GG turns 50!

I know this is a little late in posting, and the Christmas pics will come soon, but on December 4, "GG," (apparently that's how we're spelling it now- thanks to Aunt Ash) turned 50! She's the youngest 50 year old I've ever met! We had a family party for her at our house and then a Surprise party with all of her friends and family at a local hangout. You can see all of the pictures (including all 50 of her "0-50...Beth, the Early Years" pics here...
Here are a few of my favs...

It's hard to come between a boy and his mittens...

I tried this winter hat on Benson when we were in target and he refused to take it off... The mittens were attached to the hat, so we rode around target wearing a hat with mittens hanging off of them- neither of which we had paid for...
When we got home and tried them on for daddy, again... he did NOT want to take them off...



Here's a little video of him enjoying his mittens...

He pulled the scab off of his poor lil nose... that's not really why I posted this pic.. I just wanted to note the position of his arms while receiving first aid...

Aunt Bonnie came over to bring the annual red velvet cake for mama's birthday dinner... She let Benson light the "FAaaR" as many times as he wanted, so she has quickly become one of his favorite people!


love that smile!

Homemade Popcorn is the BEST!

There are lots of benefits to homemade popcorn...
There are no trans-fats
There are no hydrogenated oils
It's dairy/soy free!
It's cheaper than store-bought
It's tastier than store-bought
It's just plain FUN to make!!

Here's the recipe we use:
1.Use a large stock-pot with lid (we like the non-stick because it's easier to clean afterwards)
2. Measure 2 Tablespoons of canola oil into the saucepan. Add 3 kernels of popcorn, cover with lid and heat on medium high.
3. When first kernel pops, lift lid and add 1/3 cup of popcorn, cover with lid and gently shake pan until popping stops.
4. Carefully pour popped corn into a large bowl and season to taste. (we add popcorn salt and a little sugar so that it tastes like kettle corn)

Watching the corn POP is pretty neat!

ENJOY!



Eating this popcorn, he looks like a lil Bucky Tooth Beaver!

Basketball Season Begins...

Get ready for lots of Blue and Gold pics on the blog... Basketball season has begun!
We had a great time at the first ball game of the year. Becca and Jonathan are both on JV this year, so we get to go for the girls and stay for the boys- and they normally play twice a week (as opposed to last year where we had to go to games 4 days a week to see them both play!)

Ah- Bay-Kah

JOOOe


Three generations of basketball players...

I just thought this was hilarious... They played at Spring Valley High School and they are the "Vikings" so they have this giant Viking Chick on the gym wall.. I would love to know what Mr. Tom was telling Benson about this interesting depiction of a Viking..

Walking around the court... (and around.. and around.. and around...)

Go Wildcats!!

You know you're a Clemson fan when...

you start singing the "ABC's" to your 18 month old son and he starts pumping his fist in the air as if you were singing "C-L-E-M-S-O-N."

Laid back...

I really don't know where he got this from, but Benson's new thing is to put his hands behind his head and "chill." He does it when we're reading a story or sitting on the couch together or anytime we're just sitting around... But lately, without fail, he does it when he gets in his carseat... Here's a few instances from this weekend-
On the way home from Thanksgiving...

On the way home from visiting Carrie....

He's one "laid back" baby!

A little more Moore...

We got to see Carrie on Saturday!
Benson and I drove to Hannah-Pamplico to visit the Turners/Moores and watch the Clemson- Carolina game! (Go Tigers!!)
We had a great time and I got to feel the baby kick! They are (as I type) at the doctor finding out whether it's a girl or a boy. She's a little over 23 weeks along, and they already tried determine the sex at the last doctors visit, but the little booger had it's legs crossed! Hopefully this time, it'll be a little less.. modest :) Look at her cute little belly...

Benson enjoyed rocking and reading with Mr. Joe, Carrie's daddy....

Thanksgiving 2008, Part Deux

We celebrated Thanksgiving (again!) this week. We have so much to be thankful for... But I would say, of all things, Benson is most thankful for his "Mow-Mower"
We toted his beloved mow-mower to the booming town of Pageland, where my Grandparents live. Boy am I glad we did... This boy did some serious mowing...
Aunt Missy followed him around for (and I'm not exaggerating) 45 minutes, while he mowed the woods, the ditch, the road and yard, the neighbors yard.... you name it, he mowed it... he loved to mow...

and mow....

and mow...

and mow some more...

My boys, tuckered out on Thanksgiving day...
Every year, all of the Hunter men (including late additions like Benjamin) get up at the crack of dawn to go for the annual Thanksgiving-Morning-Hunter-Golf-Round. They always get the first tee-time and always have to wait for the ground to thaw before they can tee off. Why they don't just get a later tee-time is beyond me, but nonetheless, they enjoy it! Benjamin won with a 75! Go baby, go!
All of that Golfing and Mowing is exhausting!

This is where we celebrate Thanksgiving with the extended family. It's the "Patrick Community Center." The food is delish and the fellowship is fun, but the comfortable-ness of the furniture leaves much to be desired...

Can you tell who was the star of thanksgiving this year?

Playing ball with Chandler... This is Benson in about six years...

Playing with Great-Grandaddy Hunter...

Ok-- so-- while Benjamin was golfing, Benson was riding around the driveway on my Daddy's old toy (which, I'm sure has probably been recalled in last 50 years) and he took a spill. The result was a not-so-pretty scrape all the way down his face. It's starting to heal up pretty well, but I'm kicking myself for not getting our Christmas card picture taken already...

Peek-a-boo!

Poor lil nose... and lip... and forehead... :(

And, of course, we went on our Annual, "Black Friday" Shopping Expedition... Yes, we are all dressed and ready to walk out of the door (be our eyes ever-so-squinty), and yes, the clock says 4:19a.m.
Note: We accomplished all of our shopping goals and snagged some of the hottest deals out there. Dedication.

Rollin with the roomies...

Not his roomies, but Aunt Ash's roomies!
Benson went for a Thanksgiving breakfast with Aunt Ash and her roomates Melissa and Morgan. He really enjoyed spending time with the pretty girls... can't you tell? :)

Happy Thanksgiving 2008

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Ryans on Saturday. We had quite a crew! I think it was 23 people! Here we are piled in the living room watching the Tigers whoop up on Virgina!

Mr. Tom's brother, Gregg and His family (Wife Karen, daughter Tori, Daughter-in-law Leigh, Son Zeb and granddaughter Gracie) came to celebrate with us! It was great having them there!


We celebrated Gregg's "29th" birthday since we were all together...
Benson and Gregg have the same haricut...

And we also celebrate Jeremy's 22nd Birthday since we were all together... Benson really enjoyed helping him blow out his candles...


Benson loved playing with the babies...

And his friend-sized cousins...


And I just love this picture of cutie patootie Addie Grace... I think her eyes are going to stay blue!