Memorial/Birthday Weekend!

My Birthday has always been easy to remember. If you can remember Memorial Day/Weekend, you will never miss my Birthday! We weren't to sure about what we wanted to do this year for my weekend. We really wanted to got to Matagorda, but then again we wanted to go to Deer camp. Decisions, Decisions! Finally we decided we should go to Deer camp. There was lots more for us to do there than at the beach. Plus my Mom and Dad were coming with us to celebrate! We knew we would have a fun-filled weekend, But boy was I in for a treat or what!!!

James had his boys this weekend as well, so they came with us! My parents kept the kids Friday night and were suppose to meet us down at Deer camp on Saturday. (This was our one day to ourselves for my birthday, so that Jonathan could take me out to dinner.) Saturday morning we woke up and got everything ready to go to Deer camp. After lunch we headed down there. Saturday was my actual Birthday and Mom and Dad usually cook for me on this day. Its my Birthday present from them, which is always AMAZING!!! Finally my parents and the kiddos get to deer camp. (James and his boys had followed us out there.) We set up at the pond. Dad made some Steaks, fresh sweet corn, and red potatoes. YUMMY!! The kids played and played in the pond til dark! They love to swim! Me and Jonathan relaxed and fished a little bit. I was pretty pooped after eating such a good meal, that I called it a night!!



Watching the kiddos play in the pond!



Venturing around the pond!



Rhea and Camo man Aiden



Jonathan aren't you suppose to take the boat in the water???? LOL!

 Sunday we woke up and all went to Mass in Inez. Afterwards we rounded up and headed over to our other deer camp in Tivoli. The deer camp in Tivoli is not as nice as Inez. In Tivoli there is no running water, or electricity. We have an old camper and generator set up out there though. We mainly stay in Inez and go to Tivoli during the day to fish. We are right on the river. The fishing is usually pretty good, and so is the hunting.
We got to Tivoli a little after lunch. We ate and then headed to find a good fishing spot. Before heading out though, SoSo had a talk with the kids. She said, "This is not like Inez, there are lots of wild animals, especially in the river, like alligators, and snakes. Even though SoSo loves y'all if you fall in, I am not going in after you, we'll just say I love you and Good-bye!" I think the kids got the hint! LOL! When we got to our first location, we spotted an alligator! The kids all grabbed their BB guns and started to shoot it! I told them that was enough, if they made it mad it would come after them! We went ahead and fish this spot for a while anyways. The alligator was on the other side of the bank and was constantly watching us. Every once in a while when we started to reel up our fishing poles the alligator would come closer to us. Finally James got the gun out and shot the alligator when it came too close to us. Jacob being the silly boy he is, said " Whew! That was a close one! If someone would have fell in, we would have waved and said Good-bye to them. Right Kimmie?!" As I started laughing at him I agreed. We then moved to another fishing spot.

This next fishing spot we stop at was a GREAT location! We saw lots of fish splashing and a few Gar. James had all his Gar fishing equipment out and was determined to catch one. I was really hoping that he would to! I had never EVER seen a Gar, besides pictures or magazines. Little did I know that God was sending me my Birthday present that day. James, SoSo, and I set up on one side and Jonathan walked down a little ways with my Dad and the kids. I threw my pole in and several times something tugged and got away with my bait. Me being a Daddy's girl, he had to come check on me. He baited my hook with some extra meat and fish and went back to the kids. Just before throwing my line in the kids came running with a skeleton of a Gar. They just had to show me their latest adventure find! I threw my line in the water, same spot, and within 3 minutes something just took off with it. I jerked back really hard, to make sure I set the hook. I am jerking and pulling and reeling my butt off! James comes over there and keeps telling me "You got a Gar, that has got to be a Gar." I just kept thinking to myself, " Whatever James, I just got a really big Catfish!" After fighting with the fish, it is slowly making itself to the bank. Once it comes close enough it floats a top and I catch a glimpse of it. I start screaming with excitement! My adrenaline is pumping, my heart is pumping 90 to nothing. James runs to the truck to get the gun. Jonathan, my Dad and the kids heard me screaming and came running! James got the gun and Jonathan got the gaft. (Where we were fishing off of was a 10 ft. drop off) I had to try and bring the Gar up as best as a could for them to get a shot on it. James shot it a few times and it finally gave up. We then brought it up with the gaft. I couldnt' believe how BIG it was! All the kids were in AWE! I also couldn't believe I caught it on my Zebco pole with a 20lb. test! This is what I reeled in:


5 ft. Alligator Gar, 54lbs.



