Somebody is 3! and Someone is 2011!!

Jamee at 3 years old!

Jamee at 2 years old!




Jamee at 1 year old!

Jamee at 1 hour old!

Hello everyone!



Wow!!!!!! I have been busy these days--thus no posts since May! Well, I'm now a mature 3 year old. So far, I love being three. It's amazing the number of toys that are "not appropriate for children under 3." Well, I've arrived and those toys are now appropriate!! Yippee!







I had a wonderful birthday! The whole Kurtz family came--Oma and Opa, Uncle Paul, Aunt Susanne, Arin, Sydney, Obi, Eli, Che Che, Uncle Mike and Hayden. The weather has been "fall-like" this December so there were no traveling issues for anyone. The only hiccup to the festivities was that I was feeling a bit under the weather. I came down with a cold two weeks ago (on Mommy's birthday), that turned into bronchitis, got a prescription for an antibiotic, two and a half days later I had a full body rash--no more antibiotic for me. Anyway, I've been grumpy and miserable for two weeks. Finally by Christmas a.m. the rash broke and I was feeling more like my own self. Anyway, I still had a good birthday. And even better, I get to celebrate my birthday again later this week with Mimi and Papa and the Hoffman family!



Mommy made me a train cake. I thought it was pretty cool. Daddy even got me Thomas the Train plates and napkins. Anyway, thanks everyone for making my 3rd birthday a lot of fun. Now I can't wait to be 4!!



Just a few days after my birthday is Christmas! It's a crazy time in the Hoffman household. There is lots of baking, lots of wrapping, lots of decorations, lots of presents, lots of family and lots of fun. I even got to help with some of the presents this year.



This year, Mommy, Daddy and Opa took me to see Santa. I was a bit shy--you can never be too sure about strangers--even Santa. Anyway, I did tell Santa that I wanted a Wegman's truck and then gave him a hug. I think I might be more brave next year.





Christmas was great! We went to our Christmas Eve service and Mommy did the Children's story. She read Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus and gave all the kids birthday party hats so that we would remember that Christmas was all about celebrating Jesus' birthday.



When we got home, we watched the second half of The Polar Express. I love that movie. And then I went to bed. I did a pretty good job going to bed Christmas Eve. I wanted Santa to come to my house!!



Christmas morning Mommy, Daddy, Opa, Oma and I went downstairs and I saw that Santa had eaten the cookies and drank the milk that I left for him. He also wrote me a personal note, telling me that I had been doing a good job using the potty this year--keep working on it he said. And that I needed to keep working on listening to Mommy and Daddy. He did tell me that I did a great job saying please and thank you and that I also did a great job asking to be excused from the table. He told me that I had been a good boy!!





Daddy reading me Santa's letter.



After I opened my stocking from Santa, we all went over to have a breakfast birthday party for Jesus at Aunt Susanne's and Uncle Paul's. I got to take one Santa present over to the Kurtzes. I took the biggest one. After breakfast, all the kids got to open their Santa gifts. Since I was the youngest, I went first--and guess what--I got a Wegman's truck!! I was soooooooo excited!!





Eli and I at the Birthday party for Jesus! We had our own special table for two!



The Kurtz cousin and me Christmas morning in our new PJs!!





Opening my Wegman's truck!




After Santa presents with the Kurtzes, we went home and I got to open the rest of my Santa gifts. I got some really cool gifts including hockey skates! After all the festivities I was indeed ready for a nap!




I got hockey skates. Now Mommy, Daddy and I can skate at the Churchville rink!!

When I woke up from my nap it was time to head back to the Kurtzes for Christmas dinner and the family gift exchange. It was a lot of fun to all be together and to have Che Che, Uncle Mike and Hayden there.




Family Christmas dinner with the extended Kurtz family.



Hayden and I loved playing downstairs with Daddy--especially playing air hockey!! I'm actually pretty good at it! We had had enough of the adult present time so Hayden and I decided to hang out under the kitchen table! Hey, it was much more exciting than towels, clothes, coats, shoes and picture frames--I don't quite get why adults don't want toys!!



