Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Life of a Hunter

So the last post I did about deer camp was pretty long. I will try not to be as long with this one! Umm...lets see...we went to deer camp about 2 weeks before Christmas, it was a short visit, but enough time for all of us to get to sit in a stand together. That was an adventure, alright! Rheanna was pretty good, but Jacob on the other hand would not be quiet for anything! I finally gave up on trying to see something and we walked  around the stand. I found an armadillo and Rheanna shot it 3 times with her BB gun! That was lots of fun for them! Jacob is a chatter box! Even after we got out of the stand he still wouldn't be quiet! He just talks, and talks, and talks! Sometimes he just talks to himself! That crazy boy! Here is some pics from the hunt:

Momma Kimmie about to attack Jacob! LOL!


Rheanna sittin' in the stand
 The next time we went to deer camp was for a long vacation down there.  At my job, we close down for the holidays.  So from Dec. 23 until the beginning of the new year I was off! Yippie! Jonathan had accumulated some much vacation that he took off a week from work as well! So on Monday Jonathan headed down to deer camp (he went ahead of us, because we had a surprise waiting down at deer camp for the kids!) The kids and I left Tuesday night and we would all return back home on Sunday! That's almost an entire week down at deer camp! Needless to say the kids were super duper excited about this! Tuesday night we didn't do too much. JJ and Alek were also down there with Billy so they hung out with them most of the time! Wednesday morning we gave them their surprise from Daddy and me. They loved it!

Their own 4-wheeler!

Jacob on his new 4-wheeler

Daddy showing Jacob how to drive

Rheanna grinning ear to ear about her 4-wheeler
They rode that 4-wheeler all week long!! Jacob did pretty good on it, but does not like driving fast! Rheanna on the other hand had to be told quite a few times to 'stop driving so fast'!! Of course she didn't think she was going fast at all. Rheanna and JJ are stuck like glue when we go down to deer camp, so they rode 4-wheelers all week long! On Wednesday after lunch Aunt Carrie and my cousin Robby and his little girl, August, came down to visit. August had a blast being at deer camp, and I had a nice time visiting with Robby! We also had shooting practice with 22's. This was the first time Rheanna got to shoot a 22 by herself. She did really good!
Daddy teaching Rhea how to shoot

Everyone practicing

Robby and me

Uncle Billy and August
Robby and August
Thursday there wasn't too much excitement going on. All the kids played, the adults kicked backed and relaxed, and played dominoes. We didn't stay up late either, Uncle Billy had to leave early in the morning to take Robby and August back to the airport. (They live in Florida.) But Friday everybody was well rested and ready to go! First Alek and I went to go check all the traps and low-and-behold we caught a squirrel! He was all excited! We got back to camp and he immediately got his gun. He shot and cleaned it up pretty good. He gave all the organs to Mo since he was leaving that day to go to Tivoli and go fishing! Here are some of the many pics I got of them:
Molly was fascinated with the squirrel

Alek and his squirrel in trap

Shooting him down!

Alek's squirrel

The 3 musketeers

Cleaning the squirrel

Cleaning the squirrel
Also on Friday we shoot 22's again. This time since it was just Daddy, Rhea, and me shooting. I helped Jacob shoot a 22. He couldn't see through the scope to well but he did shoot! James and his friend Courtney also came out there Friday night. Courtney brought her daughter and niece. They got there right after Jonathan got down killing his 2nd deer for the season!
Trying to show Jacob how to shoot

Jacob shooting a 22

Practicing

Rheanna practicing by herself

Daddy and Rheanna with the 2nd kill of the season!

