Bad Bad Blogger

I am a bad, bad blogger!! I realized today that it has been forever since I've even come to this site! I could list out all my excuses, but really, just haven't had the time! Work has been NUTS for the past few months and is finally settling down! So now on to the real reason to blog...the kiddos!!




Both kids are playing soccer this season for the city league! Madison's team, in their 3rd year together, they are phenominal!! They kick some serious @$$!!! It's so great to watch them finally "click" as a team! It also helps to have a absolutely fantastic coach!! He is so patient with them and teaches them skills that they are supposed to strive for each week in the games! Madison has quite fancy footwork! And then there is Austin. So Austin's favorite color = ORANGE. So I am registering him and have to put in the comments section, please put my son on the "orange team". Well we got on the Flying Sharks, green & black! To appease him we bought ALL orange practice gear, orange shorts, orange socks, and orange/black/silver cleats!! He was happy with the "wear orange to practice, and green to games" theory we came up with! But his games are more like the comedy hour than actual soccer! But he is totally loving it!! Our Saturdays are packed with SOCCER SOCCER and more SOCCER!! We are loving it and very proud of them both!!

This was Easter weekend, and boy what a weekend we had!! Friday night we had the Brown family over for dinner, my mom & stepdad, my brother & his preggo wife, my sister & her new boyfriend, and my cousin Billy & his wife Kate from St Louis. We grilled out burgers & dogs and just had a good time visiting and playing! Saturday was spent cooking, brisket in the marinade for the day, nutter butter banana pudding, and the bunny cake!! Saturday evening Jeremy went to the Rangers game with my family and I stayed home to finish cooking and be with the kiddos!



So this week celebrates a milestone for Jeremy & I...our 10 year wedding anniversary is Thursday 4/28!! And my gifts...

Introducing Chuck & Taylor!!! My precious babies!! We adopted them from the Ft Worth Humane Society, they are brother & sister, 4-5 weeks old, and a little over 4lbs each!! We are all totally IN LOVE with them!! They made for a wonderful Easter weekend and joined in all the festivities!!

I promise to try to keep posting!!!

I realize it's been too long, I'm a BAD blogger!!

This has been a bittersweet week for me,

my precious baby girl is 6 years old!!!

I cannot believe it!!

October 27th, 2004 I met you for the very 1st time my sweet girl, and now here we are 6 years later and you have become an incredible little person!

1. You are such a fun girl, ready to rock out whenever the mood hits you!
2. Sometimes so sweet and gentle, and 5 min later wrestling in the floor with Daddy!
3. You love your friends with loyalty and devotion, Evan is still your very best friend on the planet, and has been since you were 6 months old!!
4. You love to be as a family, just us 4, in fact recently you said it was the perfect family!
5. I love how you can be so independent, yet still need to snuggle sometimes with Mommy!
6. I love how you ask every day if it's time to watch "Dancing with the Stars"!
7. I love your enjoyment of soccer, and watching you find something you are good at and truly enjoy!
8. I love going to our very first parent/teacher conference and hearing how smart you are, and a great helper to your teacher!
9. I love how sweet you are to Austin and the true love & devotion I see you show him every day! (I even love playing referree to what I'm sure is the beginning of many years of sibling arguments!)
10. I love watching your pure joy & excitement over receiving a gift or getting a "surprise"!
11. I love your active imagination and how you can play on your own for hours, all the while sounding like you have a room full of friends!

There are so many things I love about you Madison Lee, I could go on and on forever! I love you forever my beautiful 6 year old!!

The next step...

I don't have many blog readers, and I'm pretty sure I have already told all of you. But sometimes it helps me to type it all out.

I will be having surgery again, April 8th. This one is what they call "micro-surgery" by a highly specialized doctor. They will go in, using PART of my existing scar and take out these pesky nodes. I know have 5 malignant nodes, and a "spot" in my thyroid bed (the place where my thyroid USED to be). I have been told that I can consider this "chronic disease", THANKS A LOT DR. This time though, there may be some positive to come out of this! As some of you know, I have a muscle on the right side of my neck, the one that runs from your clavical to under your jaw. Big bad, major muscle! And mine, almost to the point of a spasm, PERMENATELY since my 1st surgery! REDIC! Well said special dr, thinks she can FIX IT! O.M.G. And if thats not enough to make the surgery worth it, on Friday I have an appointment with a special plastic surgeon to see if he can reduce some of this scar tissue!! So while I do NOT want another surgery, this might end up being a GOOD THING for me! It's one night in the hospital for observation, so not too long away from my babies!!

