Thankful for...27

Today, I am thankful that the camping group of girls and all their kids got together yesterday.  This was the third annual camping kids get together.  This was the first time that all the kids kids were together for this event.  We were missing one mommy that had to work the night shift the night before/morning of.  Nonetheless, the 5 moms and 10 kids had a good time.  April was nice enough to host the event this year.  I didn't get any of the "group" photos, because I was hiding behind the couch holding Jenna in the picture, but I did get a couple pics of the kids eating and playing.

Ciara, Shelby, Emma, Jenna, Lexi, Kate and Aubrey eating lunch.

 Shelby, Bell, Kaden, Kate, Emma and Ciara playing in the living room. 

It was a good visit and was nice to see all the kids interact.  It was the first time most of us got to meet the second round of babies (Shelby, Kaden, Bell, Mattison) in person.  Of course, it was fun for all the mommies to catch up to!  I hope we get together and do it again next year!

Thankful for...14

Yes, I know I missed a couple days.  Today, I am thankful for Vicks Vapor Rub.  Over the weekend we have been fighting snotty noses and a crouppy cough.  My mom reminded me this morning that Vicks on the bottom of feet helps little girls get rid of a drippy runny nose.

Thankful for...11

This Veteran's Day, we honor those who have so bravely served this country.  America is founded on the principle of freedom, justice, and liberty for all. Our nation's soldiers serve every day to protect our country and its ideals. On Veteran's Day, and every day, I would like to say thank you to those who sacrifice their lives to protect our peace and democracy.

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who gave us the freedom to demonstrate
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag.
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag."
Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

Thankful for...10

Today, I am thankful for kisses. 

Shelby has learned how to blow kisses.  She also gives very wet, open mouth kisses, which are absolutely precious.  Jenna has to have a kiss before I can leave her at daycare so I can go to work.  I am thankful for Lance kisses to.

Thankful for...9

I am thankful for farmers.  It is the American Farmer who ensures that we have food to eat everyday!  I thank the men and women that provide the safest, most affordable, nutritious, and abundant food supply of any nation in the world.


Today, on average, one U.S. farmer produces food and fiber for 155 people.  By producing the most abundant food supply in the world, the American farmer has enabled American consumers to spend approximately 10% of their yearly disposable income to purchase food.

Today, my hat goes off to you, American Farmer.  Thank you for everything you do and everything you produce. 

Thankful for...8

I work at Farm Credit Services of Mid-America in the Sullivan, Indiana office.  There are 2 of there on a daily basis.  It is a little office as compared to some of the Farm Credit offices.  The Customer Service Representative that I work with every day, Connie, has been with Farm Credit for 31 years.  She has infinate wisdom on many topics and often times saves my rear.  Today, all the Customer Service ladies were in a meeting, leaving me to hold down the fort solo.  It is those days when I am covering phone, counter and trying to do my job to, that I am really thankful for having good help in the office!

Thankful for...7

Yesterday, I was thankful for beautiful fall weather.  We also dug our sweet potatoes. 

I am thankful that Lance & I have planted a garden.  I love sweet potatoes. 

I had to get a second crate.  I took this picture on my way back to the garden.  We harvested 2 crates 3/4 of the way full.  I am pleased and look forward to seeing who helps me eat them!

Thankful for...6

Today, I am thankful for beautiful fall days!  Lance mowed the grass and I raked some leaves up.  While Shelby napped, Jenna played in one of the piles of leaves I made.  I LOVE FALL!

Thankful for...5

I am thankful for both Lance and I having good jobs.  We are very fortunate in having a job, a job that utilizes our college education, and that pays us for our hard work.  We are especially fortunate to have jobs that provide us with company vehicles to drive. 

I am please to say that today I picked up my new ride.  When I say new, I mean that it has 7 miles on it now.  I have a 2012 Chevy Equinox that is Slate Blue.

I got to turn in my 2009 Buick LaCrosse.

 

Thankful for...4

Today, I am thankful for healthy children.  We are extremely blessed to have healthy children. 

Wednesday afternoon, I took off work early and took Shelby for her next round of well child visits.  This is the "18 month" appointment a month early.  Miss Shelby weighed in at 22.6 pounds.  She is 30 1/4 inches tall.  She is just below the 25th percentile in height, just above the 25th percentile in weight, and on the 25th percentile for head circumfrence.  She is overall, just a littler girl!

Her development, speech, and motor control are exactly where they should be for her age.  I am very thankful for God blessing me with 2 healthy children.

Thankful for...3

I am thankful for Miss Jenna May Hofmann. 

Today Jenna is 2 years 9 months old. 

She is such a sweet little girl. 

This is her picture from Portrait Innovations when we took the Rentchler Cousins to get their pictures taken.

Thankful for...2

I am greatful for my family.  This past weekend we went south to visit my parents.  We played outside at the swingset.  It was rather chilly outside, but the girls enjoyed it!

