The Gunter Family

2023 Year in Review

Play the Game

Yeah, so, Lewis* made a game. It felt fitting for the theme of the year since I've spent the year building puzzles and games. The idea is that this would be a way to introduce each kid's year in review with a fun little mini game. If you're not interested, just keep scrolling to see pics/summary of the year! Requires a desktop browser or iOS device to play.

*I mean, it was really mostly his brother Leckie, but... anyway

Lewis & Natalie

2023 was a year full of transitions and milestones for the Gunter family. Hailey graduated high school and started college while Caroline started full-day school for the first time. We spent our first full year living the startup life, which has been simultaneously the greatest and the hardest thing we’ve done professionally. I’ve spent the past year building out a very tech-forward escape room inside a shipping container and we’re very excited to open up early next year.

Natalie and I have continued exercising our love of international travel with a trip in February to Ecuador and the Galapagos accompanied by our good longtime friends, the Dunns. Additionally, we were able to explore little bits of four different countries (England, Italy, Slovenia & Croatia) as we took Hailey on her senior trip. And from Senior trip to Freshman trip, we were both kind enough to accompany her off to Laie, just to make sure she found her dorm room, OK?

Above all, we love spending time with our family and watching them grow up. We’re really enjoying our relatively new church assignment working with the youth - it’s awesome to have a team calling. The challenges of starting a company and raising a family have been very present this year, but they have also helped us grow more unified and able to see little miracles in the day-to-day. We love you all and hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful 2024!

Hailey

Wow, was this year a big one for me. For beginners, I (finally) graduated high school, despite my parents being unhappy with my attendance ;). To celebrate, in early June my parents took me on my senior trip to Europe. In less than two weeks, we hit Manchester and Venice, and went all over Croatia and Slovenia. I spent the rest of the summer working and being with friends. In August, I turned 18, and then five days later hopped on a flight and moved ~3000 miles away to start school at BYU-Hawaii. I had an incredible experience there, met so many amazing people, and just loved being independent and living on an island. Enduring my first 8 a.m. class and navigating through the challenges of finals week in college, I successfully made it through and soon flew home for winter break in early December.

Abby

From work to building sets for my school play, I've been very busy this year. I ended my sophomore year, and started my junior year at American Fork High School. Staying with my grandparents at Ocean Shores, while my parents and sister left us for Europe, and then going to girls camp with my friends. I also went to FSY all by myself. I competed at the tech olympics at the Shakespeare festival. I love doing lifting for the AFHS stage crew. I love seeing plays with my mom at the Hale Center Theater. I love reading books and hanging out with my friends. I can now drive, which means more freedom, but also more chores like picking up my siblings and getting groceries.

Sophie

This year I turned 14, and started 8th grade. I’ve continued climbing, and I am slowly yet surely expanding my climbing gear empire (I hope to climb outdoors soon!). I participated in a choir concert (and even had a small solo), and I watched every play and musical around me that I could. I’m continuing the ALL program, and love learning what it’s taught me. To make my stamina better, I’ve started doing morning runs. I also sprained my ankle for the first time. Actually, first 2 times, and within a monthly time period (once while falling off a climbing wall, the next while attempting to jump on a leaf). I’ve loved spending time with my family and friends, and learning more about who I am, and what I love!

James

This year, I went to Highland Elementary School and enjoyed it. I’m in the Advanced Learning Lab class and I was in third and starting fourth this year. At home we did a lot of family activities, including the Gunter Olympics. I love playing video games, especially Fortnite, reading, especially The Wild Robot Escapes, swimming, throwing the football, playing basketball and playing with my friends.

Caroline

This year I turned six years old. I had a pajama party today at school. I went to grandma’s and grandpa's house. I went into a new school and then went into Freedom Elementary. I once did rock climbing with Sophie and I climbed the whole wall by myself. It was pretty easy. I was scared though. I became sick this year (dad’s note, this is like, a persistent morning cough/sniffle, nothing serious). I learned tumbling and dancing this year. And I lost my two front teeth. It was really fun. I like going to my grandparents house and typing down stuff and playing my own songs on the piano (dad here, I think this is a stream of conscious at this point). And I like movie theaters with free drinks and free popcorn! And I want to be a doctor when I grow up.