DPP2019 Day 24 and 25 - Merry Christmas from The Hoffmans

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our friends and family.  Let this DPP Project serve as our Christmas card and letter for this year.  As much as I would love to have a Christmas card each year, I choose this blog instead.  This once a year snapshot in time reminds me of our reality of today.   It tells me the stories that will remind me of quirks and traits of the kiddos that I have long since forgotten.  And hopefully, it will be a place for the kiddos to come and relive their childhood.  The good, the bad, and the crazy of it all.

There are times in every Christmas season that I ask myself why I try to cram this all in during the busiest time of year.  However, as I reach the end of the 25 day project, I am reminded that this blog forces me to slow down, take in the moments that I would otherwise forget, and to remember that in all the hard and chaos of life, there lives so much good. 

Things to remember about 2019 (Starting with January. . . ):

1.  E surviving playing 3 basketball teams during her winter season in early 2019 and managed to still get excellent grades.
2.  B having his birthday at Dave and Busters for the third year in a row with nearly the same kiddos.  We love forever friends.
3.  K putting on an impromptu performance with her karaoke machine (thanks Uncle Tev!) with her good friend who lives down the street.
4.  Big B participating in his middle schools inaugural DI team.
5.  Getting to square dance with Lil B at his elementary school.  It was just the two of us and we had so much fun.  He didn't even care that his mom is ridiculous.
6.  Trip to Pheonix and Sedona with Omom and Pawee.  A side trip to see the Grand Canyon through a snow storm to get there.   The highlight for the boys, especially Lil B, was getting to see a Royals spring training game.  Lil B even caught a foul ball.
7.  Lil B having his kid party six months late but loving every minute thanks to Wildlife Encounters.
8.  K losing her first tooth - the last first tooth lost for us!
9.  The ongoing battle of who is taller, Rich or E.
10.  E preparing for high school and K going to KG round-up!
11.  Taking care of Uncle Tev when his leg got infected.
12.  Summer basketball for E on a top level team.
13.  Pool days and days at Billie's lake.
14.  VBS for K and Lil B while Big B got to be a leader - which he did so well, he got compliments from the adult volunteers.
15.  Baseball for Lil B - he loves this sport!
16.  K learned to ride a bike!
17.  E went to DC and NY with her school
18.  Big B went to church camp and experienced homesickness for the first time ever.  But he quickly overcame it to have yet another awesome week at one of his favorite places to go.
19. Lil B got to go to church camp for the first time.  He loved it.
20.  Omom got an award from the Playhouse for all her years of service.  She has been volunteering there at least three decades, if not four.
21.  Spending the fourth with our favorite basketball families. (Thanks Cramptons!)
22.  Another wonderful trip to Colorado with Cousin Syd and Grandma joining Omom, Pawee, and all of us.   The kids even created a funny song to She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain about Grandma.  Omom was just glad there was someone else to be teased. 
23.  Celebrating Kevin at the beginning of August because he brings so much joy to our lives.
24.  The first class of students begins at the program that I helped to create.  I cannot tell you what an honor it is to get to work for an amazing University with great leadership to create an excellent program that will long outlast me.  I am truly humbled by this great experience.
25.  Celebrating E with her friends at a downtown birthday party.
26.  K's first Husker game.
27.  Celebrating Billie and Rob getting married.
28.   Lil b's golden birthday complete with a trip to KC with his Daddy.
29.  E getting her permit and starting to learn to drive.
30.  E attending her freshman homecoming with two of her good friends.  And several other homecomings with her basketball besties.
31.  A family trip to Orlando for K to get to see and remember a trip to Cinderella's castle.  This was the best trip ever.  The perfect blend of theme park and lazy pool days.  We were grateful to share these memories with Omom and Pawee.
32.  Mom going with K to her first school field trip to the Zoo.
33.  Halloween where Big B went with his friends and had a great time, E took her friend from Switzerland around so that she could experience trick or treating.  And lil B and K loved tackling the neighborhood with all their neighbor friends.
34.  B winning an award for his extra effort in his computer programming class.
35.  Lil B being elected by his class to Kindness Club
36.  K getting a shout out from her teacher for showing extra care to a child in her class needing extra attention.
37.  E making JV basketball as a Freshman.
38.  Rich continuing to use his exceptional problem solving skills in the world of data forensics.  For as silly and fun as he can be, he takes his work seriously and is really impressive at his job. His ability to relate to clients and his ability to solve forensic questions with definitive evidence is second to none.  He is humble, he helps others solves problems without taking any credit and he is the go to guy when everyone else says it can't be done.

As for December?  Well you have come along on that ride with us through this blog....We have so much to be grateful for.....

Merry Christmas.  Happy Holidays.  Happy New Year. 

December Photo Project 2019.....Complete.