2nd Weekend at the Deer Lease

Well, after 4 days of hunting hard, I came up short again!  I saw a lot of deer, but no shooters.  Luckily, Jeff killed a nice 9 point during bow season and filled up our freezer, so I can afford to be a little picky. 

It was a good weekend.  Even though I didn’t get anything, we have such a great time out there.  Mostly because there are no worries.  I also take the best naps at the lease! 

Here is our little routine…I wake up about 5:40 AM, get dressed and out the door.  (Jeff and Hayden still snoozing for a while longer.) Hop in the explorer and drive to where I will park to walk the rest of the way to the stand.  I didn’t ever need a flashlight this go around.  That moon was shining bright!  I can say it is a little freaky walking in the dark all alone and all of a sudden a dumb bird flies out of the bush you walked past and you nearly fall on your face because you tripped over a rock trying to get away.  I know, go ahead and laugh.  Then, get in the stand by 6:10 AM or so.  The goal is before the sun starts to come up.  Wait for the feeder to go off around 6:20 or 6:30 AM depending on the stand you are sitting at.  Then, watch for the action!  Sunday morning, I saw NOTHING!!  I stayed there for 4 hours and saw NADA!  So, head back to camp around 9:45 or 10:00AM.  Then, cook up a good breakfast.  Usually biscuits, bacon/sausage, and eggs.  Around noon Hayden and I lay down for a nap!  Jeff usually find something to do (with Dad or one of the other guys on the lease).  Yesterday he went and sat in the stand.  I love nap time at the lease because I don’t feel guilty for taking one because there isn’t work to be done around the house or on the computer. 

After nap time (usually about 2-3 hours later), time to get up, grab a snack, and head out the door for the afternoon hunt.  Hunt from about 3:45-6:15 PM.  Head back to camp and make plans for dinner.  Sometimes we go eat in town (about 20 minutes away).  Sometimes we eat at camp.  Last night we cooked a pizza.  Baths for everyone and then to bed usually by 9:00 PM.   Roughin’ it I tell ya!  See why I love it so much?  :-)

Here is a little peak into what went on this weekend…

Lots of father/son time!  These boys played their little hearts out!  Hayden actually has his own little room in the camper.  It is so nice! 

We just pick up the pack and play during the day and it turns into a playroom!  :-) 

Can’t play all day and not do any work!  :-)

Jeff brought a bucket of dirt from home so they would have some loose dirt to play with.  Such a good Daddy!

Play dough!  Hayden’s new love and will entertain him for quite a long time! 

He is really working hard on learning those letters too!

Me and Hayden before an afternoon hunt.  Hayden now says, “Mommy Hunting!”.   I hope he grows up loving to hunt as much as Jeff and I do!  

Marla, I told Jeff I was going to use this as my “What I Wear Wednesday” blog post since I pretty much wore this for 4 days this week!  ;-)  Hat-Bass Pro, Shirt and Pants-Academy, Snake boots-Bass Pro! 

This afternoon we got home around 4:00 or so.  Jeff was kind of itching to go sit in his bow stand behind the house.  I encouraged him to get out and go have some “him” time since he really didn’t get much this weekend.  Well, next thing I know, he is running back in the house telling me to call mom and see if she can watch Hayden because there is a big buck behind the house and he can’t get close enough with his bow.  He runs Hayden down to Mom and Dads and I change clothes and grab my rifle.  We sneak (a long way) down the pasture toward our feeder.  I was so out of breath.  Not kidding.  Squatting down trying not to be seen, holding my gun, and trying to keep up with his long legs was a work out!  My legs are going to be sore tomorrow, I can already tell.  We would sit and wait and look, then move a little closer.  I felt like I was in the Army or a sniper or something.  Ha!  We finally sat down and waited until dark.  The big buck outsmarted us.  Oh well, it was quite a fun adventure with my  hubby.  Jeff said, “I love you.  I am so glad you enjoy doing things like this with me.  I love that you don’t mind getting dirty and getting  a little cow poop on ya.”  Ha! 