Rheanna giving the girls rides on the 4-wheeler
And to top off everything, Saturday we had a wedding down at deer camp. LOL! One of the guys on the lease, Todd, drove down to deer camp with his fiance and they got married on the food plot behind camp! It was on heck of a redneck wedding alright! Lol! Uncle Timmy performed the wedding which was actually quite entertaining considering he didn't have his book with him. He had to try and remember everything. But it was short and sweet and afterwards we ate real quick and everyone headed out to their stands! Overall we had a great week down at deer camp, but I was definitely ready to go home and sleep in my own bed!!
Here is a picture of Todd and Yolanda getting married:
Yolanda and Todd getting married with their granddaughter Syria
Well Until Next time, God Bless!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

It's CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Just as last year we went to Christmas Eve mass, except this year we went to St. Philips instead of Hillje. And boy, was it packed!! We got there at 4:30 and barely squeezed in the back to stand with Uncle Timmy and Aunt Debbie. There were people coming from everywhere! They were even letting people go in the chapel to sit and listen. Once mass was over, we went home and changed then headed to So & Mo's house. We ate some yummy shrimp etouffee, and crack bread. It was delicious! Then it was time for presents!! Santa sure was good to all of us this year! Here are some pics:
Jake and Rhea 2011 Christmas at So & Mo's House

Opening presents

New binoculars!

Puppy hat for Rhea!

Katelynn got her long-sleeve camo shirt


New Camo clothes!

What are y'all up to?

Katelynn & Uncle JC

Uncle Mikey and Patricia

Daddy and Me
We had an awesome Christmas at So & Mo's house. Jake got new binoculars, and a board game. Rhea got a puppy hat and shirt, and board game. I got new Tupperware containers, body wash, and tupperware dip bowl. Jonathan got new camo shirts, light for his hat, and a new camo hunting bag! Jonathan and I also got a 'big' present from So & Mo.........a Cabelas lounge chair!
It sure is comfortable! We set it up as soon as we got home!!! Jonathan almost fell asleep in it that night! After opening all presents we headed home to tuck the kiddos into bed before Santa missed our house! Once the kids were fast asleep we had one last thing to wrap and put under the tree........a TV!! Jonathan has been wanting one for quite some time now. We found a good deal and decided to grab it! Once that big box was wrapped when hopped in bed and fell fast asleep until...................."Santa came, Santa came!! Wake up!!" said the kids. They were so anxious to open up their presents! I started my coffee and Jonathan finally rolled out of bed. And the Christmas paper started flying!

Before they tore into everything!

Jake got some new movies!

New clothes

Rhea got new movies too!

That one happy boy about his new boots!

New Camo Boots for Rhea!!

I SPY games and books for Rhea!

That's one happy camper!

His own clock!
We had a grand Christmas! After opening at our house we went to Grandma Drapelas where the kids got a surprise visit from Santa! Jake and Rhea both got money and a toy. After Grandma Drapelas we headed down to Lake Jackson to visit my Aunt Betty Jo and Uncle Charles and cousins Chuck , Greg & Lavonne and their girls! It was so nice to visit with them, I hadn't seen Chuck, Greg, and Lavonne and the girls in a long time! (They live in Arkansas.) The kids were a little shy at first but by the end they didn't want to leave! Here is a family pic of everyone at Aunt Betty Jo and Uncle Charles house:
From left to right: Chuck, Erin, Greg, Emma, Ellie, Lavonne, Uncle Charles and Aunt Betty Jo
Such a beautiful family!
After all the running around we were pretty tired! We headed home and tried to get some rest before loading up and heading out to deer camp! Jonathan was leaving Monday morning to go to deer camp and the kids were going stay the night with their Mom and Mike. When they arrived Tuesday afternoon we were heading out to deer camp and staying until Sunday! I had lots to do before we left so I hit the sack early.

Well Until Next Time, God Bless

Christmas with Uncle Grant

It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas and here it is again!!! This year we celebrated Christmas at Uncle Grants house 2 weeks before. We really enjoy getting to spend time with him, since he doesn't come down very often. The kids love going to his house, cause as they say "Its so nice in his house...". LOL! All the kids got a Nerf gun from Uncle Grant, which is pretty cool but those disc/darts really do hurt! (I got hit in the butt with one!) Haha!

Rhea, Shawn, Jake, and Aiden

Look at the candy they got in their stockings!

Wow! A Nerf gun!

Rhea trying to get the gun out!

Thanks Uncle Grant!

Love this picture of them two!
We had a great Christmas with Uncle Grant! And Grant also got 3rd place for his Christmas Decor. Here are a few pics of his house.
Picture from the road

Picture from in the yard
We always enjoy getting together with the family!