Merry Christmas from the Hoffmans!

Annie, Brett, and Collin made it to my place on the evening of Christmas Day and we all made the trek to mom and dads! We arrived safely and Steve was there too!

It was so fun being with my family. They really are so much fun!

Here is Collin..chumming it up for the camera!

((isn't he handsome??))
He adores Winston..and Winston adores him..here they are playing tug of war!

He is soo frickin cute!

He got this tunnel and tent from Grandma and Grandpa!
He LOVED it!!
Winston on the other hand was soooo frightened by it!

The grandsons watching out the window..looking at all the "quack quacks" in the bird feeder! haha

I got this dresser that my Grandpa John made! Im super excited to have it in Ames!

It is gorgeous!

Here is Winston and I out in the snow! It was cold..but fun!

Winston and I are finally home!
Notice my new artwork on the wall--isn't it great!

Well thats all! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday!

xoxo, me

MERRY CHRISTMS

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Christmas! We were blessed with some bad weather, so as Callie says--Im a Christmas orphan this year! Her family is from Terrall (by Okoboji) and she couldnt get home either. So, what are 2 girls to do? Go to Westowne Pub of course!

Cal and I with our Christmas beers!!

A couple nights ago, Tuesday to be exact, a couple friends and I went to the Pub for karokee!
Mallory, Chanel, Kari

Steve and Kelly

Post-bar Wii Karokee!!

It was an awesome evening with some great friends!

Have a very merry Christmas and New Year! Hopefully you all got to make it home and see your family and loved ones!

xoxo, me

Why I Hate Winter...

So, today I am having a poor me day! Haha, we all need those once in a while.

Yesterday there was a giant blizzard in Eastern US. Thus my buddy Adam didn't get to leave Maryland till afternoon--and he wasn't able to visit me..he drove straight through to Nebraska in the middle of the night! I was super bummed! I still am!

Then I woke up this morning to facebook announcing my ex who cheated on me and got the chick preggo..first wedding anniversary! Oh, and about an inch of new snow on the ground! Yay winter! I promise tomorrow to be happier..but today I am just sulking because I can!

Even Winston seems to be extra needy today and I just dont wanna deal with him!

I'm so lucky that Abby has been able to be online with me this entire weekend and keep my spirits up or to be down with me! haha!

Ok, that's all the sulking I will do on here! hah!

Heres a last thought: " Tears are the holy water of the soul..they heal us as they flow," and my other favorite " tears are the safty valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid upon it."

xoxo, me

Do you ever have those days at work where you wonder why you do what you do? The last 4 hours of my 10 hour day today were absolutely horriffic! We had so many admits it was just rediculious! I am being lame and staying home on a Friday night because I am honestly exhausted! How lame is that?!

But good thing its the weekend, I could use a nice 2 days off! My buddy Adam is supposed to be stopping tomorrow night sometime on his drive from Maryland to Nebraska! Im pretty excited to see him again! I havnt since July!

Winston is finally getting used to his haircut! haha! He no longer glares at me! Hes too cute! Hehe! He freezes outside though! But he loves the snow! We have made a few new friends even! There is a big white dog that has even decided to visit us by running in the apartment while the door was open! :) Followed close behind by his adorable owner!

haha!

hope all is well!

xoxo, me

SO..ive read this book The Lovely Bones a few times..its such a good book!

I know it sounds goofy--a girl watching down from Heaven on her family and her trying to lead them to her killer...

but its amazing!

I recently found out that it is being made into a movie!!! Im so excited. Ive often wondered why it has not been yet! But, now it is!!

ok thats my only story tonight!!

i promise to be back soon for another post!

xoxo, me

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!!

I decorated the cabinets with garland with twinkeling white lights..these pictures dont do the lights justice! I didnt mean to buy them! But, I'm so glad I did!

Thanks K-Mart..haha
This is the view that Winston and I see every night as we cuddle in teh chair! So cozy!!

So, My Baby could hardly see, so I called up Under One Woof, and got him in today..

One last look at the old Winston....