 Jenna and Mawmaw swinging

 Pawpaw and Jenna swinging



Thankful for...1

Lance had his 10 year high school class reunion a Saturday ago.  Listening to where his classmates were in life, made me thankful for everything I have in my life.  I have decided to try to share with the blog follwers the some of things that I am most greatful for...in no particular order....

17 months ago today, I was blessed with a wonderful daughter!  Miss Shelby Leigh Hofmann.   

Happy Halloween

Trick Treat, as Jenna says! 

 Jenna and her pumpkin from daycare

Shelby's daycare pumpkin

Happy Halloween from our goblins to you!

Cousins

So all week last week our babysitter was on vacation.  Their family went to Florida for the week.  I decided to take the week off to spend with my girls.  It turned out that it was also the week of covered bridge festival.  I invited my sister and her girls up to spend a day to spend at the festival.  So on Tuesday they headed up and we were going to go to Portrait Innovations in Terre Haute to get the Rentchler Cousins pictures taken.  Then Wednesday we were going to go to Mansfield. 

It turned out that Portrait Innovations was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday it rained all day so we cancelled our plans to go to the bridges.  We decided to take the girls into town and get their pictures taken on Wednesday instead.  With 4 kids under age 4, we had more bloopers than good photos.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

I have more pictures of just Jenna and Shelby, but the computer is only letting me post 2 pictures per blog. Watch for another blog post each day this week.



Happy Birthday Kaity!

Today we were invited over to our neice, Kaity's, "Little House on the Prairie" to celebrate her 8th birthday.  We enjoyed a nice lunch with all of Kaity's family. 

Miss Kaity was dressed to look like little Laura Ingles Wilder to match the Little House on the Prairie theme!

 

 Here is a picture of the kiddos playing games. Jenna & Jaelyn (with their backs to the camera), Gage, Jenna, Shelby and Kaity.

Today was extra special, because her party was on her actual birthday!  Happy Birthday Kaity!

In the Fields

The girls and I took Lance supper to the field one night while they were cutting soybeans.  The sun was setting and I got some neat pictures of them playing.

This is my favorite.

Jenna's Future Profession????

Jenna came out of the bathroom with the water bottle and a comb hidden behind her back.  Shelby was sitting on the floor playing with a refrigerator toy that plays animal noises.  Shelby was a good sport, as usual, and let Jenna play with her hair. 

Jenna started combing Shelby's hair

 Shelby needed a little water spritz to make her hair lay

Shelby needed a bow to finish it off.

Fortunately, Jenna was finished playing beautician before Shelby was finished playing.  I didn't get a picture of the final product, but her hair was soked and had a bow.  The bow only lasted 20 seconds.  I am wondering if this is an insight to Jenna's future profession?

Never a Dull Moment

There is never a dull moment in the Hofmann house. 

We have been working with Jenna potty training.  She has been doing really well on the weekends.  She doesn't do as well during the week.  I am not sure if she is too busy playing and forgets or if the babysitter is not reminding her/making her go, but we are working towards it.

I keep telling myself that 2.5 is a fun age.  I never cease to be amazed at some of the things that come out of Jenna's mouth. 

She goes in the bathroom to sit on the potty and says, "Leave me alone, Mommy"
She gets in the car and asks which car seat is hers, then insists on buckling the seat belt herself!
We drive down the road and she points at the houses and says, "that not my house, right Mommy?" at EVERY house!
Every time someone leaves, or she is leaving, she insists that she gives them a kiss and a hug.  It's cute when it's mommy or daddy or a grandparent or other family.  It's a little wierd when it's someone randomly dropping something off or picking something up from our house.

As for Shelby, she has started climbing on everything.  I found her standing on top of the toy box one evening when I came out of the bathroom.  She tried to figure out how to climb up on the bar stool, until she pulled it over on herself. 

My mom and I have nick-named them "Monkey See" and "Monkey Do" they watch what the other is doing and chime in! 

Needless to say, there is never a dull moment at the Hofmann house!

Jesus

We have been praying of an evening with Jenna.  The other evening I asked Jenna if she was ready to go to bed.  I told her I would lay down with her and we would talk to Jesus.  The rest of the conversation went like this....

Mommy:   Do you want me to lay down with you?  We will talk to Jesus.
Jenna:   On the phone?
Mommy:  We don't need a phone to talk to Jesus.
Jenna:  Pause and puzzled look
Mommy:  Mommy doesn't have a phone number for Jesus.
Jenna:  It's in your purse! 
Mommy:  laughter

I love 2 1/2.  You never know what she is going to say.

Plus 2 Minus 1

I am happy to announce that Shelby got 2 more teeth during the last days of vacation (Friday evening I found them). She now has 6 teeth.  She has the two bottom center teeth, a front tooth and I tooth, her most recent are her second front center tooth and the I tooth next to it. 

I am sad to say that we are minus one kitten.  Poor Mr. Boots was playing in the road and met a vehicle.  Lance buried him Tuesday night.  The worst part is he was the friendiest kitten :(

RIP Boots 7.9.11

Vacation Day 6 - Big Girl Bed

Yes, I know I skipped day 5.  Day 5 of vacation entailed cleaning out the car, putting everything away, and doing laundry.  Lance and Jenna mowed hay down for a local farmer.  Nothing too exciting, just another day in Paradise. 

