We're still here!

January was insane!  I apologize for not posting for awhile, Mary.  I know you've probably checked this blog a couple times a week waiting for some kind of update.  So here's the Hunsaker update!

January started out crazy and has ended even..more insane.  Before the year ended, Darren and I both got new callings at church.  I was called to be a laurel adviser and Darren, a teacher adviser/assistant varsity scout leader.  This meant teaching on Sunday's, mutual on Wednesday's.  And for Darren, it meant he had some sort of training, or activity with the boys, every single Saturday.  We have been busy...

Darren found time to take a quick trip to Vegas to visit his mom.  Where he found that time is unsure..somewhere between the weekend scout training stuff and running a business...but I'm glad he was able to make the trip.  I didn't go due to work, but he had a nice visit.  His mom is doing alright, still progressing.  Things are going well.

What else happened in January..oh, my best friend and brother moved here from Utah!  I got to pick Jess up from the airport and it was my first time seeing my absolutely ADORABLE nephew Caiden George.  He is the cutest thing..and a smiley boy too!  David and Jess have been offering on house after house and actually just got one!  Only 15 minutes away too =) exciting!

Let's see...January...you know, I can't remember all that happened this month.  Filled with church, work, and friends.  Oh!  Here's something most all of you probably don't know.  I am going back to school.  Sort of...  For those that know me know that school and I didn't end on very good terms.  I'm not a fan and wasn't sure I ever wanted to go back.  Sad too, because I got pretty far - 50 credits at BYU-I.  10 short of an Associates.  But for some reason...a few days before school semesters all around started at the beginning of this month, I had this strange desire to go back to school.  So I acted on this desire before it passed, because I knew it would eventually.

I am taking a child development class online from Central Arizona College and so far, so good!  I've never done online so I just wanted to test the waters with one class..and I lucked out and picked what has to be one of the easiest classes ever!  It should be a good semester and I'm getting a feel of online schooling.  It'll be good...

Well, that's January in a nut shell!  Life has been very busy but Darren and I are enjoying every minute of it.  Work for me is going really well and Darren's business continues to grow each day.  We love our ward and the opportunities we've had to serve, and it has been fun making friends in STV.  Life is wonderful.  Let's see what February has in store for us...

Christmas

So..Christmas has officially come and gone.  And it was great!!

Christmas Eve was spent with the Hunsaker's.  We had dinner at Steve's house and then put on a nativity with the kids.  It was fun being able to relax and chat with family.  And the nativity was way cute.  Baby Jesus (Luke) was even quiet throughout the whole thing!  Once we got home that night, the "South Pole Christmas Elves" dropped by some pajamas that were very comfortable.  Then it was off to bed so Santa could come ;)

Christmas morning was fun.  As fun as it can be with three adults...As you see below, Matt and Darren LOVE their helicopters.  It was fun opening all the gifts and seeing what everyone got.  Then we had a yummy Christmas breakfast - pancakes, eggs, and ham.

After our little Christmas morning, we stopped by Nate and Lalani's to see what their kids got, and then at Steve and Michell's.  I got to ride a scooter!  But Samuel beat me, of course.  Little speed racer...

Our final destination for Christmas was my parents.  We had dinner at Mom's, open gifts, and played games.  Dinner was delicious, of course.  The gift part was fun.  The kids loved getting to open more presents from Nonna and Papa.  Darren and I got a beautiful picture of the temple for our wall.  That was one of my favorite gifts, I think.

The BEST part of the night was when we played "Just Dance".  It's a Wii game that Kylee got for Christmas.  It was so much fun!  And such a workout..I tried to post a video on here but it wouldn't work..but they're on facebook!

So that was our Christmas.  It was great - filled with family.  I love this time of year and the time spent with those I love.  Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year by FAR!  I hope you guys had a great Christmas as well.  =)

Helicopters

The boys got helicopters for Christmas and love them!  This is a clip from Christmas morning, hence the pajamas.  And yes, Matt is in footie pajamas.

Christmas is almost HERE!

I think...

The calendar SAYS it's only 12 days away, but the weatherman says it's gonna be 81 today!  I'm not sure which to believe..

