May 22, 2006 - Enter Lucy

I had a doctor's appointment that Monday afternoon. My mom was in town - as we were all anticipating Lucy's arrival - so I was alone at my appointment. Because my due date was the day before, I had a non-stress test before I got to see the doctor.

It was to be a routine exam to check everything out (you know, dilation, effacement etc., all that fun stuff). However, this time she grabbed one of those Ph strips. Apparently, my water had broken some and I was "juicy". That's a first.

I was sent to the hospital (which just so happened to be at a different hospital than the one I was at - another first), so I called Ryan and told him to meet me there. I called my mom and told her I wasn't coming home, and then I called my sister, Reecy, to tell her that (hopefully!) she'd have a niece that would share her birthday.

It was about 3pm when I arrived at the hospital and after getting all set up in our room, they started the pitocin. I don't remember being in much pain so I must have gotten my epidural shortly after. I'm pretty sure this was my easiest labor (if you can call it that :) and delivery as Miss Lucy Jean was born at 7:04pm.

She had the most hair of any of our kids and since we'd decided to skip any sort of induction, she came on her own schedule. Miss Lucy is still that way. Even when I'm rushing her out the door, she still prefers to take her own time. And, just to be sure I know she's part of our family (because actually coming out of me wouldn't be enough :) she has had the 4 year-old sass in her pants like her sisters. And, goodness me, this girl can be stubborn. (I know EXACTLY where that comes from and it ain't from me!) She cracks me up every now and then the way she asserts her independence, but really, she is a little sweetheart. It pinches my heart a bit when I'm scolding her to see her little stone-face break a little with hurt feelings. I know she's got a tender heart in there.

We love our sweet Lucy.

Happy 5th Birthday!

Can You Keep a Secret??

WE CAN!!

We had to keep a secret for about two week to pull off the MOTHER of all surprises.
What was the surprise, you ask? Get 14 adults and 16 kids from Vermont, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Washington to Austin, TX for a surprise Graduation/Family Reunion.
Who could pull off such a task?
My wonderful in-laws, Mom and Dad Hunt - that's who!

What a weekend!

Here we are at Salt Licks where it all went down. Standing near tables with cameras, signs and lots of noise, we first surprised Nisa and the kids, and then the unsuspecting MBA grad (Ryan's oldest brother), Brett.

Every Hunt at graduation that evening.
(Have I ever mentioned that Rylee is the oldest grandchild?)

After we hooted and hollered for the graduate, we headed out for some good ol' Tex-Mex. Before we even reached where we'd parked, a pretty awesome storm started to roll through, offering a spectacular light show and thoroughly soaking us running from the car into Chuy's.

The following day, we crashed my nieces birthday party and hung out by the pool in the lovely Texas weather - humid and hot! Cousins splashing and playing everywhere while we relaxed and visited with each other - at the pool and at the house.

Sunday, we all boarded planes and returned home - some of us sporting the brightest sunburns I'd seen in a while. All worth it.

Such a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Mom and Dad!

All the grandchildren together with Gma & Gpa

*Totally stole some of your pictures, Nisa.
Hope you don't mind ;)

Our Newest Pre-School Graduate!

(I feel like every post I do I should be apologizing for the quality of my photos. Stupid camera card still won't work. And this time, someone had messed with the settings om my phone, too. I didn't even know there were settings to mess with! Whatever.)

Here she is! Miss Lucy - our newest graduate.

Four down, two to go!

Lucy is our third graduate from Miss Terry's Play N Learn Pre-School. She did a fabulous job, even if she wouldn't look out at us and smile. She was quite stoic, but still did everything beautifully. (I'm still trying to determine if she was being a tad shy - or completely embarrassed of us. I'm hoping the first!)

Our crazy brood

This program was pretty tender for us as Miss Terry wasn't actually there. This class was her 18th and final class.

Last year during school, Terry found out she had Melanoma. Even through all of her treatments, she still persevered. One week after Lucy started pre-school, Terry found out that the Melanoma had returned and this time was in her brain. Still optimistic and incredibly faith-filled, she continued with school with the help of her daughter (and friend of ours), Miss Kristi.

As Miss Terry's health began to deteriorate - finding several more tumors even after the focal radiation, Kristi took everything over. Terry would try her best to be with the kids when she felt well enough. I had to snap this picture at Christmas because sadly, I just wasn't sure Terry was going to make it to graduation.

Sadly, Terry passed away in the arms of her oldest son, January 31, 2011 - just 6 days from her 60th birthday.

Miss Terry deserves a post of her own. We love her and miss her. We're grateful to Miss Kristi for carrying on during this most difficult time.

Lucy had a wonderful year and we're looking forward to kindergarten!

