the secrets out!

ok. so it's official, i'm a terrible blogger! and i acknowledge that i need serious help with my getting betterer skills! {any tips are welcome & appreciated!} but in my defense, things have been a little crazy in the hoffmann household!

in my last post i mentioned our date night challenge and if i were a pessimist i would say a flop would accurately describe the attempted execution of my plans!

my original plan was: dinner at one of mike's favorite simple spots, then see a movie we both wanted to see {we don't go to the "real" movies, hardly ever. so this was an extra treat} followed by introducing mike to lovely world of fro yo, yo! none of the above ended up happening {a story i might go into later} but we had a great night enjoying each others' company while celebrating a friend's birthday!

in newer news........we are officially HOMEOWNERS!! {as of 5 o'clock p.m. yesterday} i don't really feel all that different, maybe it's partly because i am very confident in our decision and know that it was right for us, because we took our time, prepared and educated ourselves, and weren't rushed into anything, and lastly because we're not actually living there yet! :) i promise {for real} to post pictures and updates along the way as we make this house our home!

Happy National Clams On The Half Shell Day, Everyone! {yesterday was I'm in Control Day, just fyi ;)}

problems and new practices

so. for christmas i was given the aperture software to use with my new camera {both of which i am incredibly thankful for!} however, i have a problem. my macbook will now not allow me to save the raw files to my hard drive. instead it opts to save the files in the aperture program itself and in turn not allow me to upload them to the blog. sad. frustrating. day. so, to satisfy my picture posting pleasure, here are some family pictures my mom had taken over the holidays......

my beautiful sister {and i}

three generations

us girls

my amazing little family {mollie was not at all pleased with the photo session idea}

the whole gang

back row: miss mollie, myself, mike, my brother joseph {18}, my brother lane {20}

front row: my sister mary katherine {17}, my brother michael {10}, my *amazing* mother, and my brother timothy {12}

....if any of you out there in the world of blog know how to help me with my picture-posting problem. please. feel free!

in the mean time....we have decided that this year we will attempt to make living on a budget funner. *smile*....for the last 2 years we have tried our very best to live conservatively, not really budgeting for anything besides debt elimination and savings. so, starting now. we've started our own version of the dating game {i'm super excited}

here are the rules:

• once a {calendar} month
• take turns being the "event coordinator"
• stay within designated budget
• plan it completely {including childcare}
• may or may not opt for a surprise
• plan something the other would find enjoyable in an attempt to learn something new about each other. {this "rule" is my favorite. hehe}
• laugh. a bunch. and enjoy each others company.

it doesn't have to be anything fancy. i'm all about enjoying the simple things in life. it's the little things...this month is my turn, saturday is the "big" day, and we'll see how it goes, i s'pose. i'm really excited to spend an evening just the two of us, but i'll have to wait to reveal my plans cause i've chosen to opt for a surprise!

happy friday everyone!

love words

so i'm gonna be honest. in my past, whether single and lonely or happy in my current relationship(s), i've never been a huge advocate for v-day {ok, except maybe when i was a kid and it was just another occasion for candy}. but in my defense i'm not a big promoter of any overly commercialized holidays. really.

i've done quite a bit of soul searching, reading and pondering on my own meaning of "love" lately. i want something deeper than a Hallmark card and not as over-worked as 1 Corinthians 13 {although it happens to be one of my favorite passages) i find language simply fascinating and am always interested in the meanings of words and their history. so i thought it fitting since today is valentine's day, to share a list of some of my favorite "love words" and their definitions :-}

ardor |ˈärdər| ( Brit. ardour)

nounenthusiasm or passionORIGIN late Middle English : via Old French from Latin ardor, fromardere ‘to burn.’

endearment |enˈdi(ə)rmənt|
nouna word or phrase expressing love or affection.

affection |əˈfek sh ən|noun1 a gentle feeling of fondness or liking2 archaic the act or process of affecting or being affected.ORIGIN Middle English : via Old French from Latin affectio(n-), fromafficere ‘to influence’

dote |dōt|verb [ intrans. ]1 ( dote on/upon) be extremely and uncritically fond of

passion |ˈpa sh ən|noun1 strong and barely controllable emotion• an intense desire or enthusiasm for something or someone• a thing arousing enthusiasmORIGIN Middle English : from Old French, from late Latin passio(n-)(chiefly a term in Christian theology), from Latin pati ‘suffer.’

***{i find the root meaning of passion exceptionally relevant to love, which along with great joy and fulfillment, can bring suffering also}***

besotted |biˈsätid|adjective1 strongly infatuated2 archaic intoxicated; drunk.ORIGIN late 16th cent.: past participle of besot [make foolishlyaffectionate,] from be- [cause to be] + sot .

what are your favorite "love words"??

happy monday and happy valentine's day everyone!!

mirror, mirror {mollie's amusement-with-self video}

time flies {when you're having fun}

this week the hubbs is here:

...in reno, nv {until late. late. thursday night} for manager meetings with usb. and while i am happy for him, i am a little jealous as well >:]

today, however. on top of being jealous i'm a little emotional too. bleh.

perhaps cabin fever? while i do certainly love the snow and am thankful that if it must be cold at least it can be pretty. i am ready for the dirty piles that are taller than i am to be gone.

*spring come soon please*

...with spring will come mollie's first birthday. and as i spend these few days as *mommy and me* i am reminded. {and i know it's cliche} but i simply cannot grasp where the time has gone!

she is developing quite the personality and has even been dubbed *little miss melodrama* by her adoring grandfather.

little mollie claire instantly became the light of my life when michael put her in my arms. and over the past 9 months she has been my inspiration and partially the motivation for needed changes in my life.

i am thankful every day. more and more. for her.

i pray that i will only continue to grow in the ability to consciously cherish every minute. make sure to stop {not just *slow*} to smell the roses. and learn to especially love dirty fingers. messy faces. and less-than-perfect housekeeping. so as to be able to enjoy the making of every fleeting memory.

happy tuesday everyone.