BOTH!  Why?  Because I live in Arizona.  And Arizona doesn't seem to understand the term "White Christmas" or even "Winter".  Silly Arizona..

Anyway, Christmas is indeed approaching quickly!  Are you ready?  Are you stockings hung?  Is your tree decorated?  Have you finished your Christmas shopping?  Here are some pictures of what our home looks like these days.

So here's a story.  Last week when we were setting up our tree, it didn't take long to realize that it was FULL of loose pine needles.  And I mean full.  So before putting the skirt down and everything, Darren and Matt gave it their best cleaning job.  Look at that pile! =)

 

But alas, our tree is perfect and beautiful =).  I love Christmas!  Hope your Christmas preperations are going great as well!

We did it!

Darren and I had our one year anniversary yesterday!  It was pretty exciting, one year is a fun accomplishment.  Since our anniversary fell on a Sunday, we celebrated on Saturday.  First we spent the day together putting up Christmas lights (our lights are amazing!).

For dinner, we went to Firebird in Chandler.  It's a steak house and the food was delicious!  I got stuffed real fast.  After dinner, we had planned on going to a movie but at this point, Darren and I were both pretty tired.  So instead, we decided to head home.

Well, we stopped at 2 different Targets, got a few things we needed, and stopped at Albertsons.  So...we basically got home at the same time we would have if we HAD gone to the movie.  Silly us...  But I really enjoyed spending the whole day with Darren.  I also got spoiled with BEAUTIFUL flowers!

Sunday, we had church then Darren's family came over for dinner.  It was fun spending time with all of them and I got to meet my beautiful niece Rebekah for the first time!  You always forget how tiny newborns are.  Also on Sunday, we got to eat our cake!  Darren and I didn't plan on saving the top layer, but my mom decided to anyway.  So we brought that out and everyone got some.  And you know what?  It was delicious!  Didn't taste a year old at all.

Happy Anniversary to us!

CAUTION

That has been our home for three weeks now.  A few weeks ago, the tile.  After that we got about a week and a half break..time to clean, relax, and enjoy our new tile.  Then came...the counter tops.

And a few days after the counter tops got installed, came PAINT!  So basically, the Hunsaker household has been under construction for nearly a month now.

Dust

Tile pieces lying around

Random spots of carpet over concrete

No counter tops or sink

More dust

Wood shavings in kitchen drawers

Moving furniture

Lots of dust

Emptying closets and pantry

Smelling paint

And just when you think you've got the floor or tables clean, more DUST

I have LOVED every minute of it!

Yes, it has been crazy and hectic at our home, but we can't wait till it's done!  So every speck of dust has been worth it.  Thanks to my amazing husband for making all this happen!  Here are some pics of the progress:

They started with the ceilings, and I already prefer white ceilings over the tan we had!

 

Pray it doesn't rain!

I love my home, I'm excited to see the changes, and I love my husband for all the work he's done to make our renovations possible.  Life is wonderful =)

Christine Ann

It has been awhile since I've put an update on my mother-in-law so I thought I'd do that.  Last time I blogged about her, I mentioned how she would probably be moving into a group home there in Vegas.  Well...plans changed a little.  Instead of going to that group home, she went to a Skilled Nursing Home (still in Vegas).  Darren and I haven't seen the place yet, but from what we've heard, she's really enjoying it.  Here are some pictures from the hospital:

Metting her newest (at the time) grandchild, Luke

All smiles!

Enjoying spending time with her Johnson grandchildren

Jackson and Samuel went and visited

Now here are some from the new place.  Here, she doesn't have to wear a hospital gown.  She doesn't have to stay in her room all day.  She gets to go on walks in her wheel chair and spend time with others at the home.  She gets to eat dinner in a dining room too.  From what I've heard, she has enjoyed it.  A good change =).  Here are some more recent pictures:

When no one is pushing her chair, she flinstones her way around.

My sister in law Tricia put that collage together for her a few months back. It's way neat and I'm sure she loves it =)

So there's the update!  She's doing wonderul and progressing each day.