Out with '10 and in with '11

It's that time of year again people. Time to think of what you want to do/see/change/be in the New Year. People have already started asking me if I have a New Year's resolution. Me? Heck, I've made resolutions all year long. I don't need to wait till the clock strikes midnight and we're suddenly in 2011.

And then I got to think about 2011. 2010 was a busy year for me and maybe 2011 will be the year to slow down and pick up the messes of 2010. I wouldn't say that there is just one thing that I resolve to do this year. My husband, or anyone who knows me for that matter, can tell you that I always have a thousand things going on at the same time. A project here, a project there. I was never very good with montony.

So what are some of the things that I want to do in 2011? Well let's see...

• I want to build something. Most likely a piece of furniture. A headboard for my bedroom to be more specific.
• I want to try out the whole going to the gym in the morning thing. Although I am the opposite of a morning person, my lack of gym time over the last 5 months has taken a toll on me. It's time to get my butt back into gear and 5:30am seems to be the only time I can fit it into my schedule.
• I want to start crafting more. Wedding crafts were one thing. I want to make crafts that maybe can turn into a business one day.
• I want to spend more time with the Lord. Spending time in His word has been the best relaxation lately. It's calming and I don't think that there was ever a better Teacher.
• I want to see the happiest of days in people's lives - three of my best friends to be exact. 2011 will be the year of weddings for us and I can't wait to see the days that Emily, Michelle, and Kaitlin get married. 

But most of all, I want write more. I think that the blog is ready for a face lift too. This is my outlet and my way to stay in touch with the people who mean the most to me.

So will 2011 be a better year than 2010? I'm not sure how it could top one of the best years in my life but I'm sure as heck gonna try!

Where are you radio Christmas?

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is the carols. Back in Connecticut, Star 99.9 was the only station played on my car radio from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day. It was non-stop Christmas songs. Various versions, various songs, and even a few parodies. As I was driving to work this morning, searching the very limited number of radio stations for one that was playing a carol or two, I stopped on one that was playing "Angels We Have Heard on High".


"Ah, finally a Christmas carol that I can sing to." So I began belting out the words until I realized that the people on the radio weren't singing the same words as me. Upon closer listen, I realized that they in fact were singing the same words as me, just in Spanish. Channel changed.


Yes it is sad that I haven't found a radio station that compares to the Christmas caroling of Star 99.9. I have resulted to flipping through station after station hoping that I will catch one that is playing a holiday tune. But I have yet to find one that plays one of my favorite Christmas parodies of all time. Here, have a listen...

Ah, the joys of Christmas. Well until I can coax a radio station here to play their Christmas music non-stop from Thanksgiving through Christmas, I guess it's Pandora Radio for me. Thank God for the N*SYNC Christmas Radio : )

Merry Christmas from the Hofmans!

In my effort to do less this year, I opted to not send out Christmas cards to everyone. Plus I'm trying to work on all of the thank you's we need to write and send!

But of course, we didn't want you to think that we weren't wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas...

It was a little struggle to get Tana to sit for the picture but with a little help from Jameson and his funny faces, Lindsay's quick fingers and Peyton's skill with dog treats, we were able to get a nice family photo.

And once again, from the Hofman family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Doing less gives you time to be more

As I have been scouring my ever growing list of blogs, I have noticed that so many people have been talking about keeping it simple this year. Of course, I kept it simple due to the sheer fact that I didn't have a lot of time to plan the Christmas holiday or to even do a lot of shopping for that matter. But now I'm seeing that as a blessing.

September, October, and November were crazy months for us. A new house, a new dog, a wedding and a honeymoon; all took up my time and seriously strapped us for cash. So I decided that presents would be smaller for this year and that I wasn't going to go all out in my decorating. I decided to keep it simple.

A few days ago, I got an email from my mother-in-law letting me know that it was going to be a simple Christmas at their house this year, something that my mom had also mentioned on the phone a few times. And I was relieved.

This year, it is my hope that the Christmas weekend in our household will be less, allowing us to be more. What does that mean you ask? Well it's quite simple actually. I pray that doing less of the glitz and glamour will help us to recognize the reason for the season and to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. After all He is the star of the show this weekend.

So in that spirit, my house currently features a tree in my living room, a wreath on the front door, and a few small Christmas lights on the outside railings. And that's it. I'm not baking cookies and I'm not making pretty packages.

As Griff and I celebrate our first Christmas as husband and wife, and actually our first Christmas together, I pray that this might become a tradition for us, putting more effort into celebrating the joy and love of the season rather than putting the emphasis in other places. Of course as our family grows, my decorating and my baking and my present wrapping might grow but for now, I'm very content with doing less to allow us to be more this Christmas season.

Cards and Cookies, Trees and Tinsel

Oh how fantastic this time of year is! It's like every day is filled with so much joy it's unbelievable. I know that so many of you have been wanting to see pictures from Hawaii and hear all about it. I swear, I will get some pictures posted (we have wedding pictures to post too!).

But with Christmas only 11 days away and the rush to wrap presents, ship things, and get our cards out the door, the only think that I could think about was decorating my tree and making my wreath for the year. So as I sit here and decide which cookies I'm going to bake this year, I wanted to share with each of you our little bit of Christmas here in Montana.

 



We've added a few more presents since the picture was taken. Tana seems to be leaving it alone which makes me very happy. She is very much into tennis balls right now so I was a little nervous about her confusing the ornaments on the tree with her toys. Thankfully she has heard "no" once and that's all that it took.

Of course I had to add in an "H"..I'm very proud to have my little family this year and to know call ourselves "The Hofmans" so I couldn't resist. Of course my wreath is completely made up from items found at Dollar Tree and attached with a few twist ties. Nothing special but it sure is special to me!

Oh and there's a little sneak peek of our new leather couches. A little wedding present to ourselves and worth every penny : )

Now it's time for some cookies...pizzelle anyone?