Oh No...

I'm starting to panic because I haven't even finished writing about the Christmas exploits and soon it will be time to blog about Valentines Day Parties (one of the dreaded holidays of a child with peanut allergies...)! So in the midst of all the Christmas/Jesus Birth/Santa celebrations, the boys managed to fit in several hunting trips! If you are faint of heart, pass out at the sight of blood, or are an animal rights activist.... proceed with caution, you have been warned! I am writing this blog for my dear husband!

Nate is turning in to my little hunter! Let me clarify, he is Tim's accomplice... he doesn't shoot a rifle (or whatever) on his own yet, but he does help field dress the deer and whatever else goes along with deer preparation. He now wants to be a professional hunter and butcher when he grows up (pretty redneck I know... I'm longing for the days when he wanted to be a tractor driver)! He has also gotten in to squirrel hunting (people these are just big rats). Tim shoots the squirrel and then he sends Nate out with a stick to move it around, if it is dead, Nate picks it up by the tail and takes it to Tim (isn't that the job of a retrieving dog???) Tim and Nate have recently shot two doe... one on our property and one while visiting our friends Will, Kacee, Parker and Charlie Tate at their hunt club near lake Millwood.

After Christmas we went to the Thompkin's cabin (this is a very nice "cabin," the term doesn't due this mini lodge justice)! The boys had so much fun playing with Parker who had just as much energy as my two and was such a cutie pie! The boys (minus Zac & Parker) went hunting and had a blast. It was fun for me because I got to hang out at the house with the girls and visit (and keep tabs on the kids). So nice to have some girl time. While there, Kacee also gave Ben his first haircut! I know I took pics but I can't find them right now. It was a wonderful weekend and we had so much fun.
















A few days later the fun continued at William McMillans cabin (built in the 1800s). This cabin is primitive (no running water, etc.) but it is the coolest cabin ever! It has a wonderful stone fire place and it is situated in the woods in Mt. Ida. Tim and I spent a weekend there just after we were married. It was supposed to be a "campout" of sorts for Tim and the big boys as well as for William and his little man William. However, Zac had to sit it out due to a tummy virus. The boys once again had a blast (I'm talking Nate and William and the daddys too). A few weeks later this scenario was repeated with Zac in tow. The boys had a wonderful time the second time around too! Complete with four wheeler riding, as well as bow/arrow and BB gun target practice!



Well, I suppose that sums up the highlights of the hunting exploits! Had to include a picture of my cutiepie!

Pray for Harper...

I am incuding a link (to the right) to the "Stamps Family" blog. This is actually a blog started by a fellow former OBU student. Kelly Martin was at OBU at the same time I was there. Through friends I found her blog. Please keep her daughter Harper in your prayers, she is fighting for her life. Kelly's faith and joy in Christ is evident in her blog, if you need to be inspired you should check it out; in the mean time, keep baby Harper and her family in your prayers. Thanks!

Post Christmas Recovery!

Well I suppose I can only use that excuse for so long. Seriously, after weeks of staying up until the early hours of the morning pre Christmas... I have gone to bed early almost every night since December 26th! So I'll try to catch up. I think I will probably divide this blog in to multiple parts! I'll start with all of the Christmas celebrations!!!!!

We started Christmas by celebrating December 23rd/24th in Arkadelphia at Nana and Papa Doc's with my sis and her precious family. We had a wonderful time and the boys enjoyed spending time together. Nate and Matt are thick as thieves and Zac loves to tag along but he also loves to do his own thing. They are going to be trouble one day in the not so distant future... I can feel it in my bones! The boys woke up on Arkadelphia Christmas morning (24th) dressed in cute PJ's (a gift from Nana & Papa Doc). They were so excited to finally be able to tear in to the gifts that had been tucked under the tree. It was sheer chaos, paper flying everywhere, trying to figure who was from what, squeals, and lots of laughter and oohs and aahs! What a way to start Christmas! As luck would have it, I think I only managed to get video of all the action. I'll have to beg and plead with my sis for copies of her photos! We left Arkadelphia on Christmas Eve with 3 exhausted but excited little boys. When we got home we answered all of the questions about how Santa would be able to come down the chimney if there was a fire, would he come if they couldn't sleep, what do reindeer eat, etc. Thank goodness for sheer exhaustion because all 3 went to sleep quickly (followed quickly by daddy who was feeling a little crummy). One of Santa's elves had some work to do that night and sleep seemed elusive! However, after the looks on their faces in the morning it was so worth it!

It was fun to see the boys reactions. Nate walked out and carefully inspected everything without saying much. After he had a chance to survey everything he started to get excited about each individual item and that was fun to watch. Zac was exuberant from the moment he saw the first item, exclaiming "wow" and "this is the best"! He wasn't even certain what was his but he loved everything. Little Ben just went with the flow and loved all of the new sights and sounds. Santa bought Nate the Red Ryder BB Gun that he so desperately wanted. Both boys were also thrilled to receive their John Deere cowboy boots among all of the other gifts!

Later that morning when we were eating breakfast I told the boys, "Santa must have thought you guys were really good this year." To which Zac replied, "but we've been naughty too!" Touche Zachy! Later that day, Nana and Papa Doc came up to see all of the "loot" and to provide a perfect ending to a perfect day!

We ended all of the Christmas festivities the next weekend at Grandma and Grandpa O's in Texarkana. We had a wonderful time eating yummy food and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa and Tim's brother Dan and his fabulous family. Nate loved having Drew to play soccer with and shoot the bow and arrow with... Drew can match Nate step for step when it comes to boundless energy. Sweet Emma and Anna were angels and endured the constant kisses and torture provided by Zachy who wants to "marry Anna"! And I had fun hanging out with my sister-in-law Allison who I'm insanely jealous of because she has 3 pair of cowgirl boots... though she actually uses them when she rides her horse.... still jealous Allie! Once again, we stayed so busy that I didn't get any photographs... that seems to be the theme of this Christmas.... I've got to get better about taking photos! Spending time in Texarkana was a wonderful way to end the holidays!

Last but not least, I want to say how grateful I am for my family, friends, health, and God. Everyday, in both big and small ways, I'm reminded of how blessed I am and those are the gifts I am most thankful for! There were a lot of hunting exploits that took place over Christmas break I'll try to summarize and post photos soon! My sweet Nate is growing up and making some very important decisions.... more on that soon!