Thursday, Day 6, we sent the girls to daycare and Mommy and Daddy went shopping.  The major purchase for the day was a big girl bed for Jenna.  This all started when Jenna started trying to climb out of her crib.  She managed a couple times to get half way out before I could get in her room.  Shelby was starting to stand in her crib and on the lowest mattress setting, was hanging half way over her bed.  I figured it was a fall waiting to happen.  So we purchased a set of bunk beds.  Jenna got moved into the bigger room (which was Shelby's) and Shelby got moved into the crib in Jenna's room. 

We only assembled the upper bunk of the bunk beds, because it has the side rails on it.  The lower head board and foot board are sitting against the wall behind the bed.

 Jenna's new bed and room arragement.

Jenna did okay in her bed.  We only had problems out of her the first two nights, after that, she has been sleeping through the night not getting up and wondering around.  She likes her big bed.  Shelby has had a harder time with the transition.  I really can't explain why, maybe she feels more trapped by the lower mattress and the taller sidewalls on the crib.  I might say that Lance and I have had the hardest time with the switch.  I move all the clothes, dresser contents, and closet contents in both rooms and things aren't where they always were.  We go to put kids to bed or get them up and have to stop and think about who belongs in which room.  It will take some getting used to!

Vacation Day 4 - National Air Force Muesum

We spent the night in the Holiday Inn, Dayton, just a mile down the road from the United States Air Force Museum.  This is some place Lance was really excited about going.  



We started the tour by getting on a bus and going over to the Wright Patterson Air Force Base to see the retired Air Force One Aircraft and some of the Research and Development of Aircraft.

 They had a big section dedicated to the early air craft by the Wright Brothers.  

There was also a section talking about early flight planes used in WWI. 

 The had the plane that dropped the A-bomb in WWII on Nagasaki.

 

 They had several planes with their noses decorated!

There were also sections dedicated to the Vietnam and Korean Wars as well as the Cold War.

 Then we went into a section on NASA and space flight

 The museum was ginormous!!!! There were planes and aircraft EVERYWHERE.  There is no way that you could see everything in the museum in one day.  It was neat, but the kiddos had enough, so we got in the car and started driving.  Dayton is the home to the Wright Brothers and their original bicycle shop.  Lance went into the National Historical Site, while I stayed in the car with the sleeping girls.  It was a neat city - someplace we will probably revisit when the kids are older and learning about the wars in school.  From Dayton we decided we had enough and it was time to go home...we still had several more things we wanted to accomplish during our vacation.

Vacation Day 3 - Natural Bridge and COSI

 The third morning we decided to take the longest hike yet.  It was a mile and a half one way to see Ohio's longest "Natural Bridge".  It was a very nice cool place, under the bridge, once we finally got there.  This bridge was formed by water washing away the stone over time and leaving part of the harder stone. 

 We didn't have a formal plan for the afternoon.  So I plugged Columbus Ohio attractions in the Garmin and found the Center of Science and Industry.  I had no idea what it was, but thought it might be neat.  Turned out it was basically a big childrens museum.  The kiddos really enjoyed the freedom to roam around and play in an area that was designed specifially for their age group. 

 It had an area designed for water exploration.  The kids had a lot of fun getting wet!

 Shelby had so much fun, she gave me a thank-you kiss, actually I got two!

 The kids were starting to get tired, because it was naptime.  We decided to go to some of the areas designed for older kids.  Lance and I really enjoyed the gadget room.  There was an area that talked about gears and pulleys.  They had actually made a pair of chairs with multiple gears.  How would you like this chair in your living room?

 Lance and Jenna had lots of fun pulling their weight on the pulley chairs. 

With two restless kids, all that fun, and a half and hour until closing we decided to head towards our final destination - Dayton.

Vacation Day 2 - Hocking Hills

We started the morning on a hike to see the Rock House.  We actually walked past it the first time.  It was a huge "house" within the rocks.  It had several neat views, but was very difficult to photograph. 

 We left Rock House and went to see "Old Man's Cave"  We didn't stick around the cave very long because the highlight of our trip was to get moving at 2:30 pm. 

 We wanted to take Jenna on a choo choo ride.  So we found the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway.  It was a 14 mile trip by train around the Hocking Hills area. 

 Daddy and Shelby riding in the two-story car!

 Jenna and Mommy as we are on the move!

 We really enjoyed the train ride, a stop at the Rocky Shoe store headquarters.  We made a stop for supper for Amish food at the Olde Dutch Inn.  It had finally cooled off so we decided to go for two more short hikes.  The first was called Cedar Falls it was an easy 1/2 mile hike.

 The second hike was to Ash Cave which had a trickle of a water fall.  It was an easy 1/4 mile hike that was handicap accessable, which meant we got to use the stroller!  These two walks were probably the most enjoyable of the whole trip!