I pray that the dr's know what they are doing, that they are able to give me some relief, and that maybe I can be that one that is NOT chronic!

Don't forget, CHECK YOUR NECK people!
Love to you all

Madison HEARTS Taylor Swift

We have been on the eternal search for Taylor Swift tickets! I was online the minute they went on sale, and still there an hour later even though the show sold out in 2 minutes, 2 MINUTES! WTF!!! So in the last few weeks I have called every radio station in this city trying desperately to WIN these dam tickets! All the while, Maddie in the back seat cheering me on! Then about a week ago we had a full on melt down! "You didn't get me Taylor Swift tickets, I am going to miss the show!!!" She was devastated!! As a mother it broke my heart! Something she wanted but I could not fulfill! So Daddy to the rescue, he comes up with a PLAN! He tells Madison when we got home last night that he was at the gas station yesterday and saw Taylor Swifts tour bus, and he went and talked to her. He told her to call Madison Hoffman! So, with the help of Aunt Ashley, Madison received a personal phone call from "Taylor Swift" last night! This was the longest I have ever seen her talk on the phone! All the while pacing around our kitchen table (exactly like Jeremy does when he is on the phone), eyes wide, and HUGE grin on her face!! She is completely OVER THE MOON! And was off to tell ALL her friends at school today that Taylor Swift called her! (She also told her she could sing ON STAGE w/her next time she was in town, GREAT!!) So I will be becoming a Taylor Swift fan so as to maybe have a better shot at tickets next time she swings through Texas!! My little girl is growing up...too fast!!

It's Official - I am a soccer Mom!

So it's obviously been a WHILE since I posted! I need to catch up! So this week will be dedicated to that! 1st things 1st...Madison is now playing city league soccer! It is the cutest thing EVER! This past Saturday was her best game so far! She scored 3 GOALS!! She was so excited, and so were we! (Now no one is counting that she scored 2 goals for her team, and 1 for the other!!)

Austin thinks he is on the team as well!
Team Pictures!

My little soccer STAR!!

Christmas 2009

Like most of you I'm sure your living room looked much like mine on Christmas morning....

Santa, is NUTS! It's OFFICIAL!

Christmas Eve @ Gramma & Pappaw Hoffman's

Christmas Eve day, the beggining of the SNOW!

In their Christmas Jammies, ready for SANTA!!

We had a fabulous holiday filled with family and friends,

and more toys than a Toys R Us store!

We were truly blessed this 2009,

I hope we continue that into 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEARS ALL!!

Snuggie?

My dad thought it would be funny to buy JEREMY a Longhorn Snuggie for Christmas! Jeremy also thought this was a great present! However, Austin had a different plan! He pronounced it his FOOTBALL BLANK, and intends to sleep with it forever!

Round 2 of the PG Christmas Program...

Madison is a MUCH better performer (if you can see her from behind the giant 3yr old that kept standing up in front of her!!) She LOVES to perform! Her class sang 4 songs, this one you can see her the best! And I'm sure you don't want to sit through all 4 songs! LOL!! Enjoy!

After much anticipation...

What do you get when you put a class of 2 yr olds on stage in front of 100 parents/grandparents/staff? You get ONLY the teachers singing!! LOL!!

Next up...Madison's Performance!

1 Year Ago Today

1 year ago today...

I had a scar-free neck
I was terrified by that ugly C word
I was headed into what would become a 9 hour surgery
I began this crazy, and LONG process
I was scared, sad, and so many other emotions

WE MADE IT!!

