AAA in Chicago

I was able to attend this year’s American Academy of Audiology convention in Chicago (I’m sure you can guess why I wanted to go!).  I was so busy and was unable to take too many pictures but I have a few.   I was able to ride the Metra to Union Station before taking a bus to the conference center, which made the days a little bit long but really fun and jam-packed with information!  I learned a ton and even got to attend a session presented by one of my old classmates from Utah State University (he graduated a couple of years after me).  When the session was over, I saw that several other former students had also attended!  It was fun to see them, especially since I was a tutor for a couple of them when I was in grad school!  They have each found an interesting niche to work in—one owns his own private practice, one is at the Mayo Clinic, one is an educational audiologist in Alaska, and I am in an ENT private practice.   It was great to catch up!

Of course, after all the hard work was done, my dad and I were able to do some fun activities.  Unfortunately, my grandpa had some serious health issues and my mom hurried to the hospital to be with him.  Fortunately, he was able to recuperate well at home and Mom was thrilled to be able to help. 

Dad and I walked the “Magnificent Mile” and enjoyed all the shopping there.  We even had our picture taken for the front page of the Chicago Tribune!  While we enjoyed ourselves on the river front, we stopped down under the city for a famous Billy Goat Tavern double cheeseburger.  When we walked in the front door, we were immediately asked what we wanted to eat.  I said, “I need to see the menu-I’ve never been here before.”  To which he promptly replied, “You want a double-cheezborger, it’s the best. [to the cook in the back] à DOUBLE CHEEZBORGER!  And you, sir, you want a double cheezborger, too. [again, to the cook in the back]à DOUBLE CHEEZBORGER!  You want Coke? Coke, no Pepsi.”  We paid 30 seconds later and sat down with our burgers, in a daze.  What a fun experience!

Christmas 2010

Here are a few cute pictures from Christmas. We had an early Christmas with Michael and Nicky so you can see some of those pictures, too. The others are from Christmas morning, which was amazing as expected! I hope your Christmas was good, too!

 Umm, you will notice in the next picture that Mom picked up some new jammies size "Medium" from the Girls' dept....however, when the girls opened their package, we realized that these were misplaced from the Juniors dept.  Whoops.  At least we had a good laugh!  We pinned them up to keep them modest and Emma wore her old pajamas underneath.



Michael and Nicky's Wedding

Since I am now free to catch up with our blog, thanks to Steve’s “encouragement” I am going to give some more updates. FYI, our camera was stolen out of our car in October, which limited the photos from last Fall. Fortunately I had just downloaded all the pictures from recent days and only lost 4 or 5 pictures. I also had the camera case in the house with all the memory cards, so it wasn’t a total loss. We bought a new camera on Black Friday so I have some good Christmas pictures. Sadly, we did not have the camera for Michael and Nicky’s wedding so we have a few emailed to us. If anyone has any more pictures, please send them to us!!!

Michael and Nicky were married in November in the Boston Temple so it was awesome to have family come to us for a change! We enjoyed every moment with all of our loved ones and Nicky is an AMAZING addition to our family. Wow, Michael hit the jackpot! Nicky has been so fun to get to know and fits perfectly into our family. In fact, it feels like she has been part of our family forever! It was also so fantastic to meet Nicky’s amazing siblings—I only wish we had more time to just hang out and enjoy getting to know each other better. Michael is so fortunate and it is obvious that he knows it!

I feel silly that I have no pictures of the Bride and Groom…umm, can anyone help me out?


Looking snazzy



All the Dallin grandkids

Grandpa Dallin

Mom and Dad

Gorgeous

Catching up....Summer 2010

I feel I need to take this blog by the horns.  Here are the pictures that Mary uploaded...and never updated.  I want the entire www to enjoy!  Here are some pictures from summer vacation 2010.  We want to try and do it again in 2011!  --Steve

Grateful

Hi everyone,

Well, I am afraid that I have so much to say that I don't have time to get it all on the Hunting Family Blog.  I have spent life living instead of documenting.  Plus, I have about a zillion pictures (okay not really but it is over 800, though!)...and I haven't downloaded them off of the memory cards yet.  So for me to share all of those sweet memories with all of you will take some time.  I do have a work-in-progress though, so I will do my best this week.

Still, I feel the need to share with all my family and friends how grateful I am for life.  I am so blessed and I feel grateful for Steve, our precious kids, our wonderful extended family, and dear friends.  Steve and I are at a place in our lives where we realize how precious time is: time with our children, time with our grandparents, time with our siblings, time with our parents, time with each other, and time with our friends.  We also realize how the blessings of our life are really just the fruits of our heritage.  After all, would we honestly be who we are without the decisions and teachings of our parents, grandparents, and other amazing role models?  Their sacrifices are in the forefront of our minds so often as we stand in awe of our blessings in life.  I really hope that we can pass this on to our children, who need to know what an amazing heritage they have!

Finally, just a few personal thoughts on this journey of life.  Many of you know that my Grandma Dallin passed away last month and when things like that happen it is difficult not to ponder the meaning of this life.  My grandma really lived a full life, though she had challenges over the past few years and couldn't share her amazing talents and wisdom with those she loved.  As I talked with my Grandpa, reviewed her book of remembrance, and read her journal writing, I was reminded of how she lived such a life of service.  She lived her life serving others, her family and God.  It is amazing to learn of and remember the sacrifices, trials, heartaches, joys, successes, wisdom, and love she experienced during her full life.  She was an amazingly talented seamstress with classic beauty and style.  She is sorely missed.  However, as I ponder the meaning of life I do believe that life doesn't end here.  Our purpose is eternal and our family relationships can continue beyond this life.  I have full confidence that my Grandma and I will have a joyful reunion when my journey is complete and I pray that I can learn from her tremendous example.  So, I want to express gratitude for this amazing life, for the amazing people in my life, and for amazing blessings that remind me to find joy in the journey.

Emma (5) and her Great Grandma Dallin