Happy New Year

December 28th was Rod's and my 33rd wedding anniversary.  We went out to eat at Paula's, and took our "Predictions" notebook with us.  We've been doing this since 1988 . . .another Hunt tradition that is 24 years old!!  We write down "predictions" for the upcoming year, then go over them the following year and see what we guessed, and what we missed by a long shot!!

Last year, Rod wrote a closing sentence after all of our predictions:  "It should be a pretty calm year."
I don't think we'll ever write that again!!



It sure has been fun having the kids come down from up north...or from across town!!  We love having them here and sharing so many fun times!!  Rod and Amelia...and Brandon...put together the new 1000 piece Christmas puzzle.  Brandon and Nikki made Brandon's FAMOUS biscuits for dinner one day...RJ sat patiently recuperating from his shoulder surgery as "the girls" collaborated on wedding ideas...Rod played Mr. Chef, and Hans shared his sweet Dezmond boy with us!!



Nikki loved the new, larger rocking horse she got from Christmas this year, and brought it down with her to show Grandpa and Grandma.  And then she decided it was time to give her cousin "riding lessons!"  They both did a great job!!


Nikki is always a riot to be around, and Dezmond brings lots of "inner peace" when Grandma rocks him to sleep.  But he loves to laugh and smile with everyone too!  Pretty soon he'll be going down to the horses to help feed them with Nikki!!


On New Year's Eve day, Nikki went with her Grandma Trice and some friends of Grandma's for a horseback ride, even though it was cold.  Of course, Nikki loved it!!  Her favorite horse is Silverado; her favorite phrase:  "Go faster, Grandma!  Go faster!!  YEEHAW!!"  When we were moving at a lope (slow gallop), Nikki excitedly said, "Grandma!!  We are SKIPPING on the horse!!"  What a riot!!  And of course,  "I can climb the rocks myself, Grandma!"  And she could...most of the time!!  FUN DAY!!


New Year's Eve night we invited Gary and MaryAnn Zabriskie over (Millie & Hans, and Brandon and Tannya were also there), and we had a steak dinner of flat-iron steaks, baked red potatoes, steamed veggies, and salad.  Later we had really good banana splits!!  We had some helicopter pilots practicing in the front room, and although Dezmond and Nikki were a little worried at first, the pilots got good, and the kids enjoyed watching!


When the hour of midnight finally arrived, we were a bit surprised to see that Nikki had managed to stay awake!  She LOVED chasing her daddy up and down the street while banging her pan and lid!!  And of course we celebrated with some sparkling cider and our FANCY glasses...including the pedestaled "red solo cup!"


Kristy had gone back on Saturday, and Nat returned on Sunday.  Brandon and Tannya (and Nikki) left on Tuesday morning.  We really enjoyed all the time we got to spend together!!  THANKS FOR COMING, EVERYONE!!