The View From Here: November 2017

Kiddisms

Jonny rediscovered his bin of cars and his little car road. Saturday night we said, "Jonny, you have to put your cars away and go to bed." He replied, "I'm going to keep playing cars all night, and all day tomorrow!" I said, "But you'll miss church!" He said, "That's ok. Just tell people, 'Our boy is at home playing cars. He's so busy.'"

Darcy has been way into Moana. She was reading herself a little book (the one about the bear, the mouse, and the red ripe strawberry), "This is the little mouse . . . he's a demigod of the wind and sea."

Jonny at bedtime: "I'm too filled up with play! I can't stop! I just gotta play!"

David was cuddling with Jonny and practicing Spanish on Duolingo. Jonny wanted to participate, so he said "papayaya." David asked him what language that was and he said "Minion."

Jonny was having a pretty good time doing a Russian style dance, and he told David "that's how the Russians dance. But not us. We're Hunts!"

Jonny is pretty much potty trained, but he still asks for help on the cleanup. Last night he yelled "Daddy, clean my bummy!" and when David got there, Darcy was in there, standing next to Jonny, who was in the "downward dog" position, and Darcy intoned a perfect carnival barker voice and said "Preeeesenting!"

October

In October we had General Conference. We had a party with treats and everything. I started choir practice for the Meridian temple dedication. There are four choirs singing, and I am going to be in the 9:00 session choir. It is such an honor, and I'm having a great time doing it.

Jonny tried playing knight with foil, but when I saw some knight gear at the thrift store, I snatched them up. He was stoked.

Dave and I were cleaning out the gutters, and Audrey was watching Darcy for us. She's always so cute with her.

We cleaned out the garden and harvested all the tomatoes!

I painted some state prints for the sister missionaries we had (now we have elders).

We went with Chris and Bethany's family to the pumpkin patch again! I am growing to love this tradition. It was such a beautiful day.

Also acquired at the thrift store (besides this dress a time or two ago), some really great books! We've been reading a lot. And I found 10 board games in pristine condition!! Thanks to whoever it was who gave them to Goodwill. We commenced Friday night game nights with the big three and myself since we had all these new games, and we've kept it up all month. We plan to keep it going.

I was sorting laundry and Claire came up behind me and said, "Mom, I made a nazi at school today." I said, "What!?" And she said, "See? A nazi." Turns out, she meant Anasazi, the spider! :)

Darcy suited up to play outside.

Jonny got some new clothes finally. His church pants were getting pretty short. He looks so grown up and handsome. Also, I LOVE second-hand stores.

Family reading time is going great lately.

Halloween!! The Groll family came, as is the tradition. We went to the trunk-or-treat at church, Dave's office trick-or-treating, and actual trick-or-treating which made for an excessive amount of candy. We played about a million games of Carcassone, and ate tons of delicious food (thanks Jessica and Chandler). I love hosting them for Halloween. It's always been such a meh holiday until we started doing this. I think the kids had a fun time, too!

While everyone was in town, we made sure to go to the Meridian temple open house. It's only two miles from our house. We are SO excited. It's one of the most beautiful temples I've ever been to. I can't believe it's ours.

Halloween night. We kept Jonny and Darcy in because they had already trick-or-treated at Dave's office and had been getting scared a lot lately. But looking back, I feel a little bad that we didn't at least them them go around a little bit. They would have had a ball. Oh, well. They stayed and ate candy and watched Super Monsters and seemed fine.

Jonny loves to brush hair! He even wanted to brush mine, which as you know isn't as exciting for him as it once was. He's the cutest thing. I love him so much.

Photographing the Stoddards

We love our neighbors! I took some pictures for them in September, and I love how they turned out. These are just a few of my favorites. Ashley's senior pictures and their family pictures a week or so later.

September

I think we were just as busy in September as we were all summer. Dave drove down to Vegas with Edgar to visit Jared and Mo.

I made this cool chore chart.

This is a picture of the chore chart in action!

Audrey opening the quilt she helped make with Grandma, but that wasn't quite finished yet when she left. Mom finished it for her.

Trying new styles and still loving my new haircut.

Jonny turned FIVE!!! He got a new tool kit for his birthday.

This little stinker thinks she's tough enough to wrestle with the big kids, but not so much when she gets kicked in the face.

Darcy painted herself with Audrey's lipstick (more like lip stain). She was pretty concerned when she couldn't get it off herself.

Rachael has been sending Eleanor's hand-me-downs for Darcy, but when some stuff ended up in Jonny's drawer, he took it in stride . . . and refused to accept the fact that those pants aren't for him.

I got to go with the Groll women to Twin Falls for a little weekend getaway. We had some really great meals, played fun games, and did crafts.

While I was away, Dave went to Elisa's sealing in the Boise temple to Michael.

One of the crafts I took to finish was this nativity from the last Hunt thanksgiving feast--Lauren had prepared this craft using Grandma Bette's old notions, and it took me forever to finally finish it! I think it's the cutest, and we'll put it out this Christmas.