Christmas Time 2008

Christmas really snuck up on us this year! I believe there are several reasons for it, but we we had a wonderful Christmas, nonetheless.

Early in November, I decided that I would try and save us a couple bucks and make all the gifts this year. Yes, all. It worked out really well, I believe there were only a few gifts that weren't handmade (and then of course the things my kids really wanted - from Santa). I was so excited to start making the gifts for the kids and then the stress really starting setting in. Time was flying past and we weren't sure we'd get everything done in time. Thankfully, we did and the kids have been having a great time!

Lucy Christmas Morning. She did not want to be awake. Can you believe we actually had to wake our kids up?! Who does that?! She became really spunky though once she saw there was a Barbie movie invlolved.

The other kids' art boards - to hang their creations from.

Although the picture doesn't quite capture it, Clay really did like his apron. He didn't take it off all day. (Really warmed his mother's heart!)

This was really the highlight of everything we made. I searched high a low for a sturdy wooden kitchen set and then nearly choked when I'd see the price. We didn't have enough time to actually do all we thought we wanted to, cabinet doors etc. and paint it, but we decided that the kids might have a good time painting it. Kudos to Ryan for a fabulous kitchen set that the kids absolutley love! (Yeah, we totally beat out Santa!)

Rylee modeling the girls' aprons. Thanks to my sister Micki, and my mom for the wonderful pattern. My mom embroidered their names on all the fabric for me. I got too tired to do pockets. (Note: if you're kids have larger heads like mine do, D-rings are perfect for adjustable neck loops.)

The gifts from Santa - thankfully they were simple requests this year!

Good Morning Kaycee!

Merry Christmas Olivia!

This is what we did for our moms. Mom H's was black and Mom L's brown.


We are so grateful to celebrate another Christmas and remember the birth, life and resurrection of our Savior - the real reason of the season!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

From our Home to Yours

Wishing you a

Merry Christmas!

From the Hunts
Ryan & Honey
Rylee, Clayton, Kaycee, Lucy & Olivia

A New Status Symbol?

My sister, Patti, found this article - so true (and not just in the work place)!
"Keeping up the the Joneses" has taken on a new meaning.

Have a read

What did you think?

Clay & Lucy: Do I smell trouble?

Lucy with bangs...courtesy of Clay.

I wonder these days who is running these shannanagins!

Our little telephone table calling for help.
(She was actually stuck until she knew to bend her knees.)

Lucy "built" this. Notice Olivia IS in there.

This is more like it. Tired and quiet, taking it easy.

Falling Behind

Quick Thanksgiving recap: It was wonderful! We headed out to Utah the day before Thanksgiving. Our little Olivia was awesome - a great little traveler (it's such a blessing that our kids can do so well on an 8 hr trip!). We had the entire Livingstone family together! Because of our size, we booked two church buildings (at different times) to hold our festivities. We enjoyed a fabulous turkey dinner and then after games and letting kids (and the men) run wild, we opened our Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts? Yes, when it's the off year we celebrate both holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, together. So much fun! The kids thoroughly enjoyed being with their cousins and having sleep over after sleep over (we really need some cousins here!) . We enjoyed having "sleep overs" with Micki and Spencer - thanks a bunch! And, to my parents for their hard, hard work. It's quite the production to have us all together - and then adding Christmas on top! They're super!

What fun!

Forget shopping! The boys went shooting the day after Thanksgiving - along with Aunt Patti and Uncle Spencer and his boss.

Random pictures of Olivia:

What are they looking at?!

Just chillin'

So now, we're home with a gazillion loads of laundry that I have no desire to do, growing messes here and there ALL over the house, a Christmas tree standing with no decorations, a home naked of any Christmas decor and gifts that need to be made. One step at a time right? With all of the things I'd like to get done, it's intimidating to even start. So I won't :)

Progress

Olivia had her two month appointment today. She's growing so quickly. Her weight at her 2 week appt went from 7lb to 10lb 15.5 oz today! And, her length from 19.25 inches (yeah, the hospital measured wrong when she was born. They said 20.5 inches) to 22.5 inches today. I am amazed at how fast they grow! She did really well with her immunizations and she's happy and healthy. It's so much fun to have her!

Lucy came along for her 2 year check up (yeah, only 6 mos late!). She's also healthy a tad crabby these days, but she was so pleased that she only needed one shot - her flu shot! Didn't even shed a tear! So nice! I'm taking the other 3 in later today to get theirs...we'll see if it goes as smoothly..

Kaycee loves going to (pre) school. She is a fountain of information and has such a good time. She's never really been too trilled about writing - especially her name, but she's making progress. She cracks me up. Just this morning, after a conversation about nursing and why mom's have milk, she says "yeah, you need to feed her from both sides, or you might run out of juice." I started to laugh, which prompted her to laugh. "I mean milk." You can't not laugh when you hear Kaycee laugh.

