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!

Dance Fever

Lacey and "Miss Kacie" her dance teacher at her recital. She was a shining star.

These are a few studio pics of the girls in her dance group-so cute!

Grandma Hunsaker, Lacey and Aunt Julie

Grandma Aston and Lacey

Zanna and Lacey-sweet sisters!Scott and Lacey-Daddy's little girl! Lacey was radiant up on the stage at her recital, she is so sweet when she dances. I think she loves dancing as much as I do! I think she is much better than I ever was because she can actually follow choreography! The church was packed and so many friends and family came to watch her recital. It really made her feel special. So thanks to the Hunsakers, Astons, Cavanaghs, Giles and her friend Lourdes for making her feel like a dancing diva for the day!

oh what do you do in the summertime?

Life is full of simple pleasures and lazy summer days. I often think the reason summer is so appealing is it gives us a chance to unwind and relax and take things a little slower. I know everytime summer rolls around I feel happier...I love the sun and the beach, but I think what I love the most is seeing my kids enjoy the outdoors so much. it reminds me of being a kid. Now I am always in a hurry to get here and there and I don't take the time to chill out or play in a stream. Life's too short! Get out of the rut, smell the roses, play in the stream, oh what do you do in the summertime?

The boys playing in a stream at the father and son campout.

Sweet 16-Rockin the 80's!

Rockin the 80's girls-Jinelle, Izzy, Stacey and Zanna

Sweet sixteen...I can hardly believe it! Zanna is 16! Where did the time go? We celebrated all week long! Starting on Monday at Disneyland which was her actual birthday.

This was at Red Robin's on Tuesday, we went to celebrate as a family and had cupcakes after and presents of course!

On Friday Zanna and her friend Jayson had a double 16th birthday party. They invited about 100 kids and about 80 showed up! Crazy but sooo fun. It was an 80's neon party. The glow in the dark stuff was a huge hit! We had a DJ and dancing, karoake, a Spiderman Bounce House and trampoline (that we thought for sure would break from all the kids on it) and tons of food!

As you can see they got really creative with the glow in the dark accessories, especially the boys! The funniest part of the party came the day before when she was getting her "costume" ready and I told her something she wanted to wear was not 80's. To which she replied, yes it is. I distinctly remember saying the same thing to my Mom about the 60's once upon a time. Sorry Mom, I really do know now that Mother knows best.

Do the Hoedown

Lacey and Scott went to the annual Daddy Daughter Dance and Lacey was estatic to find that it was a western theme this year! Sweet. She got to do the hoedown with her Daddy!

I left the house to go help at the dance and Lacey was so excited to come to the dance with Scott. She loves having him all to herself for a date.
This was the jail that the girls got to throw their dads into and then have a photo op.

Lacey's dream is to own a horse someday so she is practicing!

She got all decked out in her western wear and boots to dance the night away! They had a great time and Lacey said it was one of her favorite dances ever!

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.