Family Visits and Recitals

All of the pictures aren't posted in order and it may seem random, but they are from the last little while while we had company:

Vern Kagarice (Steve's trombone teacher), Steve, Jan Kagarice (coached Steve on a piece)

Lucy was so excited to be getting so much attention from everyone

We had quite a few people at our place, but it was fun!

Amy making Hyrum watch her dance. The poor kid has to put up with her antics quite often.

Well, we had quite a few days during Steve's recital. His dad, his brother Boyd, and his sister Melissa flew out to see it. Justin also had his masters recital the same night, so both had a good audience. Justin's parents also flew out to hear his recital and spend a few days with Alli and him.

It was amazing to hear how well Steve did. He is so good at what he does. He had people cheering from the crowd as he finished. His private teacher and other coaches were so excited about his performances. They think he has great potential and they are excited to see where he will be next. Steve's confidence in his playing has improved so much over the years and I think he could seriously take on any piece thrown at him and perform it well in front of an audience. I am so proud of him (can you tell?).

While Steve's family was visiting, we had some fun. We went to the Texas Motor Speedway where we had a tour guide give us a special treat. We were able to drive around the track. It is amazing to feel how big of an angle the turns are at. I thought we were going to tip over and our guide told us we could if we didn't keep up enough speed. It was nice of him to tell us to make sure we had our seatbelts fastened and snug. We had fun seeing all of the parts of the racetrack and some of the nice suites, as well as the ballroom.

After this, we headed to the original Babes restaurant for a nice family-style lunch before heading to Dallas to see Dealy Plaza and the temple. Then our trip wouldn't be complete without stopping at Outdoor World (Bass pro Shop) on the way home. The kids were able to ride on a merry-go-round with reindeer and see some bass and other fish swimming in a big tank they had in the middle of the store. I heard we barely missed seeing Santa Clause, but we may make a trip back to let the kiddos see him before we head out to Utah.

The nights were full of playing games and talking into the wee hours. We even watched a movie. The last day our company was here was spent looking at antique stores and eating Papa Murphy's pizza.... yummy.

It was great getting to see Dad Hunter, Boyd, and Missy. I had not seen Boyd and Missy in nearly 2 years, so getting to see them was extra special and I realized how much I really do miss seeing all of Steve's family. They are a wonderful bunch that really respect each other and show sincere love and compassion for everyone. They are always so supportive of us. I am always so excited to spend some time around them and for my kids to spend some time with them as well. I just hope my kids can be as close as Steve and his siblings are when they are grown.

Thanksgiving is this week and we are going to spend it with Allison and Justin and their kids. We are going to have so much food, I don't know what we are going to do with it all, but we will have a good time. I am going shopping today to pick out a turkey and to get all of the finishing touches I need to make everything. There is nothing like a good meal with good company followed by good conversation and games.

On another note, I am so excited to be getting so close to heading to Utah to visit my family and Steve's family, as well as some of our friends that are still out there. AND we get to see mountains again!!! AND snow!!! I think we are going to have some fun. Although, Steve will be working on his two-week paper for his quals during that time, I bet he will have fun as well. Come January, Steve will present his paper and do his defense of it as well as his oral examinations. Then all he has to finish is his dissertation/lecture recital. I am hoping that he will have it completed by June, if not before. He is almost done!! Yay!!! It has been such a long journey, but I am so proud of him for sticking with it through everything. He really is a hard worker and he has done so well in school. Now we just need to find a job that is hopefully a little closer to home.

