Ride 'Em Cowboy!

"Grandpa, what are you doing on my horse?"


Tandem Riders

Peek A Boo!

Natalie's Pants

Hi Ho Silver! Not far from the Lone Ranger - could Tanto' be a girl?! I'm quite sure my older brother never let me be the Lone Ranger. Always the side kick, but who cares as long as he let me play?!

Grandma and Grandpa came over for dinner this evening. Take out from Panera was all we had energy for tonight! We're spoiled - soon our only take out options will be Subway or Pizza--oh, yeah, and Cannon Falls also has a McDonald's! We're really cookin' now! Happy Meals all around!

As you can see by the photos, these kids can get G & G to do just about anything for them! What a great pair! And what lucky kids!

We got a "we laughed so hard we cried" time when we were going through a box of hand-me-downs from Cousin Natalie for Maria. Mitchell found some of Natalie's purple pants and just had to put them on. Here's a kid who only wears blue sweat pants on ninety degree days, and he comes running out in Natalie's purple flowered pants! Grandma and I were beside ourselves wondering if this will be his next favorite?!

Thomas & Natalie

Mitch & Maria's three and a half year old cousins came to visit today. We had a great time! Mitchell was a great host. He held the door open for them to follow him outside to play, and he offered them some strawberry milk which Thomas loved! They all gave hugs goodbye--it was so cute! Here are some photos of our day.

The Nap

This is the photo opportunity I was talking about in the previous post--notice Mitch's cars lined up on his pillow! And yes, he sleeps on the floor! Don't ask me why, because I don't care as long as he sleeps. He started sleeping in his tunnel back in April (you can see how it's set up-where his big fish is sleeping), when that wasn't new anymore he started sleeping in his "tent" and had to have the green blanket on the bottom for grass, then he just slept on the floor next to his bed, and now he sleeps on "Mom's Purple Blankie" and has to set up his bed like a nest. So, when this one wears out we're open to suggestions! A foxhole, a hibernating bear, a dugout--any suggestions? Anyone?

This IS Summer!

We have been having some good ole times at the Hoffman house on Hazel Street!

Maria is still a very good eater--she eats everything we do! Mitch loves his mashed potatoes, and is getting really good at making them too. He tells me what to put in them, "Now we need the milk...we need a little bit a butter...you put it in the microwave, Mom, it gets too hot!"

Maria has finally discovered Sesame Street, or I should say I finally let her watch it when I was busy trying to get Mitch to nap! Today he finally fell asleep with his race cars lined up across the top of his pillow. He loves to play cars and in the sandbox.

Mitch and Maria both love to help around the house. Today Mitch was helping me trim the little trees sticking through our fence from the neighbor's lot, and Maria was carrying the twigs to the campfire pit!

Mitch has been asking for a visit from his three and a half year old cousins, Thomas and Natalie. He must have been dreaming about them one morning as he woke up talking about them! Tomorrow they will have a great time playing together! Grandma and Grandpa will be dropping in for dinner tomorrow night too. They are heading up North for the weekend, so we won't be making our weekly visit--pretty soon we won't have to schedule visits because we'll be close enough to just drop in!

Some of these photos just speak for themselves!

Colleague Buzz!

Lots of news happening with the ALC crew! Shawn (aka Shawnsolo) found an excellent staff photo where I can see his fabulous face--I like his face, and it just happens to be right behind mine in the staff photo you see here!

Elizabeth and Joe found out they are having another baby boy!

And the biggie: Erinn Guggenheimer and her husband, Ethan, had a beautiful baby boy born on Father's Day! You can get more details about Jack and his birth if you check out the link to their blog (Guggenheimers) or on the Hauge's website link as well. We'll always be able to keep in touch and up to date with all of this technology!

Father's Day Tribute!

Chuck and the Mitches
Barb & Mitch
Big Daddy
Happy Father's Day! Big Sig: The Dad of all Dads! Here with Chuck enjoying a day at the races in Brainerd last August. Chuck and Mitch looking for Fish!

Mitch wears Shorts!

Here we go! It was a big day for Mitchell this week--he finally put on a pair of shorts to run through the hose at daycare! Chuck expanded at home and got him to play in the sprinkler! He looks like such a big kid! Still can't get him to put on swimmers or swim trunks, but we're taking baby steps! Maria wants to do anything Mitch does--they play really well together. I am looking forward to spending some more time with them this summer! It's going to be pretty busy with the move and the new job!

Last Day

WOW! I can't believe I'm actually walking out the door of the ALC tomorrow! Here is a picture of some of the awesome staff I have gotten the pleasure of working with over the years. The team made a handprint painting for me as a departing gift and also gave me a framed staff photo to take with me to my next place. You wouldn't believe how many tears I have shed! But if you know me well, you've had your hanky ready since you knew I would be leaving the people I have spent most of my days with over the past nine years! My mom doesn't even know these people and she is crying with me--now that's a Mother's Love! We won't even mention Chuck tearing up...I'll miss you all.

Special Visitors

Grandma Pudge and Brother Chris came over to have dinner on Memorial Day (the blog really isn't in any chronological order) and Mitch was excited to get a new book from Grandma. Maria has finally warmed up to Chris and he got to rocket her around all evening! Here is a photo of the two peas a year ago--time goes so fast! You can see Mitch's Beanie Baby "Freckles" above his head--Freckles has had some minor surgery in the past month. He has some permanent stiches, but is otherwise feeling fine. Mitch asked me to buy him a new one, so I bought one on ebay. When it came in the mail Mitch said, "that's not my Freckles!" With time I think he'll warm up to him--hopefully before the original Freckles passes on.

SOLD!

Everything is falling into place! Some guy named Tony is buying our home. I hope he realizes what a deal he's getting himself! Grandma and Grandpa bought this house in 1958 and lived here with pride. Chuck and I took over in 1998, and almost 50 years later have sold the family home. We have plans to move to Cannon Falls in July! I also spent my last workshop day with Northeast Metro 916 ALC at the Zoo on Friday. It was a swell time. Lots of tears were shed (by me) but it sure was nice to have some time to spend with everyone from the ALC.