Rewind-Swimming in Florida

I have so many pictures from our time in the States, that it is hard to know where to begin...

so I guess I'll start with the one thing we did the most of in Florida...SWIM!  Any and every chance we got we were in some body of water!  Literally on the last day we were there, Levi was finally able to swim all by himself!

Question of the day...

Levi: "Mom why is everything you make chocolate?"

Me: "I guess I just really like chocolate!"

Levi: "ME TOO!" As he continued to lick the bowl meticulously...

We made a batch of brownies and are trying some peanut butter frosting for the first time...we'll let you know if it makes the brownie even better! And if it gives my body the jump start it needs to get over this jet-lag!

Peanut Butter Frosting:
Beat 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup softened butter, 1 T. of milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla with electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, beating until combined. If necessary, stir a little more milk in until you get the desired consistency you want.

First Day of School

Summer comes to an end...

There is nothing like the smell of the ocean, the sound of waves and the feel of the sand. Summer is such a sweet time.  We made lots of new memories this summer, and had lots of fun while we were in the States. 

Now we are saying goodbye to summer, as our backpacks are officially packed and new clothes are laid out.  Everyone is excited to start school tomorrow, and yet there is also a bit of anxiety of once again diving into German instruction...please pray for all of us as we start another school year and that those friendships that were started last year would quickly be rekindled. 

Friday Favorites-Flying Edition

We have landed safely and it is a little surreal to be back home.  Since I am a lot slap happy and very weary...thought we'd do a little of the old Friday favorites-this time...Flying Edition

Favorite place to get an overpriced chocolate chunk cookie while at the airport: Caribou Coffee

Favorite drug to take before getting on the plane: Zanax (seriously!)

Favorite kiddo to sit by: the one who is sleeping:)

Favorite rag, I mean mag to read: People...of course

Favorite drink to get from that sweet flight attendant:  Cran-apple juice...nope, not Diet Coke!                                                                                                       Fooled ya didn't I? 

Favorite indulgence:  THIS

(which of course I don't really have, but would have slept a lot better if I did)

Favorite reason for flying:  TO GET HOME!!!

Gone Fishin...

Look at that smile!   He was so proud of his catch.  Too bad he didn't like eating it as much as he liked catching it!  Today Brad and the kids went trout fishing while I finished packing for our trip back to Vienna.

Our vacation has been exhausting and relaxing all at the same time. We very much have enjoyed our time in the States, but are ready to sleep in our own beds, have some routine again and see our friends there.  I will have lots to catch you up on once we get settled back home...just give me some time, while we recover:)

Sun Fun...

Nothing but FUN in the Florida sun!

Celebrating...

Last night we got a gift from Neena to go on a gondola ride with Rick and Dede.  Both of us celebrate our wedding anniversaries this week! Happy 14th Rick and Dede and Happy 11th to us!  

Tonight the Glam Grams are watching our kids overnight while we get away!  Our first time without the kiddos in 14 months ...

I think it is about time:)

Our baby girl got bangs!!!

She has been asking for bangs...or "hair that touches her eyebrows" as she would say, for over 3 years now.  We finally gave in!  And she looks too cute!

Overwhelming...

This is the only word that can begin to describe our trip back to the States...from the size of the drinks with ice to all of the love we have received... all of it has been a bit overwhelming.  

Too many things to write about and too many pictures to post, but I hope to catch up sometime over the weekend.

A big thanks to everyone who has loved us well while we have been in Florida!

Catching up...

Can you guess where in the world the Hunter's are???

If you said America...you guessed right... and even more specifically, we are in Florida! We are officially on vacation with our family.  Sorry that we haven't posted for awhile, but we have been too busy catching up with our favorite people and places of South Florida!  If you are around, Brad is preaching tomorrow at St. Andrews at the 8:30 and 11:00 services.  We'd love to see you there!

Cousin-Time...

These past few days with our niece, Elisabeth have been so much fun already!  Luke, Abby and Levi can't get enough of her...and often even fight over who gets to sleep with, sit by, etc. their cousin! 

