Another year...

Welcome 2009! Wow it is the year - the one that I'll turn 30 in! My mom was quick to remind me that I was on the 6 month countdown at Christmas and then my s-i-l, Lindsay mentioned that she was on countdown as well, oh well I'll take another year especially if it is as good as 2008.

It is hard to believe that we started last year with a baby-baby and a 2 year old! We are now onto such bigger things with both boys. We no longer have bottles in the house or diapers for one of them (woohoo!).

Carter has grown up so much this year, he lets his little personality shine at home and loves to make Sean and I crack up - usually saying and doing things he knows he should not or his favorite imitating daddy (he knows that any expression Sean uses isn't a 3 year old expression so he likes to say them to see if he can get a reaction). He's entirely too perceptive for his or our own good! This year he learned how to ride his tricycle, quickly followed by his bicycle and then got the battery powered truck that he loves taking his little brother for rides in. He is very mischievous with Lincoln, especially since Linc started walking but can be so incredibly sweet with his little brother when he wants to and is so proud of Lincoln when he learns something new.

Lincoln conquered all the baby milestones in 2008 and now is an official member of the toddler gang. He is obsessed with electronics (in particular the telephone, no play phone will do), he loves to get into everything - especially the dishwasher and kitchen drawers and loves to grab something and see how far he can get with it. He also loves to mimic his brother and tries so hard to be a big boy. He is a bit of a toothbrush bandit, collecting and testing all the toothbrushes in our house, so if you visit you should keep yours safely tucked away. Linc loves to give snuggles and suck his thumb.

We were able to go on a few adventures this year, Sean and I took a trip to Seattle in April which was lovely - the boys didn't even miss us and had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa while we had a great time discovering the city. In July the boys and I went with Mimi & Papa to the Graf reunion in Wisconsin and got to catch up with the extended family. That left Sean home for almost a week alone so he visited some friends in San Antonio for the weekend. We then went on the annual Hogan vacation to the Ozarks and enjoyed the lake (I hadn't been in the lake in years and it felt so good!). Sean and the Hogan boys ventured to Chi-town in September to cheer on their Bears and we were able to squeeze in a few Iowa trips in there as well. I made a short weekend trip to visit my Texas girls that was super refreshing so all around we had a fun year.

So from the Hogan house to yours we wish you a wonderful 2009 full of laughter, adventure, health and love. We are so fortunate to have a large, loving family and wonderful friends scattered all over the country - each of you mean so much to us! Happy, happy 2009.