JP's Buck

As I think I've mentioned before, this was JP's first season of deer hunting. The first time he went out was for an early "antler-less" season. Before the girls and I were even done eating breakfast, I got a text from him saying, (and I quote): "I just got one! This is amazing. I am still shaking all over."

And from that moment on, he was hooked. :)

He & his friend ended up seeing 6 deer that day. It was very exciting. But every single proceeding hunting trip he took, he saw little or nothing the whole time.

Finally, it was the last day of the last weekend, and out of the blue they started seeing deer all over. JP shot his first buck that day, a 10-pointer, and his friend James shot one large doe and two button bucks (yearlings).

Then we had the great pleasure of butchering them all in JP's workshop. Well, not we. The guys did it. But I brought the girls out to see it. I don't want them to be as grossed out by it all as I am. Yuck.

I have a list of venison recipes on hand to try out. If you have a good one, send it my way! :)

Don's Last Night

I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop, watching Don Shelby's final newscast on WCCO 4 News at 10. It's bittersweet. I'm happy for him as he heads into retirement. He's a grandpa now, and is still full of life, energy and adventure. I'm glad that he gets to move into this phase of his life.

But I feel the very real sadness that must be upon the newsroom tonight. I was a part of that newsroom for about four years, a very tiny fraction of his very long, very successful career.

I remember the first time I ever sat in the newsroom as an intern. Don came strolling into the room that night playing a mournful song on an Irish flute. It was very strange, and I remember thinking, What kind of guy is this he? Is he some new age, ex-hippy tree worshiper? He did that the next two or three nights, as well.

Turns out it was just a fad. I'd quickly learn he goes through a lot of fads, quirky things that he thinks are interesting and tries out for a little while.

I eventually got hired as a production assistant, and then a writer for the 10 pm show and got to sit right next to him. As I got to know him, I realized he is just as much of a great man in real life as he seems on TV. He is genuinely a very kind, funny, enthusiastic, hard-working man, and it always blessed me that he would take time out to talk to me and show a genuine interest in my life and career.

I remember very vividly when I told him I was leaving my producer job to be a stay-at-home mom. He looked me square in the eye and said he was proud of that decision and gave me a hug. Family, to him, was always the most important thing in his life, and I'm so happy he gets to be with his more now.

Don made a big difference in the newsroom. He has been passionate about what he does and has literally changed lives. I'm not saying I agree with everything he is and stands for, but I respect him for doing what he's done and will miss his face on the air from my spot here on the couch.

Best of life, love & family to you, Don. I know your presence will be very dearly missed.

2 Years & 2 Months

Ruby and Rosie both had checkups this week, Ruby for her 2-year well child and Rosie for her 2-month.

Ruby, bless her heart, seems to be taking after her mommy. She was 34" tall, which is only 41%, and a whopping 31 pounds, which is 88%! Short and solid. Like her mama. :)


My goodness is she sweet -- and funny, too. Her quote of the week was as she pointed to her nipples: "Look, Mom! Two buttons!"

Rosie continues to grow and grow, and she's becoming more and more smiley and interactive every day. She bats at dangling toys with her hands and is proving herself ambidextrous when it comes to thumb sucking.


Rosie is tipping the scales at 13.3 pounds (94%!!!), and she was 23 1/2" tall (85%).


We are on weekend #4 of JP being gone hunting. In my heart I'm so happy that he's found a hobby he loves, keeps him active, and gives him a chance for camaraderie with his guy friends. Buuuuuuut, let's be real. In reality, I'm tired of spending weekends alone with the kids and dogs, and selfishly look forward to the end of deer season. Bird season isn't so bad. I feel like I went from nothing to full-tilt-boogie hunter's wife in one year. Oh wait -- I DID! :)

In the meantime, we're keeping busy. Tonight the girls and I are having a sleepover in Mommy's room, and tomorrow we have errands to run and friends coming over to stay the night. Then on Saturday, Rae is having a sleepover with Ava, and I guess Ruby, Rosie and I will kick it at home one more night before Daddy returns.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with this blog more often. I do a lot of communicating on facebook, and I know some of you are not on there to keep up-to-date. I've been spending a lot of my free time editing photos. I did a family shoot for my friend Crystal and took head shots for a "ladies night" at my Dad's church. All the gals came together and did each others hair & makeup (other's? others'? Help me Jon or Deb!), then I took glamor shots...lol! Maybe I'll post some when I'm done editing them all...maybe.

Pictures, Stories and Quotes

Today at the park, a local photographer asked if he could take pictures of the girls playing on the warm, November day. I told him of course. Moments later he says, "I think one of them is eating dirt." I replied, "Yep, that's pretty normal."


