More of Nichole's Birthday

For her birthday, Nichole only wanted this cute little "Mousey Pilot Hat" from the hat store in Seaside. The girls had just returned for camp, and we needed to take Cynthia home (to South Bend). So, we made a little date of it. Unfortunately, the hat store was out of that particular hat, so we are going to order it online. Since the girls had stayed up till 3 in the morning, Nichole was pretty tired, so we made it a short date.

Lunch at Fultano's in Seaside

Looking rather sleepy

Did she actually fall asleep on her drink?

I took this picture when we stopped at the Safeway for some fruit in Astoria on the way home. I thought it was quite pretty. Nichole was sleeping and missed the whole stop.

Time to catch up. . .

I have so much to catch up on. . .

First of all was the 4th of July!!! It was an especially fun holiday for us because we had so much family celebrating it with us. My parents, sister and brother-in-law, and neices arrived that evening from South Dakota. Our house was actually the final stop on their way to the coast where they are now living. I spent just a little on fireworks for the night, but Mike (my brother-in-law) supplimented our scant supply with a very nice bundle of his own. I had also prepared a nice lasagna dinner (frozen, of course!) for feasting whenever anyone was hungry. I have to say, it was one of the most enjoyable Independance Day holidays I can remember.

Next was Nichole's birthday. This time she got to keep the cake!!! (Her new tradition is to try to steal the cake and get everyone to sing to her instead of the TRUE birthday person. It actually worked the first time--Rachelle's 16th birthday. Several of us actually said her name and we had to sing all over again! What a NUT!!!) Nichole is now 18 which makes 3 adult children. Do I feel old? Nawwww.

The following week, the girls went to our Stake's YW Girl's Camp. Cynthia decided to join them this year. Since Nichole's birthday was only a week before the camp, the YW leaders graciously allowed her to join them for one last year. I am so glad that she could be there for Jamie's first year. For the most part, the girls had a wonderful time. They got to do some hiking, swimming, and rock climbing. They came out suffering only a few near death experiences. . . (Just kidding, of course!) Also, I had the rare experience of being in an empty house on several occasions when both Tim and Rob were at work. WAY too quiet. I love these experiences that remind me how much I love my children, and how much fun we have when we are together.

We set up the pool while the girls were gone. Well, Rob did, anyway.

Tim turned 19 the Monday after the girls returned. He is now officially the age of an LDS Missionary. True to Nichole's tradition, there was an attempt on the cake. Happily, Tim can really hold his own.

July is birthday month. Cynthia turned 16 on July 25th. Selena brought her and Jazmin to our house to celebrate. Some of her friends from church were able to come wish her a happy birthday. Thoni and Hollace Holbrook & Anna and Naomi Scherette. From the sound and appearance of things, they all had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed my visiting time with Selena. It has been WAY too long.

Our next birthday was just around the corner. Jamie became a teenager. I can't believe it!!!! These kids insist on growing up so fast. My camera was both full and dead, so I had to borrow Tim's camera for pictures of Jamie's birthday. I will post those as soon as I can get them from him.

Tim is almost completely ready for his mission. We went suit (and stuff) shopping on Monday. He looked soooo very handsome and missionary-like in his suits. They had to be altered, but I will post pictures as soon as I have some.

WHEW! That was a lot to catch up on.

Introducing. . . . Elder Hunt

So, I was trying to load a video of him reading his little letter from Salt Lake City, but my computer decided to be stubborn. Then we got busy with family moving out here from South Dakota and I plum forgot to tell you all where my son will be living for two years. . . . . So, without any further rambling on and on and on and such, I would like to present Elder Timothy Lloyd Hunt who will be serving the people of the Lansing Michigan area (which appears to be almost all of Michigan--excepting the Detroit area). He will be reporting to the MTC (Mission Training Center in Provo, UT) on September 15, 2009!!!!!! Most likely, he will not spend too much time there, as his mission is an English speaking mission. (Incidently--many US missionaries speak a foriegn language.)

If Tim looks a little less than enthusiastic in these pictures, remember that he literally just arrived home from his long painful trip to SD and was extremely exhausted.

Congratulations Son!!!!!!

About trials. . .