Glad to be home!  We aren’t heading back to the lease for a few weeks.  Hope you are having a good week!

No deer stories

We made it back home safely this afternoon after a great weekend away at the deer lease.  I didn’t see a whole lot and certainly no “shooters”, but we still had a great time.  Dad saw quite a bit more than me, but nothing worth the taking.  Yet.  :-) 

We attended two different hunter appreciation dinners.  One Friday night and one Saturday night.  Friday night, Dad won a gun (Remington 22).  Saturday night, Hayden won a gun.  A BB gun, but hey, its a gun!  ;-)  Hayden had the best time Saturday night.  They had a huge area for kids to play in the dirt and Hayden was loving it!  He and his daddy went around and around those huge wooden spools chasing each other.

Jeff and Dad both went to the doctor on Thursday to get some antibiotics before the weekend trip after had gone to the doctor on Tuesday for the same.   Jeff actually lost his voice over the weekend.  But, I think everyone is finally feeling better now! 

Hayden and his Daddy had some really great bonding time!  Jeff had gotten a buck earlier during bow season, so it was my turn to hunt this weekend.  I think it was so good for both of them to spend so much quality time together. I was pretty much just around for meals and naptime!  ;-)  They played with cars, trucks, trains, and animals!  Oh, and toothpaste boxes.  It’s the little things! 

They also ate things like banana pudding pie for breakfast.  Oh my!

I think this baby was worn out after his weekend of hunting! 

This Momma is worn out too!  Off to bed! 

Boys just want to have fun!

Jeff bought this balloon toy about a year ago from some random guy at Canton.  I am sure he paid way too much for it, but this provided quite the entertainment around our house tonight!  I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share Hayden’s precious laugh!  He got so tickled over this flying balloon!

Getting back in the groove!

We had such a great time hanging out with our friends in South Carolina.  I don’t think I have ever laughed so much as I did while hanging out with Jen and Shauna!  We really didn’t do a whole lot (other than shop and eat out a few times) and it was so nice!  It was so fun to have “girl time” every night after the babies went to bed.  Last time when we were gone to SC, Jeff was studying for his sergeant's promotional exam and his mind was focused on that.  I think it was a little harder on him this time with his baby boy being gone a week.  We have spent the past few days enjoying time with Jeff and the rest of our family and getting back of the groove of being home after being gone. 

I am so thankful we have gone from wearing this earlier in the week…

 

To being able to enjoy our days outside wearing shorts!  I am pretty sure I scared Jeff and Hayden with my white legs though!  Ha!  I didn’t take one picture the last couple of days of our time outside.  Hayden has loving being outside pulling and pushing his toys around, riding his 4 wheeler, riding the Ranger, and going on tractor rides with his Granddaddy. 

Jeff had to get his cot out for his nephew this afternoon (to make sure it was all there) and Hayden could hardly wait to get on it! Hayden kept saying “night, night” while Jeff was putting it together. 

After dinner, Hayden thought it would be fun to play with his stickers…

 

Aunt Robin and one of my twin nephews, Blaze (he was staying at Nanny and Granddaddy’s for the weekend), came over this evening too.   Hayden had the BEST time playing with him.  Blaze was such a great playmate too!  I am not sure who loves to read more, Blaze or Hayden? 

Blaze is in 1st grade and is a great reader!  He is trying to get 100 Accelerated Reader points for the year so he can be “Principal for the Day”.  Right now he has 79 and he is so excited!  So proud of him! 

Enjoy your weekend!  And…SPRING BREAK! 

Our Valentines Day 2011

Today, for Valentines Day, we took full advantage of the beautiful weather and spent most of our day outside.  Jeff and I cleaned up vehicles and around outside and Hayden played.  He was one happy boy!

He has just figured out how to climb up the ladder to get into the “fort” and slide down on his own with confidence and end up on his feet. 

