It's Quiet Around Here This Week

So, Allie is a SOAR, a multi-cultural student college-prep program at BYU. Mel is at a week-long soccer camp at the high school that goes all day and into the night. Kamiko works everyday from 9:00 - 3:00, then works out til about 6:00. So, it's just me around her in the day. Don't worry. I'm not getting bored. Yesterday I exercised for 2 hours (jogged 6.5 miles and walked 4 miles). I did laundry and planned/mapped out our NYC trip. Today I walked with Sherie, then went to help Maria pack. I took her to get a J Dawg since she hadn't been there yet. She really needed to experience it before moving. She liked it and I was in heaven. Oh, how I love a good hot dog. I've also worked more on planning the trip, printing out maps, tickets, confirmation codes, etc. I've also blogged and plan to work on an apron to take to Liz in Brooklyn.

Hey, if you've got to get a picture taken of you eating a delicious, messy dog, this is a pretty good one. Thanks for a fun afternoon, Maria. I will miss you, friend!

Tomorrow, I'm going walking, then going to help a former student Adrienne Murray with her kids. Adrienne is a 27-year old mom and is one of our FACS graduates. She teaches part-time. She has Hodgkins Lymphoma and is undergoing chemo. She's wiped out a lot and has a 4-year old girl and 2-year old girl. Tomorrow Grandma Dana is going to show up to take them to the movie and perhaps to a park or the library afterward. Just giving Adrienne time to nap or do whatever she wants. Should be fun. I have a wedding reception and book club tomorrow night, too.

Friday is pretty open until 3:00, when I meet with my BYU trainer, Erica, for a workout. Then I clean up and go to the SOAR banquet. Saturday we pick up Allie and her friend Kawena at SOAR and I have another reception that night. Both receptions are for former students. Aprons are made and wrapped. I'm ready to go.

Kawena Murray has been adopted into our family the last couple of weekends. She's a friend of Allie from EFY last year at BYU-Hawaii. She is from Maui. She flew in a couple of weeks ago. She stayed with us for the weekend until we dropped her at EFY, then we picked her up at EFY and she spent last weekend here until we dropped her and Allie at SOAR. She will come back this weekend until she flies home. It's been fun to have her around. She's especially enjoying our watermelon. She says they never get fresh watermelon or pineapple unless it's a holiday, like Thanksgiving or something. In fact, when she got here, she looked at a pineapple on the counter and asked "They sell that here?" To which I replied: "Pineapple. Yes." I guess they don't buy it a lot at her house. Too expensive. Oh, I'm grateful for Utah!

What!? SOAR isn't all fun? We have to study?

Ok, we'll make the best of it. Kawena and Allie at SOAR orientation. Love 'em!

Father's Day and My Crazy Kids

Keenan was home for father's day. Mom, however, was out of town, helping Kelly who just had baby #4 (Theo Hunter Bryner). Dad came over for dinner. We had grilled burgers, potato salad, fruit and a cheesecake-type dessert. We had a good time. I also made dad a savory pie of onion, apple, bacon and cheese to take home and snack on until mom came back later in the week.

Dad a.k.a. Aarl R Hunter and me

the girls and their daddy: Allie, Keenan and Melia

Allie, Keenan, Melia and Kamiko

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My kids are the best. Here are some pictures of them enjoying summer. Allie saved money and some pics are taken with her new Nikon camera. It's a sweet camera and she's amazing for saving the money to buy it. She really loves photography.

Picture of my craziest kid - Honu - taken by Allie with her new camera.

Allie and work friends. Busy, busy summer for Hapari girls!

Kamiko's new thrift store purchase - a cool ring.

Mel and Kobi Watkins enjoying Orange Leaf yogurt. Shortly after that, Kobi broke her leg in a soccer game. It's been a summer of hobbling for Kobi, but she's slowly improving.

Kobi (with broken leg), Makei and Melia enjoy our temporary indoor theater set up so Kobi could watch movies. She couldn't make it downstairs, so this was our solution. Watch dvd's on the living room wall with the projector. Can you find Honu? He's enjoying the movie, too.

Rachel and Rosie Visit

Rachel and Rosie flew out from California for a few days. It was super fun to see them. I went to Rachel's parent's home in Provo to see them and they came to our house to enjoy dinner with the Hunter clan - well those of us who are still around (Jen, mom and dad, Deb and me and dependents). Kamiko especially enjoyed playing with Rosie. Rose even asked Rachel if they were coming to play at Kiko's house. I really miss having them here in Utah, but am happy they are enjoying life in Burbank.

Rosie and Grandpa

Rosie making the exact same face Derek used to make as a kid. It's creepy, actually.

Rosie playing with "Kiko"

Kamiko is a sweet cousin. He couldn't wait to play with Rosie.

Rachel, me and Rose at the Kaye's house

Mother's Day!! Just Me and My Kiddos!

Keenan flew to Texas to be with his family for mother's day this year, so that left me and the kids. We had a great weekend. Dad invited us over for dinner, which he prepared for me and mom. We had grilled chicken, grilled veggies and homemade bread. I brought caramel brownies and ice cream. The kids spoiled me with a new swimsuit (Allie), home decor items (Kamiko) and some really cute sandals (Melia).

Soon-to-be-mom, Jessica Lewis, from work. We went to Colby Hjorth's farewell.
I love my co-workers and I love how we support each other.

Super funny sign Kamiko gave me: "Home is Where Your Cat is"

Swimsuit from Allie and sandals from Melia

Food of Summer

We're done with soup and it's salad time. Just when I'm tired of soup, salad season comes. When I'm tired of salad, soup season comes. Ah, the change of season! We've been busy enjoying some of our favorites.

The fryers were acting up at work, so I brought one home to test it.
It seemed to work ok. Check out these homemade donuts!

A favorite from Better Homes and Gardens...Corn and Blueberry Salad
(includes cucumber, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro and a honey, cumin dressing)

Tried out a new candy recipe at work. Watermelon Chews might seriously simplify candy lab!

Ah, grilled chicken, veggies and pineapple!

The tastiest version of Red, White and Blue - Watermelon in my Tupperware That's-a-bowl!

Baby Mel turns 15!

Melia at 2 years old

Melia enjoying her birthday leftovers from Fong's

Melia turned 15 on May 7th. Shame on me for not blogging sooner. I was teaching until early June and I guess I was busy and not journaling. Well, to celebrate, we got her an iPhone 5. She loves it. We also went to eat at Fong Asian Dining. It looks like a 50's hamburger joint, but has Chinese food. We love getting the bento lunch or dinner. It was delicious! She is a delight. She works hard in soccer and works  hard in school. In fact, she's so "under the radar" when it comes to school that she could be failing and I wouldn't know it. Thankfully, she does her work and gets A's without me knowing it. She is great, funny and a real cutie. I love having her in the family. She and Allie get along so well and I'm thrilled for that. I want my girls to stay friends forever!