Life is moving... and changing

Well, I think that this may be the first post I have made about a 'small' life change that is about to happen in this already crazy house.  A short nine months ago Matt and I stood in the kitchen with a positive pregnancy test.  I am always thankful for the nine months that God gives you to wrap your mind around having another little one and well, it's here.  No better day to write this post than on my due date.  I have seen another due date come and go with this little babe still in my belly.  I feel like life has just started organizing itself into a bit of a routine with Taylor mellowing out (a bit) and as we try and figure out what this homeschooling thing looks like (oh, have I not mentioned that either... did I mention life has been a bit crazy? :)).  I guess all this to say, that this crew of five is very excited to meet the little lady that is going to take us to six.  She has some pretty great big sisters and a pretty awesome big brother to welcome her home.  Madison totally gets what's going on.  She is excited and ready to help.  Eliott is mostly just excited about the three 'sleep nights' that he gets to have at Gramma and Papa's when this little lady decides to make her entrance.  Taylor know to point at my belly when we talk about a 'baby' but then usually lifts her shirt up to talk about her baby :).  Her world is just about to get rocked.

We are excited to welcome you into our humble little life, little lady!  We have prayed for you many times at our dinner table with our family and look forward to holding you in our arms.  You are already loved by many!

I had to add this picture.  This is the night we found out we were pregnant.  So thankful and at the same time I looked at this little lady in her 'big sister' gear and just laughed to myself.  Oh how God will shape our whole family this next year.  Ready or not... loving every moment!

I have 'belly' painted every time we have expected and of course this time I waited until I was 40 wks pregnant.  Better late than never.  We also later figured out that Eliott had a fever... not the best day but still fun and a great memory :).

Our past belly painting.  The top two are Madison when she was 18'ish months with little T-man in my belly.   The middle and bottom two pictures are from when our little Taylor was on her way.  

Happy Thawing... Easter at Gramma Lori and Papa's

A Few Days From Madison's Preschool Days

Madison enjoyed preschool.  She wasn't the first one running through the door, but she was always up for going and learning something new.  I think she grew a lot and became more confident and independent.  We got to join in on a few days and get a peek at what she was doing

Grandma Lori and I got to volunteer at Madison's Valentines Day party. 

Birthday Cupcakes!

Maidson got to bring her new chickens for 'sharing'.  It was so fun... they had Madison sit in the middle of the circle where she shared about her chickens.  Then she got to call on a few 'quiet hands'.  The questions were great... "Where do your chickens sleep?  Where is their mom?  Where did you find them?"

T got to join and held on to Sweetie Pie during sharing.

Carefully deciding on which quiet hand to call on.

Taking a ride on Shortcake.

Teaching T the ropes on the new playground.

Checking out the big chickens at preschool.

.

So... Let's Just Say It's Been Awhile.

Since the last post looks like it was Madison's birthday, I certainly need to get after this blog thing again.  So here goes.  Consider the next several posts 'catch up'.  Therefore they will probably be random and out of order.  Here goes!  We'll start with a few random pictures from the freezing cold winter that we made it through.

Some day they won't enjoy cleaning with me... until then, I will gladly take half-smeared mirrors.

No, winter did not thaw, they are just pretending it's a hot day in the middle of summer while it's still freezing outside.

T convinced me that he likes broccoli and he likes it 'whole'... then he proceeded to eat pretty much this whole stalk.  

Morning cartoons with sis.

Toothy smile from this little personality-exploding lady.

I just thought her pretty pony needed a picture... blonde-haired beauty :).

And the thaw begins... drip, drip, drip.

Water dripping?  Could it be?

Afternoon nap with Dad.

A lot of beater-lickin'.

And a lot of book-readin'.

More beaters.

An impromptu snowman with Dad.

Go Fish... winning is the only goal for this lady.

Fire place naps... does it get any better?

Fire place snuggles with Great Grandma.

Snow, snow, snow . . . 

Taylor often picks books out and drags them over to Madi.  When she's on the floor, Taylor backs her way in to plop right down on Madi's lap.  I love hearing Madi make up the story for Taylor.

Madison's trying to draw.  I thought her fox and castle (bottom left) was pretty impressive.

These two almost always end their day in this spot.

They decided to make their own bonfire, then convinced me that they needed marshmellows to roast.

A squeaky clean monster, giraffe, and frog.

We call him the mail man... he gets the mail almost every day.

And another cold afternoon... today it was filled with hot chocolate and a game of trouble.

Madison Turns Five

This pretty little lady of ours turned five this year.  She is a beautiful combination of fancy and fun.  She is certainly the most patient, kind person in the Hoffert house.  We all get a little spoiled by her at times.  She is a great big sis to T, Taylor, and already tells my belly she loves this new little lady that will be arriving this fall.  I tell Matt often that she will be able to run our house in a few years and could probably do it better than I can.  Today I was getting a few things picked up upstairs and I looked on her desk and she had this incredible flower bouquet that she had cut from around our house.  It was better than anything I had ever put together and she did it without saying a word.  Through this little lady, God has slowed me down to see the world around me.  She is never in a hurry and notices the small things in life.  We certainly love each part of her and look forward to see how this sweet/competitive spirit is developed as she grows.  She started and finished preschool this year.  She wouldn't tell you she loved it but she certainly seemed to enjoy it and never complained about going.  She grew a lot by being there half a day three days a week.  She also learned to ride her bike in pure 'madison' fashion.  She had been asking Matt to take off her training wheels for a few weeks.  When we finally did, he gave her one little push and off she went.  It took her a little while to figure out how to get herself started, but when little brother started riding his solo, she learned in about ten minutes.  She can climb monkey bars with the best of them and swings so high she makes my stomach a bit nauseous.  She has spent these last five years going from an only child to big sister of soon-to-be three younger ones.... and has done it unselfishly.  She often thinks of others before herself.  If you give her a few animals crackers (or whatever it may be) she will immediately ask for another handful and say "T will probably want some".  We love her and are often humbled by her sweet spirit.

Pancake Breakfast.  Ps... don't put the candles in too early... they are too tastey with clumps of pink wax.

Picking out earings.

Tough girl... not even a flinch.

Fancy Nancy / Princess party... She insisted on a surprise party and enjoyed it with some fancy friends.