Jacob wasn't too sure about it, but the other kids were amazed!



My first Alligator Gar! 5 ft. 54lbs.

After all that excitement, we fished a little longer. Only til I caught my next big catch! A 12lb Catfish! Jonathan said, "I'm glad your Birthday only comes once a year!"



After all, It was one of the greatest Birthdays I have ever had. I caught some darn good fish, and was surrounded by family who love me!

Chaser's Birthday Party!

This year Chase had his Birthday at their house. They had a moon-walk set up, along with many water activities outside. The kids had a blast! Rhea and Jake had made Chase's present. (They found some long pieces of wood and painted them and then put Chases name on it.) The kids were so happy and proud of their work! I didn't want to make them feel bad by going to buy him a 'real' present. That would have just broke their heart. So instead we filled up a cooler full of water balloons to surprise Chase with. This was pretty awesome to them, plus they got to fill up the balloons and place them in cooler. Not to mention it was during the heat of the day when I decided to do this! Great idea!.... NOT!  I have never had much luck filling up balloons or blowing them up. They scare the crap out of me! But I'm proud to say I only popped 6 of them!!! LOL! Anyways, they were lots of laughs, and smiles that day.  I think Chaser had a great Birthday!



Chillin' on the bounce house!



Present Time!



OH Yea! New Game!



YES!! The Scooter I have been wanting!!



Clothes and a New Scooter! Awesome!



Uh!! Where's the Scooter!



OH YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

One more card! Its from Uncle Jonny and Aunt Kimmie it reads: Since your a big boy, we just got you a card! JK! Your surprise is waiting outside!!!!



YAY!! WATER BALLOONS!



Jacob got Rhea right on the side of the head!



Get the Birthday Boy!



Now its HIS Turn!



Kicking the water balloons!



Uncle Jonny getting Braden all wet with the rest of the water!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASER!



Rheanna's First Communion

Rheanna had a big year when it comes to religion. She had a lot to catch up, since she had never been before. Luckily for me, she absolutely loved it! We first started the CCE program in September. In 2nd grade is when they receive their first Communion. But since she had not gone last year when she was in 1st grade she missed a step, First Reconciliation. This was not a problem though. There were many kids her age and older, that needed to complete this step as well. So starting in January every Wednesday she would go to her catch up class at 5:30 and then at 6:30 go to her regular CCE class til 7:45. Whew! That is a lot for a little/big one her age. But she did it, without complaining. She really enjoys learning more about her faith. Which is a great thing for me! Anyhow on May 15th at a special Noon Mass, surrounded by many loved ones she received her First Communion. She looked absolutely stunning! Afterwards we went to So & Mo's house, where we had a fabulous lunch that Mo had BBQ'd. He always does an EXCELLENT job! We had many special guest join us as well, Grandma Drapela, Granny(Mary Ann), Uncle James, Shawn, and Aiden. Dawn and Braden. My Aunt Ruth and Uncle Butch. and of course us! Here are a few pics!



Rheanna entering the Church

Rheannas huge First Communion group



Beautiful Angel!

Daddy's Lil Angel!

Catching up on May..

I have been needing to do some serious catch up on blogging. Since I haven't been on since April, we will start off with May.

May was a crazy whirlwind. We had so many activities going for the kids. One word says it all FAIR time! First off Rheanna was in the Wharton County Little Mr. & Mrs. Pageant. She did amazing! She did not place but I was so proud of her for standing on stage, speaking loud and clear, and looking absolutely beautiful! Here are a few pics!

Rheanna before the Little Ms. Pageant

Rheanna on stage, saying her name, where she was from, and how old she is!

After the Pageant we went to the petting zoo.

She loves animals!

I love this picture of her.

Next at the Fair was the Bucket Calf show! The kids had gotten a baby calf earlier in the year and kept it at SoSo house. Every day or other day (lol) we went out there to bottle feed and walk to calves. Rheanna's calf name was Mator. Jacob named his Buster. Both of them did really great with their calves. I was one proud Momma! Neither one of them were scared, and they were one of the few that could actually handle their calves. Hard work pays off!

Waiting for their class to be called.

 Jacob getting ready to enter the ring!

Jacob in the ring, walking his calf all by himself. What a big boy!

Jacob answering questions from the judge.

 Its Rheanna's turn. Just entering the ring!

Rhea answering the judges questions!

 Good job Rheanna!

 The Eide family all did a Great job at the Fair this year! See ya next year!

