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)