Visiting Connecticut - Fun with Cousins

My kids are growing up like I did. No cousins nearby. We usually only get to spend time with Hunt siblings and cousins once a year, so we are thrilled it will be twice (for some) this year.

Our kids and Stuart & Rebecca's kids are all 6 mos to a year apart. Everyone had a buddy to play with - and they LOVED it! It was very entertaining watching them partner up and run around the house together.



I feel very foolish that my camera didn't make it out much the rest of the week while we were back East. (Rebecca, I'll have to snag some pics from you!) While Monday was a full day, we contemplated heading down into the city again on Tuesday. However, more snow was coming. The kids were more than happy to play with one another at home. And, with aunt Rebecca's genius idea, we held our own Winter Olympics. The events included hockey, floor skating - both individual and couples, and free dancing. I can't believe how much I missed without having my camera ready.

Floor Skating

Receiving their medals


While the snow fell the kids bustled around the house having fun.

Wednesday morning while eating breakfast, we watched several (10!) of these guys behind the wire in the backyard. I'm not sure I've seen so many together before. It wasn't long though before one of them found a way to get through into the backyard that they were chased off. (Not to mention we almost hit a couple the night we flew in.)

We said good-bye to Gma & Gpa Hunt and miraculously outfitted all the kids into winter apparel for some sledding. Once again, didn't think to bring my camera. It was pretty chilly, but that didn't stop any of the fun. Clay even tried skiing for the first time. Much harder than he thought! :) Believe it or not, we pulled the kids away after 2 hours!

That evening the Elder came for dinner. What kid (or adult) doesn't love being entertained by singing Elders with a ukulele?!

(Look at those girls right up front, mesmerized)

Thursday, the kids wanted to sledding, again. Bundling up, we headed to Compo Beach, right off The Long Island Sound. Again, forgetting the camera, the kids thoroughly enjoyed playing at the park, and especially collecting shells and crab parts (Clay). It was really pretty - even if it was cold and windy.

After an hour, we headed back to the sledding hill surprised that much of the snow had started to melt, exposing grass. (You wouldn't have known it had warmed up with that nasty wind.) After about 15 mins, the moms called it. Not enough snow, and too cold.

Thursday night, a babysitter came to our rescue and we headed out to dinner with Stu & Becca. It was a delightful evening at a wonderful restaurant followed by taking a drive around Westport. It is such a cool place. Fun shops everywhere with homes that are breathtaking. I kept telling Ryan that I would love to see Connecticut in the Spring. So many trees, I'm sure it's just lovely. And, the homes! Such gorgeous homes.

We had such a fun week. Playing the Wii, kids running on the treadmill with Uncle Stu coaching and supervising, and watching the Olympics after the kids had gone to bed.

Thank you Stuart & Rebecca for having us and showing us such a great time! Just yesterday Lucy says "I miss Matthew. Can we go back to New York?"

I would love to.

The Big Apple - the City part of our Trip

We loved our trip! We left Saturday (the 13th) around 1:30pm and made our way to the airport.

Here we are waiting for the shuttle. I should have zoomed out so you could see all our luggage. We had 3 car seats, 6 back packs and 5 carry-on/rolling suit cases. Oh, and the stroller for Olivia. Getting through security was fun. Actually, it went really well. Both times.

The girls at the airport. The kids put a good dent in the goodies/snacks for the plane ride just waiting to board. They all did really well. Who knew that letting them watch tv for 4 hours would do the trick? :)

We landed just after 10pm Eastern time at La Guardia and headed up to Westport, CT to see/stay Stuart (Ryan's brother) and Rebecca and their family.We had a nice relaxing Sunday catching up and preparing our adventure for the next day.

The next day, Monday, we headed down into Manhattan. The weather was in the 20's with a pretty chilly wind. We bundled up though and made our way down. (Just a note, if you're ever looking for a pretty easy day to visit Manhattan without a lot of people around, go in February, preferably a holiday, with cold, cold weather. It really was great.)

Loaded up, ready to go

Driving into the City
(Note: all pics taken from the car. Hence, the blurriness. Click on the pics if you'd like to see them closer)

The USS Intrepid
(So huge it was almost scary to look at!)

In Manhattan
(pics from the car still)

Ground Zero
(the pic on the right is from above)

On the Roof
We parked and went and saw where Stuart and Rebecca (and their 5 young children) lived for a few years - they moved up to CT only 3 months ago. Really cool to have them show us the ropes of city living and getting around. Amazing, really. Luckily, we also had Gma & Gpa Hunt there to help move 10 kids and 3 strollers.
We went up to the roof of their apartment building.
What a spectacular view!