Merry Christmas and Happy new year everyone from cousin Hayden and me!!



Well, I'll try to post my next blog sooner than 8 months from now! Life continues to be pretty exciting. There is so much still to learn--but I think I'm making pretty good progress so far!


Don't forget why we celebrate Christmas!! Happy Birthday Jesus! I hope that everyone has a wonderful 2012!!



Love,



Jamee

On a Train, On a Train, On a Train! Part I

What a wild past two weeks! I've traveled internationally, been to a Safari, taken the train to Chicago, been to the Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry! What fun!


Know that while we were traveling, I did my best to "carry my own weight." Mommy said it was very helpful that I carried my own backpack. I felt very grown up!

So two weekends ago I took my first international trip--to Canada. Mommy thinks they let us through the border with 150 t-shirts without going inside for more questioning because the lady in the booth thought I was cute. Hey, whatever I can do to help out. Mommy was going to Waterloo, Ontario for a youth conference. Daddy and I went with her and got to play the whole weekend while Mommy worked. Daddy and I had a blast. There was a pool in our hotel so we went swimming a lot. On Saturday, Daddy and I even went on a Safari! Wow, was that amazing--even if it was pouring rain the whole time. Below are some photos of our time swimming and at the Safari.























Pool side at the Radisson.



It was wet at the Safari. But there were not many people there either--which was nice. Daddy brought the umbrella and we had our raincoats on, so we were good to go!





















We could have taken our car on the Safari, but were advised by some friends to take the tour bus as the animals could "destroy" our car. Here's me on the tour bus.

We saw a lot of elephants. In fact I even got to ride one!


















Here the elephants are on their way to the water.

At the Safari they also had a train to ride. I love trains and this was good preparation for my big Amtrak trip the next week.

This is where Daddy and I took the elephant ride. It was fun!

Just yesterday morning Mommy and I returned from Chicago. I'm really good at saying Chicago! Oma and Opa were in Chicago for a week because Oma was judging piano students at Wheaton. They stayed at the Senior Center where Mommy's "Aunt" Helen lives. Aunt Helen is 92 years old! She's amazing and a lot of fun to be with. Look at the cool toy she had out for me to play with! I'll bet there are not too many like this. I played with this while Oma, Opa and Mommy visited with Aunt Helen.



Even more than the bunny carriage, I loved the singing canary. Every time I went over to see it, it sang to me. I tweeted back and we went back and forth for quite some time.

Our train was scheduled to leave Rochester at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, but did not end up leaving until 1:30 a.m. EST. I stayed awake until about 10 minutes into the trip. Mommy and I slept pretty well on the train. Opa met us at the train at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. It worked very well.

Here we are at about 1:15 a.m.!

Our first Chicago stop was at the Swedish Bakery in Andersonville. We love going there every chance we have. After a quick bite to eat we headed to Downers Grove to check into our guest room at the Senior Center. We dropped off our luggage and then headed to Wheaton to pick up Oma. Then it was back to Downers Grove to have dinner with Aunt Helen--Chicago style deep stuffed pizza!! Yum!!

Here we are right before we ate our pizza--Mommy, Me, Oma, Aunt Helen and Opa!

I'll post photos of the zoo and the museum soon. Keep watching.

Love to all!

Jamee

A Happy Belated Mother's Day to the Mom's in My Life

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!!

Me and Mommy! I just got a STRIKE!!

Aunt Lucy and me!

Mimi and Me!

Che Che (Uncle Mike too)!

Oma, Aunt Susanne and birthday boy Eli!

I love you all!!

Love,

Jamee

It's Been Far Too Long!

Hi Everyone! It's been far too long since I've posted so following area a smattering of photos in no particular order from the months of March and April. They were full months! I hope you enjoy the pictures. Stay tuned, because coming soon will be more great photos and tails of Lions, Tigers and Bears--no kidding!


