Oh Christmas Tree

Heading to church

Mom and her new bling bling

picture of Mom and Dad's rings

Ugly sweaters

The Crew

Austin 1st place Tyler 2nd place

Austin and Brett's annual awkward photo... that's never planned

Ballif party

Me, Nash, and Scott's fingers haha he ruined our cute picture

Dad was laughing his head off, he was trying to tell a joke and thought he was SO funny he couldn't even breath. It was HILARIOUS just seeing him try to tell the joke

The kids in their nativity clothes

We had an awesome Christmas this year. Shannon and Jordan came up and got here in time for the Ballif Family Party which was a blast as always. We had some chick fil a for dinner, played the dart game, and Grandpa showed us a great spiritual movie. We got home from our cruise the Sunday before Christmas and it worked out perfectly. Christmas morning Austin had to work so I woke up and went to my parents to watch Mitch and Nash open their presents, then came back home to meet up with Austin to go to his sisters church during the afternoon. After church we headed to the Hoffmann's to give his parents and siblings their gifts, then off to the Garner's for dinner and presents. After dinner we headed to Grandma Hoffmann's for a little bit, then back out to my parents, then we decided to come home and watch the Grinch together before heading to bed... we ended up going to bed at like 8:30 :) Holidays have become very long days with both of our families living so close to each other, but we wouldn't change it. We might not be able to go so many places once we have kids, but we'll keep doing it until it gets to be too much. Overall Christmas was an awesome day. This year my Dad surprised my mom majorly. Ever since Grandma Garner passed away and Mom got her ring I've been telling my dad to take it to a jeweler and have him make a new setting with Grandma's diamonds and after a few years he finally decided to do it. Before our cruise my Dad and I went to his friend Greg Norton's to pick out a new setting. It was so much fun. While we were there Dad decided he also wanted a new ring with the diamonds from Grandpa's ring. So on Christmas with everyone their Mom opened her new ring that she had no clue she was getting, and dad put on his new ring. It was so much fun helping my dad surprise her. We ended up also getting her some diamond earrings with leftover diamonds from Grandpa's ring that Dad's new ring didn't need.
Such a good Christmas surprise.

Before we left on our cruise we went to our favorite Crew Annual Ugly Sweater Party. It was a blast as always. Austin and I were pumped because we randomly went to the DI in November and scored with some major ugly sweaters that we knew would have to be in the running for the contest... we were right. Austin won the ugly sweater contest and gets his name added to the trophy. (Scott and Jen borrowed our ugly sweaters for a party they were going to and Austin's sweater won again at their party haha ) We had dinner, treats, watched some sports, played with all the cute babies and got some sweet white elephants. Thanks to the Greenwell's for always putting together such a fun party.

CrUiSe!!

Hanging out on the pirate ship sailing around Cabo

Lovers Beach

Our room

Leaving Cabo at sunset

Rascal Flatts pirate haha j/k this is the owner of the pirate ship... does he not look just like the guy from Rascal Flatts?!? just happened to get a pic that looks like he's singing. His wife told us he got harrassed at a Rascal Flatts concert one time.. fans thought he was the guy and asked for his autograph and when he said he wasn't him they got really angry and said he was a jerk haha so funny

Our pirate ship The Sunderland from a distance

Famous Cabo Arch next to Lovers Beach

Formal night eatin some Lobster

Disney Castle at Christmas=amazing!

Chloe and Breein about to embark on the ride of their life, The Ghostrider at Knott's Berry Farm

Kyle and Aleece at Knott's Berry

Trent, Hannah, Braden, and Shari

Me and the hubs in front of Disney.