Here we are on Wall Street

We went over and saw the Bull and then headed over to take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see Lady Liberty a little closer.

Waiting for the ferry

On the Ferry
A great view of Manhattan

And, of course, The Statue of Liberty

After we crossed over to Staten Island, we ran (literally) around to get back on the ferry to get back over. Everyone made it back A.OK. Well done.

Once we got off the ferry we headed over to The Riverwalk (is that what's it's called?) the trail that is right beside the river that you always see in movies, on TV or even commercials. It was really neat. I wish I had gotten a better picture. By the time we had made our full circle back to where we'd parked, the lights were starting to come on everywhere. Ah, the city.

As we were heading back to the cars, we passed this:
The 9/11 Memorial
The names and pictures of all the firefighters that lost their lives.
It was really neat to be there.

One of the things I really wanted to do while visiting New York City was to taste the pizza! And, Stu & Becca knew just where it was. We loaded everyone up and headed over the Brooklyn Bridge to Grimaldi's. There was a line out the door! so we parked illegally (still surprised we weren't asked to move) and waited for our pizzas. The kids did really well waiting and it was about an hour later when we tasted PURE GOODNESS! WOW.

Fresh Mozzarella and Fresh Basil with the thin New York crust, baked to perfection.

I've never tasted pizza like this before and may have just ruined eating pizza anywhere else forever.

(this is a picture from their website, but exactly what the pizza looked like. I want it again.)

We ate and finished up in the cars and headed home. Once again all these pics were taken from the car. The building with the white lights on top is the Chrysler Building - I had actually mistaken it for the Empire State Building when we flew in, and the building with the red, white and blue on top is the Empire State Building. Glad we cleared that up.

I absolutely loved all the bridges. So fun to see them all lit up.

It was really a once in a life-time trip for our family. Just incredible to be there together.

Next time, it's just me and Ryan.

On the Bright Side

We were supposed to fly to New York this morning, but because of the insane weather back east, our flight was canceled.

BUMMER.

I was so disappointed and frankly, a little angry that after getting everyone packed, the house in order, and a crappy night-before-you-leave-out of town-sleep, we weren't hustling to the airport. All the anticipation shattered, forced to see another normal day. The kids headed off to school and Ryan back to work. Ugh.

Thankfully (and I mean thankfully) we've been able to find a few bright sides.

1. Although the earliest flight is Saturday night (after niece Mia's baptism!) we were able to change our return flight and we can stay the next week - no extra fees. Saturday to Friday.
2. The cousins out there have the week off of school - very cool.
3. The contacts (lenses) I had ordered last Thursday and paid extra $$ to ship in 3 days did NOT arrive so I'll have them for the trip now (anyone else have problems with Acuvue?)
4. Not 30 mins after school has started this morning, Rylee calls home with an excruciating ear ache. Get into the doctor and she has a nasty ear infection - that she said started when she got on the bus this morning. Can you imagine flying in incredible pain with an ear infection. Yikes!
5. Rylee will get to go to her last gymnastics lesson tonight.
6. The kids will get to go to their Valentine's Parties at school.
7. After changing my next OB appointment from Friday the 12th to the 19th, I called this morning and changed it again. (They are so nice to me). I go to the dr tomorrow. So no waiting until after the trip.

Yay for bright sides.

Good-Bye January!

Today is the day! Can I get a hallelujah?!

I know today isn't the last day of January, but let me tell you about today!

1. Kaycee went back to school. I don't think I heard her cough once this morning -

GLORIOUS!

2. Headed to Target - it's been a while. (It's only to pick up a bday gift for a party Clay's headed to tomorrow, but it's still fun to look around.)

3. I finished my first blog book last night and will finalize/order it today! (only 2 more to go!)

4. Pizza and Movie night tonight with the WHOLE family because . . . .

drum roll please!

5. Ryan's deadline is at 3pm today!! The light at the end of the tunnel is here!

Blessed day! And, I mean BLESSED DAY!

6. And, I'm 15 weeks today!

Happy last Friday in January to you!

January - not really my favorite

January has always been a little depressing to me. After all the holidays and spending time with family, January just seems a little dreary, nothing really to look forward to. This January though, has been a little more rough than we're used to. As soon as we returned from Utah, Ryan was thrown right into work with doing budgets and forecasts - for the WHOLE company. He had warned me that he may not be around as much this month, but I had no idea!

Working 80+ hour weeks - 93 hours this past week. Some Sundays we'd get to see him, but others he had church meeting after church meeting. We are certainly not used to not seeing him as he hasn't had to travel almost at all this past year. We were spoiled.