I have very sensitive eyes so Mommy and Daddy bought me these really cool Thomas the Train sun glasses! I love them!


The Roberts Cross Country team had a surprise good-bye party for Uncle Paul. There were a ton of people there. It was a wonderful event!


We spent Easter at Mimi and Papa's house. Mimi did an Easter eggs hunt for us kids. Timmy and Sarah helped me find my eggs, but I did find a few all by myself. It was a lot of fun!

Easter morning (after the sunrise service) at Mimi and Papa's.

Chatting with Papa. I love chatting with Papa!

Anyone for croquet?

Dying Easter eggs with Mommy. They turned out nice a bright!

Daddy's shoes are still a bit too large for me--but it won't be long . . .

Hayden and I had a pseudo sleep over (pseudo because it ended at 10:00 p.m.).

My little cousin Hayden and me in matching outfits that Oma and Opa gave us!

Don't I look like a natural driver? Don't worry, there were no keys anywhere around. I just like to sit there and imagine driving!

Here I am between two lovely young ladies. We make a pretty cute threesome don't we. My friends are Cordelia and Quincy--we are all second generation book "clubbers!"

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Love to All,

Jamee

February--Fun, Festivities, Family and Feats

Hi Everyone!

Let's start with the "Feats" not to be confused with "feets." Feats is defined as a noteworthy or extraordinary act or achievement, usually displaying boldness, skill! While I'm still working on the potty training piece (I'm now wearing big boy undies a lot of the time) my latest "feat" is sleeping in a big boy bed! Mommy and Daddy took down my junior/crib bed yesterday and put up my "new to me" very old and cool big boy bed. Mommy says this is a very special bed. She slept in it when she was little and her grandpa (my great grandpa) slept in it when he was little. Wow--it's old!! Get this--it's a 3/4 size bed. Not exactly sure what that means. All I know is it's way bigger than my crib! I love to go up to my room and read books on my bed. Mommy and Daddy are hoping that I love it so much I will go right to bed at night and stay in my bed throughout the night. I'm working on that!

February has been full to say the least. It started off with a visit from Mr. Neil and Tait. Mr. Neil is my mom's college roommate's husband. Tait is their son. They were visiting because Tait was auditioning at Eastman School of Music. I enjoyed Mr. Neil and Tait's visit!

Then shortly after they were here Oma and Oma came for a visit. They were in the area because Oma graduated from the Royall Conservatory in Toronto in mid February--even with her BM and MM degrees she wanted to get this special degree from the Royall Conservatory.

Way to go Oma!!

The next big event was celebrating cousin Hayden's first birthday and Uncle Paul's 43rd b-day. We all gathered on a snowy Saturday morning for breakfast--we kind of looked like the Waltons. It's hard to believe that Hayden is already 1! He's walking and saying a few words. Soon we'll really be able to play together!

Checking out Hayden's new baseball toy. It is pretty cool!

The final visitors of the month just left Saturday morning. Aunt Lucy, Timmy and Sarah came and spent their February break with us. We did a ton of things. How I love playing all day long with Sarah and Timmy. We went shopping, bowling, had a February picnic (roasted hot dogs and made s'mores in our living room wood burning stove), played hockey, played with my train, played with my blocks,went sledding on Hayden hill in our backyard, had a birthday party for Sarah. We had such fun!

Hockey anyone?

Check out my bowling ramp. It was a big help! See "Uncle" Pete in the background. He was able to hang out with us this week a bit too!

I won my lane--for real! It was Sarah, Mommy and me. I bowled a 128!! Okay, so there were bumpers and I used a ramp--but I really did earn my 128!

Happy 11th Birthday Sarah!

It's a picnic!

Hayden hill in our back yard. Timmy gave the ride a 7 out of 10!

Tomorrow begins the month of March! Hard to believe. Daddy's birthday is just around the corner too. Well, I've got some blocks to stack so I'd better sign off. Hope you enjoyed my February review. It was a very full and fun month!

Love to all!

Jamee