*Easter Weekend*

Well we had an AWESOME Easter Weekend! Friday both Jonathan and I got off of work early. We went by his Moms and raked up her leaves for her. Talk about leaves galore!!! I didn't think we would ever get all the leaves. Afterwards we went to the pond, and swam. Dawn and her kiddos came out there as well! Once it started getting later we all headed to Uncle Billy and Aunt Carrie's Crawfish Boil. There were LOTS of yummy crawfish and drinks to go around! Everyone had a blast! Rheanna went home with Dawn and Jacob was fast asleep with all the commotion still going on at 9:00.

Saturday Jonathan, Jacob and I loaded up the car and headed down to Hollywood Bottom. (Dawn and all the other kiddos were coming down there later.) Jacob has been on a 'visiting' spree here lately. Everyday he will ask "Kimmie I want to go visit somebody!" Me: " Well, who are you going to visit?" Jacob: "I dont' know, lets just start walking and find somebody..." LOL! That boy just cracks me up! So before we left to go to Hollywood Bottom we just HAD to stop by and visit Aribel. Jacob just had to know how she has been doing since he "missed Aribel so much!" (Aribel is Courtney and Josh's daughter, they are neighbors down the road from us.) We stopped by there but Aribel wasn't home! Oh well, like Jacob said, "We live right down the road, we can always come back!" So we headed to the river. Once we got there the water was clear as can be and the sand felt good between our toes. It was great! We set up around the bend of the river, where me and Jake went exploring. We found a trail that went up into the woods, and then lead us to the front of the park grounds! It was so neat we called it our 'short cut'.



Jacob on the short cut we found!

Jacob going down the steep way to get to the river!
Don't fall!!

"Come on Kimmie!!!"

We made it down safely!!

Then everyone else showed up!!

Me and Jake building a sand castle and decorating the outside with shells!

Cheese!!

The next morning we got up and went to 9:00 Easter Mass. The church was just beautiful! Flowers adorned the altar and lector stands and just everywhere! After church the kids checked their Easter baskets at home. Jacob was thrilled to see gummi bears in his basket, and Rheanna got 3 chocolate Easter bunnies! Then we headed to Grandma Drapelas house!! Where there is always an adventure just waiting to happen with ALL my crazy family! We had lots of fun and Rhea was so happy to see Cassidy and Patty! We ate lots of yummy food and then it was off to the front yard for the Easter Egg Hunt!!

Here is the group that Jake and Rheanna were in! We have such a big family there has to be 3 group of kids for the Easter Egg Hunt!

                              And they're off!! Go Rhea! Go Jake!!

They got lots and lots of eggs!! (At our Easter we only put candy in a few eggs the rest our filled with notes, like 'go see Grandma Drapela, or see Aunt Linda for a prize!) Its different but so much more fun! Who needs all that candy anyway!

Jacob and Daddy reading the note together!

This is why I only give them 1 thing in their Easter basket. Look how full their Easter baskets are now!! At least they are good outside toys, not those cheap ones!!  LOL!

Our family Easter pic! (Notice only me and Jake are wearing sunglasses! LOL!)

I have a short story to tell before any more pictures!! We bought Jacob some sunglasses cause he kept wanting to wear Daddy's sunglasses. I think it was the best $7 investment EVER!! He loves his sunglasses and even wanted to wear them to bed! Silly boy! Anyhow, we were at my Grandma Drapelas talking to one of my cousins, Michelle. She asked Jacob "Jacob can I borrow your sunglasses I left mine in the house?" Jacob: Looking at her crazy. Michelle: "Jacob, its really bright out here in the sun!" Jacob: "Well, go stand in the shade then!!!"    This was one of those Jacob moments.....priceless!!! LOL!



Oh yes! Yes we did have a pinata!! LOL!



After Grandmas Drapelas we headed over to the kids Great Grandma "Nana's" house! They were so excited that we showed up! I didn't think we were going to be able to make it at first, so when I knew we were going to have enough time, we just showed up and surprised them!!

                                           Almost everyone that was at Nana's house!

                                           The kids also hunted Easter eggs at Nana's house too!

                                                             Rheanna with all her eggs!

         Jacob wasn't to sure about the eggs from Nana's house. All her eggs were real, hard-boiled and dyed eggs! I peeled one for him, he ate a few bites and then told me I could have the rest! LOL!

Overall we had a GREAT weekend!! Now its time we get ready for the Fair! I am so excited!!

Until next time......God Bless!