WE MADE IT! The kids and I took off for sunny (overcast & humid) Miami on Thursday for my brother's wedding and their 1st beach experience! As you can see from the MANY pictures I posted yesterday, they had a fabulous time! We started off Thursday evening heading to the beach w/the kiddos, we heard the weather wasn't going to be great so we wanted to be sure they got some beach time! Madison LOVED the water! It was a tad too COLD for Austin! He prefered the SAND! Friday morning we were up and off to the beach again, we even had some sun peek out for part of our day! Pa-Pa went with us, and Pa-Pa and Maddie had a fabulous time out in that not so warm water! We built sand castles, and buried Maddie in the sand. It was a all together great time! Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The kids did great! Dinner was AWESOME! Hats off to Ortanique on the Mile in Coral Gables! If you get the chance to go, the food was fantastic! (SO WERE THE MARGARITAS!) Saturday brought another busy day, we shopped at Lincoln Road Mall, and had some awesome pizza at Pizza Rustica. It was drizzly, and SO HUMID! Back to the hotel for a non-nap, and getting ready for the wedding! With a slight delay the kids did awesome in their roles as flower girl & ring bearer! Maddie took great pleasure in the dropping of her purple rose petals! Austin walked right with her until about half way down the aisle when he spotted Biddy and took off running! But even that was met with laughter and provided some entertainment! Austin went to sleep during the 1st hymn, a true BLESSING! As the wedding was lovely. We followed it with pictures, then the reception. Note: Please do not provide children in wedding clothes with pasta with RED sauce for dinner! HOT MESS! We made it through dinner then took off back to the hotel. Mommy was tired of refereeing the silverware sword fighting! LOL!! Sunday took us to visit the Jungle Island in Miami. It's a pretty cool place and was easy to do in just a few hours before we had to get to the airport. The kids had a blast here! They saw lots of animals, even a LIGER! The airplane ride home was OK. Austin slept the 1st 2 hours which was AWESOME! But then...he woke up, refreshed and raring to GO! Luckily the people sitting around us appreciated a laughing/chatty child. I guess that is much better than a screaming one! All in all it was a good trip! But Mommy will NOT be traveling by plane with both children, without DADDY, anytime soon!

Miami/Bobby's Wedding

Click here to view these pictures larger

Wordless Wednesday

Pictures like these cannot be completely "wordless"!

Austin trying on his TUX for my brother's wedding this weekend!

Can you think of a good caption for my little "Chippen Dale Dancer"????


I tell you, I may be a bit impartial, but this boy sure is C.U.T.E.!!!

Christmas Decorating

Oh what fun it is to decorate the new Hoffman house tonight, HEY!!

We actually decorated over the weekend but I thought that was fun! LOL!!

We are having a BLAST decorating our new house for Christmas!!

TREE UP, DECORATED = CHECK!

Hoffman Claus Land = CHECK

What is a girl to do who no longer has to give up her only "dining" table to Hoffman Claus Land?

For the 1st time in 6 YEARS, I HAVE A DINING TABLE for this holiday season!

And am just now noticing that I have NOTHING to put ON IT!!

NO CENTERPIECE, NO FESTIVE PLACEMATS,

WHAT IS A GIRL TO DO????

So I'm asking you, my crafty friends, got any ideas for cheap/easy/fabulous table decor??

What do you get...

I'm a little behind...but about 3 weeks ago, we get home from school one night, and Madison tells me she would like to draw a picture of her WHOLE FAMILY! Well those of you that know us, know that that is no easy task! She told me she would need a REALLY BIG piece of paper! So I pulled out our roll of butcher paper, crayons, and away she went! What I captured with a angled above my head shot is not even the whole picture! When she was done she told me who each person was and had me write their name next to them! Now if only I could find a frame big enough!!

Get the picture!!??!! LOL!!

Thanksgiving 2009

Another great turkey day for the Hoffman's! We made our 1st stop out in Sunnyvale at Pappaw & Gramma Hoffman's! Pappaw is known for his fabulous koi pond he built in his backyard! The kids had a great time and even an adventure with their cousin Colby!

Next stop Granny Bell & Grandad Harvey's house (Jeremy's mom & step-dad)! Aunt Jordan was brave and tried to make a gingerbread train with all 4 kids! Not an easy task! LOL!! We had a wonderful dinner there and the kids always love to be with their cousins and play!

Jeremy with both his sisters!

I hope everyone had a GREAT thanksgiving! Next post, our Christmas decorating!!

thankful

As we prepare to give thanks, I wanted to share what I am thankful for this year. In light of my personal health issues, I have so much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for my wonderful husband! Who knew when I met you almost 15 years ago that I would still be with you now! That doesn't happen often and I am so very thankful that it did for us! You are truly my very best friend, and the best husband anyone could ask for!

I am thankful for my beautiful, fun, spunky daughter! Madison is truly a joy! While I may get tired of the non-stop chatter, and the never ending question asking, you are a pure joy! I am thankful as I watch her turn into this wonderful, caring little person! She loves with fierce loyalty, she cares about others, she loves to play, she loves to "help" with things, she takes great care in being a big sister! She is an amazing little girl!