So, Tim was able to get a new wheel with tire in Casper. Independance Rock is about 50 miles south of Casper, so making an hour trip to Casper and then another hour back to the car just to find out that the wheel was the wrong size was a little frustrating to say the least. And of course the place where the wheel was purchased was closed by this point! Elder and Sister Adams stayed with Tim and the girls while Tim hand-drilled new holes in the wheel to make it work. They wobbled their way down to Martin's Cove and were invited to stay till Monday. But, Jessica had to work a double shift on Monday--beginning at 6:00 am. So, Tim continued working on the wheel to get it to fit tightly enough to get them to Provo. I think the kids were able to leave Martin's Cove around 10:00 pm or so. Elder Freeman later called and told me that all the missionaries there prayed diligently that the kids would make it to Provo without any problems. And around 4:00 am, they did. Whew!

Since all seemed to be ok with the car on Sunday, the kids decided to visit some old friends and take a look at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. About three blocks away from Temple Square, the clutch went out again. Of course, it is in the evening of Sunday in Salt Lake City. Not much open, and it was difficult to get ahold of anyone. Rob and Tim began doing what they could by communicating over the phone. To his credit, Tim is very resourceful, and was able to get them back to Provo sometime between 10:30 pm and midnight.

Jessica went to work the next morning, and so did Tim. His agenda: 1) get a tire that fits and 2) find and fix the clutch problem. The tire was probably the easy part, but the clutch was an entirely different problem. Apparently, Cynthia's dad (Mike Sherwood) has been visiting family in that area, and he came to the rescue. Between Mike and Tim, the car was repaired. Rob convinced him to spend one more night in Provo.

FINALLY, Tim and Cynthia are on the road!! They are not far from home, so if anything more happens, Dad can be there in a flash.

To say that I have been stressed, worried, and a bit frazzled would be an understatement. But, we are surviving here.

So, tonight, Tim will open the mail that has been sitting here since Thursday night. It is a big white envelope addressed to Elder Timothy Lloyd Hunt and came from Salt Lake City. I will take pictures and post more about that tomorrow.

Trials on the road. . .

Well, there is much happening in the Hunt lives right now. Tim, Jessica, and Cynthia have been basically stranded in Casper since yesterday. First, it was tire problems about 2 miles south of Kaycee and around 50 miles north of Casper. Thank heavens for a good insurance policy--with towing! It was nearly 11:30 pm before the tire was as repaired as it could get. Apparently, the wheel itself is cracked. Repairs done, the kids started off, but then the car wouldn't even shift. After some checking and praying and talking with Dad on the phone, it was decided that we were all just too tired and the kids got a hotel room. The new day brought hope and new ideas. Tim discovered that the fluid levels for the clutch were a little low, and Rob says that would cause their problems for sure. So, Tim ran down to get some fluid and low and behold, it worked!!!! So, they hit the road again and actually made it about 50 miles down the road to Independance Rock before the tire went flat again. There they are--no cell cervice and miles away from civilization. But they were able to call on a pay phone. I called down to the Martin's Cove Visitor's Center. This is an important LDS Historic Site where the Willie and Martin Hand Cart Companies came through during the winter on their way to Salt Lake City. Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints run the visitor's center and have been very kind to us. Elder and Sister Adams drove Tim to Casper for a new wheel and tire. Seriously, we are just praying that the kids will be able to hit the road soon and make Provo before dark. Right now, Tim is at a salvage yard getting his new/used tire. The girls are waiting with the car at Independance Rock. This has all been very frustrating and stressful--especially when we are here in WA, so far away. But we have done much praying as a family, and after many phone calls and such...it will all be ok.

She is a Dancing Queen. . .

Last Friday was Jamie's ballet recital. Her little group perfomed two numbers, and she was just beautiful. I was extremely surprised to discover that she is actually one of the tallest girls in her group! I can't believe how much she has grown. My kiddos are growing up way too fast for me to keep up.

Jamie and Emily Poston after the show.

Jamie and Emily.


Beautiful Jamie with her lovely boquets of flowers.

What an incredible beauty!

Commencement

I am a little behind here, but a few photos of a wonderful event. Congratulations, Nichole! You deserve the good things in life!