August 28th, 2010
Maggie & Ella on graduation night
Last Sunday after church we headed out to college-town to visit my cousin who just started her first year at university. I can’t believe she’s in college.
Maggie just turned 18 and I mentioned this anecdote in her birthday card, but I have to share it here. This is how I will always think of her…
It was Christmas Eve at my parents house. They had just purchased a karaoke machine and it was the perfect occasion to break it in. We were a family heavily into country music and at the time, country music was heavily into Miss Shania Twain.
I remember poking the video camera around the corner into the kitchen, hoping Maggie wouldn’t notice the blinking light and get shy. There she stood, her little denim skirt twirling as she swayed her 5 year old hips to the beat. She clutched the mic like a child country star should. She was so into it. Mag was singing her heart out about her man’s boots being under someone else’s bed. She knew every word of Shania’s tale and heartache.
The Hoffmann Cousins, June ’10
There is a memory that is so vivid, I don’t even need the tape as a reminder. But it’s there, in my parent’s hall closet, should anyone want to see the real Maggie I know and love.
Come to think of it, she’s pretty much remained the same as she’s grown into the woman she is today.
I am so proud of you, Mag! Don’t be afraid to let that Shania star out once in a while. I think she’d be a big hit at the parties.
We love you, Mag-tastic!
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August 23rd, 2010
I have a good husband. A good one indeed.
He lures me out of bed in the morning with promises of hot Mexican mochas.
He washes the diapers when it’s my turn and I am too tired to move. Same for the dishes.
He gets really excited over good food.
He loves to cook and make up meals.
He’s made me a much healthier eater. (Rough at first, when he would ban Oreos and the artificial likes from the house.)
He has formed me into an appreciator of simple healthy food and taught me to value what it can do for my body.
He loves to indulge in desserts.
He bakes bread from scratch.
He looks at Ella Faye with such love in his eyes. Which brings tears to my eyes when I see it happening.
He is patient and supportive and listens when I rant or ramble on.
He rubs my legs every night when they get jumpy. And scratches my back when it gets itchy under my jams.
He dances with Ella and runs through the kitchen playing soccer with her.
He can make me laugh to the point of streaming tears.
He decides he wants an affogato and makes one on the spot.
He makes up funny jokes using the word “affogato.”
He does this yoga pose where he bends so that his chest touches his thighs.
He has encouraging words anytime I need them.
He has hair that flips out when it gets long and he can rock a mean Beatles shag.
He can be romantical…swoon.
He is determined and inspired and motivated.
I find him to be the most handsome boy. Period.
I am in love.
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August 12th, 2010
While Ant’s birthday was two weeks ago and I am just now getting to post this, I think it is just in keeping with the theme of being behind schedule around here. (Hey at least I am consistent!) I couldn’t stand to not show some photos of his birthday week, so here we are:
I think these might be my most favorite photos yet of my two together. Every time I look at these I feel like I am catching a glimpse of the future. Is it just me or does she look like a teenager here?? Look at that smile!
These photos take my breath away.
I like Ant’s face in the bottom left one. It looks like he just realized we’re going to be in for trouble in about 10 years. (Now make that times two.)
On our way to dinner. The sky was beautiful and stormy.
26 and feeling fine
That evening we stuck a candle atop the mountain of chocolate brownie cookies Ella and I baked that morning and the birthday boy made a wish…
…maybe that his real birthday cake would come out as planned.
Here we have Attempt #2 of Homemade Ice Cream Cake. Fudge brownie base, thick layer of peanut butter, and coffee ice cream mountain molded on top. Covered with chocolate shell. It was massive and turned out much more eye-appealing than last year’s. (Although I missed the leaning tower effect.)
Let’s hear it for the boy!
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August 4th, 2010
The day we took our 15 weeks shots, we were waiting for our friend Elyse to arrive for a night of pizza and a movie. We got lucky, and she brought her infamous Sweet Maries along for dessert. Have you ever had them?
Ant and I were first introduced to Sweet Maries (and Elyse) in our college days when we all worked in the computer commons in the basement of our campus library. On rare occasions, Elyse would bring us dungeon dwellers a batch of fresh Sweet Maries and they would be gone before you could go back for seconds. They are absolutely divine.
I was gutsy once and looked up a recipe for the darn things. But I couldn’t bring myself to make them. They just wouldn’t taste right.
I think we should rename them Sweet Elyses. They have just that precise balance of sweetness, nuttiness, gooeyness, and bite. Just like our Elyse.
Ella Faye waiting for ‘Eese and her Sweet Maries
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