Hoffman Kids Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas To ALL!!

Hope everyone had a fabulous holiday! I'm hoping to get pictures uploaded later today and do a proper post, but wanted to send you all my happy holiday wishes!

Love, Anna

Home Sweet Home

I am HOME! YEAH! Sore, and tired, but HOME! I got home yesterday afternoon! The kids came home after doing christmas w/the cousins around 7pm. Austin won't let me out of his sight, and threw a full on fit when we left him at school this morning, poor baby!

But my precious Maddie has gone and turned into a big girl on me. She didn't buy the "Mommy's at work" story she was told on Wed night when I didn't come home. She was ok with that reply until Friday, when I talked to her on the phone and she said "Mom you are at work?" and I said "Yes", and she said "Then let me talk to your work friends!" So then on Saturday she would not talk to me on the phone at all she was mad b/c she told Jeremy I was not at work. So Saturday night Jeremy told her that I had a big boo-boo. She immediately came to the phone, said "Momma you have a big boo-boo?" and I said yes I do, but Dr. Rohn is taking good care of me. She said she liked Dr. Rohn (he did her tubes & her tonsilectomy so she knows him and really likes him), but that she would take care of me when I got home. She immediately said "Mommy I am coming to see you in one second!" turned from the phone and yelled to Jeremy, "Daddy you take me to see Momma now!", to that he told her they could come in the morning (Sunday) to see me. So Sunday morning they came up to the hospital, I wrapped my neck in a scarf so she wouldn't be scared by my incision (which is HUGE!) and she was happy to see me! She took a basket of flowers for her own and we enjoyed our little visit! So when the kids got home last night, I also had the scarf on again, she said "Momma why do you have that scarf on?" I told her I didn't want to scare her with my boo-boo. She said "Momma I am not scared, you take that scarf off now!" I took it off and let her take a look, I said "Maddie does this scare you?" She said "NO Momma! I am not scared!" My precious baby is so loving and caring she doesn't care that it kind of looks like someone took my head off and put it back on! But I am home and happy to be here! Recooperating and being w/my family is the best medicine I could get!

Love to you all!
Anna

I'm OK

Just wanted to send a little note and let everyone know I am OK. I mean hospital is NO fun, and being away from my babies is NO fun, but I am hanging in. After almost 8 hrs of surgery they think they got it all so that is good! I'm tired, and sore, but OK. Thanks again for all the prayers and well wishes...I think they are working! :-)

Much love,
Anna

The Christmas Elf Puppy

I think I've mentioned this before but wanted to give you all a better look! I borrowed this idea from a friends blog...Thanks Jill! But at the beginning of December, a gift was delivered to us from Santa, it was the Christmas Elf Puppy (Santa could not for the life of him find an actual ELF)! Every night when Madison & Austin go to sleep the Elf Puppy goes back to the North Pole and reports to Santa if they have been good! Then when they get up we have to search the house for him and find where he has landed! This is a FUN game, and even Austin participates! He has landed in the Christmas tree, in each kids room, in my room, in the middle of Hoffman Claus Land, he's been all over the house! I think this is the beginning of a tradition in the Hoffman house!

Welcome to Hoffman Claus Land

Yes I know a new record 3 posts in one day! But my days are so crazy right now, I didn't know when I would have the chance again...
Welcome to HOFFMAN CLAUS LAND! This is Jeremy's production every year, and every year it grows bigger & bigger, and takes over my whole table!

Mommy's Little Helper

Can you guess what Austin is helping with???

You got it! My precious son loves to "help" these days! Especially unloading the bottled water into the fridge!

A Moment for Me

I felt it important to keep this from the blogging world until my family had all been informed. Since most of you already know about the latest happenings in the Hoffman family I thought it important to put it all down here as well, even though I typically use this blog for the more happy things going on in our world. For the sake of being honest and really blogging about what is going on, well this fits the bill.

To begin, as Jeremy tells me I have too, it is 100% curable! But I have thyroid cancer. Yes that big looming "C" word that is so scary in and of itself! I am told if you have to get cancer this would be the "best" one to get. That being said we go into phase 1 next Wednesday, December 17th. I will have surgery beginning @ 11am, surgery will last 5-6 hours. They will remove my thyroid in it's entirety, and all of the lymph nodes from the right side of my neck, as the cancer is there as well. They have 2 nodes that they are suspicious of on the left side that they will inspect once they get in there and decide from there if they will also remove the left side too. I have to stay in the hospital 3-4 days, which sucks! I am not looking forward to being away from my family, but I know I have to get this cancer out of me!