Well this past 93 hour work week, I toted 5 kids around each evening as we met with the Bishop (I finally got a new calling after being released 8 weeks ago!), trying not to draw too much attention to ourselves although kids loudly proclaimed they did not want to be watching Rylee at her gymnastics lesson, then rushing over to a Relief Society activity hoping to get some sort of needed break - what was I thinking! Olivia was all over me (she had been asleep) as she was coughing and ornery. Poor girl. The next day I took Olivia to the dr and was informed she has RSV. Lucy and Kaycee are now forming to the couch with fevers, coughs, and Kaycee tossed her cookies this morning. I'm wiped. I can't even imagine how Ryan feels or how he's even functioning.

But you now what?

Sounds like life to me it aint no fantasy
It's just a common case of everyday reality
Man, I know it's tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me.
(Darryl Worley, Sounds Like Life to Me)

This song made me chuckle when I heard it. But, as hard as life may seem to be, we just need to "keep on keepin on," and push through. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel (unless it's another train!) :) But, it could ALWAYS be worse, right? I must still say though, I can't wait for February!

Eating My Words

"My husband and I both come from families of 7 children and we loved it. We're not going for 7 though!"

Well . . .

We're happy to announce that

Baby Hunt #7 is on the way!

Joining the ranks in July!

They Make Me Laugh - Listening to Kaycee & Lucy

Here are some things I heard from Kaycee and Lucy this past week.

Kaycee is the queen of making up songs. Her latest:
"I love Mom just a teeny bit more than Grandma,
Just a teeny bit more than Grandpa."


Lucy hears me burp.
Lucy:"Mom, say excuse me."
Me: "Oh yes, excuse me."
Lucy looks away and disappointedly says "moms don't burp."


Bless my Mom's heart, she mailed us everything we'd left behind in Utah - which made a pretty good sized package! Thanks, mom! When we opened the package, Kaycee grabs her glitter ball and puts it up to her nose.
KC: "ahh, it smells like Grammies."
Me: "Really?" (you sure it doesn't smell like rubber??)
KC: "No, it actually smells like Sicily." (her cousin)
Me: "Sicily? What does Sicily smell like?"
KC: "Like cotton balls."

By now Lucy is smelling Clay's football and quietly says " I don't smell Grammies."


Kaycee being sweet holding one of Lucy's hands while I put a band aid on a cut finger on the other. Kaycee gasps "Lucy! Don't put up that finger - that's your swear finger!"


Sitting by Olivia on the couch, she grabs a movie case and shoves it in my robe. Nice.

Orange Julius, anyone?

6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup milk (or powdered milk)
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 cups ice (about 10 ice cubes or so)

1. Combine all ingredients in blender adding ice one at a time.

I just made this for the kids. It's been years since I'd had one - we used to make them growing up. Thought I'd share. Enjoy!

I've never had one before!

A little klepto...

A few days before we left for Utah, this little one found out the greatness of stuffing random things down her pajamas - her footed pajamas.

First, it was Christmas ornaments, then her pacifier, to random toys (saving for later?), to really upping the anty to cell phones! Just the other day I found my phone down her pants! yum.

On this day, she pulled out a pair of Lucy's underwear (clean!) from the suitcase. She wanted them on, so I put them on her over her jammies. I think this was the best thing ever for her as she realized that she could put things IN the underwear - like pockets! Since the underwear was such a hit, she moved on to KC's pajama shorts. Not as effective, but still held everything on the inside, just right.

Look at that belly!

I love this girl.

Christmas 2009

We spent Christmas in Utah this year with my family.

Christmas Eve - The Nativity

My mom and sister had gone over earlier in the day to set up the tables and put up a Christmas tree in the Relief Society room - it was perfect! I wish I would have gotten a picture of the tree with ALL of the gifts around. Leave it to my mom to make everything look so good! I can't imagine wrapping and making gift tags for all those gifts, it was awesome. And, dinner was incredible too.

After the kids open their gifts from Gma and Gpa, the adults open their gifts from Mom and Dad. After we watch Gma and Gpa open their gifts, we do the family gift exchanges, then some white elephant fun for the adults followed by some games. It's A LOT of fun!

Christmas Morning

This was the only time I think our camera made it out. Christmas morning. Thanks to Micki for all the other photos.

The rest of Christmas Day was filled with good food, friendly volleyball games, kids running the halls, some floor hockey and dodge ball. So fun to be together.

Dinner at The Roof in Salt Lake

One of the greatest gifts from my parents. We had a great time (with a great view!) at this gourmet buffet on top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We finished eating and watched the lights come on at Temple Square.

Beautiful!


It was a great Christmas. Besides having various illnesses throughout the 9 days we were there, it was perfect for getting in some R&R!