He played with his wind chime that his Nana and PaPa got him for Christmas.   Hayden always loves to play with their wind chimes, so they thought he needed one of his own! 

He loves to carry sticks around and this one is a favorite of his! 

He put dirt in his tricycle storage area.

He pushed his tricycle.

He rode his tricycle.  He is so close to being able to pedal on his own! 

 

And…he rode his 4Wheeler.

He also rode the 4Wheeler with his Granddaddy (Boo on me for not taking  a picture).  We were all (Jeff, Granddaddy, Hayden, and I) were all going to ride our Ranger to work on the deer stand by our house.  Hayden insisted on riding Granddaddy’s 4Wheeler.  So, guess what?  He got to ride the 4Wheeler with his Granddaddy.  That boy is so spoiled!  Ha!  He LOVES riding the 4Wheeler with his Granddaddy and the tractor with is Granddaddy and his PaPa.  Those are definitely two of his favorite things to do! 

We did take a lunch break and went to eat yummy Mexican food at Monroy’s (a local place).  We enjoyed some beef fajitas that were oh so yummy!!  They{in our opinion} really have the best fajitas that we have ever had! 

Nanny and Granddaddy came over tonight and surprised Hayden with a “heart” balloon and a Sonic Gift Card.  I told you he was spoiled.  What other one year old do you know that gets a Sonic Gift Card for a gift?  Ha! 

Tomorrow we are getting Hayden’s hair cut for the first time.  I have so many mixed emotions about it.  At times, his hair is so curly and I love it.  Other times it is straight as a board and sticks out on the side like Bozo the Clown.  So sad.  Anyway, we just feel like it is time for a little trim.  I hope it goes ok.   I AM SO NERVOUS! 

Hope you had a great Valentines Day!  Time to go relax and watch my favorite show…The Bachelor! 

First Family Visit to the Zoo!

Today, we woke up with absolutely no plans.  Jeff made us homemade waffles for breakfast and Hayden took a great morning nap.  We knew it was going to be a beautiful day outside and wanted to take advantage of our day together.  So, we decided to head to the Tyler Caldwell Zoo.  When we got there, we only had about 2 hours before they closed, but it was the perfect amount of time!    We were somewhat surprised, but there were not many people there.  There were about 10 cars in the parking lot, which worked out great for us!  Hayden was able to run/walk freely pretty much the whole time!  It is a small zoo, but we enjoyed it so much! 

I am a little disappointed in the quality of our pictures.  There were so many shadows  (PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE SUNSHINE!) and I didn’t have my long zoom lens.  I will definitely be taking it next time! 

They have a children’s area right by the gate.  They have goats you can pet.  Hayden wasn’t so sure at first.   But after we exited the goat petting area and washed our hands, he wanted to go back! 

They also had a bridge you could use to climb up to the tractor.  If you know Hayden, you know how much he LOVED this tractor!

We were beginning to think we came to the zoo to ride the tractor.  Ha!

Or…drive this truck!

Forget the animals!

Ok…here we go!

They had so many beautiful birds.  You could get so close to them!

Check out this anteater with its baby on its back!

I am pretty sure Hayden would have sat and watched the flamingos all day! 

We spent a majority of our time in South Africa! 

This one had a big bulge!  Pregnant?

Hello Mr. Giraffe!

Checking out the Cheetah!

Big Yawn!

The leopards were up close and personal.

The white tigers were absolutely beautiful but SO big! 

This was the first time Hayden had ridden on his Daddy’s shoulders.  I am pretty sure this was the highlight of the trip.  He thought he was on top of the world!

We of course had to go into the gift shop for a prize.  We got this really cool book!  It is a Roger Priddy shadow flap book called At the Zoo.  How appropriate was that?   :-)  It is such a cool book! 

All three of us were “all smiles” today!  We had such a fun time as a family.  We are already looking forward to our trip back to the zoo! 

**If you missed my earlier post today, Fun with Friends, click here!