IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

AT THE HOFF HOUSEHOLD

I know, I know... your comments are welcome, but I've already heard it from family and friends. Yes, I got my tree out before some of the stores even put their Christmas out.

But, it's our first Family Tree... last year we just got a white/metallic small tree for Alexa and Brielyn.

On October 24th the family tree went up!!! Thank you Grandma Sue and Grandpa Hal for all of your help! I was so excited to see it up in the house, it's a 7 1/2 ft. pre- lit tree and I had just the perfect spot for it (since we don't have enough furniture yet to fill our house! LOL) The girls have been so good, they love to look at and they haven't destroyed it yet or knocked it down. Knock on Wood!

So.... WHAT DOES YOUR TREE LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR? or should I say WHAT WILL YOUR TREE LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR?

Things I'm Looking Forward To

Halloween to be over and Thanksgiving to start! - I'm not a big Halloween person. I don't mind letting my kids dress up (it's fun for kids and they look cute) but overall I think the decorations are ugly and it's just not one of my favorite holidays. Anyways, why do we need Halloween when we live next to MIMI and it's Halloween everyday? I'm going to start sending them over saying "Trick or Treat"

Reading the Devotional with my husband tonight- last night we played "Speed" afterwards and I won 3 out of 4 games... But, who's counting???

My Tastefully Simple Party this Saturday Night- I'm excited to have a Girls Night and just get a chance to eat, drink and socialize with lots of girls! If you want to join us, email or call it's at 6 PM and we'd love to have you.

Alexa to go to San Diego with Papa Dan on Saturday- My Dad's taking Alexa to Sea World again, this time just for the day but I know how much it means to each of them to bond like this. She's going to have a blast!

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The Avocados on the tree to be ripe!- I LOVE GUACAMOLE and I love to eat it alone, on tacos, with chips, on a tortilla or bread... just about any way..... I may be big as the house when avocado season comes around.

WE'RE LOADED

With Tangerines that is!!!!

Yesterday I had to "thin" out the branches and take over a bucket full off to unload a few branches that were sagging way too low. It was actually really fun. Brie enjoyed eating tangerines before they were even off the tree! There's bite marks on a few hanging low! Alexa and Noah had a blast helping pick them off and eating them. Some are actually sweet but most are still a bit tart..... WE'LL HAVE TASTY, JUICY TANGERINES IN ABOUT ONE MORE MONTH!!

THE "NORM"

I found my husband and I caught in the "norm" feeling and a rut. Just trying to get through the long days; him working himself to death and me slaving myself over the house and kids til he got home; to have dinner together then put the kids to bed, go to sleep and do it all over again.... I was starting to feel disconnected but REALLY tired so I would just go to bed. No connection, no bonding between Chris and I .... we talked a bit but nothing really intimate or detail oriented.

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE THAT?

So, we sat down and went to dinner together the other night.. it was amazing... then we had coffee together, something we NEVER do. We had the most connecting night. I told my husband to bring a notebook and pen. We mapped out what it would look like to find something every night to connect us with one another. He suggested playing a boardgame.. I offered the next day to go get a devotional at the Christian bookstore for us. I opened up to him, he opened up to me. There was no arguing, just pure truth and love.

Our marriage in the last few days feels so good. Nothing dramatic really happened we didn't need to change our personalities.. we just stepped back and looked at eachother.. made a few changes and it's FRESH again. We look forward to our every other Friday date night. This Friday it was Bowling, better yet COSMIC BOWLING. GOOD TIMES, GOOD TIMES. Last night we read our devotional and played speed Solitaire.

I write this because I love being honest and open on my blog and most importantly you all know that I love to share when something works for me or I believe in something.

I picked up a book by Dr. James Dobson and his wife called "NIGHT LIGHT" It's truly been a blessing to us. It was designed exactly for Chris and I's dilemma and LENDS TO US the perfect solution. It gives us about 10 minutes to sit and read together at night; at the end you answer one question and you would never believe that JUST ONE QUESTION can bring about so much conversation and depth and connection, it's AMAZING. It's blessed us and I encourage anyone seeking to bond together and feeling disconnected to pick up a copy.