And heres the Boy all shaved!! haha! I thought he needed a new vest..its cute..says rock star and has skulls on it..haha..I always feel so bad when I leave him at the Groomer.. When I get there hes shaking and scared of the big dogs..always barking!!

OOOO so I FINISHED my Christmas shopping today!! WHOOHOO!! I ran to target to kill some time before I could pick up Winston, and ran into my Aunt Kris..that was fun!

Well thats about it for tonight!

xoxo, me

I am very proud of this photograph that I took this summer, I printed it out and framed it today..It looks spectacular!

When you'all come visit me next time you will have to check it out!!

Winston wasnt feeling well today, he threw up once and just wanted to snuggle with me..which i LOVE, i just wish he didnt have to be not feeling well to do so!

I finished sending Christmas cards today, I got Anders wedding wedding present bought and sent, Collins combine books ordered..who knew a 1 year old could be obsessed with farm equiptment!! I packed Abbys present and will take it to the post office tomorrow!! YAY im excited for her to get it! I also cleaned a bit, washed rugs, spread ice melt on patio--it seems that we got a layer of ice on EVERYTHING over night last night! I had to run some Angel Tree items to work and almost fell on the sidewalk outside of my apartment! Thankfully some nice person warned me..

Well..thats it for the daily doings of me!

I have the day off again tomorrow! YAY! Winston gets his hair cut..I want them to shave him..haha..i cut some matts out of his hair today..but they will make him look dashing tomorrow!!

Oh, and my first boyfriend got engaged recently..I saw it on facebook..I am having a hard time accepting that all my old flames are becoming parents and getting married! YIKES! Turning 25 this coming year is going to be hard on me!! haha! guess i will face that when it come...no worry fretting about it now!!

hehe..

xoxo, me

Well...the snow has arrived for the season..bummer!!

I don't hate winter, but now that schools over and there are no Snow Days in real life--at least for nurses, winter doesn't carry the same charm and excitement that it used to!

Winston and I snuggled in on the couch and watched the snow fall and blow and fall and blow.

the snow out the patio doors! wow! how will Winston go out to piddle?!?!
These 2 tried digging a path from their car to the street..hahaha

The drifts....

Winston and I being cozy with the Christmas lights Twinkling!!
I got my Jeep back all fixed up just in time to utalize my 4 whee drive! I LOVE IT!! HOW DID I DRIVE IN THE WINTER WITHOUT IT!?!?

I just have a few more Christmas gifts to get! I love giving gifts..especially when I know the person will be soo excited to get what I got them!

Continue to have a Safe winter and holiday season!

xoxo, me

This is a random picture from when I visited Seattle a year and a half or so ago..I love it. I loved everything about the pacific northwest! It was so beautiful! I love the ferry rides, I loved the trees, I have to admit, I even loved the weather for the most part. I cannot wait till I can go back someday! The scenery is some of the most beautiful I have EVER seen. I love taking scenic photographs, and I will someday have my entire house decorated with black and white photographs! Makes me smile. I have been home sick the past couple days and I must be getting tired of being couped up... :).

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I have to work, but thats ok. I get to go home to my parents after my 8 hour shift and I have all weekend off! I am excited to spend time with family. Abby and Brad will be home too...even though I feel like I just saw them, I can't wait to see them again. I probablly see them more than my own family...oops.

My uncle Keith is having a pool party..no, not that kind of pool. He re-did my great grandpas slate pool table and we are gonna have a pool party/Thanksgiving at his place in Sac City! It should be fun! I hope a lot of my cousins get to come! My cousin Mike moved to Virginia this spring, and from what I understand, he will not be home for the holidays at all this year. Kinda sad!

My buddy Adam from out in Maryland gave me some good news--on his drive back to Nebraska for the holidays (around Christmas) he is planning on stopping and visiting me! That will be a good time ;). He has yet to meet Mr. Winston Snohomish! That should be interesting...haha.

Also, I got an invitation to Anders wedding. I really want to go! Its kind of short notice-Jan 9th. I asked Adam if he would be able to drive to DC and pick me and Abby and Brad up and escorte us aka. drive us to the wedding and around that weekend..hehe.. Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out! It would be so much fun!! Besides I miss Anders a lot!! We used to hang out all the time in Ames. Anders is the absolutely best guy in the world! Lindsay is a lucky lucky girl!!!

