End of School Year

It seems like it was just August. My mind has always seen the annual calendar as a school year calendar. It feels refreshing to be "starting over"! My first year at CFHS was mind numbing and phenomenal! I think it is shocking to people that I love it most days! The kids keep me busy so my mind focuses on them after I leave the school building; however, when I'm back out in the community I feel like I'm still working! I spend a lot of time at home--our outings include going to "Grama & Grampa's" (my folks' house), grocery shopping and Target in Northfield or Apple Valley, and sometimes to the park. Although last time we were there some students came out--I'm sure seeing me was a real Buzz Kill. Oh, well--we all live in this town together. I started a facebook account to see what the big deal is and is it ever! I spend lots of time on there--Chris finds me when I'm on there if I'm up late enough and we chat online. My good friend Amy who is the school social worker where I used to work was on one night too. We discussed how we didn't have time for it! I work a couple more weeks and then I am looking forward to hanging out and relaxing--I hope I can still get the kids to nap this summer! Mitchell got a REAL WHEELER for his 4th bday from G&G Sigmeth. He buzzed around for awhile and had a small crash--it was good that he got a little fear and respect for the machine. Now he'll take it out for a couple laps around the yard and then park it again! Grandma Pudge spent the day with us out at the Sigmeth's as Mitchell asked Grandma if he could have his party at her house. He also wanted and received a "race car" cake! Abbey and Cooper came over for some cake and Mitchell pretended all of his friends from Weecare were there too.

Mitchell's Birthday

Happy Birthday Mitchell!
When did he get so big?!
He was born Mitchell Sigmeth Hoffman on May 14, 2004 at 11:12pm at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. He weighed 8# and 12oz. and he was 21 1/2 inches long. Now he weighs 42# and I have no clue how tall, but he's a Big Boy!
He brought donuts to Weecare to share with his friends and Grandma&Grandpa came over for dinner and cupcakes that evening--They brought him Speed Racer because Mitchell said to his friends at Weecare that morning, "I'm going to get a Speed Racer for my birthday!" I had to make an emergency call to Grandpa who went out to find The Speed Racer!
Funny...he has the same facial expression 4 years later!

Mother's Day 2008

It was a beautiful day!

Is it summer yet?

We spent an evening getting the toys out of the top of the shed...it was like a birthday party for the kids!  They were so excited to see the horse again!  We've been out on the trails a couple times already this spring and we met some other daycare friends out at the lake park.

We have a big day planned for Mother's Day.  We start by Kirsten sleeping in (which means any time after 5:30 am) and then bringing coffee cake to Steve and Lisa's in West St Paul to celebrate with the Hoffman family.  Then we get the chance to attend a carnival in Cannon Falls the student council is putting on to raise money for a new mammogram machine up at the hospital in town-excellent cause!  Then after Grandma and Grandpa meet us at the carnival they will come over to enjoy a terrific dinner prepared by Chef Chuck.  Brent & Wendy will also be here to celebrate with the Sigmeth clan.

Chris has made it to Boise, Idaho for his summer internship at the Shakespeare Theatre Festival.  Chuck and I plan to take a long weekend to fly out and visit with Chris and attend at least one of the plays he will have a hand in.  I am leaning towards "The Crucible", but I'll need to read up on it so I can follow along!  He came to visit during the 3-4 days he had between his last final at Concordia and departure on the Greyhound for Boise.  We were lucky to see him as his car was broken down (I'll spare you the details) but he was resourceful and his friend Ian drove him down and had dinner with us too!  What a charming young man.  He noticed that Chris was pretty much the main attraction when he's here!  Maria loves how he throws her up in the air and she gives him lots of cuddles.  Chris read to Mitchell before bed and he asked Mitchell if he knew where Idaho was and Mitchell replied, "Yeah, Idaho is where the potatoes come from that I eat!"  Chris also said that Mitchell looked pretty sad when he told him he wouldn't see him all summer.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone--remember MY mom is the best!  I strive to be a mom just like her--I love to see her light up when she sees the kids.  I told Mitchell that it's always sunny at Grandma's house because her smile is so bright!  Maria agreed with a screeching, "GAMMA!"  I enjoy watching my folks with the kids because it gives me a slight glimpse of how they were with Brent and me.  Sometimes it is overwhelming to think of our good life!

Water Park Photos

Wisconsin Dells

Mitchell waits for his PJs to dry the night before we head out on the highway for Wisconsin!





"Little Amy" and Kirsten at the water park. Amy was playing ball with Mitchell and he says, "And Little Amy made a score!"
This was the last afternoon at the water park. Minutes after the photo Mitch and I were sprinting to the bathroom, and while we were gone Maria fell asleep on Chuck's shoulder. They slept all night Saturday night AND they slept in until 7 AM!!!

It was a successful trip to The Dells in 2008! Mitchell enjoyed himself thoroughly in the water park, at "Condo-land", and with all of his friends! I wish we had a photo of the big wave pool as he and Chuck were wave jumping and the waves were 2 feet above Chuck's head!!! Mitchell just giggled and by the end of the afternoon he was jumping into the waves himself!

We had 3 condos with 3 families each: Weiders, Chapmans, & Hoffmans; Pickars, Neumans, & Woodcocks; and Hepolas, Ulrichs, & Rademachers. Besides the water park we had a good time playing adult board games and The Question game. Chuck even got a couple games of Cribbage in over the weekend! Everyone was so great--Mitchell had a fabulous time! He's come a long way since last year. The photos speak for themselves!

Maria's 2nd Birthday on April 5th!

Abbey came over for some cake and played with Mitchell and Maria!


Grandpa was all tired out after the "rollercoaster ride" in the back yard, but Mitchell made sure he didn't miss out on much!


Maria tries to fit into the puzzle box--she wants to help out some how!


Mitchell shows off the two new My Little Ponies that Maria got from Grandma & Grandpa for her birthday--she shares very well with her big brother and friend Abbey!


If Maria cannot grab anyone's ears, she settles for her own!


Mitchell, Abbey, & Maria run around while the bubble machine goes nuts! Entertainment for hours from her God parents who made a quick stop by--it was awesome!


Playing Ponies!


Gramps taking a nap!


Maria and Mitchell's "favorite girl in the whole world" as he referred to his Grandma Pudge--made her day!


Grandma and her best boy!


Maria grabs onto Daddy's ears and takes a little nap to get ready for her big birthday party!


Maria wakes up before all the other kids in her daycare room, so Crystal gave Maria a pedicure while they waited for all her friends to wake up! She may be a girlie girl after all! She wouldn't keep her socks on because she wanted everyone to see her pretty toes!


Grandpa plays on the "rollercoaster" with Mitchell! I missed the photo of him coming down the slide! He asks, "How do I get down?"


Grandma helps Mitchell put his new United States puzzle together--by the next afternoon he tells me, "I can do it myself, Mom." And of course he did!


More of the Bubble Machine. Mitchell and Maria runs around yelling, "Catch em! Catch em!"

What a great day we had! Grandma Pudge came down for the day and Grandma & Grandpa came over. Chuck cooked us up a real nice dinner--Grandma made cupcakes and we put Scooby Doo decorations on them. Mitchell also decorated a little cake for Maria's bday that we all enjoyed! The Dombecks stopped over for a few minutes--it was date night, so Abbey got to stay for awhile and play. What a treat! Cooper even stopped over and the kids got to play with the big boys for a few minutes! They both went to bed and slept really well that night!