Statistics on Hunter:
Age: 8-1/2
Grade: 3rd
Current Activities: Bowling every other week
Interests: PSII games and computer games. Anything military or action type stuff. Loves to play Blythe's new "The Italian Job" on "Play Station II". Acts out battles running and falling around the house. TV.
Summer: In addition to playing in the pool, Hunter went to Conservation Daycamp at The Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville. He and his friend Alex from Cub Scouts attended each from 8:30 to 4:30 for a week. He learned about and saw a variety of large predator-type birds: eagles, owls, falcons. Also handled some snakes! He created a "reverse" claw/foot print of a Barred Owl. He learned about the hunting, eating, sleeping and mating habits of many raptors and reptiles. He learned some photography techniques while taking some pictures on a nature trail. Identified and labeled some mice bones coughed up by an owl!!! He created some fantastic and detailed artwork and made a great tie-dyed t-shirt.
Hunter also made a trip to Carowinds with his mom and cousin, Danny. While it was extremely hot, the lines moved very quickly for some reason that day. The boys were able to ride roller coasters and their favorite rides several times in a row.
Hunter also went to the Emerald Pointe Wet'n Wild Water Park in Greensboro with his Mom, sister Blythe, her friend, Leah, Aunt Lori, and cousin MacKenzie. We made a day of it, taking a delicious picnic lunch and we closed the place down at 8 pm..
A week long visit at Myrtle Beach on the Atlantic Ocean was also on the summer agenda. Hunter had a great time not only in the water riding the waves on his "boogie board", but also just relaxing and playing with his small jeeps, boats and army men in the "tide pools". Quite often his mom would see him just sprawled out in the shallow water catching a few winks. Of course a trip to the beach is not complete without Putt-Putt where Hunter got to try out 2 different style-themed courses. They dined at the Medieval Times where Hunter used some of his spending money to purchase a sword and shield. But his most favorite activity was going to the Grand Prix Go-Cart Track and Amusement Park. There, Hunter was old enough and tall enough to drive a "real" go-cart around a fairly long track with about 15 to 20 other adults and children. He even got to wear a professional-looking helmet!!
Favorite foods: corn dogs, chicken tenders, popcorn, cheese quesadillas, Philly-Swirl Sorbet sticks (a type of popsicle), pancakes, and Lime "slushies" (especially from Melamoose - a local ice cream shop)
Favorite Restaurants: Burger King, Mazatlan's (a local Mexican eatery), and Cappy's Cafe (another local restaurant with, surprise, a video gameroom)
Favorite Movies: Anything about various wars, military, etc. When Hunter and his mom are home alone and just want to snuggle and watch a family movie, Hunter always likes to watch Disney's "The Swiss Family Robinson". Other long-time favorites include: "Remember The Titans", "The Sandlot", "Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang", and Disney's animated "101 Dalmations".
Favorite Cartoons/TV Shows: "Tom and Jerry", "Courage, The Cowardly Dog", "Ed, Edd and Eddy", "Sponge-Bob Square-Pants", "That's So Raven"
Favorite Books: Hunter is a good reader, but he doesn't enjoy reading for school or to his mom. He likes lots of historical books on Civil War. WWII, knights and castles, etc. He also enjoys the series of "I Spy" books.
Hunter is very good at: Word-Search puzzles, imitating sounds, putting interesting and very accurate details in his drawings, printing (handwriting), holding his breath underwater, playing alone, using his imagination, figuring out all those PSII and GameBoy Games, recognizing actors from one movie to another, singing on key, remembering things his mom doesn't expect, forgetting what his mom just told him to do, dancing, hugging, and making his mother laugh!!
Hunter does not like: loud noises, going on errands, emptying the trash, taking baths or showers, reading, homework, scary movies (tho' he can take the gore in army movies), going back in the car once he has gotten home from school, vegetables or food that is good for him, loud and rowdy girls in the car (Blythe and her friends), spiders, shopping for clothes, going to Sunday School (although he always has a good time once he gets there).
Some of the things Hunter has said he would like to do when he grows up:
- Be a soldier (but then he doesn't want to because he might get killed)
- Own a restaurant that will serve all kinds of food (even all the stuff Hunter won't eat) - Sometimes he calls it "The Crusty Crab" like in the SpongeBob cartoon
- Live with his mom ("because that won't be so expensive") - "Uh-Oh" says Jacki
- Be rich so he "can have servants"
Hunter's nicknames include: Hunter-Pie, Hunter-Bunter, The Hunster, The Hunt-meister, Crabbie-Pattie (as in when he's moaning and groaning, and Jacki says, "come here, my little crabbie-pattie"), Choochy-Boy, and when he's not listening, Jacki yells "hun-TER"
