July in review...

I sort of took the month of July off from blogging... and I didn't even mean too. Life has a way of running off on me like that.

We celebrating our Nations Birthday with a swim & BBQ at G&G Hunt's house. I also spent my monthly grocery budget on school clothes with my Mom and Sister. Happy 4th of July indeed! These little beauties were bought there as well...

< insert cat calls> The kids all loved them. I thought they were quite a fashion statement.

Towards the middle of the month we got a new niece Zoey. She showed up 6 weeks early... impatient little thing! This meant Grandma K. was gone for a few weeks... and that meant the boys coming to work with Mom (one day only, and that was more than plenty.)

It also meant that my very sweet sister Gillian has been babysitting for a few weeks. She's very brave and very wonderful. Blair and I can't thank her enough.

We spent the 24th of July up in Snowflake enjoying the cool weather and Pioneer Day activities. The midgets LOVE Snowflake. They have so much fun up there!

We are back in Buckeye with Daddy (and Aunt Gill) and we have had a laid back weekend before school starts... that's right my baby starts school in 3 days.

And that was July 2010.

Ben's Wedding: Part Two...

The reception immediatly followed the ceremony. Here is the newest member of our Hunt family:

Courtney's family made some delicious food. Especially the cake. Her mom works in a bakery and made it herself. I judge all weddings by the cake quality. I love cake!

Blair & Eric took one for the team and took all the boys and Annie home so we could enjoy the rest of the evening. I think that was mine & Beastie's valentine. It was a good one!

The big girls got to stay and they had a ball.

They especially enjoyed dancing!

Even the BIG big girls danced...

The Sweetheart's danced...

I have no words for this:

Only at weddings is it appropriate to take pictures of a man with his hands up his wife's dress... although she doesn't seem to mind much:

We are glad to have Corty (as Dillon calls her) in our family. She is such a sweetheart and loved our Ben Jammer which is all we could hope for.

Ben's Wedding: Part One...

My little brother got married this weekend to his sweetheart girlfriend Courtney. The whole family took over the Beast's house to celebrate the occasion. 7 adults, 1 teenager & 8 kids trying to get ready for a wedding was quite a sight.

The bride's family kept her away from the groom before the ceremony so a lot of my pictures were just of the Hunt side of the family.

The Groom & his Parents:

A Mommy's boy:

Another Mommy's boy:

I'm seeing a trend here:

Do you see the Beast's shiny cute hair? We gave her a makeover hours before the wedding and I am really jealous of her cute hair.

See... cute:

The Original Crew:

New & Improved version:

My Guys:

My nemesis didn't hate me quite so much this weekend:

Ben asked Noah to be his Best Man. He was really embarrassed to escort Courtney's sister down the aisle and only smiled twice. This was when he watched our niece Grace (the ring bearer) come down the aisle:

How could they not... she looked adorable:

Mr. & Mrs. Ben Hunt:

Reception to follow...

**Post-Edit**
Ben & Courtney had an immediate family only wedding at her Grandma's house. Sorry to friends & family that didn't receive an invite & may have felt left out!

Her special day...

We pulled off the biggest surprise of the year this past Sunday. All my Mom's children were able to come together and surprise her for her birthday. I cant believe we were all able to keep it a secret. Not to mention hide 8 children and 6 adults in her living room and keep everyone quiet long enough for a proper

"SURPRISE"

The birthday girl requested her picture removed.

All the grandkids were glad to wear party hats and thourougly enjoyed the cupcakes brought all the way from Snowflake. Gill even made a homemade German chocolate cake for the adults.

 I didnt get a picture but she had equal amounts of cake and delicious coconut pecan frosting. And it was delicious!

The  gathering of all the family sure made Mom happy, but I think Grandpa was just as glad to see everyone.

We were able to see my brother Ben and his cute girlfriend Courtney. Wedding bells may be ringing in the future for these two so it was nice to get to know her better.

As usual Dillon wants to go back to Grandma Hunt's (and play with baby Buzz & Woody). He tells me everyday.

To the birthday girl-

Thanks for being my mom. I know it hasn't always been an easy job (hopefully it has been worth it). Thank you for teaching me to be a strong woman.Thanks for teaching me that I can do just about anything, and that I won't know unless I try.

I hope you were really surprised, and that you forgive me ignoring you in my attempt to keep it a secret.

I love you!

Mindy

Christmas- Part 2 (the Day)

We shacked up with The Beast and her lovely family this trip. They have just moved into a new house and she is very, VERY pregnant. It was very sweet to take on 4 more bodies (and one little dog too). We did the festivities the night before at Grandma's house but we waited for St. Nick with the Stoddard's.

Do you think he found us?

He DID!!!!!

Jordan received exactly what he wished for....a Mickey Mouse Raceway! (he's a Mickey guy you know)

For Dillon, a Little Einstein's rocket.

Well, well....and what have Wii here?

The Beast has herself such a nice hubby! He surprised the family with a Wii. He had told Beast that it was out of the question this year! Such a sweetie.

Speaking of sweetie's mine is/was in BIG trouble this year! We agreed to not buy each other gifts this year. I stuck to my end of the bargain and so did he. Or so I thought until we got back to our house and there was a large box under the tree for me from "Santa"..................

I think I am in love...................................(swoon)

I am debating whether or not to post the video of me doing Rockband with Noah & Gillian. We started a band "Hedgehog Friday" and I was the lead singer. I also had a very bad cold (excuses excuses). I do a mean "Living on a Prayer" anyday though! Just ask Katie, she has heard me a thousand times or so in the car!

P.S.

I normally take the red eye out of all my photos but Beasty's kids have blue eyes and there are WAY TOO MANY red eyes to fix. Enjoy the pics anyway!

Christmas- Part 1 (the Eve)

We spent Christmas in Snowflake with the Hunt's & Stoddard's this year. Poor Blair did not have the Merriest of Birthday's as he battled through the flu. Such a trooper! We had yummy food and great festivities.

The official rundown:

Hark the Heralds, this Angel sang

Glad tidings of great joy these Shephards brang

The whole crew attired in their finery

Also attired in finery (aka fancy bows from our gift exchange)

Silly Dilly in a hat only he could pull off!

Two boys happy to be with each other again.

Two super cutie patootie's (and can I brag on my little Sis for a moment? She has already been accepted to NAU, ASU & BYU-Idaho...I am VERY proud of her!)

A special visitor came to town.

Poppa Hunt Santa delivered some cute jammies to all the Grandkids.

Such beautiful/handsome posterity!