SLC

Hunsakers are safe and sound in SLC.

Martha's quilt

Here we have President Monson marveling over Martha's quilt! Copy and paste the address until someone who is more clever than I am can post it right on the blog. http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/2011-03-0100-church-history-quilting-exhibit-broll-1500k-eng.mov

Japan

I talked to Jane about 7 AM our time this morning. She was with the older boys at the school when the earthquake happened. Tomorrow, or now I guess today in Japan it is supposed to be their big festival/carnival/fundraiser. (Can't remember what she calls it exactly. But I believe that was why she was at the school, getting ready for it.)

Greyson and all Elementary students had the day off as it was parent/teacher conferences. Greyson probably had the worst experience. He was over swimming at the American Club. He was on the top floor where the swimming pool is. They all got out of the pool but then the pool did it's own type of tsunami thing. All the water went one way and then back the other way and down the stairs. From what I understand. Scary and freaky.

On Jane's ride way home she stopped at the store and she said the shelves were literally empty. She was at home listening to CNN when I reached her. She said when she got home she had about 15 phone messages. 10 of them from Mark. Cell phones were not working, only the landline. I am a bit confused because I think maybe Mark was trying to fly to Japan. I'm wondering if he was coming for the weekend or the festival or just trying to come and be with his family. I have not heard anything else on that.

Greyson returned home while I was talking to Jane. He had been with a family from the American Club. He was going to sleep over but that family had so many others over that couldn't get home. Also I'm sure Jane just wanted to have her boys near.
Morgan and Jackson had not returned from school yet and by then they would have been on the bus for about 8 hours. While talking with her the school emailed that their bus was going to be another hour.

I haven't talked to them again but I'm thinking the no news is good news saying holds true. I am hoping they have slept some and are possibly sleeping in.

Jane said they were fine but definitely shaken up over the whole thing.

Here is the amazing news!!!! She wanted to get home and clean up the mess, such as broken glass before the boys arrived. There wasn't a single broken glass or any signs of damage at all. She said they must be living in the strongest place!!!! Even the chopsticks remained, they hadn't moved. So that is good news! That is what I am thinking about and picturing as these aftershocks continue.

Julie

Japan

Hunsakers are all safe in Japan. Safe and shaken. But SAFE! Quite an experience to go through.

Look at the World - John Rutter - A real treasure!

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo3ISKHnKlU
Marc wants Grace to be famous.

Would anyone like a start from my Brigham Young wagon train spider plant? I got my start from a plant at the Beehive House that was a start from one hand carried by a little girl in Brigham Young's wagon train in 1847. I don't know her name, and the one at the Beehive House is no longer there. It has about 10 starts on it.

Grandma and Grandpa

So I have been missing grandma and grandpa a lot lately. Maybe it's because now that I live in Utah they are not here or it could be because right after I had Grace my mom and I went and walked through their house and both burst into tears when we walked in the front door. (and just so you know the downstairs ceiling still exists--so if you put your initials there they are still there). Or it could be because I bought a skittles game for my parents to have and we have tournaments (Matt Moench, Crowder family and Eggertsen kids).

So the reason I am writing this post is because I was thinking it might be fun to have people comment on a few memories they have of both Grandma and Grandpa. A lot of time has passed and I'm forgetting a lot. It's also sad that I don't have a picture of them that I can post. All the ones I have are in California. I think Carolyn's comment also helped contribute to me missing grandma. I want to be put together like she always was.

I will post mine in a comment, but right now Grace is screaming so I don't have anymore time.

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! We're grateful to Galen and Jayne, and the Nielsens, and the Annens, who joined us for a simple soup supper and singing on Christmas Eve.

We had the usual lively rendition of Sleigh Ride along with a few other numbers and some singing.


Then we headed down to St. George Christmas day to be with the rest of our family. . . we waved as we drove past the MTC, where Jon reported they heard from Elder Nelson on Christmas. Quoting Jon "So Friday night we had a fireside and all the missionaries sang the 12 days of Christmas. I can't remember all of them but I'll give you a few... 12 hrs of class, 11 loads of laundry, 10 new commandments, 7 luke warm showers, 6:30 wake up, 5...hours of GYM!! 3 new companions, 2 free new haircuts, and a rock solid testimony!"


We enjoyed Christmas dinner at the Millers with Sharon and Hugh and the Ure family.


We repeated Sleigh Ride with new pianists and new audience members.



