A Trip Thru Time!

January and COLD
This is a picture of my adorable Isabelle spending some quality time with her dad. I'm sure I did NOT give permission for my 4-year-old to be that close and comfortable with a gun. For the Love!

Temple Square
When Darren and I were first married, we started a tradition of going to Temple Square to see the lights on Christmas Eve. It is amazing how many people are there on the 24th of Dec. This happens to be ONE tradition that Darren enjoys (as much as he can enjoy MacKenna eating dirty snow, Isabelle needing to use the bathroom 3 times, and Bethany pouting because... does she ever really have a reason?!). This year, we had to postpone the trip a bit, but we still made it to see the beautiful sites.

Christmas Eve in Cove Fort
Anyone that knows me knows I'm a nostalgic mess. I love holidays, I love traditions, I love FESTIVAS! This year on Christmas Eve, with NO family around, I was feeling a little down. Somehow I convinced Darren to drive 4+ hours roundtrip to Cove Fort in a Blizzard to surprise my mom on Christmas Eve. We loaded the girls in the truck and set off to surprise the missionaries. Christmas Eve, in a blizzard, in the middle of nowhere, is pretty deserted. After searching for "The Twig" and a dozen or so missionaries, we burst thru the door singing, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"! It was the PERFECT Festivas Moment.

Cove Fort Again
One reason the Christmas Eve trip to Cove Fort was a little crazy (ok a lot) was we were heading down the next week for a couple of days with Grandma & Kay. So we got 2 Cove Fort trips in less than a week, lucky us :) We really did have a fabulous trip. The girls and I got to spend lots of time with Grandma! We had a sleepover in our "little" cottage, we played wii and had great bowling tournaments, we had major yummy food made by Grandma, we decorated homemade sugar cookies, Grandma gave us handmade purple hats, we toured the Fort (Bethany & Isabelle were very intrigued, MacKenna not so much), we visited with missionaries, and we got lots of HUGS!

Christmas Day
The blizzard we drove in on Christmas Eve continued thru Christmas Day. The girls didn't seem to mind, they opened presents and played all day in their PJ's. As for the nostalgic festivas queen, I was beginning to feel a little blue. Where was the Norman Rockwell Family sitting around the tree singing carols and eating Christmas dinner??? My mind began to manipulate: I called Brady and by the luck of the Morgan Blizzard, they were able to come over with Lucas and Cassie to celebrate. I'm not sure little Lucas knows what to think about our three loud-crazy-bossy girls, but he tolerates us :)

The Day After
My dad will tell you in "all the years he has driven Parley's he has NEVER turned back in a storm". Ha- guess he can't claim that anymore. As my dad & Jill were traveling at 10 miles an hour over the pass in the blizzard on Christmas Day, I insisted they turn around and go home. It would have taken them hours and hours to get to our house, so not worth it (the nostalgic festivas queen only puts her own life in danger, never others). I think Jill & her newly Lasik-blind-eyes may have had something to do with it too. So, they arrived in sunshine the day after to celebrate. The best part of the morning- Isabelle thinking she didn't get a present. My most sensitive girl, held in the tears, as she realized there was no present for her from Grandpa. I finally realized why she was sooooo sad and quickly confirmed that her Grandpa would never forget her. She jumped in his arms and headed out to the truck to see her new bike. Notice pouty-pants Bethany's face and eyes. Christmas just isn't Christmas without one (or more) grumpy-spoiled-tired-naughty people (usually it's Darren at our house).

Traditions
For several years Gary, Teresa, Tyler, Justin, & Ryan have helped us celebrate the season. First we go to Thanksgiving Point to see the festival of lights. This year I convinced (ok made) everyone wear Santa Hats. Gary was quietly asking Teresa what was up with the hat, she said she had no idea, but to just put it on because Tara said so- I am so the Queen (should I be proud of that?!). Normal people drive cars thru the lights and enjoy warmth as they see the festivas. Not us! We get to ride OUTSIDE in a freezing wagon so we can enjoy the horse drawn festivas (animal loving Hunsaker girls). If we work it right, Teresa makes us a fabulous dinner too. THANKS FRIENDS! Another tradition we've created is making Christmas Candy. Teresa's mom, Betty, is a fabulous caramel maker! Seriously, there is an art to candy making and Betty has it. Gary puts us all to shame with his grandma's divinity recipe. My contribution is to hold the pan as they pour out the candies and to stir the caramels for nine-hundred hours (no candy making talent here).
Darren & Tara, wait, I mean Teresa & Gary, wait... D & which T?

