Monday, December 10, 2012

Last Chance

We are moving to Minnesota in less then a week. Our family is very excited for this new adventure. I am also a very sad to be leaving my sister. Even though she lives in Texas it was nice to have her that close. I feel like I spent 5 years wishing to be closer to family. Once I got my sis close I move away. :(  On a good note my in-laws will only be three hours away from our new place in Minnesota. Since we are moving I knew this   weekend was my last chance to go visit my sis at her house in Texas. I decided to live on the edge and take on the  6 hour car ride alone with my two kiddies. Those that know me know I hate driving long distances and I have a very bad sense of direction. I have never dared to go on long car  rides without a companion. So this was a big thing for me. I am very happy I decided to go. It was a great visit. I enjoyed her holiday decorations and tree ( we will be able to enjoy it at our house). We saw where  Beckie works and Marques goes to school. We saw Santa and watched a movie at the Park. We enjoyed dinner together and played around a lot. My kids love their Uncle Marques and Aunt Beckie so much. It was the best way to spend our last weekend in the South. 



Bonding time

Dinner 

Feeding the Turtles


Nap time. Ana loves Marques.

Sweeping the deck.

Raking the leaves.

Rudolph 

Santa

Thanksgiving and More

We had a great Thanksgiving. My parents, my sister and her husband all came to our house to celebrate Thanksgiving and My birthday. My parents spoiled me for my birthday. They took me shopping for clothes, bought me a purse and took me to dinner. It had been along time since I got to go shopping with my mom and dad. It was wonderful. My dad picked the clothes and I tried them on.  I have really loved being able to have my family over to my house for Holidays and events. Memories I will always hold close to my heart.  After Thanksgiving my parents went to Texas with my sister. Anthony and I shipped our kids to a friends and headed to Mexico.
Mexico was great as always. I got sick and had to be really careful about what and when I ate. Despite that we still did all we had planned to do. I can now say I have done something that scared me to death! My favorite part of the trip was seeing the Mayan ruins in  Coba and Tulum. Our tour guide was a convert to the church. He is an archeologist and has helped in discovering pieces and history of the people in Mexico. His knowledge of the history and the scriptures was incredible. He showed us how the Mayan people related to the writings in the book of mormon. My testimony of the Book of Mormon and the church grew. As our tour guide Carlos would say. "I believe the people that built these pyramids and temples are the same people we read about in the Book of Mormon. And I can prove it!" I am grateful for the work and knowledge of this gospel and the opportunity I had to strengthen my testimony of it.

Rio Knew who to sit by when we were eating.

Early Christmas



The Boys ready to go golfing.
My Birthday Dinner!


MEXICO
Church building
one of the most uplifting and spiritual meetings I have ever been to.
Playa De Carmen

Anthony golfing, He went three times!
Dinner and a show! I could get use to this.


The Ruins
Coba
Coba: the game created after the legend of the Sun God.


Coba temple. It was a lot harder to climb then it looks.

This is a Cenote. A sink hole with exposed rock.
We swam in this centoe and jumped off a 20ft ledge. I was so scared I cried, but I still jumped .
Anthony making the Cenote jump!

Tulum


The beautiful flowers left in our room.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Go Thunder, Football and Thankful Turkey

Since we moved to Oklahoma we have talked about going to a Thunder Game. Well, I should say Anthony and Alex have talked about going to the Thunder game. I was lucky and got invited. We bought tickets and took the whole family. It was so much fun. It was not a big game for the thunder but every seat was sold out. Made the game that much more fun.
The view from our seats.
My beautiful baby and Me. Half way through the game she started shouting "Defense" along with the Crowd.

Anthony and Alex
Brendon was not a fan of all the noise. 
the gang minus alex. 

 Last Saturday was Brendon's last football game for the season. It was sad to see end. I am happy to have my Saturdays back for a short time. After the game the team went out for pizza. The boys has a blast sitting in their own booth. 



THE HOFFMAN FAMILY ANNUAL THANKFUL TURKEY
each year we make a thankful turkey. We write what we are thankful for on a feather and create a thankful turkey. Christ is in the center feather since he is the center of our life and the reason we have things to be thankful for.






Halloween

We got to celebrat eHalloween a few times this year. We  had our ward trunk or treat the weekend before Halloween. The kids dressed up and got a lot of candy. We also dressed up for Arianna's dance class and finally Halloween. I made Arianna's costume this year. I was proud of myself. I was crafty and I like my finished project. Arianna wanted to be a Kitty and Brendon wanted to be a T-rex again. Brendon got so many comments about his awesome costume. That  he asked me why everyone was talking to him. That kid hates a lot of attention. Neither Anthony or I really dressed up this year, but Alex did and he went out with us trick or treating. I think he almost got as many comments on his costume as Brendon did! It was a great Halloween this year. I will be sad when the day comes my kiddos no longer want to dress up for it.

Painting the Pumpkin








Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Adventures of Oklahoma


As usual we have had lots of fun these last couple of months. I do not love living in Oklahoma. With the many visitors and abundance of fun activities to do here, I am surviving.  We had our very good friends the Saumwebers come and stay with us for a weekend. Not only was it a blast for Anthony and I  but the kids loved it to. My dad  also  for a quick visit. We didn't tell the kids he was coming. That was a great surprise. When the time came for him to leave poor Brendon was in tears. In between time of visitors we have ventured out a few times to down town Oklahoma and Brick Town. We have found a few places that we really enjoy.
Thursday I went on Brendon's first school field trip with him. I love watching him interact with his friends. He also had his first friend from school birthday party. Zachary a boy in Brendon's class turned 5. They had his party at a bowling ally. Brendon thought he had gone to birthday party heaven!
Arianna is the comic relief and trouble maker at house. Example: Anthony was playing and kind of teasing her. She pointed her finger at him and says  "You are buggin me! ALL THE DAY!!!" I could not stop laughing. Good thing she is so cute. She continues to love swim and dance class. 


Weekend with the Saumwebers
A full and happy car.

How do you keep two boys busy? Mario brothers on nintendo. If I am being honest Joe and Anthony played it a lot more than these two boys.

the cute girls

The grand Pops!


Best Buds


GRANDPA CAME TO TOWN
first night with grandpa

cuddle time with grandpa

Preschool field trip.

Dance Class
It was dress up for Halloween week at dance. That is why everyone is in costume.


SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES 
 The fair
I am  from a big city, but had never seen a fair cover as much ground as the one in Oklahoma. It was a blast.




Spaghetti Warehouse
kids favorite restraurant 


The Tulsa Aquarium 


Brendon was brave enough to touch a baby bull shark. He sat there for 5 minutes or more hoping to touch one.


The Bone Museum

Despite Brendon's face in this picture he was having fun.



 Lunch with Daddy!
Now that Anthony has an office close to where we live we can eat lunch with him. Okay maybe daddy never eats lunch, but the kids enjoy it.