Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you. The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity. Choosing right over wrong, ethic over convenience, and truth over popularity ... these are choices that measure your life. Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Cavity FREE!!!

Ok hearing Owl City "Dentist" in my head...AHHHH...I can't escape them! I won't punish you all with the voices in my head! :/

The kiddos had dentist appointments today! Hooray for NO cavities! We so LOVE our Pediatric Dentist! He is the best! Haliee babysits for him & his sons go to School with Drew! Their office is so beautiful & has all the fab perks!! Gaming, slides, movies in each chair (tv's mounted to the ceiling & wireless headphones), super cute assistants, treasure boxes with prizes...! The kids are always stoked to go!
X-Rays
Texting...we can't be awake without it!

Watching a movie during teeth cleaning/fluoride...

Still texting...I am assuming she is saying, "OMG, My Mom is totally like taking pics of us in the dentist so she can blog about it!! SOO EMBARRASSING..."

Thanks Dr. Dance! We love your office!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Startin' Young...

So do you think they have the gamblin' gene??? :0) I had fun making bows yesterday while listening to these silly kiddos gamblin' for licorice!!! Drew smoked Haliee early on but then pitied her & gave her a loan! They make me smile!
  • 5 card draw
  • no peekie
  • low ball
  • jack's back

They're learnin' them all... :/

Drew: K Haliee, whatcha got??? Show 'em...

Drew draggin' the pot...

Haliee: But Mom, I'm going to be all in with my ante this time...
Mom: Sorry love, keep practicin'

Drew: No sound...just an ear to ear grin :)

Busy Busy Busy!

We have been busy working hard & having fun lately~ Last week I surprised Hal and took the kids to my parents when he was at work! He came home to a house without kiddos! :0) We had a fun little few date days! he worked until 11:45 that night :( So the next morning we got up & went out to lunch, then to see Inception. We weren't too impressed but hey it wasn't a kid movie :) Afterwards we went to get a gelato in this cute new little candy shoppe in the square!

I had made reservations earlier in the week to go to The Clark House. An old house on the lake which is now a restaurant/bed & breakfast a few minutes from our house. It was so cute. I LOVED the charm! I wish it was our house!!! They normally offer a 6 course meal which we were expecting, but apparently we were signed up under the 3 course :( Ok, that sounded glutenous, lol! Here is the link to the house. It is so beautiful, they need to provide better pics!

It was so nice & relaxing! Hal was totally surprised! :)

This weekend we went camping! Super fun! The kids had a blast. Now it's back to the grind for me! The kiddos start school in 2 weeks *sniff* so we are busy prepping, enjoying the remainder of summer, & planning to squeeze 1 more mini vacay in to Seattle before we get back to normal! Hooray!! I hope your summer is still hanging on too!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Raising a BOY in the year 2010!

So I thought this was too funny, I had to share. Erin pointed out a beetle to Drew yesterday when she was leaving (THANKS ERIN LOVE YOU! :/) Anyway, of course he had to keep it as our newest pet! So prior to creating his new home, he 1st has to find out what they need to survive. And how does one do that these days??

They GOOGLE it, lol! But of course...How did we ever survive before?

I LOVE this lil' monkey boy of mine! Even if it means I have pet beetles!

See him in the bottom left corner...EWWWW~

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

And the WINNER is...

So I could've used random.org, but..Drew LOVES to choose so...
Audrey's Attic!! Drew chose YOU! YAY! Congrats! Email me hhunterfamily@roadrunner.com to discuss your custom details! For all you runner's up...I hate NOT winning, so you can have Free Shipping on any purchase made for the remainder of August! :) Thanks for playing & beyond thanks for your kind words! HUGS!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Sweet Customer Cutie!

Here is another sweet customer CUTIE showin' off her KGD! Laci & her Mom Angie are such sweeties & both have beautiful eyes I might add! I LOVE when I receive pics of them in the KGD Best! Aren't they the sweetest family! Thanks Angie you are a doll! :)

Monday, August 2, 2010

Thankfulness & a Giveaway!

