Over the River and Through the Woods....to Memaw's House

Aunt Lisa, her kids, Collin and I went to Memaw's close to two days.  We arrived first and Collin was bored within an hour.  Samantha was there but he had not warmed up to her yet and forgot that he does really get along with her once he remembers that she likes to do the things he does.  Collin kept asking when he other cousins where going to arrive.  They did and the fun began!  Activities included:

• Searching and collecting rocks to break open and discover the colors and texture inside
• Shooting rifles off the back porch.  Samantha has her own custom made .22 Ruger (pink) with a scope.  Collin shot it and wanted to have a scope like hers. 
• Playing on the swing set in the front yard
• Dancing in the living room that night
• Setting up and sleeping in the tent.  Timmy, Leah, Collin and I slept in the front yard in the tent.
• ...and just having fun playing with 1st cousins

Love this picture of the kids searching for rocks to crack

Collin taking a "crack" at cracking the rocks

Love the colors inside these rocks

This is Collin's and my favorite of the rocks we found

Shooting off Memaw's back porch

Shooting Samantha's gun

Feeling really comfortable now shooting Sam's gun

Homemade targets are great.  Collin wants these in our backyard.

Sleeping outside in the tent was an small adventure.  The noises in the woods are much more intense than in a camping area.  There was an owl that hooted for at least 2 hours after we got into the tent.  The kids were OK with this after I explained this noise.  There was also a barking dog which they did not ask about.  I heard a cow in the distance....and then the coyotes started to howl.  By this time, the kids were asleep....but not this scaredy cat momma.  I listened to the pack move around in the woods. Fortunately, the pack did not get closer to the tent....or I would have really freaked out!  I did eventually go to sleep but did not sleep well.

Our tent - sleeps 6 adults so it should be comfortable with 3 squirmy kids

The boys are playing a game before going to sleep.  Leah is just happy to be with us.

Ahhh....peace before the kids wake up

Before we left the next morning, I got a few really good pictures of the kids standing on a tree stump individually and then sitting with Memaw.  When it came time to leave, Collin was really sad and even started to cry.  I explained that I feel that way too.  It's always really hard to leave her house.  We have so much fun and it's hard to stop.

Memaw is getting older but still doing really well for 88 years old.  I am glad I got to see her and that Collin got to spend some time with her.  She will be gone one day but Collin and I will have great memories of her and spending time at her house and on the land.  

Shooting Practice

The day after Christmas, we went to the local shooting range to Collin could shoot his new gun.  He was excited about doing it the entire ride there and even when we were standing in line to pay the entrance fee.  Not until we walked along the range to find an open spot did he get spooked and wanted to leave....NOW!  I calmed him down and sat with him while holding his hand to understand what was scaring him.  We watched the guy in front of us shoot his gun and what he did after he shot all of the bullets in the magazine.  Collin had several questions about what the guy was doing, how it was safe and wanted to see the guy that worked there walk up and down the range to make sure that everyone was following the safety guidelines.  He felt better and at least did not want to leave.

Dad showing Collin hot to use the sights on the rifle

Dad showed Collin how to load the bullets into the magazine and then what to do next.  Dad then shoot the rifle while Collin stood close to him so he would get more comfortable with the gun.....which he did eventually calm down to sit and shoot....and then he did not want to leave.  He especially liked to see through the binoculars or walk to the target to see how he did.  Within his 4th shoot, he hit the bull's eye of the target.  Great shot, Collin!  He had so much fun that he asked when we could go again.  In the car, he made plans to remind us about going to the shooting range again soon.

Collin waiting to shoot...and starting to feel comfortable enough to shoot the rifle

Finally shooting the rifle on his own

All by himself and doing great

The view through the binoculars

Collin's target....awesome first time

I love my family!

Merry Christmas 2016!

We had a great Christmas this year.  Instead of wearing ourselves out by hosting our annual Ugly Sweater party and toy drive/gingerbread house parties, we spent time with family or friends on the weekends. We did decorate the house but scaled back on the front yard and I really scaled-back inside. Both look very nice and festive and where still more decorated than a lot of people get to do.