Clay. I will never need to worry about this kid making friends - he is SO social. He brought home is first report and did great. He's "meeting learner objectives" in all his classes, and "exceeds learner objectives" in one class. Any guesses? PE. Of course he would! He's got so much energy. I saw that and laughed. This was his kindergarten teacher's comment: "Clay is very friendly and enthusiastic. He is very social as well, but he is able to control his energy when asked to." Oh good. He's starting to read now and does really well - when he's up for it! Below is his latest artwork. I love it! You may have to click on it to see all the detail. Who knew he knew that bat's were nocturnal. He received a Webkinz bat from Gma L. for his birthday and knew that it hung upside down to sleep. I love this kid!



Rylee is as amazing as ever. She also brought home a great report card. She really excels in reading - which I appreciate when I can ask her to read the other kids a story. She is such a sweetheart. She's far more considerate and compassionate than I ever was as a 2nd grader. I was impressed the other day when I asked her about a birthday party she had been invited to. She responded that she couldn't ask this boy a question about his party because one of her good friends that she always plays with hadn't been invited and didn't want to hurt her feelings. How sweet is that?! Rylee continues with her violin lessons and although she doesn't practice near as much as she should :) she still does amazingly well. What would I do without Rylee? (I certainly wouldn't have 5 kids!) :) Here is a picture of her in her play last week - The Elves and the Shoe Maker. She tended to be more shy and let everyone else stand infront of her onstage, but when it came time for her part, she was awesome!

Blessing Day

Olivia was blessed yesterday. Here she is in all her cuteness.

We were grateful to have my parents, Ryan's parents, (brother) Aaron & Angela and (cousin) Paul Carlos and Mandy here with us. It was a wonderful time. Thank you to all who came out and participated!

Olivia with Gpa H the evening before.
(She's not sad with Gpa, she was just very hungry - but mom had to get some shots!)

Olivia with Gpa L.

Of course, whenever Mom and Dad L come into town we have to tackle a project. Here is what Ryan and Dad tackled Saturday (AFTER fixing a toilet downstairs!)

I should have taken a before picture of the banister, but it was a dark walnut stain with only one post and wooden balisters (spindles). Not too sturdy either! Each hole for the balisters had to be drilled and then square shaped with the jig saw. These boys worked long and hard.

And doesn't it look great?! We still have some more balisters to put in, and stain the wood (to match the floors), but it's certainly more sturdy than the other one. Nice job, gentlemen!

And here's a little project me and my mom did (while waiting for dinner to cook before our guests arrived). It's on the wall in the dining room as you're heading out the front door. We thought it would be cute to add a little dingle berry thing, maybe a branch or leaf thing to it...we'll see if I get around to doing it.

What's for Dinner?

Thanks to my friend Lorianne, one of our enrichment groups is a email recipe exchange - "what's for dinner?" So great! If any of you out there are like me, I dread dinner time. Maybe it's because I'm dead tired as 4pm rolls around, or that I don't plan ahead or have a menu, or maybe because I have the pickiest son ever! It drives me nuts to make him dinner just to have him snuff his nose at it, whine, and claim he doesn't like it. Dinner time is such a struggle for me. I won't go as far as to say I hate it, but if I could get some more ideas and perhaps plan a menu for the week or even the month, I think it could be a lot better. So here's my question to you:

What's for dinner? What are you eating tonight, or this week?

One Year

Honey Mary Hunt

Born Still November 7, 2007
Parker, Colorado

Buried November 10, 2007
Sandy, Utah

"And Honey, I miss you, and I'm being good. I'd love to be with you, if only I could."
~Bobby Goldsboro, "Honey"

This is what we printed on little mementos for those that attended our family graveside service.
It's hard to believe it's been a year already- it's gone by so quickly. Our hearts have come a long way and we're so grateful for the Lord's tender mercies to our young family. I must admit, there isn't a day that goes by that my thoughts aren't turned to Baby Honey in one way or another. I'm so grateful for those little reminders. It's difficult to express what I've felt over this past year and I get a lump in my throat just thinking about all the blessings we have received. I didn't want to let this day go by without remembering her. Remembering our little baby, Honey.

A Happy Birthday to Aunt Carla, who shares her birthday today with Honey Mary. We love you.

All Halloween-ed Out!

You know you've done too much trick or treating when your child says on Halloween: "Mom, is this the last day of Halloween?"

Nice. Poor Kaycee is going to think Halloween is a three day affair. This could be the reason: we had our trunk or treat on Wed, went to Mom & Dad H's on Thursday, and the kids wanted to "officially" go out trick or treating on Friday! It wasn't much for the candy either (although a great perk!) they loved their costumes. Here they are:

Kaycee doing her best witches cackle.

Here I thought I was a lame mom for doing such a simple costume - curlers and a robe, but she got the most comments about it.

Here is our Storm Tropper and Asian princess. This was actually right before a costume birthday party.

A fun picture of Rylee.

I love this picture!

Now the kids each have a gallon size ziplock bag full of candy. I think we'll tithe 50% to the Bishop for his candy jar and then tax another 40% to yours truly. Not a bad idea, right? Nonetheless, we are All Halloween-ed out!