A peek at Christmas 2012

 Per our usual Holiday activities, we drove up to Michigan for Christmas and had our nieces and nephews participate in the annual "Uncle Eric and Aunt Melissa Holiday crazy".  This year, the kids learned all about planking along with joining in some other wacky game playing.

Click HERE to see our 2012 planking video with the kids.  Here are a few pics showing off our maaaad skillz.

 Luke experiencing some Michigan snow with Daddy! :)

 We were actually home, just the 3 of us on, Christmas Day this year.  It was so nice to start some of our own family traditions. 

 You and Daddy reading the Christmas story.

 Let the tearing of the wrapping paper begin!

 Grandma and Grandpa Hoffman got Luke this cool new ride!

 and just some silly Christmas fun....

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas from Luke :0)

Dear Luke, 15 & 16 months

Dear Luke,

We have been really busy around here.  For starters we moved.... again.  These past few months of looking for a house, finding one, offering, negotiating, accepting, waiting, closing, packing, moving, unpacking, painting, and renovating has been a whirlwind to say the least.  Now that we are moved in the new house and all most of the boxes are unpacked, it's beginning to feel more like "our" home.

As excited as I am to have this new home, a part of me grieves leaving the last one.  Not because I wanted to live there forever (believe me I was ready for some more space) but because we made memories there.  Memories of you crawling for the first time, taking your first steps, holding you while you were sick, and so many more.  Each of those moments experienced there are precious to me.  As you get older, you will come to realize I'm quite sentimental about... most everything.

I can already see the "eye rolls" coming my way.

I'm a person who grieves over every ending that life brings, good and bad. To me, change usually feels like we are leaving something behind.  When I was in the 1st grade, I remember crying over getting rid of our woody station wagon.  I was upset when I had to leave my 5th grade teacher and graduate to the 6th grade.  I hated moving to any new house because that meant we had to leave the old one.  To this day, the last day of anything makes me a little sad if for no other reason than- it's the last day.  All of this occasional over- sentimentality is just how I'm wired. 

However, just because I grieve over things that change doesn't mean I don't get excited about what change can bring.  Take you, for instance.  You are one ball of constant change.  Every day you are doing something new.  You are babbling new sounds, learning new signs, eating new foods, running just a little faster, and getting smarter by the day.  I get incredible joy over watching you do each and every new thing.  I must tell you, you have handled the change of moving very well.  You took to this house like you've always lived here.  We've been here several weeks now and you still enjoy running from room to room, exploring the nooks and crannies of the house, opening all the cabinets and doors, and dropping all kinds of objects off the catwalk on the second floor.

Like I've said in my letters to you before, change is a good thing.  Sometimes it brings wonderful new surprises and blessings and sometimes it's just hard.  Either way, change should cause us to acknowledge the One who is in control over all things.  Change has the ability to increase our faith and our understanding of who God is.  And those are good things, Luke.  I  can look back, so grateful for all the memories I made with you in our first home in Tuscaloosa, AL and our first home in Brentwood, TN.  And now, I can look forward with anticipation to the new memories we will make together in our home in Franklin, TN.  
Thanks for changing my life,
Mama

 This is what you looked like this time last year! Look how much you have changed! :) 

In these pics you are in your very first home in Tuscaloosa, AL.

 ..............

 This is what you looked like in December of last year.  

This was our first month in the Townhouse in Brentwood, TN

.............

Making one of our first memories with you in our new home in Franklin, TN.  

You are eating paint painting your very first pumpkin for Halloween. 

 You can still see the boxes in the background that need to be unpacked, but we're ready for Halloween!

In our new neighborhood having your first trick-or-treating experience. 

We got to meet our neighbors and their adorable 14 month old daughter who dressed up like a cupcake.  You ran right up to her and gave her a hug.  We are still not sure if you did that because you are friendly or because you thought she was a real cupcake.  ..... Ahhhhh memories :)

Sick :(

You got a fever today of 102 and all you wanted to do was lay down and hold my hand.  You were so pitiful today.  Just look how flushed your cheeks are!