Right now they are off swimming with Brad, while I get packed up for Poland.  This is the real reason Elisabeth came...to help watch our kids while we help lead a retreat with the Prague Team.  We'll touch base when we return from another one of our many adventures...

Team Building...

We had a great visit with Dan and Jen!   It was confirmed for both of us that they would be a wonderful addition to our team...now they will join another young woman at A&O in September.

Some of you may be wondering how we keep in touch with our other teammates in the States... lots of e-mails, phone calls and i-chatting! 

Here we are finding out the news that Jeff broke his thumb!

Thankfully he doesn't need surgery! Pray for them as he preaches this Sunday, and then they leave for training next week in Colorado. 
We are excited by how God is growing our team...and we can't wait until they all get here!

Elisabeth made it!

Hooray!  She made it all by herself!  But it sure wore her out...:)

The Penguin Slide...

We woke up to screeching and squealing...come to find out, it was the Penguin Slide!

(I think the pictures speak for themselves)

Friday Favorites-Family Edition

This week flew by.  I actually can't believe it is Friday already.  Here is another addition of random favorites as we live and experience life in Vienna:

Luke's favorite event of the week was attending fussball camp with one of his friends.  Here he is with his uniform on!  He even got a medal for completion of the camp...

This doll carrier was a gift from our neighbors, and Abby has not stopped smiling ever since she got it! It is Abby's new favorite toy, and Kit has gone everywhere we have gone...

Abby has been a great help all week, and even made this typical Austrian cake with our neighbor and friend, Gritt.

It was a wonderful treat that we could share with our guests, the Beilmans. Certainly, another favorite of the week!

When guests come to visit, we often go to this restaurant in Ressel Park, near the Karlskirche.

Our favorite thing to order is the delicious schnitzel. It has great seating outside and a park nearby for when the kids get antsy!

 BUT, by far, everyone's favorite thing this week has been this little guy, Will.  He is an easy-going fellow with extremely kissable cheeks!  He would be a welcomed addition to our team!

I am thankful for...

God's creation

 boys who always seem to find sticks

good friends
chubby hands that hold on tight
our little girl

walks in the woods

flowers picked just for me

a time away from the city

good food

my family

(these photos were all taken this weekend at Hohe Wand, which is about one hour outside of Wien)

Summer Entertainment

It's raining. Which means no park today. Vienna has great parks and usually our afternoons are spent playing at one. Instead, today we are crafting.I practically brought enough supplies to open a craft store-but I am so glad I did, because there are not an abundance of stores like these

Oh how I miss those aisles of colored cotton balls and cheesy seasonal decorations...

ok-back to what is keeping our kiddos entertained this summer...


1. Investing in our friends we made at school this year. Here is Abby at the zoo, walking hand and hand with her buddies..

2. This is Levi's favorite website.

3. Even though our friend/teammate, Jodie pretended she was blind as a result of this show, it hasn't stopped us from watching countless epidodes of Little House on the Prairie.

4. As a family we have started reading "The Star of Kazan" before bed. It is set in Vienna-and
everytime Brad or I read the word "Vienna"-everyone cheers! Yes, it doesn't take much to entertain us :)

5. We do try to provide some structure...with lists that kids have to complete daily (some days we get more done than others)

6. Play-Doh parties with the neighbors...

7. Fussball! Luke heads to camp for a few days next week-but anytime he gets a chance, he is playing. These are his really cool new shoes. (he now wears the same size as me!)

8.Last week we checked this place out. It has the fastest waterslide I have ever been on, and gave the biggest water wedgies ever!

9. Helping in the kitchen... (yes, we tried to make a cherry pie from scratch...way more work than it is worth!)


10. Dressing-up is still fun for even our oldest rugrat...
May they never grow up...

Views from vacation...

Hallstatt is one of those places wherever you look you see beauty...
I loved the view when I looked out of my room window...
Abby loved the view from the diving board...
the steeple that watches over the city...
little legs freshly dipped in the icy cold water...
surrounded by mountains and nestled on a lake...
flowers displayed in many quaint ways...
the billowing clouds reflect in an old barn window...
there are so many ways to enjoy the view...