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We went to Vegas back in May? It was the perfect quick trip to get away. We went down for John and Nick to attend a car wash convention, and Andrea and I naturally tagged along to lay out, shop, and eat some good food. We had a great few days, and treated ourselves to some great tickets to "O" since our anniversary was the next week.

Speaking of our anniversary, want to know a secret? We were still living between our new house and John's parents house, and his family was out of town. We asked Nick and Andrea to watch our kids so we could celebrate at our favorite restaurant, Cucina Toscana. Well, after getting ready and dropping the kids off at their house, we both felt like Cucina seemed like a long drive. John was tired and I was not feeling great (thank you for not giving me a break, second trimester) so we threw out the idea of getting some good take-out from our favorite fast/close by places, and going back to his parents empty house and watching a movie. We felt kind of lame, so after rock/paper/scissors it was a done deal. Jimmy Johns for me, Chili's for John and Red Mango for dessert. We took a redbox back to the house and had a great time. It was probably the best anniversary we have had yet. It was so "us." We are totally low matinence, homebodies at heart.

Catching Up - Sorta

My little brother got married a week before Christmas - it was a great party.

We spent Christmas (my favorite Christmas ever) in California.

We came home to pack up our sold house and move out.

We moved in with John's parents.

We started potty training Boston (ahhhh!)

We have looked at at least 30 homes since then.

We put an offer on one - but didn't make a deal.

We have filled up our gas tanks probably a dozen times.

We are sick of touring ugly houses, so we think we will build our own.

We narrowed it down to 2 floorplans with 2 different builders.

We feel pressure to make a big decision tomorrow.

Wish us luck.

Christmas Eve in the City

It's a Hunt family tradition to spend Christmas Eve in San Francisco. It is always tons of fun but now with little kids it's really really exhausting. Tif and I thought about it several times that day - how in the world did my parents have the energy to take us FIVE kids there every year, fight the crowds, and then manage to pull off staying up all hours of the night getting Christmas day ready for us?? The day was so fun, full of good shopping, some great deals, and the very best food ever. Ever. The food court under Bloomingdales is worth a trip in itself. We ate there 2 or 3 times that day. But, in all honesty it was the day my kids were the worst versions of themselves. My mood didn't really perk up until my kids fell asleep in the stroller. It was just like 3 hours later than I wished it would have been.

When we got home, totally spent and exhausted, we put the kids in their Christmas jammies, had a little dance party with Pandora Christmas music (reminiscent of Tanner and Landon's days of jamming to Manheim Steamroller and Trans Siberian Orchestra in the living room, some of the best home videos ever) and finally put them to bed.

It was such a fun (exhausting) day, but also one of the best.

The Windy City

So, like I said, a few days after getting back from Yellowstone, John and I left for Chicago. My sister and her husband and baby live there now and we had been wanting to go visit them. We planned to go later in the fall when the weather wouldn't be so freakin ridiculous, but then Tanner threw a wrench into our plans. You see, my little brother decided to get engaged to a girl we had never met, and they were going to Chicago in August, so to save them a trip to boring Utah, we changed our plans to be there at the same time.

To be honest, even though I was looking forward to time with John, and fun in Chicago, I was so not ready to leave our kids again. I felt like I JUST got back from Africa, and I knew it would be really hard on them. We even played with the idea of taking them at the last minute. We didn't, and they stayed with John's parents. They had a great time and so did we, but our phone calls home were heartbreaking. Boss would be fine for the first few seconds saying "hi, I miss you" but then he would start to cry and say "mommy, hold you?" It was the worst. Every couple needs time alone without their kids, I'm a firm believer, but that crap is hard. I would wish we brought them for the next 3 minutes, then I would imagine hauling them all over downtown Chicago, in and out of cabs, pushing my monster truck double stroller, and eating at nice restaurants and I would no longer regret our decision.

John and I stayed in the city at a hotel right on Magnificent Mile, and Tiff, Randy, Tanner, and Josie (and sometimes Madden) would come into the city and hang with us. We did tons of fun stuff:

Shopped Mag Mile

Took an awesome food tour with Tanner & Josie

Sweat our a**es off - well that wasn't that fun, but we did it!

Took a few water taxi's

Ate some incredible food

Took an Architecture Boat Tour

Walked Navy Pier

Laughed harder than ever at Gino's East at the text Tanner sent Tif

Cooled off in the Millennium Park fountain

Caught some of the Air & Water Show that was going on all weekend

Laughed our a**es off

Went to a comedy show called Second City. I would highly recommend it if you are going to Chicago, but not to all of you - so ask me first : )

Ate way too much, but walked it all off
See it was a blast!

Madden came into the city with Tiff and Randy and spent the whole sweaty day in his stroller like a champ. It made me miss my kids, but then I remembered they would NOT be acting like this angel, so once again, I was happy they were home in Utah. Madden was fun to have around. He is a total mama's boy, but I got a few kisses at Millennium Park.

Then on one night, Madden was with a sitter and us 3 couples went to a nice dinner and walked along Navy Pier. It was so hot all day, and then all the sudden we were at the end of the longest Pier in the world in a torrential down pour. For reals. It was fun for a few minutes, we got drenched, but then the wind was making us cold so we ran for cover. Well, all of us except 2, who thought it was the perfect moment to pretend they were in the movie The Notebook. I won't name names, but you know who you are.

Before the rain storm, we took these pictures of the Pier with my camera timer. I think they turned out awesome. And you fools wanted to ask someone to take it for us...

These photos probably deserve a little explanation, but I don't exactly have one. After Tif and Randy took the train home one night, the 4 of us were killing time on the beach before we headed to the 11pm show of Second City. Things got a little crazy.