A Night with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Well, Steve was a big romantic. He bought tickets to hear the DSO perform Rachmaninoff''s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini and Bruckner's 9th symphony. Rachmaninoff is one of my favorite all-time composers and the piece they did last night is one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed listening to the Bruckner piece. Steve bought the tickets a few months ago when he found out about what the DSO would be performing and surprised me with them a couple of days ago. It was nice to be able to go out on a real date with him. We don't get to do it very often, especially since Steve has been going crazy with school and work. Allison and Justin were extremely nice to watch our kids and put them to bed while we were gone and I feel like we owe them big time because I had such an enjoyable night. For those of you who have never been to a live symphony concert (of a decent symphony), I would suggest doing it sometime. The president of the symphony came on stage and talked about how an artist paints on a canvas and a musician "paints" on silence. What they do is really a work of art and I felt so many emotions listening to the music and feeling it course its way through my body. I was really amazed with the pianist they brought in to play the Rhapsody. It always amazes me to see someone with so much talent and the ease at which they play something so complex and so beautiful. Anyone reading this should google Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini and listen to the full piece (not just the one variation, but all of them). The whole piece is so catchy and you'll find yourself humming bits and pieces of it. I am so glad that I get to be so exposed to a world of the finest music and musicians. I can't imagine a life without music; maybe that's what led me to marry a musician.

He Did It!!

For those of you following Steve's schooling:
He passed the written portion of his qualifying exams! This is great news. Now he just needs to do his two week paper, defend it, and do his oral exams before his panel. Then there is nothing standing in his way of his dissertation/lecture recital. It is nice to have him get this one big step out of the way. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting a bit brighter.

My Kids Remind Me of...

I was thinking today as I had to pull Lucy down before she climbed on top of the washer yet again, how she reminds me of a monkey. Then there was Amy smothering the dogs with her love and attention and she reminded me of Elmyra (you know the girl from the cartoon Tiny Toons?). Then there is Nathan who reminds me of my dad. I have pictures to prove this... I am not making this up. My kids are wonderful in their own unique ways.

Lucy is our Curious George. She even speaks a language that sounds similar to his. We have so many picture of her getting into mischief and trying to figure out what so many things are.

Amy is quite a bit like Elmyra. She loves fuzzy small animals. Our poor dogs have been very good with her, even when she is a bit too loving. This is one of a few pictures we have of her doing this to the dogs. She loves hugs and is very willing to give them to almost anyone.

And of course... here is Nathan with my dad. He is a smart boy that is curious about the world and why everything is the way it is. He loves discovering new things and he is very tender hearted and giving. There are so many days when I look at him and see my dad in miniature.

Halloween Fun With the Hunters

We had a fun Halloween this year. The kids really enjoyed themselves and all they were able to do. On the 30th, our ward had its annual trunk or treat. This is no ordinary trunk or treat; it is practically a big Halloween Festival/Carnival. Last year there was a barbecue, bounce house, miniature golf course, hay ride, games for the kids to play, cotton candy machine, homemade rootbeer and donuts, lots of candy, lots of kids to play with, etc. This year it was basically the same (minus bounce house and add in cake walk) with one exception: the ward split so there were less kids and that meant way more candy and shorter lines for all of the kiddos. I think every kid at the trunk or treat went home with a nice sugar high, only to crash and wake up excited for the antics of going door to door getting even more candy. I don't know how many of you have heard the Seinfeld skit about Halloween, but I can't help but think of it every time my kids have bags full of candy, trying to eat as much as they can before I put it in some secret spot that is out of their reach. It is true that most kids love candy and they are willing to do almost anything to get it. And Lucy, who hated being in her costume was totally content to leave it on as soon as she saw someone put a tootsie roll in her bag. Ah... the joys of Halloween.

On Halloween morning, Nathan went with me to the church to help clean for Sunday. He was reluctant to help me clean the bathrooms (especially the girls bathroom) until I mentioned that he could mop and that if he would be a good sport, he would be able to go out trick-or-treating for longer than we had planned. He was all in after that. He was very helpful. That afternoon, Alli, Justin, Hyrum, and baby Matthew came over to join in some festivities which included making personal size pizzas shaped like pumpkins that the kids were able to make faces on with the toppings. Later we watched a movie with the kids and then went out to scour a friendly neighborhood for houses that were greeting kids with sugary bliss. The kids were so tuckered out from two days of fun that when we got home, they were all bed and asleep within about ten minutes. Here are some pictures of our fun times.

