Monday, December 17, 2007

Merry Christmas!


Christmas 2007

Dear Diasporic Kith and Kin:

It has been a wonderful year for our family. On February 1st our bonny Josephine was born into our family. She is very chubby and cheerful, verging on jolly at times. The older children have taken her under their wings. Josephine doesn’t always appreciate being there, but she is generous and patient.

Two months after Josie's happy arrival, the Hunters of Hong Kong traded rice bowls for super bowls, and bamboo for tumbleweed. In April we moved from Hong Kong to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The two places are worlds apart, but we are finding something wonderful. It doesn’t matter where you are, if you are with the ones you love and you roll up your sleeves and get stuck in to good activities - like ballet rehearsals, piano lessons, shoveling snow off the driveway and growing veggies – life is great wherever you are. Our little ones are growing like our zucchinis grew this (Northern) summer - big, bouncy and delicious. Actually that is not a very good metaphor. Our children are not that delicious.

In between our move from Hong Kong to Utah we went home to Australia to attend Richard and Claire Mary’s fantastic wedding and to catch up with some of our family and friends.

Since being in the USA, we have learned how to make snowballs, how to collect candy from strangers while dressed as a cat and how to say “purple” the way our American cousins say it. The education continues. Our friends, neighbours and work associates have welcomed us warmly.

Notwithstanding our wonderful experiences here, we miss our family and friends very, very much. You are so special to us. Thank you for your phone calls, emails, packages and prayers. We love you and pray for your happiness, health and blessings. We often hear people say “If only we could treat each other this nicely for the other 51 weeks of the year, after Christmas is over.” Well, we are happy to report that you, our dear friends and family, treat us like it’s Christmas all year round. This is very important to us and we thank you for all you do and are.

We are grateful for our knowledge of Christ, our Saviour. We love Him and we love His Father – our Father. We pray that each of you will feel the love of Jesus Christ this Season and always – and that you will know of our love for you and gratitude that we are friends and family together.

With love and warm wishes,
Laura, Rich, Charlie, Grace, Jane and Josephine Hunter

Saturday, December 01, 2007

More Moab
























This is Dead Horse Point, Moab...where Thelma and Louise apparently went for their last scenic drive. Pretty amazing place.




Moab October 2007







This place is spectacular. And so quiet. Well, until we got there it was.



Halloween 2007







"Ov kouriss we luff Amerika....they huff demokrazy, freedom and candies!"

Bubbles




Reading Time


One of Charlie's favourite things to do is to read.

Playground





This was a magic night. Early Autumn. Rugged up and ready to have some fun. Who needs Nintendo, XBox or an IPhone? Beautiful.

Brekkie Time




It takes a village to raise a pancake.


Emory and Jude


In early October 2007 Jude and Emory came to Utah for a visit. They also caught up with Emory's mother, siblings, siblings-in-law, and other family members. They mostly live in and around Ogden. We had a fantastic time with them.

Josie







Sitting in the backyard on a coolish but pleasant Autumn morning.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Worm's eye view


They say that the early bird catches the worm....but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Forty Candles at Rich's Camping Birthday Party


Laura made this cake for Rich and opted to fire up forty individual candles. After the park ranger left and the camp-site was back to normal we agreed that next year we will get two candles for Rich's cake - one in the shape of a '4' and the other in the shape of a '1'.

Birthday Frock


One of Gracie's birthday gifts this year was this pretty summer dress that her Grandma Gayle made for her.




The next amazing installment in Laura's series of child-delighting cake designs is this beauty. Absolutely delicious, except the doll was a little chewy.

Bowling


There is just so long that you can resist the lure of a bowling alley in your neighbourhood. Charlie, Grace and Rich had a great time and all of them cracked the magical 50. No need for lessons with such innate talent. We won't mention the three warnings we had from the manager for bouncing balls and sliding on our tummies down the lane.

Waiting for the Mailman


Laura likes to buy things on Amazon and has even made some successful forays into the world of Ebay. Here she is waiting for one of her bargains to be delivered.

Little Cottonwood River


Charlie and Rich had an adventure in late July in the Little Cottonwood Canyon. We found a beautiful river with icy cold water. Very refreshing to dunk your head into after some hot hiking.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Camping


Rich's Birthday

Rich's love of camping is unquestioned. So to celebrate his 40th we all packed up the van and headed for Spruces' camping ground in Big Cottonwood Canyon, 45 minutes from home. We had a fun time.

Where's Josie?


Towel-heads


Grace and Jane making themselves bootiful.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Family Portrait


This was taken on Charlie's birthday, at This is the Place Heritage Park.

Two Blowing Out Candles Ceremonies


When you're seven you get to blow out candles on cupcakes and a Bionicle Mask cake.

American Frontier Classroom - circa 1865


First time in the saddle




This is the Place Heritage Park


Here we are at 'This is the Place' Heritage Park in Salt Lake City. Our good friends Joe and Leslie took Charlie (and his family) for his birthday. The petting corral was a big hit.