Easter

I like that my children are still young enough to want to hunt for eggs, to be excited about the baskets filled with goodies Easter morning, and that my brother-in-law is not too old to decorate a bunny cake. I also like that my children are learning the true meaning of Easter - which, by the way, is not the bunny or the candy or the goodies. (Another side note, the Easter bunny is not like Santa; there is no opportunity to leave a wish-list for goodies. Morgan tried.) This word collage pretty well sums it up for me:

Stephen and Tara were in town for the week prior to Easter, and as they had to head back to Seattle on Sunday, we got together with them and James and Jolynn for a early Easter dinner and egg hunt. I was worried about the weather, but it turned out to be a nice evening for finding eggs in the backyard. The dads and Jordynn were in charge of hiding the eggs, and Jordy specifically put some in the front yard for the little man. Spencer wasn't sure at first, but quickly caught on and was soon running all over the place like the big kids. The best part is sitting on the floor, emptying out eggs and checking out the "loot." Which is pretty much sugar in one form or another.

  

 

Dinner was straightforward, traditional, and delicious. The one tradition I make sure to organize is the annual bunny cake. James was kind enough to volunteer to do the honors, so I armed him with M&Ms and he set to work. Artistic skills run through the Hunt veins like normal blood does through mine.

 

 

And of course the family photos. Chadwick chose the area under the pine tree on the side of the house this year. It always amazes me that we can get a decent picture with the camera on the tri-pod. Even Darwin was sort of looking. I had to include the second photo as Chadwick was trying to get Spencer to look at the camera. Spencer was looking at Dad wondering why there was such a fuss. Love those boys of mine.

 

 

Morgan was not impressed that I wouldn't let her hold her new lamb, Cinnamon, in the group photo. She was placated by having an individual photo of them later.

 

Mallorie and Flitters. My mom was responsible for most of the goodies in the baskets this year (good teamwork by the bunny, if I do say so myself) and she found a stuffed butterfly. This particular toy has been on Mallorie's wish list since before Christmas. Score one for Grandma on that!!

Sunday was quiet reverence, lessons on the resurrection, and leftovers from the day before. The girls took turns hiding empty eggs around the house for each other and their brother. A good weekend, though strange without the presence of Steve and Nancy....

Antics of the Youngest

I had to post a few pictures of the funny things Spencer has been up to...every day brings surprises and new things. His vocabulary is growing like the weeds in our driveway, his comprehension is rapidly improving, and his opinions of what and how and when he wants things is becoming more pronounced.

He still obsessed with cars, trucks, bugs, balls, and doing puzzles. He has figured out that while I'm volunteering in Morgan's classroom, he is allowed time to play games on my iPhone. The current favorite is an app called "Endless ABC" where you place letters in the right location on the page and then funny little monsters act out the definition of the word. Despite his lack of years, Spencer has become quite adept at matching the letter to its outline. I'm impressed with his geometrical abilities.

And he loves to play with our "mouse house" as we have named this Calico Critter house. Mallorie sets up the furniture and tiny little pieces, and the moment she leaves the barstool, Spencer is retrieving the stool and climbing up to play. I adore the way his bottom lip sticks out a bit as he concentrates on moving the pieces around with his baby-fat fingers. Many times, there are cars within the house near the tables and small couch. A perfect mix of boy and the gentleness from having older sisters.

There is a drawer in the master bathroom that is home to all things random - extra toiletries, travel sized toothpaste, etc. A favorite activity while I'm getting ready for the day is to set out all of the items in the drawer. On the countertop. When I'm standing in his way, he pushes by with a "beep beep." Guess it's good to have inventory performed on the mass of stuff once in a while....

We have two friends whose daughters are both his age - Ginny and Luna. Ginny loves Spencer, or at least his name. Her mom tells me that Ginny is always asking for Spencer, wonders if it's "Pencer's Mom" on the phone. Spencer loves Luna, whose name is carefully pronounced as "Noo-na." On the way out the door to Ginny's two-year birthday party, he picked a daffodil from our front planter. I decided he could give it to Ginny....and he talked of nothing but Noo-na the whole way to the house. The sight of him, looking concerned, while giving the flower to this little friend cracked me up! If he's this nervous now to give a flower to a cute girl, how will it be when he's 16??

