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