From Deseret News archives:
Huntsmans settling in
Governor and family making the most of their time together in historic mansion
"We know all the fast-food menus," Huntsman says, laughing.
She and the oldest of the six Huntsman children, daughters Mary Anne, 20, and Abby, 19, recite some of their take-out favorites, like a Thai salad from California Pizza Kitchen and the deli sandwiches at Arby's.
Of course, sometimes they do cook in the small, apartment-like family quarters on the second floor of the stately Governor's Mansion on South Temple. There, the menu is also likely to be fast and something simple tortillas with cheese or even cold cereal.
Family time is limited for the Huntsman clan, so they're always looking for shortcuts to more of it. Life in the mansion includes some help with cleaning but not cooking, which often makes meals a household chore best handled quickly so the family can make the most of its time together.
Everyday family events as well as milestones such as taking daughter Abby this fall to Philadelphia, where she will attend her father's alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, must be fit into Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s packed schedule.
For Mary Anne, squeezing in time together means playing the pair of grand pianos in the mansion's third-floor ballroom with her father on those nights when neither one of them can sleep.
"If you ever see the ballroom lights on late at night when you drive by, it's Mary Anne playing the piano," the first lady said. The pianos are right above Mary Anne's parents' bedroom, which may explain why the governor ends up joining his daughter at the keyboards.
Abby often runs alongside the governor on one of the two treadmills set up in the mansion's family room, a large area of the basement equipped with a television, ping-pong table and exercise equipment.
Jon Huntsman III, 15, shares his father's interest in extreme sports like motocross racing. He barely acknowledges a reporter visiting the mansion on his way out the back door for what will be a day of riding and jumping his bike in the nearby foothills.
Liddy, 17, is involved with her mother's program. It was Liddy's struggle with diabetes that prompted her mother to reach out to other young people dealing with that and other diseases, an effort that eventually expanding into the "Power in You" program.
Comments
- Y.'s Hall, U.'s Dale earn MWC honors 11:28 a.m.
- Notre Dame not an option for Meyer 11:28 a.m.
- Marijuana grow found in Ogden apt. 11:23 a.m.
- Inmate dead following prison fight 11:22 a.m.
- BSU RB Martin top WAC player 11:17 a.m.
- Benefits lost over Facebook photo 11:14 a.m.
- Obama to honor young inventors 11:11 a.m.
- Home sales data, dollar carry stocks 11:08 a.m.
- Embarrassed Wigan offers refunds 11:06 a.m.
- RSL championship rally Tuesday 10:34 a.m.
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
210 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
202 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
172 - BYU records with win
130 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
129 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
102 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
"Do you honestly expect people here to be stupid enough to think that beating...
All of the presidents since Reagan have been bad ones. We need another Reagan...
"Lemmings ready to go it alone on health care" That wold be ok if I were...
Here's the thing: when gays and lesbians emphasize "Here's all the great...
The Cougars will win IF: They show up with the same passion and energy they...
And who do you think has the votes to raise taxes the Mayor. The City Council...
I'm not a huge soccer fan but that game last night was amazing! I think I...
@Central Banks: the laughable thing about your comment is that we "force our...
You have obviously never been the military. The only weapons I ever saw...
To "Nonconlib | 10:16 a.m." you asked "When was the last time anybody had a...




You can be the first to comment on this story.