Words cannot express how much all of your well wishes and sweet thoughts have meant to me & Jeremy! I truly cannot imagine having a greater group of friends & family! I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life! I should have my laptop with me in the hospital so I will try to update the blog and let everyone know what is going on. And you can always email me!

I love you all
Anna

PS - I'm going to follow this post w/some much happier ones!

Obsessions

At Meghan's request I am following her lead and listing out our "Obsessions"!!

Madison's Obsessions:

1. Hannah "Tanna"! Madison is obsessed with all things Hannah Montana! She doesn't care for the actual TV show (still not into actual PEOPLE shows), but she loves all the clothes, toys, dolls, all the "stuff"!!
2. Singing! Madison LOVES to SING! She memorizes songs from the radio & my IPOD! She can rock out with the best of them! Her faves right now are Taylor Swift "Love Story", and Pink "So What"
3. Easy Mac! Yes I know this has to be the worst thing in the world for a kid, but she LOVES her Easy Mac! Of course she calls it "Warm Macaroni & Cheese", as opposed to all that COLD mac & cheese she eats! LOL! I'm not sure how she came up with that, but when I make real homemade mac & cheese she does not like it! Only the powdered cheese for her! UGH!
4. Juice Boxes! There is a certain thril to be able to open the fridge & take out a juice for yourself! (Even if you still need a grown up to put in the straw!) Madison loves any kind of juice box, Capri Sun...any of them!
5. Schedules! Madison is a girl after my own heart! She has to know what is coming next in her little world! She is most definately a "planner"!! Every night before bed she has to ask "What is today on the 1st number?" Which in plain language is "What day is it tomorrow & what will I do?" There are a variety of answers and I won't bore you with all of that back & forth with a 4yr old jazz!

Austin's Obsessions:

1. FOOTBALL! My son is completely obsessed with all things football! He watches it on TV with Daddy! He likes to throw/carry them everywhere! He loves to point out FOOTBALL everywhere!
2. SISTER! Austin absolutely adores his sister! As long as he can be with/see Madison he is a happy boy! He wants to be in her room, he wants to play with her no matter what she's doing!
3. Christmas Tree! Austin is obsessed with our Christmas tree! (see previous posted dedicated to his latest obsession!)
4. Race Cars! There must be something in the male DNA that teaches them to make race car sounds and "Vroom-Vroom!" everywhere and on every imaginable surface! Austin loves to race his cars, whether it's on the floor or on the wall!
5. EATING! I finally have my good eater! Austin will eat/try ANYTHING! He loves to EAT! He is obsessed with food! He insists on eating a "snack" of some sort right when he walks in the door at night (typical man!) then will eat again whenever dinner is ready and we are eating! He really likes to "share" and eat with Mommy & Daddy!

MY Obsessions:

1. KISSES!! I love love love kissing those sweet cheeks!! My kids were blessed with the fabulous cheeks that are just perfect for kissing on!!
2. My New IPOD! Thank you Santa for giving me my Christmas a little early!!
3. PICTURES!! As you can tell, I, like Meghan, LOVE to take pictures of my kids!!
4. Observing the kids in action! I am obsessed with watching them as they grow and change into these wonderful little people! I love to hear every day what Madison did at school and how her day was! And funny part is all while she is telling me, Austin is chattering away like he is telling me too! I love to listen to Austin as he discovers new words every day, and watch as he sees something new to explore/attack!
5. EBay! My latest obsession comes with selling stuff on EBay! Might not have anything left by the time I'm done!! LOL!!

HAPPY TUESDAY EVERYONE!!

There. Now that I've been tagged, I'll tag the following to tell us about your obesessions:

Anneyarbs79 (Mom to Olivia, Luke, & Morgan), and 3jones (Mom to Cooper)

Austin Meets the Christmas Tree!!