At the trunk or treatAmy as a "cute little witch"

Lucy realizing how great wearing a costume can be. Our little happy bumblebee

Lucy and Amy waiting to go to the trunk or treat. This was right before Lucy threw a fit trying to rip her costume off.

Our Jack-o-lanterns

Amy showing off her costume

All of the kids together (Amy -witch, Lucy-bumblebee, Nathan-police officer)

Nathan all ready to go out to fill his pumpkin

the pizza making

Bad Blogger

I know I have not been the best blogger. Over the summer we did so much and had a lot of fun, but I didn't post anything. Steve was going to school full time over the summer and he went to Cincinnati on tour with the UNT Wind Symphony where he also played with Jack Stamp's Orchestra (for you music enthusiasts, yes the real Jack Stamps who composes some awesome stuff). I guess Jack Stamp was at a recording session where Steve was playing and was really impressed with him and asked him to play with his group when he went to Cincinnati. So Steve was gone for a while and I hardly saw him for quite a bit of the summer, but fortunately I have Allison close to keep me entertained.

On the 4th of July Allison and Hyrum came over to play with us. Alli had hats made for the kids and I supplied water color paints, markers, and crayons for them to be decorated. Then we did some fun 4th of July activities that culminated with a parade around our house with the kids playing recorders and banging on drums (aka buckets with sticks). It was fun to watch Amy and Nathan have so much fun with Hyrum.

Well... let's move on with the summer. Steve's mom came out to be here while Alli had her baby. Allison had her baby in August (he was a whopper over 9 pounds!) and he is such a cutie. They named him Matthew; Amy and Lucy can't get enough of him. Lucy, especially loves little babies and she will just sit next to him and stare at him. She doesn't dare touch him too much but she will not leave his side. It was nice having Steve's mom visit for a few days and the kids loved it. She really is an amazing woman and I hope I can be a fraction of what she is someday.

The end of August rolled around and Nathan started second grade. It is hard to believe he is old enough to be in second grade. I feel like I blinked and he grew up overnight. His teacher Ms. Dahnalool-Rubio is from Trinidad and Tobago. She just had her last day of teaching on Friday because she is expecting a baby. She will be gone for 12 weeks. So Nathan's class will have a long-term substitute teacher until January. Nathan is excited for the sub they have because he knows him from subbing his class last year.

September came and went quickly, but it was a busy month. Our ward split and we are now part of a Denton ward. With the split came new callings. I am no longer the primary pianist, but now I am the nursery leader and the cubscout leader for our ward. The bishopric counselor said I was the first one to accept those callings; everyone else said no. I am still the only one to say yes. They are still in the process of trying to find some people to help me out with both callings. Cubscouts is new to me. I am still learning how to run everything, but it is not quite as bad as I thought it might be. We had our first pack meeting last week and it seemed to go well. I was a nursery leader for two years while we were in New York and I am now one again. I think I have been to Relief Society only five times in the past four years. I miss it, but maybe someday I will be able to attend again. Don't get me wrong, I love being with the kids, but I also like to get to know the other ladies in the ward.

With October here, Steve's schedule has gotten hectic. He is working quite a bit with the music annex at UNT and also teaching private lessons on the side for Celina school district. He also will be taking his qualifying exams (think equivalent to a law student taking the bar) next week. He is cramming like crazy (he is actually with a study group as I type this and won't be home until after 11 pm and then he has to do his homework for his class tomorrow). After his quals are done, he has to defend them and then he has his final regular recital in November. Sometime he also has to present his topic proposal to the graduate board for approval so he can do his dissertation and lecture recital next semester (long process and lots of work). He is very busy, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I feel like school has been such a big part of our lives since we met (well, I guess it has... one of us has always been going to school since we've been together- going on 9 years). I am so proud of Steve and his hard work. I understand why people who have a doctorate insist on being called Doctor [insert last name here]. It is a long, and in Steve's case, expensive road and it is not easy by any means. I can't help but tear up a little thinking of all of the hard work, sacrifice, and time that have gone into all of this journey. It is definitely an accomplishment to be proud of. The thing Steve is most excited about in October is Lucy turning 18 months and entering nursery. That means I will be watching her and Steve will be kid free for Sunday School and Elder's Quorum. I can't believe my little Lulu is already that old: how time flies...