Yesterday at Church the Associate Pastor over the Middle School led the talk. When I noticed he was leading I wondered what it would be like. He was great! In our church the topics run in different Series. Each running a certain amount of weeks. This series is titled "Respectable" Sins...Taboos we tolerate. This week the topic was: UNTHANKFULNESS.

Now, I won't give you the play by play, I am already feeling super deep this morning & will probably send most of you running. But...I thought to myself at the beginning, oh well, I am thankful, this is going to be a boring topic...I was SO WRONG {PS- Not an easy thing for me to admit!} The key he wanted us to leave with was:
  • Thankfulness is about Faith not Feelings.

Again, I am a pretty faithful person. I am thankful for everything I have, I trust HIM. But am I content? Are any of us content? As a society we have created a monster. This fast paced whirlwind we have told ourselves is necessary to survive. For Instance~ Road Rage: I am so ticked if I wait in traffic, if someone isn't in a hurry ahead of me, if I miss the signal. What if I had to walk it? Cell Phones: The most incredible gift of technology at your infinite disposal, but drop my call repeatedly and see how angry I become. What if I didn't have it at all? UNTHANKFULNESS. If someone helps you out anywhere, anytime. I know you probably say "Thank You" but in 3 minutes, have you forgotten? Were you truly thankful for that person?

Now this is probably super boring. I am not a preacher although I talk enough to be one...But I felt compelled to write this. I have really been struggling emotionally these past few months. The truth is I am thankful, I am content, I am. I am also broken, and sad, and worried, and a million other feelings that I sometimes let shadow the 1st two feelings. My husband hates his job, he works terribly long hours and it has really taken its toll. I am normally super optimistic, but after my hysterectomy, I am a deflated cheerleader. I just don't have it right now. My arms ache, my heart aches. I need him to be strong, he needs me to be strong. *we are turning to the wrong person* HE has a plan for us. I know this I believe this with all my heart. truly. I am so thankful for my precious babies, for my husband, for my family, my friends. I have more than so many. I know I am selfish for feeling this emptiness in my heart. I am trying not to long for something that cannot be. to focus on what I do have and listen more to what I need to do.

Now as I pour my heart out so embarrassingly actually, I leave you with a giveaway...

So maybe you won't think I am completely crazy! Since I truly am so thankful for you all. For friendships, for supporting me so I am able to stay home and be here with these 2 precious gifts {as they make messes, destroy my house, make memories which have no price tag}. Since I probably don't say Thank You enough... I am giving away a set of custom hair bows to a random commenter from this post. Feel free to comment~ yes Tab, YOU'RE NUTS :) Giveaway will close August 9. PS~ You can totally enter the giveaway by saying, pick me pick me, lol! I was meaning to post my feelings followed by a pay it forward {giveaway} & it kind of all ran together! :)

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Blackberry Vanilla Ice Cream

It turned out so Yummy! I couldn't find a recipe I liked. Either sherbet no milk or adding berries at the end for a swirl wasn't what I was craving...so I made up a recipe and it turned out great! :0) I am sure you could use any berries we just happen to have about 10 million ripe blackberries. Here is the recipe if you want to try it. It is super creamy!


Blackberry Vanilla Ice Cream:
  • 4 c. black berries, rinsed
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 c. milk

Blend together in mixer & pour into ice cream container.

  • 2 c. whipping cream
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 1/3 c. milk
  • 1 3/4 c. sugar
  • 1/4 c. vanilla extract

Add the additional ingredients to ice cream canister & prepare according to your ice cream machine instructions. I didn't use a sieve, cook anything, or use eggs...super easy & not at all fattening :0) Makes 6 quarts.

Ellie's Lullaby!

Last night Ellie was singing her baby tiger a lullaby while putting him to sleepytown. Haliee caught it on video on her cell. It is pretty grainy as she forwarded it to my email & I saved it. Isn't she the most precious thing in the world. Love her!


I have tons to blog about...I need a clone! Right now we are making some homemade ice cream with fresh blackberries from the garden! I am bowing away to the hum of the ice cream maker and sweet voices coming from the backyard...I'll be back soon!