A Fish Named Ruby

Yesterday Braden and I went to the store to pick out a birthday gift for his friend Micah's 3rd birthday. Braden wanted to get Micah a fish and the little fellow suckered me in to buying one for him too! Braden picked out a blue fish for Micah and he chose a red fish for himself. When we got in the car I asked him what he wanted to name his fish and he said "Darby, you know like on Nemo." I thought it was funny since the fish on Nemo is named Dori! I told him that when I was in college I had a red fish named Ruby and thn he wanted to change his fish to Ruby. It is really funny because he says Ruvy!

Snow 2010

Well it happened again!!! We had another big snow in little ol' Covington, Ga! They cancelled school on Friday in anticipation of the snow, but it didn't actually start snowing until 2:00 Friday afternoon. I had pulled all of the blinds up so Braden could see it and he was running around the house saying, "It is snowing- really snowing at MY house!" He was so excited! When Brad got home later that afternoon they bundled up and played.

Waiting on Daddy to come home so he can play in the snow!

I hope that's not yellow snow!!!!

Hoffman Family of 4

Bend It Like Braden!

Braden got a soccer ball and soccer goal for his birthday from his friend Micah. Both Brad and Braden were really excited so they took it out one afternoon for some boy time! Braden was really cute kicking the soccer ball into the goal!

Score!

My Little Picasso

Braden has not been very interested in anything artistic- painting, coloring, etc. for quite some time. For Christmas, Santa brought him several Eric Carle art kits that are based on his books in hopes that it might pique his interest. Well today during nap time Braden decided to get one out and use himself as a canvas! He was very pleased with the results!

Braden's 3rd Birthday Party

If you know me at all then you know that I am HUGE birthday person. I believe that this is your SPECIAL day to celebrate your SPECIAL gift of life. Therefore, I have always tried to make Braden's birthday a celebration! This past summer I started brainstorming ideas for his 3rd birthday and it was a toss up between trains and buses. Braden loves both! Braden helped me finally settle on a school bus theme.

So the dilemma each year is not so much the theme as what are we going to do? Considering that it is a January birthday doesn't always make for the most terrific weather. And this year was NO exception. To go along with the school bus theme I had booked a tumblebus to come for Braden's birthday, but because we actually got snow and ice the Thursday before the tumblebus driver wasn't comfortable driving an hour to our house. So what did I do? I called Brad and cried!!!! And then I picked myself up and decided that we would make the best out of it anyways and it ended up being a great party!

Braden helped me make the treat bags earlier in the week and he was SO excited about all of his friends coming over, but his favorite part was the school bus cake! He absolutely could not take his eyes off his cake when we showed it to him Saturday morning!

There is absolutely no doubt that Braden has my birthday celebration genes! He certainly loves the attention, presents, fun, and CAKE!

Happy 3rd birthday Braden! We love you!

Parker- One Month

Our precious Parker Reed is already one month old. I can't figure out if it seems like he just got here or has been here forever. He is simply adorable. Here are some of his month one milestones:

• Parker has slept for 5 hours stright for the past 2 nights



• He is lifting his head and he seems to be really strong
  


• He is alert for over an hour at a time now



• He loves to lay on the floor and watch Braden



• He turns his head towards Brad when he hears his voice
  


• He is cooing, squealing and smiling

Christmas 2009

Christmas is really a huge blur for me this year (I'm pretty sure it has something to do with being at the hospital for most of the week, delivering a newborn, and sleep deprivation!). However, Braden really enjoyed Christmas this year and that is all that truly matters

Here are a few of the special memories that I can recall from Christmas.

• We were released from the hospital at 2:30 on Christmas Eve and went straight to my parent's house for the Christmas Eve festivities.
  


• DINNER- wedge salad (my favorite), twice baked potatoes, grilled shrimp and shrimp scampi- YUMMMMMMMM!
  


• Braden helping to pass out gifts



• Having Parker with us for his first Christmas
  


• Santa being way too tired to put together all of Braden's gifts
  


• Braden being SUPER excited about his trains and train tables- not even paying attention to the other toys!
  


• Enjoying Christmas breakfast with our boys and our parents

The one tradition that we didn't get around to this year was making Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes, but we will certainly continue that tradition with the boys in the years to come.

Brothers

All for one and one for all

My brother and my friend

What fun we have

The time we share

Brothers 'til the end.

~Author Unknown

My Baby is 3!!!!

Today Braden Wright Hoffman is 3 years old! I cannot believe how quickly these past 3 years have flown by or how much more I love him each day. Braden is so sweet and yet so challenging at the same time. He is without a doubt his mother's child. He can make me laugh and want to scream all with in the same minute, but I enjoy every second with him.

My prayer for Braden is that he will always know how much we love him unconditionally. That he will remain firm in his values and opinions even when they are not popular. That he will treat others with kindness, humility and respect. My prayer is that he will be confident in who he is and where he comes from. That no matter what he treasures his relationship with Christ above all else.

Braden Wright Hoffman, you are such a special gift from God and Mommy and Daddy love you more than you can ever know or understand.

Parker Reed is Here!

Parker Reed Hoffman made his grand entrance on December 23, 2009 at 12:16 pm. It was another eventful delivery- just like his big brother! We feel so blessed that he has joined our family and we can't wait to watch him grow.

We love you Parker!

Santa on a Fire truck!

Each year the local volunteer fire department near our house visits the local neighborhoods and gives out bears to all of the children. It is so neat because they drive in on two fire trucks and Santa and Mrs. Clause are always riding at the front. They run the siren to alert everyone and then play Christmas music from the speakers. It is so much fun to see all of the neighborhood kids come running into their front yards to see Santa.

The past 2 years they came the first Sat. in Dec. and we have always just caught them before we left to go to Brad's parents for our annual Christmas gathering. This year we thought that we had missed it because we assumed that we left before they came, so we were so excited when we heard those sirens! Braden and I were still in our pajamas so we bundles up and headed outside to wait on them. Braden has been sleeping with his new bear the past 2 nights! So cute!

Braden's Favorite Things

Braden is growing up so fast and I know his "Favorite Things" are going to change just as quickly, but I just want to freeze time for a minute and remember what he likes for today. Here are a list of what he said his "Favorite Things" are"

Food: Teddy Bears (Teddy Grahams)

Drink: Orange juice

Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate

Song: Wheels on the Bus

Movie: Thomas

TV Show: Thomas

Book: Tractor book (John Deere)

Friend: Micheal (from preschool)

Toy: cars and trucks

Thing to do with Daddy: play with my toys

Thing to do with Mommy: read and cuddle

Place to be: in the bathtub

Christmas Past and Christmas Present

I was going through pictures on my computer to upload to Snapfish to make Christmas gifts when I ran across the first picture we have of Braden during his first Christmas. Here are his Christmas pics from past 3 years. Sniff! Sniff!

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009