Teresa & her fabulous mom Betty. I wasn't allowed to hold this pan, I almost scorched the caramels when my hand cramped up from stirring and I took a 2 second break.

This is what the kids do while we make candy

Dance Recitals
This event is another fun-filled December moment. We've been going to recitals since Bethany was 2 (insane, I know). In the beginning I was a stressed-out-mess-of-a-mom. I paid to have my ballerina's hair done, I steamed and fluffed costumes, I carefully picked the perfect shade of pink blush, I purchased new ballet shoes for the event, I had Darren get off work early to save us seats, and on and on and on. 4+ years later I am still a stressed-out-mess-of-a-mom, but for many other reasons, not over a dance recital. I shove costumes into my purse, I "let" Isabelle wear black ballet shoes instead of pink (because she wants too), and I have Bethany do her hair and Isabelle's, because I still need to locate pieces of the costumes that have disappeared. And Darren arrives at curtain time with MacKenna, we snap a picture of them with the girls, and they leave. How times have changed!

My dramatic Bethany

Isabelle says hello

Cassie Turns Sixteen
On December 9, Cassie celebrated her 16th birthday. We are soooo lucky to have Cousin Cassie in our lives. We get to spend every Monday night with Cassie. Usually this means a homework session, but sometimes we try to cram in some fun festivas. Cassie is a beautiful girl. She is funny and chatty (to her friends). She is our standby babysitter (against her will). She is a participant in Hunsaker festivas (being dragged around by her Aunt Tara). She is a typical ipod listening and cellphone texting teenager, whom we LOVE. Cassie has been talking about turning 16 for months and months. I think it may have something to do with getting her driver's license and dating. Have Mercy!

Jones Family Party
This tradition is one that dates back and back and back. My dad's side of the family has had a party pretty much every year since I can remember. I'm the eldest cousin, so I ought to "know". It is a wild time. It is a loud time. It is a crazy time. There are 5 siblings, 17 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren. Add in a few sposes, friends, extras and you have a BIG 'ole Family Festivas. This is one of my favorite events (remember the Normal Rockwell Family). We have funeral potatoes at dinner, crafts for the kids, and Santa visits to pass out presents. In order to contain some of the children we added a few bounce houses. "Old" photographs and memories started to appear on table tops and walls as decor. And we get to hear "good old day" stories from The Siblings growing up years. Then to top it all off... The Family PHOTO. It just doesn't get any better than this :)

Uncle Richard, Uncle Animal (aka Joe), Uncle Dave, Uncle Lee
The magic of Christmas brings out Children of all ages!

Thanksgiving Turkey FIRE!!!
Darren is sitting on the couch reading the newspaper, I look at the window at Jill's BBQ Turkey and see smoke. I think, hmmm that's a lot of smoke. I say, "Darren I think you need to check the BBQ". He continues to read the paper. I think, that really is a lot of smoke. I say, "Darren look out the window at the BBQ". He continues to read the paper. I think, FOR THE LOVE. I say, "FIRE". Jill runs out, Darren looks up, Bethany runs to the garage and tells Grandpa she needs that thing that puts out fires. She grabs the fire extinguisher. Grandpa follows after her. I grab my camera :) and the rest is history...

Bethany & Cassie get the serious pomegranate peeling job for the fruit salad

Cassie enjoying her 4-wheeling festivas

Darren & The Girls swimming in St. George, in November, in the Dixie Sunshine, in 70 degree weather!

The HAPPIEST Place on Earth
For this post, you will have to tune in later. This event deserves a post of its own!