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Ruby: "What's this?" (pointing)
Me: "That's my belly."
Ruby: (laughing) "Your belly so BIG!"

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Rae: "Mom, I need your help. I have three stuffs, but only two hands. And I was gonna have Ruby help me, but she stole my grape."

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Rae: "Mom, can you fill up my ukulele?"
Me: "Your what?"
Rae: "My ukulele. That's what I call my cup, because when I drink chocolate milk it kind of sounds like a ukulele."

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Ruby

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JP & Rae built a tree stand in our back yard. The other night, JP crept quietly into the woods and saw 6 deer in there. Yesterday, Rae sat out with him in the stand for the first time.


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And finally, thumb sucker #3 -- Rosie! She's smiling and cooing all the time now. I'm absolutely smitten with her.

Sarah & Nixon

Last weekend, JP's cousin got married to a wonderful man named Nixon. Nixon has been a part of the family for a long time now, but it was fun to finally make it official and celebrate the day.

You can imagine my surprise when Sarah approached me about taking pictures for their wedding. I had never done anything like that before, and I was pretty nervous. But I'm so glad I said yes, because it was so much fun and such a learning experience!

Another friend of the family, who is a real photographer, approached me when she heard I was doing the wedding and offered to help in any way she could. It was such a relief to have Jacki help out that day, shooting from different angles, watching for details, letting me borrow equipment, and offering tips as I shot (Visit Jacki V. Photgraphy here).

I am slowly working my way through editing all of the photos (I whittled it down from over 1300 to around 750), and here are a few of my favorites so far. Congrats Sarah & Nixon!

Tic, Tac, Toe!

Three in a row, together for the first time!

(Left to right: Chloe, Jeremiah, & Rosie)

Missy & baby Jeremiah were in town from North Carolina for a very quick two days this past weekend. It was so wonderful to see Missy and to meet my sweet nephew for the first time! He is a smiley, happy baby with such big, blue eyes. It was hard to let go and see them leave again so quickly. We are thankful for every minute we get with them.

Camping at Interstate Park

Alternately titled: MY COMPUTER IS FINALLY FIXED! :) Well, not completely fixed, but functioning. We have a new keyboard coming in and once it is replaced, then we'll be back in business.

So here is the long awaited camping post that I started drafting what seems to be a very long time ago!

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Two weekends ago we did what most people are telling us we were crazy to even attempt. We went camping with two toddlers, a 3-week-old newborn and three dogs. Plus some great friends.

We camped at the group site at Interstate Park near Taylor's Falls. We were actually on the Wisconsin side as there is an Interstate Park in both MN and WI. The weather was unseasonably warm -- almost too warm for a fall camping trip during the day, but perfect at night.

Our friends, Jamie & Deanna came with their 4-year-old son, Jack. The kids were in heaven. There were rocks to climb and adventures to be had everywhere they turned. Rosie, for the most part, just snuggled with me in the K'Tan or slept in her car seat.

We arrived on Friday and set up camp, cooked some hot dogs over the fire and explored the site until the sun set. After the kids went to bed, we had a very fun time sitting up around the fire with Jamie & Deanna, just talking and relaxing. My big mistake was that I stayed up WAY too late around the fire for a mother with a 3-week-old newborn.

That night I didn't get ANY sleep at all. By the time I went to bed, I had to get up again with the baby to feed her. Her nose was stuffed up and she was having a hard time eating and sleeping, which kept me awake. Ruby woke up twice that night as well, and it all combined to be a very restless, red-eyed night. I honestly don't think I got more than 45 straight minutes of sleep at once that night.

Saturday was a beautiful day and we had so many fun things to do. We went on a hike to the spot where JP proposed to me six years ago, threw rocks in the river, hiked some more, etc.

By lunch time, I was exhausted, and by dinner time, I was C.R.A.B.B.Y.

I had ZERO tolerance, ZERO patience, and ZERO ability to stop myself from pulling out my hair. Every time I turned around, the girls or dogs were getting into something, getting on my nerves, and wearing on my patience.

The last thing we were doing for the day was to go for one more hike before the kids' bedtimes. I sat Ruby down on the potty chair and told her to go. We sat there for at least 10 minutes, but she didn't go. So we left for our walk, and as soon as we got just far enough away from the site that it was too inconvenient to go back...you guessed it. "Mom, I need go potty."

I almost screamed and told JP he had to deal with it or I was going to lose it. He tried to get Ruby to pee in the grass, but she wouldn't do it. Finally we told her to hold it and we continued on our hike. Then Rae started complaining that her legs were tired. Then it started raining on us, and me with the baby and my camera.

