Oh Hunter, our Hunter!

So we've officially hit the TERRIBLE TWO's!!!! Actually, Hunter's a pretty good kid full of hilarious antics, we just have to go for the sympathy votes at any opportunity :) He has found his way into temper tantrums though which isn't a whole lot of fun.

We celebrated his birthday at home with the family. I had the day off because it was the grand ol' Adelaide Cup -- a public holiday for a horse race that no one really cares about, but hey, whose keeping track of why we have a day off, right?! We baked him a nice, round basketball cake and despite the frosting separating because it's so stinkin' hot (we are currently on a hot streak of 12 days at 35'C or greater ... usually around 40'C, 104'F - the most for in the history of Australia, what a dubious honor to be here for that one, eh mate!) He 'agreeably' took a nap in the afternoon and Savannah and Collin helped me blow up balloons, tape streamers and get the party ready. When he woke up he was bright eyed and opened mouth with all the colors and excitement. We had G&G Whetstone on webcam so we sang happy birthday to him ... a couple times for the full effect and to let him blow out the candles a couple of times. He then opened his gift of a 'Thomas the Tank Engine' suitcase which will come in handy shortly, and some toy planes and garden tools. They then went outside and threw lots of water balloons at each other -- since it's probably the only time he'll ever have a birthday when the temperature is above 100'. He also received a Crows (local footy team) pullover and koala lounge chair from his kindy teacher (although he hasn't been yet because he had a contagious lip sore -- how convenient for him!) He did make it all the way through nursery today though -- on his own! YIPPEEE. Great Grandma/Grandpa Jones sent him a cute little ship card and some American money --

Hunter has also had some hilarious quotes recently. As always his vocabulary is growing day after day. He loves to look at pictures on the internet of cousins, relatives, friends, etc. When he finds something that really interests him he lets out a, "WHOA!! Gosh!"

The other day we were looking at a picture of his cousin Rose in Houston, TX. She was eating a pine cone, or attempting to anyway. Hunter's reaction was, "Gwose (translation - gross) eating, 'pider (translation - spider)!"

He and Collin/Savannah are always making each other laugh. The other day he was throwing some water on himself and then punching himself -- which the kids thought was hilarious.

We were also on our way to a fireside this evening for Elder Bednar (who has been visiting Australia over the past 10 days.) On the way to the chapel he asked if we were going to the fireside, "Going ... fiweside?" But after a while I think he confused himself and starting asking, "Going ... fiweworks?" Yeh, kid, something like that.

And this last one is gut-busting. There is this cute little 13-month old girl in our ward. She is a little fire cracker and runs all over the place. Well, this evening at the fireside I had the kids in a separate room from the chapel because they'd just had enough of sitting in one place for the day. In comes little Zoe (the 13-month firecracker). Hunter goes out of his way to go over and show off some of his art work that he'd been working on. All the kids then go off playing on the other side of the room. I look over at the same time that Leslie (his grandma) does and we see Hunter grab Zoe by the shoulders and lay a big smack right on her lips! I couldn't believe my eyes -- but he wasn't done there. He would follow her around giving her hugs and being right next to her. At one point Zoe had had enough and turned around and hit him on the head a couple of times. I think it surprised Hunter because he came running over to Leslie and I saying she'd hit him on the head. I then made the mistake of telling him to go giver her a hug -- which he definitely took to heart and didn't bat an eye. Zoe had for sure had enough by now and just kept pushing him away and wouldn't let him near her? So I think Hunter thinks of himself as quite the lady's man already, ho hum!

Anyway, we've had a lot of fun focusing on the little monster this week. Now it's Collin's turn for his big number 4 tomorrow! Happy, happy birthdays! Oh, and if you missed our hint at a new little happenings in our family, you might want to go back and read our last month's entry. Cheers, mateys!