Colton and Toddy around the house

I asked Todd to smile and look and this is the face he made

Finally he gave me a smile

I remember Ethan use to do this also...Todd thought this was pretty clever!

I took the shots above of Toddy and Colton today while Ethan was at school...

Side note: Nate is gone to Toronto for the week at a work conference...

I just get such a kick out of my boys...

They each have their own little personalities 

and they keep me laughing and kissing them all day because I can't handle their cuteness...

Seriously I know I am not alone in saying this but my children amaze me all day long.  

They could be doing just about anything and if I take a minute to really watch them and be present in the moment I am blown away by how amazing their little spirits are...

Pure joy and happiness seeping from their presence and I can't help but feel their beautiful energy!

Did I say how much I love Toddy's curls...I seriously don't want to ever cut it short...

I hope he will let me keep it long and curly because he rocks this look!  

I put a man bun in the other day and I have to say he was looking pretty fine!

Somehow Toddy found about 6 soothers today and was carrying them around...

He was pretty excited and proud to have so many and was quite possessive about them...

That one picture makes me laugh because technically he is not suppose to have a soother during the day...|Yup my consistency with that one is a big fail!  I sometimes feel really bad taking away something that make him feel safe and secure...Is it really going to hurt his teeth??

And truthfully it is next to impossible to stop this habit because Todd constantly is stealing Coltons soo soo or finding lost ones around the house.

Just love all my boys!  Including you honey!

Breakfast with Santa at Milestones Restaurant

We got tickets for a breakfast with Santa at Milestones restaurant in Masonville Mall this past weekend...First time eating in a restaurant with all three kids!

We survived and the kids had fun...

Colton was even big enough for the restaurant highchair which was helpful...

After breakfast we went to a movie at Silver City

This was the kids first movie experience...

They did great...Ethan and Todd sat through the whole movie and Colton slept...

It really could not of gone any better...

The movie was Madagascar 3 I think...It was cute!

Dearest Colton

Dear Sweet Colton,

I am so honored to be your mom...I think you are amazing!

You are almost 8 months old and growing oh so quickly...

We have literally been mostly attached since you were born...

This is because I baby ware you all the time...
I have to in order to keep up with your older brothers who are very busy.
I have really enjoyed this close bonding time...
There is something truly special about feeling your precious breaths
and strong beating heart close against me all day long...

When I am not in your presence I feel strangely "naked"...
Between wearing you during the day and co-sleeping with you at night our connection is
oh so close...
I have to admit you really don't last long in a slumber with out me close by...
And you have no problem letting others know that you want me...
I am more then okay with this, as it will not last forever!
I feel lucky...
Lucky to be the one that you want to hold you the most...
I see  you reach out for me while you are sleeping to make sure I am close...
It is pretty darn cute...And just slightly melts my heart!

You are eating some solids now but much prefer to breastfeed.
You are getting yourself around on the ground pretty good...
Its kind of like a crawl but your stomach stays on the ground...
Its so cute to see you learning how to do new things.
You laugh and smile lights up my world...
You love to smile.
You are a very happy baby

You love your daddy...
Especially when he tickles you with his whiskers...
 You love to go in the hot tub and bath...You love the outdoors...
You love it when I sing I am a Child of God to you...
You love your brothers and like to watch them and laugh at them...
make the cutest baby sounds...
Recently you started saying dadadada...I remember when Ethan and Toddy use to make that sound.  You love the green soothie soo soo, and get a little upset when Toddy steals it from you...
You smell so good...
I love putting my nose to your mouth to smell and feel your warm milky breath.
I love it when you reach up to my face and grab it...
When your nails are long it kind of hurts but I don't even care.
I love feeding you and watching your darling little cheeks and mouth move in rhythm...
You look so calm and happy in my arms... I love that I make you feel safe and secure.
You are a beautiful little angel sent from above to bless our family...
I am beyond grateful to be entrusted with your spirit and to take care for you...
It is such an amazing opportunity for your dad and I to continue to grow and progress as parents...
I pray often that we will one day make you proud.
My hope is that you will grow to be a kind, loving, happy, self confident, conscious individual...
I just want you to be a happy person.
I want you to be your own person.
I want you to be whoever you are suppose to be...
For no one other then God and yourself knows your purpose and mission here on this earth...
Use prayer for guidance in making decisions.
I will always be in your corner to cheer you on, listen to you, hug and hold you when you need it and pray for you during your trials...
View your trials as opportunities to learn and grow.
Our failures are our best teachers in life...

I promise you that I take this responsibility and opportunity to raise you and your brothers very seriously...I am learning so much about myself and becoming more aware and conscious of who I am and how I can become a better parent for you, Toddy and Ethan...
I don't have all the answers, I will sometimes fail, I will sometimes feel overwhelmed, but tomorrow is another day and I will never stop trying my best...
Just knowing that my efforts will help to set you on the right path towards a beautiful life is all I need to keep going ...
Your dad and I make a good team...
We are in this together and talk all the time about our parenting and how amazingly blessed we are to have you and your brothers.
I love your daddy very much...
He is a good man who loves me and our family to his core...

I love you with all that I am, I love your brothers with all that I am, I love your daddy with all that I am, and above all I love our Heavenly Father and Savior with all that I am.  

Looking forward to the rest of our lives and beyond together little man...

Families Forever baby boy!

  

Christmas has started at the Hofstetters

It's that time of year again...

One of my favorite family traditions that we do is

kicking off the Christmas season the day after Halloween...

Our house transforms on November 1st...

Out with the scary decorations and pumpkins and

in with the beautiful Christmas decorations and lights...

Out came the Christmas bins from under the stairs...

The day consisted of...

Quality family time;

PJ's all day

Christmas music;

Polar Express;

A Christmas feast;

Cinnabons and

building a gingerbread house

I have to say...

It is...

"beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

at our house!

And we are more then OK with this!

Before

AND AFTER...

Dasher is back!!!

I snapped the next photos the following morning...

Todd and Colton woke up first at 5:30am...

The clocks were put back so luckily it didn't feel that early...

I love seeing the excitement in the kids faces after our house transforms...

Colton was loving the tree lights...

 I put the movie Frozen on (as we often do in the morning)

 and not long after Ethan came down excited to find Dasher...

He was a little nervous and asked me to hold his hand 

while he walked around the house to find his old friend...

When Dasher was spotted a big grin came to his face...

And when Ethan and Todd discovered the Smarties that Dasher brought they

jumped up and down squealing "Dasher is back"...

They examined him for about 10 mins while talking to him...So cute!

Although I make sure my kiddies understand as well as celebrate the true meaning of Christmas,

It is also fun to enjoy the child like wonder, magic and excitement that Christmas can also bring!

Here's our kick off to a fun and magical Christmas season!!