Random Fall Thoughts

Fall always sparks outdoor thoughts -- including all things hunting. Jason knew it wouldn't be long before Keaton was trying to keep up with the bigs as far as hunting trips and learning how to shoot his own bb gun. Lessons with dad are always my favorite thing to watch from afar. It tests Dad's patience (which is always at treat, because patience is minimal with Dad) but when it involves hunting, he always finds all the patience needed.

Its funny too, how Jason promises Colton and the Wiese boys he'll take them hunting.....then realizes just how much patience it takes to actually achieve that task. Once they are dressed and going though -- it is all good fun!

We snuck away after a Saturday football game in October to celebrate Jason turning 38! It was a fun afternoon evening at Carpenter Creek Winery, then dinner at Michael's in Chalmers.

We dolled Em up for Frontier Football Homecoming and got to cheer on our summer sitter Hallie as she was nominated for homecoming queen.

We kept the Maxwell boys one Sunday while Seth & Jen went to a Colt's game! These two cuties are peas in a pod!

We spent plenty of weekends (by we, I mean, you kids and your dad...) in a blind or tree stand.

Colton was able to shoot a dooe early on in the season, with the crossbow. He was super excited.

Jason swore he wasn't shooting a buck this year, unless it was bigger than the ones already hung on the wall. When he sent a pic that he'd shot a buck, I asked if it was bigger than the ones we had. His response, golden. "Um. No. I kind of got caught up in the moment...." HAHA

The real excitement came Thanksgiving weekend. Jason had taken both Em and Colton hunting on Sunday of the long weekend, one final fling. Naturally, it was an exciting final fling pushing back bedtime and extending the long weekend. But man, was it worth it.

I got this pic early in the evening. Later, I got at text from Jason's phone, it was Emmalyn. And it was cryptic. Something along the lines of "Mom, Colton shot one. The police are here. He's freaking out. He doesn't know where his license is."........................................naturally, I freaked out a bit. When it all panned out -- the situation was this. Colton shot a buck, nearing dark. Since they were shining trying to find it, the Conservation officer pulled up. Though Jason had told Colton to keep his wallet in his pocket, he had left it in the truck. Somewhere between shooting the buck and the Conservation office pulling up Colton was able to frantically find his wallet in the truck, and slip it into his pocket before the CO asked a bunch of questions. The CO asked who shot the doe, and Jason was proud to report that Colton calmly said he did. When the CO asked if he had a license, Colton responded that he had a youth license. The CO responded with "Congratulations young man, that's a nice buck" and I think Jason and Colton collectively sighed a huge sigh of relief. They proceeded to load him up and bring him home, and I'm fairly certain Colton didn't stop grinning all night. The best part, this buck was bigger than Dad's, so hello bragging rights!

A few weeks later, we were able to take Colton's buck down to Joe Smith to be mounted. Em's friend Addi rode along with us for this adventure and was amazed to see all the taxidermy Joe had done in his career. We were all in awe.