In November Steve's dad, his brother Boyd, and his sister Melissa will be flying out to see him perform his recital. It is a big deal and if anyone reading this wants to come listen to it, you are more than welcome to. It is on the 12th of November here at UNT. Contact me if you want anymore details. Steve is so talented and I love to hear him play and see how much passion he has toward the music he is working on. He practices so hard and it is nice to see how much support he gets from friends and family.

In December the semester will end and a big load will be off of Steve's shoulders....well he still has his dissertation and lecture recital, but no more coursework! Yay!! We are still debating going to Utah for Christmas, but we hope to be able to go out for a week or so to visit family. I miss Utah so much right now. I haven't been there since March of 2008. I want to see those mountains covered with snow and I want to see all of the family I haven't seen in nearly two years. Hopefully our finances will be where we can take a small trip. Allison and Justin are moving in December and it is a sad thing. They have been fun to have around and I have had so much fun hanging out with Alli and her two boys. It won't be the same without them around. Steve and I will be bored and lonely.... who will play games with us on game night and laugh with us while we watch the Office? Who will eat all of my cooking inventions and walk with me around Denton? Hopefully, it won't be too long before we are close to some family that we can spend time with again. I guess I just need to become better friends with some people close by and see if they are gamers and Office Watchers. (smiley face here)

I know this is a looooong post, and if you made it this far, good job. I hope you are not bored out of your mind and wondering how I can type so much about so little. If you made it, I will throw in a picture or two or three for good measure.

Steve turns 30!!

I know I have done a lot of posts all of a sudden, but I guess that is what you get when you go through a blogging drought.

Well, Steve turned 30! He was really busy with the conductor's collegium he is doing this summer, so we didn't get a lot of time to do something really special for him. However, we did have a yummy dinner and some cake and ice cream. Justin and Alli came over to celebrate with us. Later, Steve had a concert he had to conduct in. I was able to go watch him conduct, thanks to Alli watching the kids. He did a great job and I think it was a good present to himself to finally have that out of the way.
I am really proud of how good of a person Steve is. He really is such a great man. He works really hard to be a good husband, father, son, brother, student... you get the idea. He has been working so hard to finish school the last few years and it is awesome to think he will be done with all of his coursework before his next birthday and he will be known as Dr. Hunter. He really has done some amazing things over his 30 years. He is humble about it, so you will have to ask him what those things are if you want to know everything. He is really a good all-around guy!
Happy Birthday Steve! We love you so much!

Eight Years

Steve and I just celebrated our 8th anniversary on the 14th. Steve got me some roses and pretty necklace with my birthstone. I got him a golf shirt and a new movie.

It is amazing how quickly the time goes. It has been a wonderful 8 years and I hope it continues to be a wonderful journey with my best friend. I don't think we could be happier than we are now. I am glad I chose Steve as an eternal companion.

Nathan turns 7

You read that right. My little man turned seven on the 4th. I can not believe he is already that old. It is crazy to think that next year he will be getting baptized. He is such a good kid and we love having him around. He is so full of energy and love. He is so compassionate and caring to everyone. He is a wonderful big brother and son. We love him so much and are glad that he is in our lives! Happy birthday Nathan, we hope being seven is loads of fun!

For his birthday he wanted to go bowling, so we invited Allison, Justin, and Hyrum to join us at the bowling alley. It was so much fun. Then we had his favorite dinner: hamburgers and baked beans. Then he had his favorite kind of cake and ice cream. He got quite a few fun presents and was really pleased to have so much attention.

Nathan blowing out his candles
Thinking of his wish

His teacher at school helped him make a birthday visor to bring home

Nathan wanted a picture of his cake. It was nothing fancy, but he was very pleased with it.

