priceless art work

today at mops, august filled noah's arc with animals.
and then some other 2-year-old thought,
"noah's animals look really tasty,
maybe i'll try one or two.
no, three would be good."

and there you have it,
priceless art work.

baby it's cold outside

so we bundled up and headed to the woods.this cheezer was as happy as could be.

he hunted, ran,

chased and was chased by the dogs,

went jeep riding,

and helped keep the fire going.

what more could a boy ask for?

the sun setting on our wonderful, cold, and relaxing day.

a cold new years weekend

we traveled down to the woods to ring in the new year.
with sparkling wine and sparklers we were all set. august had his first real experience using sparklers.
he was having a blast.
and his face says it all.

"again, again," he kept saying.

we didn't make it until midnight,

but toasted our korbel around the campfire,

and turned in early.

on new years day,

we ate our traditional greens (for wealth),

black eyed peas (for luck),

with some fried venison on the side.

we huddled up under the tent to watch the noles play ball,

and keep dry from the rain.

it got muddy here and there.

but the kids at a blast,

stomping through the mud.

after the rain passed through,

the cold air followed in.

we sat around this for much of the weekend.

and did our best to keep warm.

even if that means socks for mittens.

august was lucky to have another hunting buddy, lily.

boy did they ever have fun.
and isn't this weather great?

taking down christmas

august decided to help take down christmas,
while he was supposed to be napping. (tree at the end of his crib)

and the decorating didn't stop there.
he wanted to try out a new arrangment of the picture frames.

chili dinner

when my cousin ashleigh and her husband david come to town,
we always try to get together.
mom and dad had everyone at their house for a chili dinner.
and we got to see miss riley.
boy has she grown.
august found the airplane ornament.
he has a thing for planes.

riley helped open a gift for august.

tearing in with your gums isn't such a bad idea.

this is where i said "please share,

or you're going to time out."

surprisingly, i'm still alive.

but, isn't he cute in a hat?

and i could have eaten this one alive with all her cuteness.

so glad we got to visit,
and can't wait to do it again.

mom's first deer

a week ago mom got her first deer.

it was nice and cool when the hunters came into camp.
dad shot one too.
but, i must say that mom's was bigger.

august was still on the hunt for his first.

first deer photos

brooker was ready to pose,

but august, not so much.

brooker said, "gran, you're a great hunter!"

august wasn't really sure about all this.

he wanted to shoot his own deer.

and make his funny shooting face.

travis did the honors of bloodying up mom's face,

a hunting tradition.

mom and dad's dog, gin, did a great job in trailing the deer.

weighing in at 110 pounds.

congratulations mom!

the day after christmas

we headed down to the woods for some hunting, camping, and relaxing.
this handsome guy took august and i for a jeep ride.

we ran into this guy along the way.

later in the day the revell family joined us.

and these two were like peas in a pod with their new ridin' toys and guns.

they scouted for deer.

and learned how to use the bow and arrow.

got some help in the rough stuff.

and hunted some more.

"we got him, august!"

'smores are great for a post breakfast snack.

"mmm, mmm, good!"

mom got her first deer,
and that deserves its very own post.
so up next,
mom's first deer.