I bring you good tidings...finally

The Von Trap Family children

The nuns

Maria and the children (My favorite things song) Suzanne and Lacey

Tada! Here it is....drumroll please! I recently read that a blog is a vain attempt to have people interested in what you have to say...well duh! We have had a busy couple of months in the Hunsaker household! In November the girls were the the Sound of Music play at Norco High School. Suzanne was the housekeeper (Frau Schmidt) a nun and an award winner at the Festival. Lacey was Brigitta, one of Von Trap children. They did a fabulous job! Suzanne is also going to be starring in a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater production in February, when I have more info I will pass it along! She is very excited to be heading off to New York City in the Spring with the performing choir. (Ala GLEE for those of you in the know) Taylor will be celebrating his 14th birthday tomorrow! He is very excited to see what he gets for his birthday and Christmas presents. I hope he's not disappointed. Carter has been avidly riding his bike around the neighborhood and I have anxiety every time that he is going to get hit by a car. He has no fear! He is a kamakaze on that thing. Lacey rides too, but is much more subdued. My friend let me borrow a beach cruiser so Zanna and I take turns going on bike rides with them. The kids are all eagerly awaiting Christmas to be here already. I am looking forward to the holidays not for the gifts but for the company. It is going to be so fun to spend time with family. I can't think of anything I would rather do. I am grateful for my family and the birth of our Savior. Joy to the World and Merry Christmas to all!

Preview of coming attractions...

Lacey the Pirate and Lourdes the Go-go Girl

I haven't uploaded all my Halloween pictures yet but I thought I would leave a little taste of what was to come. Lucky for Scott, I didn't subject him to the agony of dressing up this year...well really he was working the Spook Alley with the Young Men the whole time, but that's besides the point. Anyway in honor of Roller Derby Girls everywhere my friends and I chose to be Glamazons of the Roller Rink, Dervishes of the Dueling Derby, the Unstoppable, Incredible Team of...Candy the Crusher!!! Molly Mayhem!! And Brawlin' Britney...you don't want to meet us on roller skates...no really, you don't. But we had a fun time dressing up despite our lack of skates (not for lack of trying to find them...but skates are scarce!) Can't wait to see whats up for next year!!

Love, love me do-you know I love you!

This year we didn't dress up-but the kids look adorable!

Zorro and his consort!

Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee

I just realized while looking through old Halloween pictures that I have really made Scott wear some interesting costumes. I love Halloween and dressing up. It probably stems from the fact that my birthday falls near Halloween. I have always enjoyed dressing up and eating candy, it is so fun! Scott has good naturedly gone along with my shenanigans, in fact he seems to actually enjoy it sometimes. I admit that he is not always on board with my ideas, but since he probably knows that dressing up is not optional, if he doesn't like my idea he comes up with his own. Sadly I was unable to locate a picture of his "Gansta rapper" from a few years ago...complete with a foil grill. My point is that since he realizes how much I love it, he has embraced it and doesn't rain on my parade. It reminds me how much he really does love me, enough to put up with dressing up and dancing (yes dancing) even if its not his favorite thing to do. Thanks sweet pea, I love you too!

P.S. And I can't wait to dress up again for Halloween!!

I love to see the Temple...

Me and Amy Sue!
Shirley Ann (mom) and Aunt Linda

Before school started we made a girls trip to the Redlands Temple. It was so fun to go with my mom, sister and aunt. There is nothing better than a peaceful day together with some of my favorite girls! It was a fun trip that I think we should make a tradition and hopefully next time we can get some more of the cousins to go too! Before the next wave of babies is born!

School is in Session!

School is officially back in session and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's peaceful and quiet around the house...maybe too quiet. I did get my work done this morning on the computer for perhaps the first time all summer. We ended the summer with a bang going to the Newport Coast Villas which were beautiful and amazing. I would love to own one someday. (But I want a house first!) I will post pics soon, I can't find my camera cause I haven't finished unpacking yet. The kids were excited to be back in school, Zanna is driving the new car to school...I have trepidation about that but will remain hopefully optimistic. Taylor seemed happy to be starting 8th grade. Carter and Lace have been in school for a few weeks and started soccer and Lace starts dance soon. Busy, busy. But it is really nice to have another willing driver. Zanna is very helpful, don't know how long that will last. Cemetary....I mean seminary starts next week so we'll see how exhausted she is with her extreme workload this year. She passed AP European History and has 3 college credits to her name. This year she is taking even more. Her determination astounds me...she didn't get that from me!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow-in Hawaii

This is a typical Hunsaker Family shot-I thought I would let our imperfections show so the rest of the pics will look fab!

The statues in the Easter Island Exhibit

Taking a hula lesson in Figi Village

We spent two days at the Cultural Center because there was so much to do and see-T playing an old fashioned drum

On the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor

Little Surfer Girl-I missed her catching her first wave!:(

A quiet game in the Hawaiian Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center

Zanna's first surf lesson

Carter blew the conch shell on his first try, ask Scott how long it took him. (i couldn't do it at all)

At the Laie Hawaii Temple. It was breathtaking. Such a beautiful temple

Waimea Falls-we are swimming towards the waterfall to sit in it!