It's ok to laugh at us, we were being weirdos and these pictures make me laugh out loud.

So clearly we had an awesome trip. It was so damn hot and humid that I feel like I took half the pictures I normally would have. John would say "don't you want a picture of this?" and I would say "no, I'm too hot" and it was true. We (I) look so sweaty and gross in these pictures. I don't think I sweat hardly ever, but you wouldn't believe it by looking at these pictures. You especially won't believe me after you see pictures of the half marathon that was the next weekend. Two words, hot mess. Literally. Even though I wouldn't change anything about this trip, I will never go back in the month of August. Remember it.

Tanner and Josie left one day before us. We won't see them until the wedding in December. We loved Josie. Like true love. I couldn't be more thrilled to have another sister. Tanner is scoring big time, and we are happy to reap the benefits of having her in our family. Way to go little brother, even though I can't ever accept the fact that she is older than me : )

Saying goodbye to Tif and Madden was easy because they flew to Utah to stay with us for the half marathon the very next day. We usually have long gaps between get-togethers, so it was weird to say "see you tomorrow, sister!"

John and I have decided to make this an annual tradition. Last year it was Portland, this year was Chicago, so help us decide what city to visit next year. We are thinking Seattle or Boston.

Up next, my first half marathon with my sister and dad. See, August just went on and on and on...

August was a whirlwind

August was crazy. I barely came out of my Africa fog and we were up to Yellowstone with John's family. We had a great time, and our kids were in heaven. The cabin was incredible and Boss and Naomi loved boating, rafting, and seeing animals in the park.

After our first day boating, John and I made a spontaneous decision to cut Boston's hair. It was sad, but cute and I think he likes it.

We spent one afternoon in the park. It was fairly uneventful, and we didn't see very much wildlife, but Boston was fascinated by the few Bison we did see. He wanted to walk up to them and he kept saying, "Boston ride cows?"

In the evenings we would take the boats out for a nice ride. The kids look nervous in these pictures but they actually loved it. We had a great week.

We got home from Yellowstone, ran through the sprinklers for a few days and then John and I were off to Chicago without the kids...

Father's Day

We spent Father's Day weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho. We rented a cabin on a golf course and enjoyed every minute of it. My parents and brothers met us there, and we got to celebrate my dad's birthday and Father's Day together.

The kids did awesome on the ride up there, the way home was a totally different experience, but whatever. Look how cute they are.

We did lot's of hanging out around the cabin. Boston wanted to throw "woks in the wogger" all day long, and a few days he did, until he literally ran out of rocks. Naomi loved hanging out on the deck and green with her "pops" and both kids relished in all the attention from my family.

The cabin had a hot tub on the back deck and we got in every night after the kids went to bed. We stayed in way too long talking and having lots of good adult conversations. We learned a lot about Tanner's girlfriend that John and I have yet to meet. Though I'm pretty sure we will know her very well, very soon!

The cabin had some bikes in the garage. All of Sun Valley and Ketchum are surrounded by an awesome loopy trail so we went for lots of walks and bike rides. Tanner wanted to do some off roading on this trip. This hill looks much smaller in the photo just so you know. I was scared... We had so much fun. We played EAGLE, like HORSE, but with bike tricks! I think I lost??

(first home run, look how shocked they are, and how proud John is!)

(second home run!)

After the golf course would close at night, we would go out and play on the green. One night Tanner and I started playing soccer. John came out of the cabin with a bat and ball and we set up to play home run derby. You might not believe me, but I was the first to hit a home run and it was awesome. They were all in shock. I'm no athlete, but I had some good luck that night. I totally won for my team. I was even better than you Tanner, don't you dare deny it.. I don't think I have swung a bat since YW softball, but I played like a pro. : )

We explored Hailey and found a cool park and hung out by the "ribber". Boston is a little obsessed with water. The weather was perfect the whole time and the busy season doesn't start until July, so we had everything to ourselves it felt like. I'm totally committed to making this a tradition. Father's Day weekend in Sun Valley. Who wants to come? By the way, if anyone can take a picture of my kids when they are BOTH looking at the camera, I will pay you 1 million dollars. Just thought I would throw that out there.

Sunday was Father's Day and we attended the ward in town. Then we spent the afternoon eating awesome food, enjoying long naps, and watching the US Open. I loved it.

My kids are seriously obsessed with "maa maa and papa". Boston talks about them ALL the time. He will randomly ask for them, and I know he is talking about my parents and not John's when he throws in "Tanna and Yandon". Otherwise I assume he is talking about his other grandparents. I'm glad he remembers these ones too : ) He prays for them and tells me sometimes "Mom, I scared. I scared of papa." He loves to play with papa and thinks when he scares him that it's hilarious. Luckily we get to see them both pretty soon.

Thank you mom and dad for making this happen. It was a blast and totally my kind of vacation. We are so glad we got to spend Dad's birthday and Father's Day with you. And I'm serious about a new tradition... we will be there.

Now, let me just say a few things about the father of my children...

I think you are awesome. Our kids are so lucky to have a dad that works so hard and is willing to play hard with them too. You are everything I'm not when it comes to this parenting business, and I appreciate that. One of us should be patient and calm and collected - and it's almost always you. I have a theory about marriage and parenting - I think that to be a good husband, you have to be a good dad, and to be a good dad, you have to be a good husband. So when I say you are a good dad to our kids, I really also feel like that makes you a great spouse and partner. I feel really lucky that you are so great at both. We love you, John. I hope you had a happy Father's Day. Oh, and I hope you thoroughly enjoy your HDTV. Sorry I held out so long. : )