WE GOT BOO'D

Thursday evening around 7:45 very rare but true; both girls were asleep in bed.... mind you.. that never happens Alexa's usually awake still.. Anyways to make a longer story a bit shorter

All of a sudden there is 2 loud, abrupt and forceful rings at the door then some rushing; a loud car door slam thereafter. Chris and I look at eachother with the " What the heck?" look. I thought it was the UPS man dropping off our personal checks we're waiting for. Our UPS driver comes late at night and always freaks me out with the random doorbell rings, slamming the package down and running to the truck to finish their route!

So when Chris came inside with a square Frankstein box and a note that read:

YOU HAVE BEEN BOO'D

The Phantom Ghost has come town

To leave the goodies you have found.

First, post this ghost where it can be seen

And leave it there till Halloween.

This will scare other visiting ghosts away

But if you want to "Boo" others, don't delay.

First, make a treat, a ghost and a note like this.

Deliver it to neighbors that might have been missed.

Don't let them see you, be sneaky, no doubt....

(And make sure they put their Boo'd Ghosts out!)

Deliver it at dark when there is no light...

Ring the doorbell, run and stay out of sight!!!!

Be cool and have fun and don't be seen!

Share the Spirit of Halloween!!

You could also just enjoy your treats.

You don't need to "Boo" another to deserve these sweets.

They're yours just because we think you are cool.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO OUR FAVORITE GHOUL.

I was surprised! But Chris heard a voice and saw the getaway car. Alexa was so thrilled the next morning to see the abundance of chocolates and candy we got. Our note and ghost is hung proudly on our door.

GUESS WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT??

BEACH DAY!

We've been having a lot of fun this week. It was a beautiful day on Wednesday and it seemed like a great day for the beach....

So, we packed our lunch, a few chairs, sand toys, swim suits and towels and headed off to BOLSA CHICA! It was one of my favorite trips to the beach. The weather was amazing, the ocean was breathtaking and my kids were just loving the beach so much. That day I decided it would take A LOT to move away from Southern California. We just need to utilize the beach more often; my family and I take it for granted and we pay for it (the price of living here is ridiculous) .. why not use it?

I've made it a pact to not let this be my last trip with the girls to the beach... I'm hoping to get one day in this weekend. I'm praying for good weather on Saturday.

Wanna Join Us? We may not have many more days at the beach. SHOOT ME AN EMAIL, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU!!!

PA'S PUM'KIN PATCH

Brie's Pumpkin Picture

All Aboard! Choo... chooo... chugga... chugga.... chugga... choo.... choo... Alexa got to sit in front and toot the horn; she was stoked!

The pony rides were great! Alexa got a black one with blue eyes!

Brie felt right at home and sat down in the petting zoo. She wanted to get down on their level.

Alexa was a doll feeding the goats... It made me want one! Chris says "NO!" She made some friends and she pet them and said they were so soft... she talked to them just like her dolls. It was sweet.

Precious Sisters

Brie was feeling free and loved to roam through the pumpkins...

Alexa picked her favorite one out of all... I don't even know how she saw this small one hidden in all those HUGE pumpkins

That's my Lexa in her carriage. Such the princess!

My Favorite Picture of the Day!!!

That's how they spell their name Pa's Pum'kin Patch!

Today, My Mom and I took the girls to Pa's Pum'kin Patch. It was a blast. I was so impressed by the lot. They had a lot of fun things to do for the girls, the weather was beautiful and it made for a nice afternoon. The pony rides, pink elephant ride, huge bounce house, train, petting zoo and lots of other attractions made for a fun filled day! Alexa had a great time in the Petting area and made friends with a lot of goats as she fed them. They had the biggest bounce house I've ever seen as well as HUGE pumpkins. I took a million and one pictures as well as my mom but I managed to post just a few. If you get a chance, stop on by to Pa's Pum'kin Patch in Long Beach off of PCH and Studebaker... It's guaranteed fun for the whole family.