I'm not going to lie, I LOVED that you wanted me to hold you and lay next to you holding your hand.  My heart breaks when you are sick, but I love being there to try and make you feel better.  Praying God's protection and healing over you today my sweet boy.

Dear Luke, 13 & 14 months

Dear Luke,

Where did the summer go?  We have been partying hard around here!   We've been enjoying all the things summer has to offer, as well as getting ready to launch the new church campus, search for and purchase a new home.  Needless to say, it has been one packed summer.  I may or may not have been a little stressed these past few months, but with out a doubt you have been my stress reliever.  All it takes is one giggle from you and I am reminded of God's incredible faithfulness.

One of your favorite summer activities was getting wet.  Your fearlessness in and around the water was a little surprising as well as nerve racking.   This summer we took a Hoffman family vacation to Indian River, MI in July.  It was so beautiful and we spent a lot of time at Burt Lake and Lake Michigan.  You went on your first boat ride with Uncle Josh and after getting over wearing the life jacket that squished your cheeks up to your eyebrows and forced your arms out like sticks on a snow man, you LOVED it.   You also had your first experience with Lake Michigan.  For your Dad and I, Lake Michigan is at the top of our list when it comes to favorite places.  It brings back such sweet memories or our childhood summers.  It was pretty great watching you enjoy it as much as your Dad and I do.

In addition to vacations we also celebrated weddings.

Took a visit to Holland to see your other cousins Emily and Abbi

And had lots and lots of trips to the zoo and to the park.

You have done a lot of growing and learning this summer.  There is a long list of things you learned to do, so if you don't mind I am just going to list them.
You can sign "more", and "all done"

You know what animals are which, but every animal makes the sound of a dog.  

You can stack blocks as tall as you can reach

You can run

You have 6 teeth

You love to sit in your reading corner and turn every page of every book

You are curious about everything and insist on exploring every space and corner of the new places you visit.  

You love to point and say "dat" which means- what's that?  

You have thrown some tantrums that include arching your back and falling to the floor

You give the sweetest kisses and prefer to give them out of the blue  

You say, "HI!" to every one who passes by

You like to find things on the floor and hand them to me  

You LOVE to be tickled.  You've learned to open and shut your hands, which means- TICKLE ME!

You give high fives and knuckles (dad's favorite trick)

You point at everything and you are learning to tell people how old you are by holding up 1 finger
You like to give hugs and snuggles. 

You like to put things under your chin and walk around with them there  

You are getting so smart and are understanding so much of what we say

I'm sure I am forgetting lots of cute tricks and milestones, but I hope you know that we have treasured each new discovery and want you to keep loving to learn.  We are so proud of you.  I have LOVED spending this summer with you.   Your Dad and I often comment that we can't believe God gave you to us.  We are learning new things about parenting all the time, mostly that it's really hard, but our very treasured responsibility.

I love you sweet Luke,

Mom

Milestone

My handsome husband has reached a milestone.  

30. 

I am so proud of the man you are and the man you are becoming.  You are an incredible father to Luke and he has the best example of what a husband, friend, and follower of Christ looks like.  Thank you for how you lead and love our family.  We are so blessed by you.  

Happy 30th Birthday Eric! 

We love you so much.

Everything is better with a Mustache...

You know what I mean?
No?
Me either.

I don't know why I find mustaches so funny these days, but for some reason they always put a smile on my face.  Obviously, some things just never go out of style.   

via google images

  As I shared before, I found this pic on Pinterest and used it as inspiration for the party thank you notes.

via Pinterest

One of Luke's party details we put a fun twist on were the thank you notes.  When the guests first arrived we had them go into the living room for a quick mustache pic.  The guests had a lot of fun trying on the different mustaches and props for their photos.  I photo-shopped the words "thank you" on our family facial hair pic.  We thought it would be a silly surprise in leu of a standard "thank you" card.  It gave it a personal touch and hopefully a smile to the guests.  With the thank you photo we also sent their personal mustache pic.

We sent the "missed you" cards to the friends and family who were unable to come to the party due to distance, but were truly missed.

And now, I leave you with a few silly mustache pics of some of our sweet friends and family. 

A 4th of July Greeting