Our Little Get-A-Way

For the first time ever...yes, in our short 3 years together...don't laugh too hard...Terry and I were all by ourselves for Christmas. Actual Christmas Eve and Day! Terry's foresight, he did not want me sulking around the house missing Jack & Kate so he proposed a little trip "somewhere." I got to pick! So arrangements were made for 3 nights in the Chuckwagon Bed and Breakfast in Fredericksburg, Texas. (A little history: my Gran lived in Fredericksburg, as well as my only Aunt & Uncle on my dad's side, and there were many weeks in the summer and Thanksgivings spent there.) We arrived on December 22 and drove home Christmas Day.

 This was our little get-a-way retreat for the 3 nights there. Cozy, quaint, hospitable, quiet, tasty, relaxing and comfy...that about sums it up. Sam & Becky own the B&B and prepare a wonderful breakfast along with some interesting and entertaining conversation.

 We enjoyed a little shopping, good eats, more shopping, took in a show...no I mean live show...musical with some good ole laughs at the RockBox. Ok now, back to shopping... Poor Terry, my looking in each store allowed some time for him to explore and learn his new phone a little better! 

Drove to San Antonio thru route of Bourne (yes, for more shopping) and enjoyed lunch on the River Walk, the Alamo and the hub-ub of the area. Fun! Totally Relaxing! No Schedule! We could not have enjoyed it more...not to mention, we had so much to look forward to in celebrating Christmas with our kiddos back home a few days after Christmas.

2012 Hunting

Remember the blind Terry and Jack built this past summer? Well, it, along with 3 others have been getting some good use the last couple of months. Bow season opened back in October with guns opening the first weekend in November. Terry made a couple of bow trips with Adam in October. There was LOTS of evidence from the game cameras of pigs and deer coming to the feeders.

Unfortunately, when it came time to start hunting in October, very little was seen. Terry did manage to stick a young turkey...

Opening gun weekend was our first Family Hunt Weekend...can you say FUN? I know, not everyone is cut out for camping but we all had a blast! There are some "home comforts" along with campfires to make for very comfortable surroundings. Terry bought Kate her first BB gun. She totally got into target shooting...

Even had a celebration dance...

In between target practice and hunting, we all moved a new tripod into position for the lake-bottom feeder. Great view as long as you are not afraid of heights!

Jack broke in his blind that weekend several mornings and one evening...unfortunately, the only sighting was a skunk and pair of walking sticks.

The highlight of the weekend would have to be the bobcat that Terry stuck on Friday evening. We tracked her the next morning and found her only 40 yards from where Terry stuck her.

Just before Thanksgiving, Adam & Terry went again for a bow only weekend. Adam was thrilled to finally get a nice buck.

WTAMU 2012 Homecoming

In November, Jack, Kate, Terry and I went to Canyon for the WTAMU Homecoming game with Travis and his girl, Brooke. It was a knock-dead win for the Buffs!! Kate spent time with her long-time friend, Delany Case...hence the reason you don't see her in the pictures at the game. Special Friends!!

It was good to return to my former church home, Trinity Baptist Church. I realized on this visit, though, it is no longer my church home but rather a treasured place to visit, worship and see special, sweet friends that will always be dear to my heart.

Fall Sports

 Jack and Kate both played a sport this fall. Jack played Defensive Linebacker and Lineman on kick returns for his 8th grade football team, Roosevelt Eagles. For the better part of the season, Jack worked hard to overcome the fear of being hit...and still has some room to grow. Even through that challenge, Jack totally looked forward to, worked to improve and enjoyed this 7-3 football season!

As for Kate, she played soccer for the first time through Upwards...a Christ centered program for 1st-5th graders. Her team consisted of 8 second grade girls. Kate LOVED the running aspect...she surely does NOT take after her momma on this note! Temperatures varied from the low 80's to upper 30's...gotta love this Texas panhandle weather! She is eagerly looking forward to playing again next season!

SIT Graduation

Columbia, South Carolina...not too long of a trip when you fly. REAL long trip when you haven't seen your boy, or talked to him, in TEN WEEKS!! Finally, the day arrived to watch him graduate from Army SIT!! (Soldier in Training) Reese left back in June and on September 6th, 2012, he was officially announced as a soldier of the US Army. It was so good to hug him and just listen to him tell all the scenarios he experienced during those 10 weeks. (And WOW...he lost some weight but is probably the strongest his core has ever been. )Thank goodness for the battalion's page on Facebook, we did get some sneak peaks of Reese during his training.

The actual graduation ceremony was a spine-chilling, patriotic, beautiful event! So proud of Reese and all the soldiers that put their own lives at risk for those of us in this nation. I like this little saying that has been circulating...IF YOU CAN'T BACK OUR SOLDIERS, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM!

We are especially excited that Reese is now posted at Goodfellow Air Force Base in SanAngelo, Texas. He will complete his AIT (Advanced Individual Training) sometime in April probably. Goodfellow trains soldiers in their Signals Intelligence Analyst School. We don't know where he will be posted after that but will surely enjoy having him close for the next few months.

Jack's 14th Birthday

It was really more of a BIRTHDAY WEEKEND! This year, Jack's birthday fell on Labor Day! We kicked the weekend off with having a couple of Jack's buddies go to Buffalo Wild Wings...one of Jack's favorites...and then to the movies.

Caleb, Jack and Carson

They only stayed up until about 3am...woke up before 8am! CrAzY bOyS!! Saturday was spent hanging out together and then swimming at the pool for the afternoon. Around 5pm, Jack started to have this blank stare on his face...just a little tired! Adam & Alyssa came over and we grilled out. Terry and I were like kids in a candy store...we could not wait to give Jack his birthday gift. He was very surprised and speechless, at least we thought. He was actually half asleep!

New .243 Remington

After a good nights sleep, while waiting for the rest of us to get ready for church, Jack asked "can I just hold my gun?" It had finally set in and he was so very excited. NOW he was equipped to shoot some hogs! We went to Morton (Terry's parents farm) and spent the night just so Jack could get some "shoot time" in! He had a blast and is looking forward to some more target time before the "real deal"!

Full Swing

First day of school 2012

Almost 3 full weeks since school has started and we are all pretty well in the swing of things. Kate eagerly started 2nd grade...her teacher is Mrs. White! Of the 4 teachers available, Mrs. White is exactly who she hoped for. Yea!

Kate and I had fun making cookies the night before so she could give this little goodie bag to Mrs. White the first day...it was a hit! (Thank you Pinterest!!)

About right here.............................................................................. is where I should have a picture or two of Jack. Did you know that it's not cool to have your mom taking pictures of you on your first day walking in to 8th grade? Humph! None the less, Jack was very excited about returning to Roosevelt. We met all of his teachers a few nights before school started and Jack was ready to start working on his new goal: do better in 8th grade than in 7th! Another Yea!