little Hop-A-Long Claire was pretty fired up, as you can see....

When it started getting chilly we headed toward the insectarium to warm up!

Just jamming out to some cricket music...

...while Grammy, Daddy and Pappy check out some leaf-cutter ants!

Claire comes face to face with an extra large katydid!

Logan is a pretty sweet big brother....most of the time!

The penguin house was another place where we could actually see some zoo animals.  Although it wasn't very warm in there!

Neither of my kids can seem to pass up an opportunity to climb on something!

Claire and I on the carousel.

 The light displays were festive and fun to see.

And when given the option of having a photo taken with Santa or his elves, Logan chose the elves!!  I wonder why.....

Love you guys, and all the things we do together.

Mama