Wheeler Historic Farm

This is a lovely little farm close to where we live - you can wander around and look at animals and feed the ducks. We had a lovely day, though the sheep baa-ed a little too loudly for Jane.

backyard

We love the grass and sand box, but standing barefoot on grass and sand is still a bit icky......takes a bit of getting used to.

Living in America

We arrived in Utah a month ago now...time has flown, and we are loving the fresh air and the beautiful blue skies. Great to have a garden. Here we are in the process of (slowly) digging up weeds and planting flowers.

Josephine, Grace and Charles

Welcome Josie!

At exactly 12 Noon today (February 1, 2007) our fourth child was born. Her name is Josephine Claire Hunter and her details at birth were:

Weight: 3.75 kg (7 pounds and 14 ounces)
Height: 51 cm
Hair: A little, black
Health: Very good
Voice: Alto
Interests: Sleeping, eating, being held by siblings

Laura is tired but feeling well. All went well with the labour and delivery. Thanks all, for your well wishes, meals, phone calls, emails and prayers. We are very happy and grateful to have this precious new daughter join our clan - and also deeply appreciative that she is coming into a family that is blessed with such a wonderful extended circle of kith and kin.

Take you driving in my car, car

Jane's First Day in Nursery

Grace graduated from Nursery at Church, the same day that Jane started. Jane loved it and didn't bat an eye. Grace is now in the sunbeams class and has a lovely teacher from Scotland via South Africa, named Carol.

Laura and Rich

Hayley at the Hong Kong Temple

Another shot of Hayley in Hong Kong.

Hayley and Laura

Our niece Hayley is visiting us here in Hong Kong for a few days. Grace thinks she is luverly - and for more reasons than her long, beautiful hair. We are having a great time. Last night we haggled at the Mong Kok Ladies Markets (Laura bought torches, towels; Hayley bargued her way into a pair of 120 HKD shoes for 60). This shot is taken in front of the Hong Kong Temple in Kowloon Tong.

Christmas Friends

Our friends the Burninghams (from Idaho and New York), the Chengs (from Hong Kong and Uruguay) and Sisters Iqbal and Mubarak (from Pakistan) shared Christmas lunch with our family. It was lovely.

Christmas presents

Miss Katie

Here is Grace with her pre-school teacher, Miss Katie. She is also an Aussie and a terrific teacher.

Woodlands School Christmas Extravaganza

Here is Grace performing with her fellow Penguins (pre-schoolers) at their Christmas concert. She performed 'I'm a little Snowman' and 'Rocking around the Christmas Tree' with great gusto.

Big sister

Eyes on the ball

Look at the concentration, the racquet preparation and the footwork!

Hong Kong Tennis Centre

Charlie has a tennis lesson each Saturday. His coach is from the Philippines and is called DJ, Ben, John, Phil and Tommy. We have a suspicion that it might be a different person each week.

Hong Kong at Christmas-time

Our friends, the Garns, invited us to their home to see the sights and lights of Hong Kong at Christmas-time from their balcony.

Gifts of Christmas

The theme for the Christmas open house this year was 'the Gifts of Christmas'. One of the rooms of our church was set up for visitors to pack personal care packages for refugees in Hong Kong.

Christmas Open House

This picture was taken in December, 2006 in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Behind us is a display of Nativity scenes from around the world.

Nativity

Here we are with some missionaries from the US Malaysia and Pakistan, at the Christmas open house in Wan Chai.

Father Christmas

The kids met Santa at the Victoria First Branch Christmas do.

Holiday Farm - New Territories

Here's Charlie on a school excursion. We thought it was a bit much that he was assigned to carry everyone's lunch and water bottles.

2 Pirates + 1 Princess =

Excitement and fun for some.....confusion for others.

Music Lesson

"That's the green one....and that's the yellow one."

"Should I be playing this piece allegro or al dente, Grandma?"

Halloween 2006

Grace, waiting for her broomstick at the broomstick-stop.

Tug-o-war

Grace preferred to give coaching tips to Christian rather than actually help pull the rope with him.

Charlie and Goliath

This year's Primary Halloween party on the Peak had an activity station where you could throw wet sponges at a modern-day giant (aka Chris). Charlie got in some impressive hits before being dragged away to the origami boat-building activity.

Flower-girl

"Do I look bee-yoo-ti-ful?"

Ball-girl

One of Jane's favourite things to do is ball-play. As much as she enjoys chasing, grabbing and passing balls to loved ones, she delights the most in telling you that the thing she is chasing, grabbing or giving you is a "Ball!"

We're Forever.....

Sometimes it is a difficult decision when to use your reading or sunglasses for various tasks.

Conference Centre

This is the Conference Centre, next to Temple Square, Salt Lake City.

BY-Blue

The sky was blue, the light warm and bright, and the air was clean and fresh. We had a great morning at BYU together.

Autumn Colours at BYU

This shot was taken on the BYU (Brigham Young University) campus in Provo, Utah. The Autumn colours were quite breath-taking. It is a wonderful university with a remarkable Rocky Mountains backdrop.

US Trip

Laura, Rich and Robert went to Salt Lake City and Nauvoo in October. Here they are in front of the Salt Lake Temple on Sunday morning, October 1. We were on our way to General Conference. We had a fantastic time in the US, made possible by Laura's parents, who baby-sat for 10 days.

Bus-stop

Here we are waiting for the buses. Last week Grace went to pre-school for the first time by herself. To celebrate, Laura baked her a special cake that afternoon. Grace was chuffed. She called it her 'bus-cake'.

Like brother like sister

Charlie's starting to look like Huckleberry Lightyear in his shrinking Buzz suit and Grace senses that hand-me-down season is fast approaching.

At the airport express

Grace sees Grandma and grandad off on their holiday.

grandad

Here are Jane and Grandad getting reaquainted. We had Jeff and Gayle here for a week before they left for their tour of China. They will be back soon for a longer stay, and we can't wait!

First day of preschool

Gracie started preschool recently, and after a very cautious start is now loving it. She comes home every morning with a big grin and lots of news.

Year One here I come!

Charlie started year 1 at the end of August. Year 1 is quite different from kindy - he even has homework! Yikes!

Brian

Here we are with our good friend Brian. He is a PhD student from the US who is very good at mathematics and doing magic tricks (among many other things!). It is the latter skill set that particularly intrigues the kids. They think he is pretty amazing. He worked here in 2005 for a bit and is back now over the summer, doing some science camps. This shot was taken the same week his self-confessed 'mad scientist' bushy hair-do magically disappeared - because even brilliant mathemagicians get hot in Hong Kong in July. We will miss him when he goes back to the US on August 9.

Dancing

Here we are doing a little Scottish jig with friends.

Farewell to our friends

Here are a sober Charlie and a contemplative Grace, eating a meal at their friends Sarah and Emily's place. It's a sad time for us all because our friends are leaving and going back to their home in the US.

Dragons Beware

He is brave, he is strong, he is.......Tim, the Knight.

Grandfather and Jane

Christmas 2005.

Kickapoo Joy Juice

This is Rich's new favourite beverage. Goes down very well after a hot day.

Gracie Girl

Grace's favourite fictional characters are Pooh Bear, Thomas, Lilo, Cinderella and Snow White. Here she is dressed up as Sleeping Bootie.

Jewells

It's important to look your best for bed-time.

Charlie's Letter

Possibly the best letter Rich has ever received.