"I'm the Big Brother!"

We just found out this week that we are going to be having a baby! We are so excited! I keep asking Jaxon if he wants a brother or a sister but he just wants a baby. Hopefully, whatever it is, it will be healthy! (Now if I can only get through the morning sickness phase!)

"Cool Fort!"

I know I am a terrible blogger (my last post was last May!) But I really want to start up again and I just had to post about Jaxon's new "cool fort".

So, I feel sorry for all of you who don't have an awesome carpenter in the family. Not only has my dad significantly improved our house (at no cost, might I add!) but now he is spoiling Jaxon with his superb skills!

Check out what he made for the little stinker.

Ta da!!
Isn't it the coolest fort you have ever seen?!

And it has everything!
It has great towers for Godzillas...

and snipers...

giant Jurassic Park gates...

a motel for the "dudes"...

turrets to shoot out of...

a jail for the bad "dudes" (and unruly "saurs")...

a "Fort Jaxon" sign....

a staircase, complete with railings....

multiple doors with mini hinges...

It is multi-functional....

And even has a place for missionaries to preach from!

And these pictures don't even do it justice! You need to bring your kids to come check out this fort (big "kids" are welcome too!)

Jaxon adores it! (And I might add, Shane and I had a little too much fun playing with it ourselves!)

Thank you so much "Pa" May! We love you tons and appreciate the skill and love that goes into each and every one of your projects.

New Blog

I just started a new blog. It is all about books and reading so if you are an avid reader like me, check it out at thebookbug-hogan.blogspot.com.

Baby Shower

In April, my Mom and I hosted a baby shower for my little sis, Lacey (who is due in 3 weeks!!). We had such a great time planning it and it turned out fabulous!

Lacey's favorite color is red so we went with a red, black, and white theme. We bought TONS of baby clothes (I had way too much fun shopping for a baby again!) which we hung on a clothes line type thing with clothespins and all.

We made black and white cupcakes. The black frosting was horrible but at least they looked cute!!

We had a "candy bar" with every type of black, red, and white candy imaginable in cute vases that my older sister found (she is such a clever shopper!)

And the crowning attraction . . . a red, black, and white diaper cake!! 3 tiers of tiny little baby diapers with all kinds of cute baby toys and clothes and topped with a stuffed husky (Lacey has 2 husky dogs.)

We had a great turn out and it was a blast!

Kalei Hogan, Superstar!

My sis-in-law, Kalei Hogan, just finished her first music video. It is amazing!! She is so talented and beautiful and we are so proud of her!!

Her video is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sizu3wvYQQ. Love you Kalei!!

Review of Heather Moore’s “Women of the Book of Mormon”

Anyone who know me knows that I love love LOVE to read!! Especially LDS fiction, which is why I was so excited to be able to receive an advance copy of Heather Moore's new boook, Women of the Book of Mormon to review. Heather Moore is the author of a number of LDS historical fiction novels including the Out of Jerusalem and Abinadi series. Women of the Book of Mormon is her first non-fiction book.

This book appeals to me on a number of levels - as an avid reader, as a member of the LDS faith and (wannabe) scriptorian, and most especially as a woman. Women of the Book of Mormon is a brief but insightful glimpse of the incredible women who are mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Even though these women lived in vastly different time periods, Heather Moore makes them relatable to us in a modern setting. She focuses on both the physical and spiritual trials and hardships that they endured and how their stories can help us overcome our own obstacles.

This book is thoroughly researched in the environment and culture that each of these women lived in as well as the characteristics that they most likely possessed. It is told with respect and a touch of humor and reminds each of us that we are daughters of God and sisters in the gospel.

Women of the Book of Mormon made me want to study the scriptures in more depth, especially the role that women play in it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has a love of the scriptures and wants to expand their knowledge of it.

Lil' Dudes

I know it has been FOREVER since I blogged but I have a good excuse -- we were sick for the month of January. So, I fully intend to catch up on the holidays, etc., but first, an update on Jax. He is so hilarious!! The funniest thing happened the other day which probably should have annoyed me but just made me laugh so hard. Anyway, Jaxon loves to play with GI Joe type action figures which we refer to as "little dudes". (Jax calls them "doos"!) I find them all over the house in the most interesting places. He loves to put them in little "forts". And the other day when I went to get Kaysley some dog food, this is what I found!


Me and Shane laughed for so long!!

Some days I just really wonder where this kid comes from!! But we love him to death! (And he sure does entertain us!)