Lately, Spencer has been laying down with his hands folded behind his head. While having his diaper changed, in the car, and sitting on the couch. The other morning, I had him watching Sesame Street so I could hop in the shower. He climbed on the couch, demanded the Elsa "blank" and made himself comfortable while I turned on the show. Such a fun little man!

A Two Year Call

We as Christians are asked to sacrifice ourselves, our time, and our talents for the Lord to benefit those with whom we associate. Such sacrifices also provide great benefits to each of us personally and extend to our family members in the process. In the LDS church, serving a full time mission is one way that members give of their time and talents. Young single adults as well as senior couples have the opportunity to serve the Lord and their fellow men - the youth for 18-24 months and the couples for anywhere from 12-24 months. A period of time is spent in the missionary training center, or MTC, prior to entering the mission field to learn how to teach the gospel, learn a new language if necessary, and start the process of immersing oneself in the gospel and to let go of the world for a while. Rules for the senior couples are not quite a strict as for the youth (understandably), so we are able to call or text, Skype, visit when able, and receive visits when necessary. For example, Nancy is adamant that she will be in Boise when her son graduates from pharmacy school next summer. I love that they have the flexibility to care for their families as necessary and to be a bit closer in touch with the world while still serving their mission.

Our Elder and Sister Hunt, as they will be called for the next 24 months, checked into the MTC in Provo a few days ago after months of planning, preparation, packing, and last minute scrambling. When I asked Nancy how the first day went, she responded, "The MTC is amazing. Everywhere you look there is a picture of Christ or one of the prophets. We have been taught over and over again, today, that our purpose as a missionary, regardless of our individual assignment, is to invite people to come unto Christ and be relieved of the burden of sin. We do that by loving them as Christ loves us. We are staying in a nice little apartment, the food is good, and we have met many nice people."

I admire their courage to take a break from life to serve a mission. It hasn't been an easy road to prepare to leave and I'm guessing that the hardship will continue for several months. As one of my sister-in-law's pointed out, two years is a long time to be away from grandchildren. I am grateful for the technology that allows us to Skype, email, text, and call our loved ones to keep those important relationships strong.

Last week, I had the chance to assist them with some packing, cleaning, and disposing of items. I'm so grateful for the time to serve them and I don't think it's really sunk in that they are gone. For two years. I have grown used to being in their presence almost weekly and receive comfort in knowing that they are around. I love that I can say without hesitation, "I will miss my mother- and father-in-law!" Not everyone is blessed to have a good relationship with the parents of their spouse.

Nancy and Steve gave their "farewell" in sacrament meeting in the middle of March. The farewell is basically the last talk they will give and is often one of the last Sundays attending meetings before their mission begins. And then, naturally, there is the "homecoming" talk as well. Nathan and Beth drove from Colorado with their kids for the farewell weekend and we had the pleasure of hosting several of them in our home. I haven't spent much time one-on-one with Beth and it was so fun to chat with her, to listen, and learn. She is a strong woman with lots of depth and we had a good time. The cousins also enjoyed the time together, working on the Hunt's property and playing and talking.

I was not prepared for the flood of emotions that washed over me during their talks. I was reminded again of the spiritual strength of these wonderful people. They are providing an amazing example to their posterity!

Dinner was hosted by Nancy and Steve that evening. Spencer found the cars, the youth found the pool table, and the others spent time running, reading books, and getting out energy. Andrew and Brynn spent time re-creating old pictures anew. Love it!

