The enevitable

Set aside furniture. We've got business to attend to.

Buck huntin'!

I love Wyoming!  One of the many perks of living here is hunting.

 I went hunting Monday morning with Brad and my father in law Paul. We backpacked in 5-6 miles in the rain. 

We set up camp and made a huge fire trying to warm up and dry out.  I hardly slept that night in the small "A" framed tent because of the rain and wind.  At 5am we took off to get into position for opening morning of the hunt.  The storm took a small break and millions of stars shined their light. We got settled in the roots of a tree on a horribly steep slope and waited for dawn. 

 As the sky and hillsides lightened, we saw 14 deer across the canyon and spotted a pretty decent buck.  I anxiously awaited it to get lighter.  There was other hunters near by and I was sure they were all looking at my buck.  It clouded up then started to rain.  I was shivering from the cold and my nerves. I had my gun loaded and was aimed, supported by my knees, just right where I thought I needed to aim.  I hear another hunters gun echo in our canyon.  My buck wasn't down, so I took my first shot.  Missed.  I took a second and third shot. Missed.  Brad and his dad couldn't tell where I was hitting, but kept telling me where to aim.  Missed the forth shot.  Brad handed me his gun, which was much much bigger.  I shot.  The gun scoped me right in the forehead.  I shot again, same thing.  I definitely earned the goose egg on my forehead.   Missed both shots.  Switched back to my gun and shot three more times.  Missed.  Missed.  Missed!  On my tenth shot, my buck (who was going back and forth in the trees wondering what the heck was going on) turned and looked right at me 450 yards away.  I went with my gut instinct as to where to aim.  I held my breath and pulled the trigger. That shot hit him right in his heart and he went down.  My first buck went down! 

  I was so excited and thought of all the yummy food I would learn to cook with him and having the food for my family!  We worked our way over to him all in the rain and then thick fog started to sink in.  There was an incredibly strong cross wind, which probably explained my many missed shots. Then there he was!

 I walked closer to the buck I had shot, overwhelmed with gratitude for all that this animal was going to provide for my family. And he was a beauty!

 Paul started me a fire while he and Brad cut him up.

  I was amazed at Brad's ability to know how to gut and bone out an animal. 

 On our hike back to camp, hail, snow and rain was pounding us and it stung so bad all over my face!  The wind was miserable.  We crossed steep ridges without trails and kept slipping. 

I had three layers on my legs and 7 over the top of me and we were still drenched.  We made it back to our soppy camp totally wet and cold.  Hours went by with piercing winds and precipitation.  I crawled into the tent and just tried to stay warm in my sleeping bag.  Brad got a fire going after an hour. I finally left the tent and tried to get warmed up and dried out around the fire.  I was warming my tush when I noticed a bear!

It was probably 50 yards away barreling down the hill! I pointed and Paul and Brad both looked.  I can't believe I didn't freak out.  The bear stopped and looked us over for a number of minutes.  He has NO fear of us. I was pretty glad when it left.

  The rain started to let up.  We packed up and started down the mountain.  The sun came out and the mountain was brilliant with fall colors! 

The whole 6 miles, I kept thinking how much fun the trail was! 

Well, besides the freaking heavy pack and mud, it was perfect!  I carried my own crap except for my gun, even though I was very concerned about my back.  Paul and Brad were way too kind and carried out the horns and meat from my buck.  Paul even had my gun. I am so grateful for their help and also for the harvest of a deer.  What a great hunt! 

This little guy.  He climbs up and lays next to me.  He snuggles in close begging me to undo my bun so he can hold my hair. I lean up and forward and manage undoing the tangles around the elastic and slide out the Bobby pins. He gently gathers my hair with his little hands and tells me I can lay back down.  He tells me how much he loves my cute hair.   He presses against me fiddling with my locks and ever so slowly drifts off to sleep. I can't help but try and memorize every curve of his face, every peaceful breath he takes and those beautifully still eyelashes, all while I smell his warm sunshine aroma.  I love my little guy and am so grateful he's my Jared!

Day-cation!

One of the most funnest trips ever! We love Thermopolis!  And we smelled like sulfur for a week. Loved those hot springs!

Sweet little guy(s)

Saturday morning was beautiful!  I laid on the porch swing while my little Jared rocked it back and forth, constantly checking to make sure he wasn't pushing me too high.  I couldn't help but smile, inside and out, at his sweet kindness.  All of the sudden, he acted like he had the most brilliant idea and blurts out, "I'm going to give you a BIG KISS!" I started to pucker my lips, when he all the sudden started backing up exclaiming that this was going to give me the BIGGEST KISS EVER!  He backed up all the way to the sidewalk and started running full speed right at me, his lips puckered the whole way.  Then he planted the biggest kiss ever right on his mama's lips.
 I love Jared so much and am so grateful for the many perfect moments I get with him everyday! I can never fully and adequately  describe the love I have for my for boys!

Paul runs and gives me hugs multiple times a day.  He smiles kindly and full of love.  It brightens my day! He thanks me all the time for simple things like putting away the dishes and washing his clothes. Paul is my go to for garbage duty and is so willing to just take care of things. . . Like the chickens.  He waters the yard and puts 110% effort in all his school work.  I am so grateful for Paul and love him so very much! He is constantly outpouring his love to me!

I don't know where I would be without this Bryan boy! He loves to snuggle me and hug me and tells me all the time how much he loves me!  He has the biggest smile that melts me and he has a very contagious giggle that fills our home with sunshine.  He is a peace maker who strives to hard to do what he thinks is best.  I love that he is so unique in his attitude and personality. Bryan is forgiving and carefree. His free spirit is admirable! Oh how I love you my Bryan! I love you more than you love me ;)

Then there's my Hyrum.  Oh Hyrum, my right hand man!  He is so very kind to me in every possible way.  Constantly asking what he can do to help me.  Always making chocolate milk for me and his brothers, or serving ice cream. He is caring. Always asking me to rate my day between 1-10 and asking, "How can I make it better?" He is defensive of me. Hyrum has go power!  If he has his mind set on something, he will achieve it.  What an amazing little man he's becoming! I love you more then chocolate Hyrum!

I wonder everyday how in the world I ended up with 4 crazy, rowdy, loving boys that show so much love and respect for me!  My heart feels so connected to theirs. They are everything to me. I love them infinity. 

It really is the most wonderful time of the year!  I love peach season!  I love canning!

My warning to all PokéMOMS

If your home looks something like this:

 Or possibly this:

 Or even this:

I HAVE TO WARN YOU. 

If you show any interest AT ALL, you will be asphyxiated with this:

 And this:

 A WHOLE LOT of this:

 And, for some surreptitious reason, the happiest of smiles and the twinkliest of eyes.

You really must ask yourself, "Am I up for the challenge?"  Trust me, at some point I can't help but endorse the decision to do so.  Proceed with caution.  With the good of the smiles, comes the ugliest of cards

And the strangest of description.