The walk back was wet and too long for me; it was all I could do not to burst into tired tears and fall asleep right where I was standing. JP had the patience of an angel, alternating Rae & Ruby on his shoulders and keeping the mood light.

We finally made it back around 7:45 pm and I went straight to the tent, put Ruby to bed, nursed the baby, and went to bed myself at around 8:15 pm. No sitting around the campfire for me that night.

That night we all slept much, much better, and I woke up refreshed. Sunday was another beautiful day, if not a little soggy. My brother & his girlfriend had arrived the previous night after I had already gone to bed, so we got to spend a little time with them, too. After we broke down camp we went for one more hike along the river before heading home.

With the exception of my bad attitude on Saturday night, it really was a wonderful trip. I think Taylors Falls may be our new favorite "close by" campground. It took us less than an hour to get there, and the scenery was wonderful.

Here are some pictures!

JP & Jamie -- friends since grade school
Climbing the "mountain"
Ruby-Doo
Rae Rae
The Henry Family (Minus their youngest, Dylan, who didn't come on the trip)
JP & Gideon -- love it
On a hike up to the spot where JP proposed to me

Our whole family at the spot where JP proposed
The ride home

Camping

I just wanted to let you all know that I am TRYING to post pictures and stories from our camping trip, but my computer is freaking out (I'm typing this on JP's computer). I don't know what's wrong with it, but it keeps on deleting things and skipping all over the page when I try to type.

I could write the post from here, but all of my pictures are on my computer and I can't get it to work well enough to email the pictures to myself. Gah!

So please bear with me. Hopefully I'll be able to post soon.

Johnye Rose -- One month

I cannot believe that Rosie is already one month old! I can't believe I thought my heart was already full before she was here.


Like the other two girls, she is an excellent baby. She eats and sleeps well, stretching about six to six and a half hours of sleep at night. She has a fussy time in the evening, usually right around dinner time, but the rest of the day she is sweet and quiet. She is staying awake for longer periods of time now, up to about an hour or sometimes more!

She now makes very good eye contact and can follow an object or face that moves slowly in front of her. She teases us with little half-smiles and sleepy smiles, but I can't say I've gotten a true, responsive, full smile out of her yet! Sometimes she coos, and she's graduated from the tiny, squeaky newborn cry to a full-blown, piercing wail when she's not happy. She spits up a lot and goes through diapers like they grow on trees, but hey -- she's worth it all.

We love you, Johnye Rose!

***A quick note about the photo -- she was strapped to my chest in the baby K'tan when I took it. I just held the camera out in front of me and blindly snapped a shot. I couldn't believe the outcome! She's even sort of smiling!

Welcome to...

This was a very fun fall project to do with the girls! Every part of it was interactive and fun, from collecting to decorating. I LOVE the way it turned out!

Hunting Season

JP is full-tilt boogie into hunting season this year, with his new best bud Gideon in tow. Apparently Gideon is doing great and learning quickly. They go out every chance they get. We've already had grouse for dinner, plus pheasant fajitas and pheasant stir fry. The grouse was just like chicken to me, but the pheasant is a bit darker, a little greasier, and has a fibrous texture to it that I don't care for as much. Oh well. It makes JP proud to eat it, so I'll cook it up!

JP also found out that with bird hunting, there is no age minimum for who you can bring with you. So he invited Rae to go with him! She's gone twice now, and she L-O-V-E-S it. They haven't even seen any birds together yet, but they heard a couple of grouse flush and she was so excited about it! Plus, she's pretty darn cute in her blaze orange!

More of Johnye Rose

Ruby is 2!

Today we celebrated Ruby's 2nd birthday, and what a joy she is to our lives! She is the perfect combination of sugar and spice, with an extra pinch of spunk thrown in just for kicks. I keep going back and forth between, "I can't believe she's already two," and "I can't believe she's ONLY two!"

We started the morning by opening her gift. It was a princess jewelry set, full of crowns, rings, earrings, bracelets, etc. Rae picked it out for her. What's even sweeter is that Rae had picked out a toy for herself at the store with JP, and when they both remembered Ruby's birthday, Rae put back her toy to pick something out for Ruby. She was so excited to do it, too.


After breakfast we went to story time at the Library, then came home to make cupcakes. Let me tell you...there is no easy way to let a 2-year-old do sprinkles all by herself.



And finally, after dinner, we did the whole singing / blowing out the candles thing. Oh, I'm sorry, did I say candles? I meant matches. Improvisation is the key.


Thank you, Jesus, for our precious Ruby. Wouldn't want to face a day without her smile!