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

A phrase thats so true..

I watched teh movie Ghosts of Girlfriends Past last night..and there is a phrase that hit me as being so true, sadly. "The one who cares less, is in controle of the relationship." Its true..I know when I get involved with a guy or a friend, I try and please them..I try hard to make them happy, and if they dont care as much as I do, I try harder. Its not fair, and its not how it is supposed to be. Someday, I hope i meet the man who wants to try as hard as I do. Anyways..I'm tired, and I have a busy week. I have a long weekend next weekend and I am excited for it!
Have a good one everybody!
xoxo,me

SUGARLAND!!!!!!

Nicole, Edie, and I went to the Sugarland concert at Hilton in Ames! It was amazing! There is just something about their music that hits you to your core! I LOVE Jennifer Nettles voice! The concert was supposed to be last October, but she got sick, and finally rescheduled it for Sept 18 of this year! Nichole got 17th row tickets, and Edie got 2nd row (the day of the concert)..but she sat by us the whole time! They are great concert dates!
Edie and I with our beeeeer!

Matt Nathanson opened for Sugarland...he is adorable! I especially love his song "Come On Get Higher"...ahhh...love!!

Billy Currington was the next opener...I forgot how many great songs he has! The song "Must be doing something right" is such a beautiful song...ahhh

Finally SUGARLAND made their way on stage!!!!!!!!!!!! I love love love them!!!

JOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYY

My friends...Nichole and Edie

At the end, Jennifer and Christian each got in a giant ball and rolled over the audiance!! It was mind blowing!!!! Sooooooo coooooool!!!

If you EVER get a chance to see them, GO! You will not regret it!!

and with that..i think i will go listen to some music =)

xoxo, me

Megan says, "I DO"

Megan has been one of my best friends since kindergarden, and she got married a few weekends ago..((on the same day as the IOWA vs. IOWA STATE game!)) but like a good friend does, I skipped the tailgating to watch her on her special day! Her mom died when we were freshmen in college from breast cancer, so I cried a few different times...during the homily..during Jenny Grabner (the maid of honor's) speech...

Here is Megan being walked by her Dad and her brother Evan..she looked beautiful. Old Hollywood glamour, I think.

Megan and Cody's first kiss as man and wife...

High School Friends..Kristin, Lori, Jenny, Stef, Jenny, Kari, Carla.

Here they come!!!

Megan and Cody Schug!

Kristin, Lori, Jenny, Jenny, and Kari

The wedding was play theamed. The Ceremony Programs were play bills..it was too cute. The table favors at the reception were fake noses, lips, mustaches..they were meant to be played with..so we did!

Lori and Mike...they are the next to be married...the wedding is planned for next year!! yay!!

Stef and Rob..love them!

us with the blushing bride!!

Congrats to the married couple!

I hope one of these days I can follow in their footsteps!

Come on Prince Charming....

xoxo, me

Labor Day 2009

Some people might not get my family..but for some reason my brother-in-laws family is really an extension of my own family. I adore his parents and brother! So, over Labor Day I went out to Eastern, Ia with my parents and sister and her family. We had a blast! We went shopping---we got lost and drove in circles, and were one seat short, so i got carsick int he trunk of the van..yay me------we went to a few parties, and we got to go boating, which is my favorite pasttime that I do not get to do enough! I could boat all day! We went to an island in the middle of the Mississippi River for a grill out on that Sunday.

Collin playing in the sand!

Some of the grilling/eating crew!! Delicious!

Dad and I.

Collin passed out on the boatride back to the van.

This is David and Joanies at 6 a.m. when Dad and I left to head back to Ames on Monday morning because I was supposed to work at 11 a.m.

It was a really nice drive back..there is just something about spending 3 hours in the car with your dad to make you feel loved! He rode out there with me too. I am a dad's girl 100% ((i love my momma too)) but there is just something about a girl and her dad!

******thoughts and prayers request--my sisters roommate of 3 years passed away suddenly over the weekend from a bloodclot in her lungs...her friends and family are having a hard time, so any thoughts and prayers are appreciated********************

xoxo, me

Save a Horse, Ride a Hoffman.....wait, what?

So..my dad is the 2nd eldest of 9 kids..(i know thats nothing compaired to the Duggers--who by the way just announced they are preggo with their 19th kid-which means their granddaughter will be older than this kid---but 9 is still a lot)

anywho--every summer we get together for a "Hoffman Weekend." So most of my aunts and uncles and cousins and their spouses and their kids come camp out at my parents house!! Its a blast! We used to get kegs..now we have to supply our own beer, haha, we do hayrides, some people camp, we eat a lot, and we do a white elephant gift exchange. Wikipedia explainst it better than i do-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant_gift_exchange

Here is some hats that were gifted in the exchange...i have a good lookin family, dont I?

I love how classy we are--Jason is brown bagging it, Renee is showing off her wine cooler...hahaha

It was a blast as usual!! Here are some more fun pics of the weekend!!

Enjoy!

Playing Apples to Apples!

Ellie, Winston, and I loving the hayless hay ride!!

Now that all of us are older and have jobs, we took a small job tour...This is the carroll broadcasting studio where my cousin Nick is a DJ--you may have heard him on KIKD 106.7 around the Carroll, Ia area!



My cousin Tiffany works at a winery..how great is taht!!
Here, Ash and I are enjoying some great free sampleing!!!!!!! Cant tell we like it huh?

So many fun times that weekend!! I love my family!! Im pretty blessed!

Thats all folks...
xoxo, me