Sailing in the Ditch

We got about 4 inches of rain on Sunday. I was perfectly content to enjoy the rain from my spot on the couch, when Kinsey came in the living room and announced she was bored. Truthfully, Chad was, too. He suggested playing in the rain which turned into him building her a canoe and floating it in the ditch beside the house. Trace spent the weekend with Mimi and arrived after the rain had stopped. So he's only in a few of the shots.

a .410 and some new bulls

We spent a very cold New Year's Eve at the camphouse this year. Trace shot a .410 for the first time and did great! He was expecting it to kick like a .22 so I thought there would be a problem after his first shot, but he took it like a champ! This picture is of him shooting a bb gun...I need to find the other one.

Grandmother has some young, new bulls that get the good food. Kinsey loves to help feed anything that's temporarily in the pens. She even touched one!

All Aboard the Polar Express

We all took a trip to the North Pole last night on the Polar Express. There is a steam train nearby that does a fantastic job of setting the scene and making the kids feel like they are right there in the story. The kids were very, very excited, but somehow, Kinsey slept most of the hour and a half drive to the train.

Here are two very excited kids waiting to climb aboard!

My requirements for this picture were simple, both with normal smiles and both looking at me. It took four shots to get this one.

I don't know why they are leaning back like this, but it looks like the train was going REALLY fast!

Enjoying a little hot chocolate on our way to the North Pole.

"I'm going to see the North Pole first!"

A very serious discussion about coffee and hot chocolate. Chad was trying to convince her it was coffee. She was very determined he believe that it was, in fact, hot chocolate!

The Boomer Sausages

Kinsey got some new boots a few days ago and wears them constantly. Today she didn't wear them to school, but put them on after we got home. I asked what was up with the leotard and she responded, like I should have already known the answer, "It makes a good dress for when I'm in my band. Our band is the Boomer Sausages."

I have no idea.

Oh, Christmas Tree

We finally got our Christmas tree yesterday. Normally, I want the biggest, fattest tree we can find. But this year, the baby and I are just not feeling up to decorating a monstrosity. So we settled for this seven-footer. I wrapped the lights and let the kids do the rest.

And they only fought once.

And only broke two ornaments.

Before they started decorating, they argued over who would place the star on top...well...we don't actually have a star. I don't remember what we usually put up there. Since that argument happened before the decorating, I didn't count it.

Yes, I see the holes with no lights.

And the holes with no ornaments.

And all the red ornaments all clumped together.

And I'm leaving them all just like they are.

I guess that's the 'gift' this baby is giving me this year for Christmas...the ability to let go of all my 'want-it-just-how-I-want-it-ness'.

A Big Fat Buck

Trace is 8 years old this hunting season. Chad's been waiting for a few years for him to be ready to hunt, and this was the year. Trace declared he was ready, so opening weekend of youth season, right after Trace's last soccer game of the season, the guys headed to the camphouse.

Here he is ready and waiting!


He was so proud! Well, so were we. Chad took some video of Trace talking about his kill. It is precious. He talks about getting this 'big, fat buck'. He even thanked his dad for taking him hunting! Just like a clip from Realtree Outdoors.

Ugh...the obligatory wearing of the blood. Looks tough, doesn't he?

He can't wait to go back and get another one!

Naptime

So, today I got in a nap while the kids watched cartoons. Kinsey came in to tell me how long I had been sleeping and to say that if I slept through one more show that it would be the longest nap I had ever taken in my whole life. But that I should keep sleeping because tomorrow is a big day.

We have no plans for tomorrow.

And one of these days I am certain she will understand the greatness of an uninterrupted nap.