Hugh and Sharon brought some fun race cars so we all enjoyed some wild races.
After Church Sunday Steve and I and sons continued on down to San Diego, where we enjoyed some Maritime museums and famous boats, ships, submarines, etc. Here we have Nate, Steve and Will enjoying the spacious bunks on a submarine.
Nate got lucky enough to model the apparel of the members of the Mormon Battalion when we checked out their visitor's center. Sister Miller and Sister Stott (believe it or not) took us through. This is a great place for children (and Senior missionaries) with lots of hands on activities.
We took a cruise around the bay.
The next day Nate and Will (with their brother in mind) went on into Tijuana where they found the mission home and posed with Jon's future mission president (left of Will) and the office elders. Then they waited four hours in the line to get back across the border. They succumbed to hunger and bought a couple of tacos from a vendor - and lived to tell the tale.


We drove home in the storm on Thursday and are grateful for our safe arrival. We hope you all fared as well. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Baby Ben

By now it's probably old news for most of you, but I'm finally getting around to posting about our little sweet arrival. Benjamin Michael Miller was born Monday, November 8th at 3:54 AM. He weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce and was 20 3/4 inches long. Our babies keep getting lighter each time! And we are thrilled to have a boy. It's been fun to see for myself that baby boys are just as sweet as baby girls, in their own little way. We are all doing really well- Jan is doing such a great job covering for both of us while I am doing my best to lay low and let myself recover. And the girls love their new brother!


Less than 24 hours old. These first two pictures are Hugh Yancey Originals.
My three children!
Rebekah really wanted a sister. But she couldn't deny how sweet her baby brother was when she saw him. When she was asked what she thought of her new brother she said, "He's not a brother, he's a baby!" I guess that's her way of reconciling things until she can deal with the gender.
Jane is a sweet little mother to her new brother.
Six days old. They don't waste any time growing up!

Jon's Mission Call

I'm afraid I've been rather slow getting the news out about Jon's mission call. I was cooking for 120 at girl's camp the week the call came and am still recuperating! I was able to come home when he read the call, then returned to camp. We are pleased that Jon will be learning Spanish. This summer he is reroofing the Federal Building in Ogden and has been bringing home some Spanish phrases from his Mexican co-workers. He has studied both Spanish and Latin in school, so I think he'll be a quick learner. He read his call from the bottom up: Language first - Spanish: MTC entrance date - December 15th: and Mission - Mexico Tijuana.' Jon is happy to be learning a language, and we are delighted to have another Spanish speaker in the family. He is grateful to be able to go this year and so close to his birthday, and the timing will be good for getting back into school on his return.
Jon will recieve his endowmwnt on Friday, August 27th at 12:30 in the Bountiful, Utah temple. We'd be pleased to see anyone who is able to join us there.

Uncle David's Cradle Pattern

Over a year ago Marc and I went to dinner at David and Shauna's and uncle David pulled out pictures of the cradle he had made. Marc was very interested in making the cradle someday and that day finallycame when I was 4 months pregnant--7 months later he finished it. It's gorgeous and I couldn't be more impressed with his hidden talents that keep showing up the longer we are married. He used curly maple for the panels, maple for the spindles and jatoba (brazilian cherry) for the rest. I helped him with the wax finish/polish, some sanding and the casters. I can only do so much when it comes to making cradles. We are very happy with how it turned out.

Carolyn visiting Battle Ground WA

Happy Mother's Day

To the mother who began it all for us, and to all you superb mothers in the Young family, I wish you a Happy Mother's Day! (Click on the link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNJBe5kZEjk&feature=related

Spring Break with the cousins!

Carter, Dawson, and Julie went to Japan for Spring Break! Actually the Hunsakers Spring Break! We missed a week of school and no one was complaining! We had the best time! It has been 10 years since Julie and Dawson were there. This was Carter's first chance and since he is now 8 he can enjoy Business Class. Which I must say we all thoroughly enjoyed! Look for the picture of the boys sleeping. Yes, they are totally reclined! New experience for us! Cory was so jealous when he heard we went on a 747! Anyway, it was awesome! I'm including a lot of pictures since many of the aunts have been to Japan with my mom. I thought I could take you down memory lane.
So we start with Mark and Jane overlooking Tokyo! Then we have the boys outside playing basketball! The boys in the rain. Karaoke! I'm not sure you guys have experienced this one. Especially with the costumes. Tokyo Disneyland! Big Budda!