Turtle alert! (can you see it?)

Me and T in Shark's Cove

Aloha! I am faced with the daunting task of trying to recreate through blog our amazing family vacation to Hawaii! It's impossible, I guess I will have to just take you all there so you can see for yourself! It was so beautiful. We are so grateful to John and Mandy for their hospitality. The week flew by, everyday we explored the island and found a new spot that we loved. Kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, hula lessons, hiking a volcanic crater, visiting Pearl Harbor, swimming in the bluest, warmest water ever. It was a priceless experience that I hope my family remembers forever!

It's the PITS!

Smile the camera is actually over here!

See the pit behind the "wild animals"

Sloth and jaguar

Woolly Mammoth Bones

undercover in the little theater

We made a day trip to LA to visit the La Brea Tar Pits and expand our knowledge of history. Yah right, I just thought it would be cool. Anyway it was a hot, hot, hot day, maybe not the best weather for visiting tar pits, but we had a great time. As you can see, Taylor is impervious to weather in his invisibility cloak, uh I mean sweatshirt. We explored the pits (well not actually inside them, but around), watched a movie on the pits, saw tons of dire wolf bones, mammoth, camels, sloths, really cool stuff. I'm sure the highlight was the gift shop full of stuff that has nothing to do with the pits. Lame, I told the kids it had to relate in someway with the trip, so they all opted for different rocks...which I guess using the six degrees of Kevin Bacon theory you could tie back into the tar pits in some way. At least they come from the ground!

Home

Exploring the tidepools

Uncle Paul, Taylor and Carter

A game of frisbee Football

Sparklers from Grandma were a HUGE hit!

Aunt Scarlett and Carter at the tidepools

Taylor and Carter

Sisters

Amy and Mom

Cousins-Lacey, Emma, Tyler and Carter

We had a mini family reunion this week with my family. I have the greatest family in the world...but everyone probably says that! I love to spend time with my family. We are growing by leaps and bounds with new babies and in-laws! I have the cutest nieces and nephews. We spent the week together playing, sleeping over at Grandma's house, late night runs to Cherry on Top, the beach, the park, the pool. So much fun. Scott teases me because my idea of heaven is being with my family hanging out, just like Sunday nights at my Mom's house. Talking, laughing, debating...enjoying life. I think the thing I have been thinking about the most this week is you could strip everything away, and as long as I had my family, I would feel at home, safe, loved and cherished. I love my husband and children and I am so happy that I have such an amazing extended family with sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews that I love so much. Thanks for a great week!

Fireworks

Lacey and Gavin (camera shy? Yah right!)

Savi, Tori, Elise, Lacey, Gavin and Carter

Charlie's Angels of course

Fourth of July was a blast this year. We spent the day at the Hafer's BBQ with friends. Had delicious food and fun. Swam until we were waterlogged then headed home to clean up and go watch the fireworks. Zanna got her license (!) on July 3 so she decided she wanted to go to the fireworks with her friends and accidently took my car instead of Scott's. I am sure this was just the first of many car stories to come. Good times, I am not really looking forward to that. But anyway we made it to the Norco church building and watched the fireworks. I missed having Zanna there with us and I especially missed being with my crazy fun, family at the Yorba Linda Fireworks, hearing the patriotic music and dancing with my little bro Joe. Next year!!

Beach Days

Carter and Gavin (Lacey's friend)
Gavin and Lacey
Carter, Andrew (Taylor's friend), Taylor
I know I've said this a million times, but I love the beach. We started off the summer with a bang. We went to the beach before school even got out on a minimum day. We decided to go to Balboa. We have gotten into the habit of having lunch or dinner at Ruby's on the pier and then visiting the Balboa Candy Company that sells vintage candy (well vintage era the 80's) and salt water taffy. On this particular day we ate dinner at Ruby's Diner and then proceeded to the candy store, which was closed! Now this would be ok if we were all adults, but to kids looking forward to candy...you see where this is heading, right? Well, a kind older woman suggested we take the ferry over to the island as that store stayed open later and we would surely have success there. I quickly calculated the ferry toll and decided to take the plunge. The ride over was fun and we excitedly exited the ferry and looked around for the candy store. You might think I would have asked for more specifics from the lady, but no I did not. We started walking...and walking and walking. In the past I have always driven onto the island, parked and visited the candy store, so I really had no idea how far away it actually was from the ferry. At this point I was seriously questioning myself and wondering what to do when someone finally directed us in the right direction and we walked for another 10 minutes to the candy store. Hurray! It was open, we got our candy and then, we got to walk back! Everyone was extremely tired of walking, especially after being at the beach all day, and Carter said he had had to go to the bathroom since we were on the pier. Nice. It was a great adventure, and a great beginning to the summer. The water, the smells, the sand, I love it. I know Mom, right now you are thinking I am crazy. Which is probably true. But then you are the one who wears Bronze Goddess the quintessential summer scent, so who really is the crazy one?