A Lovely Day

Thanks to Henry, we were up a little earlier on Sunday. I didn't mind as I had a lesson to prepare and it wasn't long before more kids arose and burst into our bedroom - always a lovely sight on Mother's Day. Ryan knew just what to do as he collected little people and headed to the kitchen.

It wasn't long before I was greeted again with this lovely spread.

Delicious!

I tease Ryan about how lucky he is that I'm so easy to please.
Just give me a few treats and I'm a happy camper.

Maybe one of these days my addiction to sugar will change to diamonds . . .
I don't think so. Lucky him.

It was a lovely day.

Perspective

I had a different post in mind today.

I know we all have our challenges and it's easy (for me) to complain.
Then you read about something like this and you (really, me)
feel ridiculously foolish for even contemplating complaining.

























This sweet family is my sister, Micki's ward.

They Make Me Laugh - Hidden Treasure

I just found these little gems that I had documented back in December 2010.

Talking about kissing
Clay: Well, you have to when he proposes.
Kaycee: What's proposes?
Me: When he asks you to marry him.
Clay: He doesn't just say will you marry me. He says other stuff too.
Kaycee: Yes, like I give all my love to you.

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Lucy at 8:30pm: You shouldn't eat gumballs at midnight, Mom.

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The kids got some glow sticks in their stockings.
Lucy puts them around her neck, waist, wrists and ankles.
Lucy: Come on Kace, let's go kill ET.

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Today

Lucy pulls out a Wii controller to play Super Mario Bros.
She puts her arms in the air and says, I better stretch.

Little Hands

Sweet Olivia

I love these precious pudgey little painted hands.

I Know, I Know

Who has been the biggest slacker with blogging this year?
Yeah, me. (I blame it on our silly computer not reading our camera card.)
We are still here, alive and kicking.

Speaking of blogging though, I ordered our 4th blog book - wahoo!
I adore those books.
I love that my kids appreciate them and often read/look thru them.
I look forward to several more.

Remember that triathlon coming up this summer?
I've started training.
Well, I'm not sure if you can call it "training".
I go to the pool a few times a week and do laps.
You know, whenever I've heard of people exercising before their kids get up I thought they were stupid. Okay, stupid may be a little harsh, but it bugged me how enthusiastic they were about it.
I feel like the stupid one now.
It feels SO GOOD to be up before the kids and get some exercise in.
Exercise that I can do where I don't feel totally defeated after.
I've found that if it's one of the first things I do when I wake up, I actually get it done.
Who knew?
Crossing my fingers that these aren't the results come race day . . .


We've got some change coming up here in the next few weeks and it kind of freaks me out.
It makes me wonder why we (the human race) are so resistant to change.
It's good change, but still change none the less.
(You're wondering what it is, aren't you? :)

Henry is almost 9 months.
NINE MONTHS, people!
I find myself trying to picture him as a little boy running around with the others.
It tugs a bit at my heart strings.

Such a happy boy.

Olivia sums up my thoughts on laundry perfectly.
Exhausting.

Two Peas

These two are my two peas. Every morning they are so excited to see each other. As soon as there is any day light and Henry makes any sort of noise, we can be sure that Olivia is going to stroll right in. When she does, Henry just beams, so happy to see her. Every morning. Lately, Olivia won't wait for first morning's light and will just come in anyway. Forget that Henry is a rotten sleeper, if Henry hears Olivia at all, he whips around to see her and offers her his biggest grin.

About two months ago, Olivia was sick. She slept a lot and Henry looked for her ALL day. It was the sweetest thing.

Around that same time, after Olivia had gotten better, Henry was having a hard day. I put him in the middle of my bed and asked Olivia to lay down with him. Sure enough, just moments later, Olivia came back out to inform me that Henry had fallen asleep.

I love that Olivia can climb into the crib, too. They have so much fun together. She knows what toys he likes and knows how to pull him up to sit.

I love when Olivia is feeling extra protective and shouts "MY Henry brudder."

They are such sweet friends and it makes me melt.

Often times they remind me of how Rylee and Clay were. I love it.

Love my two wee peas.

Short Shorts

The computer is rejecting the camera card so I haven't been able to download any of the pictures off our camera. It's annoying. I've been using my phone more to take pictures - which I find my children are doing as well. I've found it quite entertaining to see what moments little hands have captured, along with Lucy-produced videos.

I came across this picture and it made me laugh. Not only because of my pasty, shape-less legs, but what my kids said to me that day when they came home just after I'd gotten off the treadmill.

Rylee: Mom, why are you wearing such short shorts?
Clay: Mom, those shorts are way too small - they come above your knee..
Olivia: (when she sees any skin): are you naked?

Nice to know we shouldn't have many girls wearing "short shorts" in our house any time soon!