Austin's parents took the two of us plus about 26 other people on a cruise in December for Christmas. I don't know about you guys, but that is the best gift you could ever give someone haha Austin, myself, his parents, 5 siblings + spouses, 14 nieces & nephews, + an aunt and a friend headed to California bright and early December 8th to spend a few days at Disneyland & Knott's Berry Farm before boarding the Carnival Splendor for 7 days! It was fabulous. We had a blast going on ride after ride, seeing the awesome water show, and enjoying Disneyland all decorated for Christmas. Sunday morning we boarded our awesome ship and sailed away to beautiful Cabo San Lucas Mexico where we spent 2 days taking a pirate ship, attempting some snorkeling (couldn't see anything at our spot), and doing some serious bartering at the flee markets in order to purchase some awesome souvenirs. Cabo is an amazing place, and I wish we'd have gotten to spend some more beach time, but we had a blast. After two marvelous days in Cabo we sailed to Puerta Vallarta where we got to hang out and swing from the trees in the Mexican forest. We spent our whole day ziplining in Puerta and had so much fun. They even let the little kids who were under 5 zipline. They loved it. We had several days at sea where we enjoyed movies, games, mini golf, shows, food, and ICE CREAM.... lots of Ice cream :) This was Austin and my 3rd cruise together and I think we both agreed this was our favorite ship we've been on. It was definitely the nicest. We did find out after we got on the ship that our ship was the one that had mechanical difficulties last year and was stuck in the middle of the ocean where they had to fly in spam and such for the passengers to eat.... but the Splendor didn't give us any trouble, luckily. We had so much fun making memories and spending time with the Hoffmann family and look forward to our next vacation.

It's been a while

My Owl Pumpkin

Blake's massive pumpkin

Bailee and Shane's cat

Halle's bat

Scott and Jen's giant spider

I didn't get a good picture of Haden's and Avery's alone but theres are the two on the right

Gobble sign I've been working on

Pumpkins I made out of a 4x4

Me, Heath, and Sage at the baby shower

Shar, her cute belly, Cami, and Sage's baby Brylee

Brianna, her cute belly, and Steph

Tiffany, Erin's baby Shawn (named after his daddy), Sarah, and Erin

I love the fall!!! I haven't posted for quite some time. We had a baby shower for my cute friend Shar and it was such a blast. We were able to hang out with friends who we haven't seen in a long time and we were able to celebrate Shar's baby Ella, talk with our great friend Erin who recently lost her husband to Leukemia just a few days after their son was born, and catch up with old friends. It was an amazing night of re-bonding for great friends. Also, here are some fun crafts I've been working on and our annual family pumpkin carving night. We had a blast, we miss the Fryer's every year. We are getting a little more technical with our pumpkins now thanks to templates haha Life is great at the Hoffmann house, Austin is just studying all the time and working, and I still work full time. We're just enjoying life and are preparing for our next cruise in December. Can't wait! I don't really have much to say other then we've had an excellent fall, lots of fun times going to dinner, movies, playing games with friends, homework and crafting. Living life to the fullest :) I've been trying to get all my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving this year, so if you read this let me know what you'd like ha ha I haven't had a lot of success. I've also become slightly addicted to PINTEREST. If you haven't heard of it or joined, send me a comment with your email and I will invite you. It's pretty much the most brilliant website ever. Hope all is well for any of you who read our blog.

SuMmEr

4th of July parade

The kids having fun at the parade

Avery and Nash having a blast. These two are good little buddies

My cute Grandparents

Chillin at the cabin in Bear Lake! the cabin next to ours

was having a family reunion and there were like 200 people

there, it was crazy. We couldn't help but watch, and they were

kinda taking over our yard, so we just relaxed and hung out on

the patio. We had so much fun!

Dad and Ry catching up on some sleep

Playing some serious pounce

Cute Avery ready for the beach..... oh wait.. there was no beach

this year. The water was so high, it was practically in the front yard.

The boys playing on Ryan's Ipad.

Teaching Halle how to play slap jack

Shane

Relaxing after some minute to win it games

Avery enjoying the kiddy pool.

Brad just hanging out

Scott and Jen at graduation.

I haven't posted in a while, but Austin and I have been having a great summer. Austin had the 4th of July off for the first time since I met him 5 years ago, so we got to enjoy the day at the parade, Cherry Days, we went to a movie with some friends and then a BBQ at the Greenwell's. I love the 4th of July, it's one of my favorite holidays. It was very fun and the Fryer's were in town. We spent a lot of time with them. We went to Bear Lake at the end of July with my family and it was a blast! Then my brother Scotty graduated from the police academy at Weber State University last week, it was really fun to be able to go support him and see him graduate. We're really proud of him. Only 2 semesters left and Austin will graduate. Can't wait!!! Sorry that's just a quick recap of the summer. We're looking forward to the fall and our cruise in December.