At last Christmas season is finally here! We were so excited and ready we put the tree up on Saturday...in stages between Austin's naps! But OH by dark it was up and lit and he was a HAPPY BOY!! Now for the next month and some change what you will hear multiple times DAILY in our house is NO TOUCH AUSTIN! He is completely totally FACINATED by the tree! And the "STAR", "BALLS", and "FOOT-BALL" on the tree! Yes we do have a Longhorn section on the tree...I know none of you are shocked! But in that one section is an ornament like a foot-ball with the longhorn symbol on it! Well that one ornament is a source of constant torment for my precious son who, like Daddy, LOVES FOOT-BALL!! 2 of his many words these days are foot-ball & touch-down!! SAD REALLY!

Santa has left one of his helpers at our house! We have a Christmas Puppy Elf (can you believe after 3 stores you cannot just find a plain old ELF!) that is watching over Madison & Austin! He reports back to the North Pole every night once they are sleeping to let Santa know if they are being a good little boy & girl! Then in the morning when we get up the Puppy Elf is in a new location and we have to find him! This morning he was on the mantel! Madison is loving this little edition to our holiday fun! I'll post some pics of them with the puppy elf later! Stole this idea from a friend in another blog! Thought it would be big fun since Madison actualy GETS the idea of Santa this year!

Hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Monday!

Happy Turkey Day!!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY to all our family & friends!!
So here are the kiddos ready to head out for our day of festivities, those of you with multiple children will understand, Austin refused to give up his binky, and Maddie was just in a silly mood and continued to try to "pose" for the camera! So this was the best we could pull off! Maddie wanted everyone to see her cute turkeys we made to put in the window, and our indian feathers! BIG FUN!

1st stop the Sharps to visit w/John & Susan, and Uncle Josh!
Then later in the afternoon we headed over to Great Aunt Gerry & Great Uncle Cotton's house for a big family Thanksgiving! Every one had a blast and the food was fantastic!! Everyone pitched in this year which was fun!

Then it was back home to get ready for Daddy's big game...as you can see below he had a little cheerleader helping him out!! HOOK EM!!

We hope everyone had a great turkey day!!

Love, Anna, Jeremy, Madison, & Austin

Stone Soup Day

Today was Stone Soup Day at the day care! So I took an extra hour lunch to go eat lunch with Madison (couldn't let Austin see me b/c he doesn't quite understand "I have to go back to work!") And we learned this morning there would be a little mini-recital with her dance teacher!! Since we didn't get much notice most of the girls are without their dance gear, but you can still see how fabulously cute they were!! Their teacher got them each a little skirt to wear which they had fun with! This is a little dance they learned in just 3 weeks!! Impressive for this age group! They are preparing for their annual spring recital in May. So enjoy Madison's cute little tap dance!! (I really hope I posted this right...my 1st video attempt!!)

The Story of Stone Soup (done every year at the day care for the last 20+ years!)

Once upon a time, somewhere in post-war Eastern Europe, there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a wandering soldier came into a village and began asking questions as if he planned to stay for the night.
"There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," he was told. "Better keep moving on."
"Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his wagon, filled it with water, and built a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a velvet bag and dropped it into the water.
By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the soldier sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.
"Ahh," the soldier said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat."
Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Capital!" cried the soldier. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king."
The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the soldier a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell and traveled on the next day. The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.

IT HAPPENED!!!!

For the very 1st time this morning Austin proclaimed when Madison arrived into my room, "MADDIE!!!" loud and proud!! Madison was so happy, she got a big cheesy grin on her face! She has been trying for MONTHS to get him to say her name, repeating it to him s-l-o-w-l-y every day in the car..."Say M-A-DDIE" and to that he would always laugh & grin at her. Austin truly adores his sister, and she him. It's sibling bonding at it's finest, and I am going to enjoy every minute because I know before long it will be yelling & arguing, and all that other lovely stuff that siblings do to torment eachother! But my baby is increasing his words every day and it's fabulous! Before our very eyes he is turning into such a big boy! So congratulations to Madison for doing such a fine teaching job with her baby brother!

Soccer with Birdie!

Madison is finishing up with a program called SoccerTots, it's pretty much like soccer practice, but she loves it! She goes with a few of her friends from day care every Saturday. Her final practice is this Saturday for this session. We'll probably sign up again in the spring to prepare because she'll be old enough to start in the city soccer league next fall! She has really enjoyed it and is actually pretty speedy! Sorry the pics aren't all that great, the lighting is horrible on the fields.

