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!

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!

Hunsaker Family Reunion

Carter and Uncle John at the waterfall. Brett and Sawyer are in the background

Zanna, Lacey and me!

Lacey explaining the benefits of hiking to Makenna, Aunt Cynthia, Uncle John and Lucas

Austin, Brandon, Peyton, Lacey, Carter and Taylor

We had a blast this last weekend with the Hunsaker side of the family up in Lake Arrowhead/Crestline. What a great chance to explore nature and enjoy each other's company. We stayed together at The Strawberry Lodge that had ping pong, swimming, horseshoes, lots of room to explore and rooms for everyone in the family! Everyday a different family cooked and had activities for the family to participate in. We missed the families that couldn't be there but had a great time with all the cousins!

Cousins

Ty and Carter playing Star Wars Battleship

Have you ever noticed how cousins just have a special bond? We went to visit Tyler and Emma while they were staying with Grandma and Grandpa this week and I snapped a few pictures of their time together. Emma loved playing with Lacey's hair, and Tyler and Carter just ran around playing all sorts of stuff. It reminded me how much the bonds we form with family last forever. While it was a great time for us, meanwhile Dan and Jessica (my brother and sister in law) were in Las Vegas with their youngest child Eli in the hospital. (He's home now and doing well!) I think I take so much for granted that everyone I love will always be around. So xoxoxo to all my family. I love you all!

Heigh Ho...A trekking we will go!

We had an amazing spring break week. Scott and I had the chance to be youth conference parents for the first time and we got really lucky because it was a pioneer trek! You might think I'm crazy but it was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. Zanna and her friend Cosette were not in our "family" but they were on the trek too.
Zanna and Cosette
Wearing rags on their feet like the pioneers! (For five rocky miles!!)
This is my "family". We had the most amazing kids! I loved it.
We had six kids from the Jurupa Stake. One was a non-member, all were awesome. They worked so hard every day it was inspiring. These pictures were mostly taken on the first day when it was sunny and 70 degrees. Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse on the second day and started pouring rain. We had to walk through the rain and face a gorge that seemed impossible but with teamwork we made it. That night the rain continued to fall, and fall and fall and temperatures dropped dramatically. More than half of the girls side of camp was flooded and some of the girls were evacuated in the middle of the night. It was an experience that I won't forget. It made me grateful for my home and the life I have. The kids were the best part of the whole thing because they never stopped smiling and helping eachother. The spirit of love and charity was overwhelming. I can't imagine a better way to spend my spring break.

London Bridge is falling down...

The London Bridge is not falling down...they just moved it to Lake Havasu! Who knew? I took a trip this weekend and ended up in Lake Havasu to visit my brother and his family and saw an amazing sight. The London Bridge. Yes, the one from the nursery rhyme and that song by Fergie. It was a short trip (if you can call any trip taken with four kids short) and we detoured to Big Bear for a snow day on the way home. It was great to visit Dan and Jess and family to see the new addition. New adorable addition named Elijah Burke Aston. It was so nice to visit them and see their new house and spend time together. We also got to visit Dan's classroom (he teaches at Lake Havasu High-GO KNIGHTS) It was fun to see him in his element. We had a great time and on the way home we took a detour and swung by Big Bear for a snow day.
Scott and I by the London Bridge

This is at the London Bridge in Lake Havasu.

An original phone booth "London's calling..."
A fashionable Lady always wears a hat!
Fun in the snow!

Carter's just along for the ride.
T and Scott throwing snowballs at eachother.
The guys helped Dan build a shed for his backyard.

At Elijah's blessing-what a blessing it is to have such a wonderful family!

The cousins-little did we know that they had been bribed by Grandpa to smile. With the Japanese candy that they all love, Hi-chews!

On the way home we stopped to collect some volcanic rocks. You can never have enough lava rocks right?