Can I just say I’m giddy with excitement for something new!!!  Having so much fun playing with my new toys…so excited for all the new opportunities to come and new areas of creative exploring.  Hattie was a trooper today as I moved and pulled lights around trying to figure out what I’m doing.

Okay, so much for my photo and post a day..I know I’m already behind but this darn mono has kicked my butt.  And believe it or not as I lie here trying to get better I think this darn resolution is contributing to me not recovering as quickly as I would like…..because I’m so darn stressed about it.  I just found these pictures on my computer from a super fun Hullinger Family reunion we had this summer.  I know, I know I’m supposed to take a photo a day, but I figured this is better than nothing, and I would love to have this in my book when I print this segment of my blog.  And come on look at all the pictures in this one post, this could technically catch me up.  Anyway, a great time was had by all of us.  I wish I had pictures of everyone, but I was having so much fun I didn’t get my camera out as much as I should have…so enjoy a little glimpse into our family.  Are you surprised tennis was involved?

I’m finding it’s hard to do this project when confined to a bed….but luckily I have this beautiful piece of jewelry that Lizzy made me for Christmas to look at.  I love this necklace so much and can’t wait to feel better so I can wear it.  I have the most amazingly talented daugher.  I love you Lizzy Lou.

Lizzy started her photography class at BYU today.  I’m so excited for her.  I know you’re going to love it Liz….and I know you are going to be fabulous!!!  You already have an eye for beauty and seeing things in such a unique way….I can’t wait to see the imges you capture…Love, Mom

I love this kid!!!  Cooper rocks my world!!!  What more do I need to say!?!

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We traveled to the town of Nephi tonight to see Hunter play basketball….I have to tell you it was a little scary when we drove into town.  The whole town was filled with what seemed to be every type of law enforcement in Utah…we even saw a sniper walking around in full gear.  It was like a ghost town there, due to everyone being under lockdown.  It was an eerie feeling.  But when we got to the school things seemed much normal there.

It was so much fun to watch Hunter in his game tonight.  He started for the team and had a good game.  The whole team played really well and were able to pull off a pretty easy victory.  We’re excited for next week…regular season will begin with the kick off game against Springville.  Gooooooooooo Golden Eagles!!!!

Today is Hunter’s sixteenth birthday.  I love him so much and I am so thankful to be his mom.  He brings joy to our home and I love being a part of his life.  He is such an intelligent caring young man and he sets a good example for his younger brothers and sisters.  I love our gospel discussions and the questions he asks.  He makes me think….and has done this since he was little boy.

This is our famous Hullinger Poppy Seed Cake…made from scratch.  It’s delish!!!  It just wouldn’t be a birthday at our house without one.   Hunter making his wish….wishing that he has finally grown taller than his dad.

And guess what…..he has!!  John tried sooooo hard to be taller than Hunter in this picture, but it’s just not going to happen anymore.  Hunter has finally passed his dad in height.  We love you Hunter…aka Thumper.  Happy 16th Birthday!!!

Today we left our wonderful grandparents home.  All of us were so sad to leave because we love them so much.  I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to go there.  I’ll tell you a little bit about it…grandma keeps the cleanest house you will ever step foot in…everything sparkles and it smells so good.  But it’s not the kind of house you can’t make yourself at home in….when you are there you know you are home.  They fill your bellies with the most delicious food….everything is so fresh and homemade….my tummy is growling just thinking about it.  When you snuggle into the sheets of their beds they are so soft and smell so fresh…it’s like being in a luxury resort only better.  Because when you are at Grandma and Gramp’s (that’s what Cooper calls him) house you know you are loved.  Thank you for the wonderful weekend!!!  We can’t wait to see you again.

So today was our big day for the photo shoot for Belle Ame……London was an angel and her pictures are done and sent.  Thank you London!!!  I will call you the “consummate pro”.  Hattie on the other hand was a Little Pill….the picture on the left is just one of the faces she made with each click of the shutter…..I won’t tell you what I call her.  I’m posting the picture on the right..I don’t know if it’s more for you or me..see she can take a good smiling picture.  The little princess is sleeping now and she spent some time practicing tonight how she will…not pose….for the camera.  We have one more chance tomorrow, wish us luck it’s our last day in the warm weather….we’ll be heading back to snow and cold and winter.

It’s the beginning of a new year and we are at Grandma and Grandpa Hullinger’s house in Hurricane, Utah enjoying their wonderful company and the warm weather.  Here are Hattie and London getting beautiful for their big photo shoot tomorrow, as you can see daddy snuck in for a little kiss…and the girls were happy to oblige.

In case you are wondering what this post is about I have taken the challenge to post a picture a day and write a little to go with it…this is truly going to be a challenge for me, but I am so excited to do it.  Today Grandpa Hulllinger showed me a little leather book that his mother had taken the time to write in for him.  She had filled it with snippets from his life in the form of writing, pictures, newspaper articles, he had even written his first words in it.  The kids and myself all got a kick out of it when we read this….”today Dick got mad at me and told me to give him a cookie, Fattie”.  He was three years old when he said that….We just laughed and laughed our Grandpa is the kindest, sweetest man in the whole-wide world, and we can not even imagine him ever calling anybody a name…especially his mother.  Seeing this little book made me want to take this challenge even more…and more importantly to succeed.

I would love to hear from anyone else who is up for this challenge.  Leave me a comment, and share your blog address so myself and others can follow you!!!  Happy shooting and writing.

Sonnet