Austin is in LOVE!

First of all a BIG Thank You to Steve & Alexandra Staudt! I know you couldn't have known it at the time, but the so very soft & fuzzy airplane blanket you bought for Austin is his absolute FAVORITE thing EVER!! He loves to wrap it around his face and smell it! It is so funny I had to include some shots of him with his lovey! He must have it to go to sleep at night, and whenever the mood hits him during the day he will go pull it from his crib and wrap it around his head and lay down on the closest surface he can find...floor/chair/sister...whatever! Too funny!

The smelling of the blanket!

The Wrap & Roll!

EXHAUSTED!

This has been one of those weeks in my house...let's see where to begin...
So I go to work Tuesday, just my normal every day routine, kids to school, me to work and so on. Then at 230pm my cell phone rings, caller ID shows the day care...the dreaded call. Austin's in the office with 103 temp! LOVELY! So I race out of the office and to the school, and then to his pediatrician's office, only for him to say "It's a virus, just has to run it's course!" GREAT! So we go home. Now he is getting some of his big teeth, but 103...a little too HIGH for teeth. But I actually spend the next 2 days enjoying my 15 month old son, one on one! Because other than the fever, he's in a great mood (but anyone that knows him knows that he almost always is!) he had a few cranky moments when he was tired, but other than that...enjoyable! With sister gone to school though he was confronted with something new...boredom! So he was on me all day both days to find things to entertain him! We colored, we watched Backyardigans, we played with the megablocks (well we dumped & picked up multiple times), we had snacks, and I did major cleaning while he was napping, so all in all it was a pretty not too bad illness time! Yesterday we got out of the house for a bit to run a couple errands, Austin's favorites...to GO, and to PEOPLE WATCH!!

So last night I watch my Grey's Anatomy, and prepare to go back to work today. Then it happens...everything falls apart! Austin gets up at 12AM like ready to party! It takes me 1.5 hrs to get him back to sleep. Then at 4AM Jeremy yells at me from the bathroom to get up he's coughing up blood (he had a tonsillectomy last Thursday!) So I bolt out of a dead sleep and he is flipping b/c he's bleeding. I run to the neighbors house and beat on their door until they wake up so they can come sit w/my sleeping children until my Mom can get from Denton to my house. (I had called her too!) So we bee-line it to Trinity ER. He had blown the stiches from his left side. Lovely! So here I am at work, Jeremy is in the ER (or being transfered back to Plano Presby where his ENT is), the kids are at school, and I am about to fall asleep on my desk! UGH!! And no I am not a bad Momma for leaving him there, the bleeding had already stopped, and remember I just missed 2 days w/Austin. I do feel bad for him having to stay alone, but it could not be helped. SO needless to say I am just hoping to get some rest this weekend!

Hoffman Halloween 2008!

Happy Halloween to ALL!!
This year awarded us with many opportunities to wear our Halloween costumes! So 1st we had Maddie's birthday party (Austin was far too busy to put his on!) but Maddie wore her's after much negotiations! Then we had Annual Halloween Parade & Party in the morning on Wed the 29th at the kids day care! (Austin wore a last minute backup costume so as not to dirty up his real one for the evening festivities!) That same night we had the Annual "Fall Festival" at the day care and it was a BLAST!



Mommy & Austin @ the Fall Festival

The "Big Bad Wolf" at the pumpkin roll!

Pa-Pa & Biddy helped us by decorating their trunk for the "Trunk or Treating" and the trunk decorating contest (WHICH WE WON!!) Welcome to Grandma's House!!

Cooper & Madison @ the Fall Festival with their fish they won as prizes and who now live in Pappaw's pond (WINK WINK!)

Madison...bobbing for pumpkins...kind of!

Austin in his backup farmer costume with Madison as Little Red Riding Hood...ready for the school Halloween parade & parties!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Halloween!!

Madison is 4 years old!

What can I say...I still cannot believe that my baby girl is 4 years old! Madison turned 4 on October 27th. We had her party on the 25th (Daddy's b-day). We ended up doing a joint party this year with Madison's very best friend Evan, from school! So together with Evan's parents we hosted a Halloween Birthday Costume Party!!