Saturday before their departure, Chadwick and I hosted a dinner for the family at our place....and completely maxed out our house. I'm pretty sure maximum occupancy is somewhere between 16-18. We managed to fit 24 people of all ages and sizes into the kitchen and den for dinner and dessert. Add two wandering dogs and a cat hiding in the laundry room and it was a full house!! I wouldn't have traded that opportunity but it was a little crazy. Luckily, the weather cooperated and the kids spent a lot of time outside. We had the adult tables, the teen table, and the young ones table with a few mixes here and there. I love watching and listening to the chaos. There were tables and chairs everywhere!

Needless to say, these grandparents will be missed. I have faith that we will be blessed for their desire to serve and look forward to learning about their experiences as we are able.

Adios, Hermano y Hermana Hunt!

Owyhee Hills

You know spring is on its way when the daffodils start blooming in our planter, the sun is shining more often, the wind starts to blow, soccer begins, and the car is pleasantly warm after sitting in the parking lot. Chadwick and I have a goal to do a family outing once per month, and in March we were able to sneak out to the Owyhee Canyonlands for an afternoon. The weather was perfect and the kids enjoyed the time wandering around the rocks and grass stubble that dots the area. Darwin and Chadwick ran 16 miles near the house that morning (he was training for a half marathon in Tennessee) and despite the exercise, Darwin was rearing to explore once turned loose from his crate in the car. He didn't move much when we got home that evening....

The girls really wanted to see a lizard and were disappointed to learn that it was still too cold for the lizards to be out en mass. We saw ants, flies, the occasional hawk, and one lone mountain biker. Morgan and Mallorie brought backpacks filled with supplies for an outing in nature - water bottle, notebook, pencils, and binoculars. They happily drew flowers and rocks while Spencer climbed on every high point his little legs could reach. He doesn't fit in the backpack as well any more but didn't seem to mind being carried for parts of the walk. (And yes, my husband packed him around. Apparently 16 miles of running wasn't enough to make him too tired.)

 

 

We made a loop up the hill, looked down on the car - which Spencer was thrilled to point out - and back down on the other side. Darwin was dragging by the time we got to the bottom of the hill. He dropped with a thud in the middle of the stream, gratefully lapping water and enjoying the cool down. Revived, he was up and running for the remainder of our outing.

 

Our little man is obsessed with rocks, sticks, and bugs and he spends lots of time bent over, examining the dirt/rocks/bugs or trying to cart them around. He also enjoys throwing things, which is no surprise, and had a blast chucking rocks in the stream while the girls and Chadwick rested.

 

I love these two men in my life!
 

I'm pretty sure everyone was asleep by the time we reached home....must have been a successful outing! I can't wait to get out there again as the weather continues to warm - both with the kids as well as Steve's horses.

It's Out!

Since having her bottom incisors pulled last year, Morgan has been not-so-patiently waiting for her first top tooth to get loose enough to fall out. She was pushing to have us tie the tooth to a doorknob and slam it shut....but we talked her out of that removal option. She wiggled, and wiggled, and wiggled, and wiggled her tooth. And then wiggled some more. Last Monday evening, she chickened out of having her dad give a final tug to remove the tooth prior to bedtime.

She went to bed and came out of her room saying that her loose tooth hurt but still refused to let us give it a tug. Twenty minutes later, she was back downstairs and Chadwick flicked it out of her mouth with a couple of fingers. Such a big grin!!

 

The tooth was placed in her little pink box and gently placed under her pillow. The little rascal was still awake when Chadwick and I were heading to bed (have I mentioned that she has a hard time falling asleep?) so the tooth fairy wasn't able to visit that night. My sweet hubs set his alarm for 6:30 am to sneak in and exchange the tooth, thinking that she would stay asleep. It was a sound plan; we can do all sorts of things on a normal morning without her budging an inch.

As he was reaching under her pillow, eye level with her face, her eyes popped open and met his. "Dad? Is it April 3? Do I need to get up for school?" she queried. Caught off guard, he quickly replied it was not and that she should go back to sleep. This would have been an epic fail had she connected the events. When I woke her later in the morning and asked if the tooth fairy had come, she answered in the affirmative and that dad had made a mistake by trying to wake her up earlier!