I also didn't have Christmas PJs for Collin and I like I usually do.  I did miss that part though so I'll have to try to remember to do that every year. Even Collin was laid back because he forgot to lay out the reindeer food and Santa cookies Christmas Eve. That night,he went to bed around 10:30pm and then woke about an hour or so later. I thought he was going to keep doing that but he did eventually fall asleep.  He slept until about 5:30 when I heard him get up to go to the bathroom. I got up and stood near my bedroom door to make sure that he did not peek in the living room. He didn't but he did notice that Santa left a few small present under his personal Christmas tree. He was so excited that he had to tell me about it and then went back to sleep. 

I woke up early to make our annual monkey bread for breakfast. Collin and dad woke up around 7:30am. The first thing Collin noticed were the golf clubs sitting in front of the Christmas tree. He was really excited to see these!  He commented on the blue and orange colors and then he went to the stockings and emptied it out. Some of his favorite items in there or the H baseball cap, an "I Love Dogs" plaque, much needed several tubes of Chapstick and small board games that he requested from Santa. After we all looked through our stockings, Collin went to the tree and started separating out the presents organizing each of them into a pile for us. He does this every year and really enjoys it. He opened a present first, then dad and then I did. We took turns like this until all of the presents were open.  We love this because we can watch each person open the present and listen to feedback or other comments about the gift.  Collin got the following:

• Long sleeve athletic T-shirts
• Long sleeve fleece hoodie
• .22 Ruger rifle and case
• Really soft fuzzy blanket and matching pillow cases
• Lights for his bike tubes
• Garmin Vivofit watch ️ 
• .....and about 60 mechanical pencils including some that Mimi brought that used to be Dustin's when he was younger

I got a Google Home, a nice work shirt and a set of earrings, necklace and bracelets, a toaster (ours was broken), kitchen hand towels and some kitchen tools. Dad got tickets to the UFC fight in February, Tom's house shoes, Tile so he can track Collin in the neighborhood and underwear. Who doesn't love getting underwear for Christmas!  

Stockings hung on the stairs (no fireplace to hang them on)

Looks like Collin was a good boy this year.  He is going to love these golf clubs!

He is not awake yet but he is excited to use the golf clubs

Checking out the goodies in his stocking

Look what I got.  Perfect for some fun!

Thanks for the nice shirt

Dad's turn.  What's in the box?

Collin loves his new hoodie

Collin is excited about opening this box

He LOVES his new soft blanket and matching pillow cases

Google Home....for the family to use

I can see Collin and I competing on how many steps each of us get daily.  It already started Christmas day.

I wonder what is in this box.  Hmmmmmm......it's a....

.....new .22 gauge rifle!

After we opened our presents, we went to our neighbors to have breakfast. I brought the monkey bread and they made pancakes, bacon and eggs. We stayed for about an hour before I had to leave to go start cooking Christmas lunch. I was in charge of the turkey. Aunt Lisa brought over the sides and Mimi brought over desserts. 

Collin and Dad played or researched how to use the Christmas presents we opened while I was cooked. Mimi and Pappy came over at about 11am and the rest of the family came over around 12:30 for our 1pm lunch. After eating lunch and resting a little, the kids open more presents. Collin got a massive whoopie cushion and a bow and arrow set. 

It was too nice outside, so we told the kids to play outside with her toys. I looked outside 5 minutes later and saw that Collin was in the backyard with his golf clubs. He was showing his cousins how to putt. And he was so cute showing to me and Leah have a stand and hold the clubs. I got some really, really cute pictures of them. 

I know that the family stayed until about 9pm. We watch movies, played games and visited. Timmy and Leah decided they wanted to spend the night and so they did. After baths for everyone, they watch 30 minutes of the movie before I took them all into bed in Collin's room. The boys slept on the floor and Leah slept in Collin's bed. Timmy had a hard time going to sleep but eventually did. 

The next morning, went to have donuts. Then the kids played around the house before they packed up and Aunt Lisa picked them up.  Now, that's what Christmas is about...really enjoying the time with family.