The kids had a BLAST! We had 2 bounce houses, decorated "pumpkins", cracked open a pinata, decorated Trick or Treating Buckets, ate pizza, and had cupcakes! Even the adults had FUN!! So another year and another birthday party success!

10 Things I love about my 4 year old...(Thanks Meghan!)
1. I love how much she loves her baby brother
2. I love how observant she is...what 4 year old knows when you steal your hubbys shirts!
3. I love how excited she gets over "surprises"
4. I love that when I put her to bed at night I know that at the very least I'll see her 10 more times!
5. I love that she loves to be outside! Riding her bike, taking walks, going to the park
6. I love her little chatterbox talk! (OK maybe LOVE is not really the right word...sometimes I want to jump out the closest window because it is truly NONSTOP!)
7. I love how petite she is, but that her size never stops her from anything!
8. I love how every night I can depend on her asking "What day is today on the 1st number?" which means what is tomorrow and what will I do?
9. I love how much she enjoys school and thrives on learning!
10. I love how snuggly she is! She LOVES to snuggle...morning or night!

So maybe it's been a while...OOOPS!!

So I realize this has been FOREVER! But you know...happens! For a quick recap...we had a fantastic summer! Jeremy & I hit Playa Del Carmen with friends in July, Austin turned 1 year old on August 1st, Maddie started Soccer in September...and it's just been a BUSY year so far! Plus I turned the big 3-0...really who is counting? In the same weekend...Jeremy went to Cleveland with the boys for the annual Cowboys trip, and I went to NYC with my girlfriends for my b-day! SO FUN! Then just last weekend we had an impromptu-belated birthday for me at Zen in Austin Ranch (A BIG Thank you to Lindsay & Andrea for putting that together!) We had a BLAST!!

UP NEXT FOR THE HOFFMAN'S:

We have the Dallas Susan G Komen Race for the Cure on this Saturday Oct 18th!

We are preparing for Madison's 4th birthday...WOW 4 already! We are having a joint b-day bash this year with her very best friend, Evan! And who wouldn't decide it was a good idea to host a full blown costume halloween birthday party for 4 year olds...not me! LOL!! Jeremy will have his b-day the same day as Maddie's party...the things Daddy's do for their little girls!

PRESENTLY:

Jeremy is still relishing in the VICTORY over OU this past weekend...and the fact that Texas is now ranked numero UNO!!

Austin is walking/running EVERYWHERE! Popping up with a new word every day it seems! WOW where did my little baby boy go! (You might see him walking around with a bowl on his head...but whatever makes him HAPPY!!)

Madison is playing soccer every Saturday at noon at SoccerTots off of Hebron. She loves it and is in class with 3 of her friends from school! She is also attending dance classes again, and computer class (ask her about your CPU!!)

OK So I promise to try this time to keep this updated! (I did say TRY right??!!)

Anna

New to the Blogging World...

Good Afternoon ALL!!

The Hoffman's have joined the blogging world!! Sounded like fun! Not sure if I am quite "technical" enough but we will see!

Let's see what have we been up too...

Madison went back to dance class today after a holiday vacation for the teacher. She is doing a combination ballet/tap class. The teacher comes to her school and does it every Monday. Madison LOVES to dance, and according to her teacher is doing very well!

Austin is working on his 1st set of teeth, those 2 pesky bottom teeth have yet to show their little selves! He is drooling and chewing on everything. He has discovered his feet, which if you remove his socks he thinks it is the funnest thing EVER! He rolls around on his back with his feet in his hands (trying to get a foot in his mouth). He loves to pretend he can walk, with Daddy's help! And sister can ALWAYS make him laugh!

We went on Saturday for family pictures, and Austin's 1st professional pics (we are slackers...Madison had 2 sets by the time she was his age!) I guess that's what happens with baby #2! But they are the cutest pictures EVER!! I'm going to attempt to put some on here...well I was...but the studio locked them...DAMMIT! Once I get them in 2-3 weeks I will have to scan some! The picture up top, is Mr Austin after his 1st haircut!! Hard to believe at 5.5 months he needed one, but it was EVERYWHERE! He did really good, just had to hold his head still b/c he kept trying to watch Sister while she bopped around all over the salon.