I'm thinking that we need to have a chat with the tooth fairy about setting up another holding place for lost teeth. This under-the-pillow tradition might get us into trouble....

A Little of This and That

The weather is warming up and spirits are rising across the Valley. We've been doing most of the normal stuff - playing at the library during Morgan's music class.

Building with blocks inside. Lining up trucks and cars on the coffee table (I'm so glad we got rid of our other, less sturdy table as that is what Spencer uses to play each day!). Creating houses and tents for dolls and stuffed animals.

Riding bikes around the neighborhood - both girls are doing so well on their bikes! I can't wait to get onto the Green Belt as the sun continues to shine. And hitting the park for the first time this year. I got off work early on Friday and took the kids to Redwood to play outside for a bit. Their coats came off soon after these photos were obtained.

Track break begins tomorrow and while we have no specific plans, Morgan is excited to have the mornings off the hurried routine. I'm thinking we should make a bucket list so that we do something while we have the chance....

Spencer's vocabulary continues to expand. He points out every car, truck, and plane in sight, loves to read books, watch movies, and play with cars. He says "torry" when anyone, including himself, says ouch, gives a curt "kanks" when handed something he wants. A good little eater, Spencer loves milk, cheese, yogurt, bread, fruit, mac and cheese, hamburger and hot dog, oatmeal, raisins, carrots, and pasta of any kind.

Mallorie is going to be our watchdog. This morning, I overheard her talking to her dad as he was braiding her hair before church. "Dad, Spencer can NOT wear that to church! He needs a white shirt! That isn't okay." She must have repeated this several times. It should be noted that I was the one who dressed my little man in blue dockers and a plaid yellow and blue button up shirt. Apparently, it's not appropriate....I thought he looked nice!

Morgan's skills in the kitchen are expanding. She's becoming proficient at making oatmeal in the morning, makes her lunch for school every day, and learned how to make macaroni and cheese this afternoon. She continues to be a good helper with her siblings, loves to read, and is a great student.

I love this little family of mine and am so blessed to have these souls in my life! It's good to sit back and listen to the sounds of the kiddos playing and laughing in the room next door, to watch them interact with one another, and to learn the ways of life.

Sassy-ness

Every few years, I get the urge to change up my look. I had a super short haircut in Spain that I loved and have never been able to replicate. Until now.

Twelve inches of my brown locks were braided and cut to be sent to Locks of Love - a company that specializes in making wigs for children under 21 years of age. They also sell some of the received hair to help offset costs for the company (though I'm not sure who buys said hair) and I love the thought that my hair can boost the confidence of a young person. In addition, I have several aunts who have gone through chemo and worn wigs during their recovery phase. Just seemed fitting.

 My hairstylist is a stay-at-home mom with her salon in the washroom of the home. Like most stylists, her hair is rarely the same each time I see her and she knows her stuff. She turned my brown, straight hair into an A-line, highlighted bob that brings out a sassy appearance. And I love it!

My girls were totally impressed with the changed appearance of my face with the new haircut, Spencer spent a few minutes carefully studying my features to see if anything else had changed, and one older man at church jokingly introduced himself to "this new member of the ward." Chadwick had a brother or two tease him about the new woman with whom he was sitting during sacrament meeting. "It's my mistress," replied my hubs with a grin. Dr. Bingham, veterinarian owner of Chadwick's clinic, actually used the word sassy in his description of my hair which I thought was fantastic. I don't always love being the center of attention, but I have to admit liking the positive comments about my new 'do.

I kind of feel like the haircut is just part of the changes that I've strived to make since the beginning of this year: a focus on physical health (joining the gym, hiring a trainer, working to clean up my eating, seeing a physical therapist for my shoulder issues), mental health (the one-word challenge, finding a balance for work and life and kids), and just learning to be okay in the skin in which I live.

On a side note, my brother, David, sent a selfie after his wife recently cut his hair. In his words, "it basically looks like the hair slid off my head onto my face." I had to laugh with his word choice, mostly because....he's right!