A New "Car"

Santa brought Madelyn a go-kart for Christmas and she refers to it as her "car." She would really like to drive it to school one day but we have explained to her that it isn't street legal. Thus far she has had a blast riding the new car. It doesn't do so well in snow but it goes fast and furious on dry ground.


A new helmet for the new ride.



Today we took the go-kart to the HS parking lot where most of the snow had melted. Notice how I'm hanging on for dear life?? Oh my that thing is a rough rider, or maybe it is the crazy driver!!



I have a feeling there are going to be many good memories with the new ride.

Lunch With Santa

Sunday afternoon we went to the local Red Brick cafe for lunch and much to Madelyn's surprise, Santa showed up for a visit. He even came to our table, shared a fry with Madelyn and then the two of them sang Jingle Bells. After we were finished with lunch Madelyn and several other kids joined Santa for cookie decorating.


Madelyn wasn't so sure about Santa eating one of her fries...





Oh Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...








This visit from Santa was much better than any ol mall Santa.

Classroom Christmas Party

I spent Friday morning with Madelyn at her classroom Christmas party. The interesting thing about Madelyn's school is that all holiday parties are first thing in the morning and usually only last about an hour and then the kids resume class as usual. I'm pretty sure the teachers have a fun time keeping the kids on task after the parties, but it works out well for the working parents that need to get to work.

The kids exchanged gently used or new books at the party. I think that is a novel (punn intended) idea. Then the kids had a snack, donuts and capri suns were this years choice. Nothing like a sugar rush first thing. After parents/kids passed out other small gifts the kids gathered around for story time and the parents snuck out the door.

Madelyn giving Ms. Watts her Christmas gift.


The book exchange.


Ms. Watts reading to the kids during the gift exchange. (Every time they heard words rhyme they passed the book to the person next to them until the end of the story. Then they opened the present that was in their hands when the story ended.)
Snack time


Saying Goodbye....Madelyn didn't want me to leave.

Wordless Wednesday

"A doe, A deer, A female deer."

I had told myself, and everyone else for that matter, that I would not shoot a doe. I just couldn't bring myself to shoot a mama, knowing that she had a young one still tagging along or that she could possibly be with bambi (kind of like with child).
I went out to the the deer box six evenings during rifle season. I would arrive around 3:30pm, feeder would go off at 4:00pm and the does would start showing up anywhere between 4:15pm and 5:00pm. Most evenings I would leave right as it was getting dark and would have to scare off the does. Only one time hunting did I not see a single deer. The does and this years fawns were fun to watch. But I was waiting for the big buck to arrive.
Today was the last day of rifle season. I was pretty much over the whole hunting experience and just wanted a shot at a buck. I arrived at the box at 3:45pm, the feeder went off at the usual time and I patienty waited while reading a good book. Finally around 5:00pm the first doe and fawn showed up, followed by several others. At 5:10pm I decided that a big buck wasn't going to appear so I either needed to take a shot or go home. My heart started to beat a mile a minute and at that point I knew I was going to shoot a doe. I couldn't let the anticipation and excitment of the shot go to waste and I couldn't go home empty handed on the very last day of the season. I quietly opened the sliding window, propped my gun on the window opening making enough noise that all the deer looked up and stared directly at me. I sat as still as possible until the deer went back to eating. Then I placed the target on the biggest doe there and took a shot. She took off running but I was pretty sure I got a good shot. I never know for sure because I always close my eyes when I shoot. I watched where she ran and thought I heard her drop. All but one of the other deer had managed to run off but the one still stood there and stared at me. I'm thinking I probably shot her mama...sorry about that. My heart was still pounding and I was shaking with excitement. I called Ryan and our friend Andy to let them know that I shot a doe. After a couple minutes I got down from the box and went to where I shot the doe and saw blood so I knew I hit her. I then followed a trail of blood and walked in the direction I thought she dropped. I found her within minutes. Ryan and Andy arrived and took pictures and then Ryan walked me through the gutting process.
It was another fun hunt and all those sad feelings about shooting a doe quickly went away as soon as I pulled the trigger. Fun stuff.


Madelyn wasn't with me this year when I shot my deer but she sure enjoyed watching me field dress the deer. However, she wasn't too fond of the smell. :)



Thanks Dad for letting me use your gun again this year. It was a great shot even with my eyes closed.

If I had known then what I know now....

I would not have been so nasty and disrespectful to my parents and sister

I would have not been jealous and envious of friends...ever!

I would have taken piano lessons so I would still have that skill today.

I would have taken gymnastics

I would not have had a serious boyfriend in high school and would have just spent the time having fun with my friends.

I would have not graduated college in 4 years. I would have made it last a little longer, although mom and dad's pocket book would have probably disagreed.

I would have taken a pottery class in college.

I would have dated more in college.

I would have gotten married at 28 and not 24. But I still would have married the same guy!

I would not have waited 10 years after high school to reconnect with my high school friends.

I would not have lived with Ryan before we got married.

But everything happens for a reason and if my life would have turned out differently because I did or did not do something different I wouldn't have changed a thing (well maybe being nicer to my parents and sister). I love my life and how things turned out thus far.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful this sweet child is only behind the wheel when she is sitting on her daddy's lap and they are driving in a pasture.