Ladies, start your engines!

Mom has been here for over a week now, and it's been wonderful...I just love her so much and am so blessed to have an amazing mama like her. Yesterday, she was very brave and experienced a new first...a motorized scooter/cart at Target--and she survived with only bumping into something once. She was a very safe driver, and her biggest problem was a lady whose cart was so full that she crashed into Mom! I know that getting used to the changes that come with age are not easy, but Mom is handling it with grace and style...love you, Mama!

Doppelganger-on-the-spot!

For everyone who has commented recently that our Beth looks like my mom...

Whoa.

My two favorite girls!

Mo(u)rning

February 29 sunrise...now that's beautiful!

So thankful that I know the God of the beauty, the One who makes beautiful things out of the dust. Do it, Jesus...

Superbowl (not) Bound

And later, after the birthday party Saturday for my dad and uncle...

We're ready....GO, PACK, GO!!!!!💚💛💚💛

86 Years!!!

I don't think any of us would have guessed that Dad would still be here to celebrate his 86th birthday with his twin brother, Jasper. But he is...and we are so thankful that Uncle Jasper and Aunt Gela were able to come over and be with Mom, Dad, and the rest of our family today.

Happy birthday, Uncle Jasper (the older) and Dad (the younger)...we love you!

And, as my sister said about our day, "Today we celebrated my Dad and his twin, Uncle Jasper...86 years! Blessed beyond measure to have such loving parents, and amazing family! I will always cherish every moment!"

...and we're off!

Our sweet little Beth had her first official modeling gig today...what a girl! We had such a fun and girly morning...I'm always amazed at the gift that God gave my heart when He gave me her!

Halloween 2K15

What threatened to be a cold and rainy night turned out to be a chilly-but-tolerable, lovely evening of trick-or-treating! Thanks to our friends, John and Melanie, for hosting us. Our kids had the best time tonight! (And Neil and their son, O, continue to amaze us with their Ethiopian similarities--not that you can tell with Neil's Star Wars helmet on!)

"W" for Wisconsin!

FINAL FOUR, baby......we want a WIN for Wisconsin!

Tonight, Neil and Daddy traveled up toward Indianapolis to join in the craziness that is the NCAA Final Four tourney.  They had a blast and loved cheering the Badgers on to a victory!

Bart & Gma

This happened today...love seeing Bart getting to know his Grandma and Pa a little bit more every time we come. I think Gma likes him just a little!  ;)

(Isn't my mama beautiful?!)

Happy New Year!

Bringing in the New Year @ TCX....happy 2015 from Hoffbeast, Rex, Neil, and me! As is typical, I've been quite reflective this evening...so thankful for our faithful God who goes before us no matter what circumstances come this year. For Neil, this was his first time getting to stay up with the students to ring in the new year...what an experience!

Merry Christmas Morning

Five happy Hoffkids on Christmas morning! Merry Christmas, every one!

Better late than never

In this case, it would have been never.  But thanks to the fact that our boarder is a teacher and often gets her hands on random extra stuff, our kids were trick or treated to some delicious sugar cookies with fabulous decorating fun included.  (Okay, the cookies aren't that good because they are a wee bit old at this point, but the kids don't care, and they had such fun decorating!)

Thanks so much, Shanice!

What an incredible autumn day! You couldn't ask for any better weather on Oct. 25...it's beautiful!!!

This weekend, we went to Madison to see Grandma Enid, and outside her place, there was a lovely fall display, complete with mums and gourds and cornstalks and, of course, lots of pumpkins!  We had to take advantage of the setting for a little brother/sister photo shoot!

Wedding pics galore!

My handsome nephew...

...now a husband!

It was a beautiful setting...

...and an absolutely gorgeous day!

The perfect cake (Seriously...doesn't this look like it should be on the cover of a wedding magazine?)...

...and fabulous dancing for old and young alike!  (Here, my great-niece, B, gathers rose petals on the dance floor while Beth leaps in the background.)

It really was such a wonderful day all around....I am very thankful for the way everything went and for the fact that Stacy is now an official part of our family!

Before the ceremony, Beth and Bart wait with Grandma....isn't my mama so beautiful??!  I hope I look like her when I'm her age!  Love you, Mama!

Helping usher Rex with his boutonniere...he took the job very seriously and was fabulous in his first-ever usher job!

Rex is poised and ready for Grandma as Pa starts the walk down the aisle.

I love this picture!

Richie and Stacy used a fingerprint tree as their guestbook...great idea!

My girl....what can I say?!

Giving a toast was fun....I really am so glad to have Stacy as a NIL now.  That's Niece-in-law.  :)

I love this pic of Beth, too....also love that Richie's Aunt Rhonda is laughing with my great-nephew, T, in the background.

My youngest nephew, N, along with Bart and my great-niece, K.  Bart and K are just two days apart.  Bart is older, but K is doing absolutely everything before him!

Without a doubt, one of my favorite pictures taken of Dad in a long time...love you, Daddy!

The kids enjoyed the dance SO much...maybe more than the adults!

Last but not least, one of my fave pics of the day....me and my beautiful sister.  Becky was absolutely glowing as she walked down the aisle with her son....it was such a special moment.  Bek, I love you so much....Congratulations on your new daughter!  :)

Biking Success!

Biking.  He did it.  It was his first time.  I'm proud.

For the most part, our vacation was fine, more than fine, actually.  But for this part, it was awesome! Rex biked the whole way, he and Hoffbeast biking almost 90 miles in three days.  I am so proud of him!!!  (I realize I said that already.)

Summer Fun!

Beautiful, gorgeous, lovely! The weather at the lake was awesome today...thankful for time with my dear friend, Andrea, and her sweet kiddos!

(We won't mention the fact that I went to the wrong park first, and it took us an extra hour to catch up with our friends.  Oh well!)

Porch Swing!

Ten years I have waited for a porch swing. Today, this is happening...why did we wait so long?!!?! ‪#‎thankfulheart‬

Artist in Residence

SITC student, Mandi, posted this photo on her FB page:  "Job was so excited to learn how to draw stars! He told me he is now an artist!"  

We are sooooo grateful that our kids get to be exposed to and loved on by wonderful college students like Mandi and others who were in our city this summer!

Good TImes

Our dear friend, Roberta, sent us these pictures that she took while she was in our city for summer project.  Hanging out at the Hoffhouse means good times with baby...

Staff Kid Life

It's been a great week at our Cru Inner City conference! Grateful for the week...and ready to go home!