I am thankful for my wild, rambunctious, loving son! Austin is wonderful little boy! It has been amazing raising both a daughter and a son, watching them grow and change is a wonderful gift! Austin is 100% BOY! But at the same time, he gives the best hugs and kisses! He knows when to be sweet and when to be his rough little self! I love to watch the pure joy on his face when he discovers something new, or spots his daddy when we get home from school, or goes to get Maddie from her class!

I am thankful for my very large, and wonderful family! There are too many of you to go into each individually, that would be one LARGE blog! But I love all of you! Without your support and love I most certainly would not be where I am today!

I am thankful for my new wonderful house! Jeremy and I talk a lot about how now we cannot wait to get home! Those of you that know us well, know we are true home-bodies, even more so now!

With that I say HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! May all of you have a wonderful day! (And if you want to go Black Friday shopping...Niki & I are planning our TRIP!!)

5 Years with Madison Lee

To My Sweet Madison Lee,

Happy 5th Birthday my baby girl!

I have truly enjoyed watching you grow & learn over the last 5 years!

I cannot wait to see what the next 5 bring!

We have watched you pass all your milestones with flying colors,

you are amazing and sweet, a true joy to be around!

You care about others, you are fiercly loyal to your friends!

You are smart, and funny, and wacky!

You are a wonderful girl and we love you very much!

Now a look back...

On the day you were born, such a sweet face! You were such a

great baby from the very beginning!

Madison's 1st Birthday, you did NOT like the cake! ;-)

Your 2nd Birthday, at a local park! It was lots of fun with family & friends!

Madison's 3rd Birthday at the Little Gym! It was Scooby Doo Theme!

(And you had that left-over black eye from a shopping cart incident!)

At your 4th Birthday party, we shared a party with your very best friend, Evan!

It was a Halloween Costume party!

Happy 5th Birthday my beautiful girl!

Madison's 5th Birthday Party

Madison's 5th birthday is tomorrow, 10/27! My baby girl will be 5yrs old! Where has the time gone? And who is this magnificent little girl before me?

Our 1st official birthday party in the new house was quite a success! Madison was so excited to show all of her friends her new house & "playground" she couldn't wait for the party to begin! We all had a great time!

Let the WAITING begin

I met with the new surgeon yesterday. She was GREAT! As much as I truly adore my ENT surgeon that did my 1st major surgery, I wish I had this doctor from the beginning. She was cool as a cucumber, not afraid of my massive scar and even more massive history. She was collected and very well educated, she explained things in a way that I completely understood, she even drew pictures! That being said, it would have been nice if my other doctor had sent her all of my medical records BEFORE I arrived so that we would not be wasting her precious time, or mine for that matter. But I guess when you collectively have a TEAM of doctors they can't be bothered with exchanging paper! Seriously, that's another rant for another time though.

Now we will wait. As I have learned, having multiple doctors, means having multiple answers, and having the diagnosis change. This doctor, without reviewing my complete medical records, says her 1st diagnosis is to hold off on surgery at this point. To that you say, but you have cancer!! This I know. But apparently due to the size of these 3 lymph nodes (less than 1cm each), and the massive amount of scar tissue that I obviously have in my neck, she would prefer to wait. We will monitor their size every 6 months. At some point they will have to come out, but not now. When they go back into someones neck for a "reoccurance" (which I kept correcting her b/c mine is NOT a reoccurance!!) they do a procedure called "plucking" so much for crazy medical terminology, it is exactly what it sounds like. They simply go in and pluck out whatever lymph nodes that are diseased, and any others in that same chain of nodes. Well, that is a little more difficult to do if the lymph nodes are less than 1cm in size, and if you have significant scar tissue, they won't be able to see them. So now we wait. I'm not sure what is worse, walking around knowing that there is cancer inside me, or having another surgery? I think I'd rather have the surgery and get it over with. But that is my opinion and my opinion doesn't count for much in this aspect of my life. I am under the control of doctors, I now have 5, 6 if you count my OB/GYN (who just about cried at the sight of my scar, i absolutely adore him!!) The new surgeon said I fit the bill for Pappillary Thyroid Cancer to a T, young woman, mid 20's-early 30's. It also occurs to me that that bill also fits most of my friends!!! I do not wish this disease on anyone, so that I say CHECK YOUR NECK! You know your body better than anybody!! A great resource is www.checkyourneck.com!!

Now my next post probably won't be until after Madison's birthday party this Saturday, a much more FUN topic!!! I can't believe I'm about to have a 5yr old!! (WHO CAN READ!!!!) Yes, I am a proud Mommy!!