So, can you believe that Christmas is in about 4 weeks?! I have NO shopping done yet! eeek! This year I dont even have any good ideas for people! I need some serious help in that department! The first weekend of December, I am going shopping with my sister, my mom, and my sisters mother in law Joanie...who is an absolute RIOT!! Its ALWAYS a good time with her! So that should be a fun time..and hopefully I get a BIG dent in my Christmas shopping accomplished!

Well...thats all I know at the moment. Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

xoxo, me

Its been about forever since Ive updated this thing..

well..my life in a nutshell in the last couple weeks..

So, I took the Med Surg Certification test this past Saturday, and I PASSED!! WooHoo!

Abby, Brad, Fred, and Fozzie send me these flowers for Good Luck!!

(must have worked!)
Winston and I at the Cuba park near Abbys place in Lake Zurich!
We drove out there to visit Ab and Foz.
We got in an accident onthe way home tho..sad! My poor jeep has about $4000 worth of damage to it! AHHHH! The worst part was we were only about 10 minutes from being home!!



Winston playing at the park!! Hes too adorable!

Lovin the fall!!

hahahaha

so, Callie scored us some free tix to Theory of a Deadman and Daughtry!!

This dude fell asleep during the concert and his head was on Callies lap!
haha

good concert for a random thursday night...

one random friday night..we went to strippers at the vibe in boone..haha..this was John

Cara paid for me to get a bit of a dance..ha

Jess came!! I love her!

haha they were helairious! and their bodys were hottt

Callie, Kari, Cara

Tiff and I went to Rainbow bridge with Jungle Juice on another random night..haha

kari and tiffy!

so thats whats goin on in my life!!

hope all is well!

xoxo, me

I do not know how much you'all know about this thing called Honor Flights. But, I have been seeing it on the news a lot lately, and no matter how small the segment, I cry. What this orginzation is, it raises money and sets up day trips to Washington D.C. to the memorials for the elderly and terminally ill veterans. It is no secret that I am facinated by history and especially Washington D.C. It is one of my favorite vacation spots. But, I CANNOT imagine doing what they have done for our country, and then seeing these monuments left for them!! It doesnt seem like enough to thank them. I know no one that has been on this flight but it still makes me cry! Can you imagine dying in a war? I cannot imagine having cancer or a car accident take my life at a young age, but these men and women volunteerly signed up to defend our country knowing they may not come home alive!

I really encourage you to check out their website:

http://www.honorflight.org/

It is an amazing service that they provide, I am proud of my fellow American--whoever it was that came up with this idea! (his name is Earl and he was a PA from Ohio) seriously...read the history of the Flights on the website...I get goosebumps!

Tonight on the Channel 13 news there was a group from Iowa that got to go, and this elderly man was standing there crying, because it brought back so many memories from the war. He said he never talked about it to his family, and he never thought he would get a chance to see the WWII memoiral--very moving!

If I ever win the lottery--I think I found an orginazation that I would LOVE to give tons of money to!

Thats it for tonight....

xoxo, me

Last min trip to Kansas City..

on Friday, I joined Annie and Brett on a trip to Kansas City for the Iowa State vs. K-State game at Arrowhead stadium. Brett got free tickets to the game from work and a free hotel room!! So, we drove down there Friday night, spent the night and tailgated all day Saturday before the game, had great tickets, and drove back on Saturday! It was quick trip, but a ton of fun!

We drove through Vallisca on the way to KC. So, naturally we had to drive around town to see teh Ax Murder House!! It is not very well marked, and it is not in the Garmin..but needless to say, we found it!!
http://www.villiscaiowa.com/Daytime_Tours.html
check out the history!!!

at the Bayer Crop Science tailgate!

We had a Live Band, free keg, catered food, our own port a pottys! haha! high class!

Annie and I

The Pride of Iowa State--The Marching Band!

Sisters!!

The game...so sad we lost 23-24.

thats all folks!

xoxo, me