His happy smile

Visting Family in Oklahoma

We went to Oklahoma for Memorial Day to visit some family. We first went to see my uncle Mike and aunt Kelly. It was nice having a little visit with them. The next day we were able to go see my Grandpa Knight and Betty. The kids loved seeing them. Nathan was very excited to spend some time with his great grandpa. The kids also loved seeing Mike's birds, especially Louie. They have been talking about that bird almost everyday since. They thought it was amazing to hear a bird talk and to see it dance and open its own cage. I think this was a trip they will not forget for a while, even though it was so short. We will have to find a time when we can spend more than a few hours with everyone.

Amy and Grandpa Knight

Nathan and Grandpa Knight
Grandpa Knight and Lucy (he was walking around the backyard showing her everything)

Grandpa had the kids jumping on the trampoline and having a good time

My Grandpa Knight

Lucy was a little unsure about the trampoline

Another Groove Squad Performance

Nathan had another Groove Squad performance at a PTA meeting during the last week of school. I know I am late posting this, since the last day of school was June 4th, however, I thought it was fun watching him dance and wanted to share it with everyone. Sorry for the shaky picture; Amy was trying to climb me to get me to hold her while I was trying to record Nathan.

The Newton Rayzor Elementary 1st Grade Texas Rodeo

Nathan's elementary school does a 1st grade rodeo every year. I think they said this is the 23rd annual rodeo, so they know exactly what they are doing and it is fun to attend.
Nathan had so much fun preparing for this. He has been constantly talking about this for about a month. All of the kids were supposed to make their own stick horses out of stuff they could find around their house. Nathan's was made from one of our brooms and some rope. We attached a couple of paper eyes and voila-- perfect rodeo horse for a boy.
He was chosen along with a few other 1st graders to do the flag ceremony. So we have a video of him trotting in with a Texas flag. He practiced trotting around our house for a few days. I think he perfected it!

After they trotted and did the flag ceremony (Nathan trotted in with his friend Marley), they had a parade of 1st graders to show off their horses. Then they did a little dance to a song that was fun to watch (video included--he's on the other side of the circle from where we were sitting during his dance).

After the dance they had events that the kids got to participate in. Nathan was in the three-legged race with his friend Isabella (video included). There were other events as well that other kids did: barrel (bucket) racing, hay bale hurdling, booty-scootin' on a bouncy ball thing, hula-hoop races, potato sack races, catching a pig's tail (one kid had a bandanna on his back that had a pig mask on and another kid had to try to pull it off), etc. It was fun to watch and gave us some ideas for when we are in charge of a family reunion again.

Videos from the festival

Lucy loved this balloon that someone handed out to the kids. I thought it was so funny to see her laughing at it and had to get it on video.

Nathan did a great job dancing with the other kids. We are proud of him for being such a good kid at school and getting the opportunity to do things like this.

Denton Arts and Jazz Festival

Today was the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival. Nathan is in a group from his school called the Groove Squad. They are the kids that have been good all year and that have gotten good grades. They learn dances to fun songs and perform them at a few things toward the end of the school year. Today was their first performance. Nathan did it last year and loved it, so we let him do it again this year. He did well and looked like he had lots of fun.
We also had fun going around the festival and hearing music, looking at art, eating some expensive festival food, watching the kids enjoy themselves, and being outdoors in nice weather.
Here are a few pictures from our day:

This is where Lucy spent the majority of the time. She seems to not mind being in the stroller too much.
This face was so classic. Amy decided to taste the lemon they had in her lemonade and it really made her pucker and then almost cry.

Here is Nathan on stage with the other first grader Groove Squad team. He is on the far left by the teacher in the purple shirt. The kid in front of him is his best friend at school, O'Maurie.

Steve thought it would be fun to take a picture of me holding Amy up so she could see Nathan dancing over the crowd.

Nathan climbing on a thing they have at the park. I wish I had his energy.

All of the heat and humidity got to Amy's hair by the time we had walked around the park.

They had this weird ride where you are sitting in bathtubs spinning around. Amy loved it.

Lucy's little scrunched up nose face. She has so much personality.

I love this picture. Nathan was making faces at Lucy trying to get her to laugh and she was looking at him like he was the strangest kid in the world.