down on the farm...

One more update I failed to post about from Spring Break.  Ryder ended up going to the farm with Poppy, Korlin & one of his friends, Darrell.  It was a little chillier than it should have been, but they still had fun as always!

Doesn't he look like a happy fisherman!?

That is a bald eagle with it's nest!  How cool!

I'm so thankful R gets to grow up going to the farm just like Uncle G got to do!  It is a special place to him already and it's only going to grow on him!

deer woods with poppy

The day after Christmas, Ryder and Poppy loaded up in the truck and headed off to the farm.  I was a bit sad...but just glad they didn't leave on Christmas Day!  I knew they were gonna have a bigg'ole time together though, and they always come back with stories to tell!

Of course they had to make a stop at Mack's!  Santa didn't know that R needed and adult size hat...because the kid's hats were too small for his biggo dome! ;)

Ready to go!  

While they were away, I snuck in some time at the coffee shop with mom!   (The latte art is an ELEPHANT, not something else ;))

They saw a lot of deer, but no "shooters"--Poppy said R does great in the stand, even though he may get tired here an there!  

I wrapped things up with She Reads Truth's "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him" series, which was such a blessing!  The Truth never disappoints.  [Their LENT Study Packs are on sale for pre-order NOW--you better get them before they are GONE!]

Even thought Christmas was over...I hung up some fun lights in R's room.  I also found him a new bedspread at TJ Maxx of course that goes GREAT with the route I am taking with his room.  & notice the dream catcher hanging from the fan that he got for Christmas!  LOVE it! 

I think that FINALLY wraps up December!  I sure hope so! 

AWANA, boat ride, halloween & youth hunt

AWANA has become something so special for us each week.  R loves it so much and does so good at learning his verses.  We tried this two years ago and he wasn't that into it.  I'm so glad we waited it out and that he loves it now! 

Poppy got a new motor and wanted to take it out for a test ride.  Most nights I would usually let him take R so I could have a few minutes to myself, but this night I decided to go with them, and I'm so glad that I did.  We almost missed the sunset, but we still had fun!

Halloween weekend (since it was on a Friday night) was the same weekend as Youth Hunt.  So...I talked to R and told him it was up to him to decide whether he wanted to go Trick or Treating, or go to the farm with Poppy to hunt.  He picked hunting.  I was perfectly okay with that.  He told me he could go Trick or Treating next year! ;)

Poppy's bank always goes ALL out for Halloween!  This year the theme was "Nerd Prom" and I'd say these guys did a GREAT job! ;)

First deer hunt with Poppy!

Who would have ever though you could FaceTime from the deer stand!  

Sunday, Ryder came home from the hunting farm, and went straight out to the farm farm to stay with his Mimi!  Caleb spent some time out there with them on Monday!

I try to remind R all the time that he is a blessed and busy little boy, and that he doesn't need to take any of it for granted.  

dove hunting

Ryder has gotten to go to The Farm with Poppy many times...but he finally got to go for his first actual HUNTING TRIP!!  This time it was dove hunting and he had a blast!  I can already see many future weekends of being Ryder-less because he's off at The Farm with Poppy and Uncle G doing what they love!  

Ryder trying on his new vest before they left!

I got to go out on Friday night with a teacher from UCA--DeNardo!  Love her!

Saturday morning hunt!  He loved every minute of it!  There were 10 adults, and 12 kids under 10 there all weekend...so needless to say R had a blast!  I am also happy to report that Poppy said he was on her best behavior and had great manners!  Makes this Mama proud!

Sunday morning was a little slower than the day before but they still had a blast!

Thankful that R has a place to grow up loving the outdoors just like my brother got to do!  It's a special tradition the boys in my family have and I can't believe I have one old enough to be able to tag along with the big guys! =)

huntin' farm with the guys!

I refer to Ryder's Mimi and Pawpaw's as "the farm" because it's a real farm, with cows, chickens, horses, etc.  But Poppy and Uncle G also refer to their "hunting club" as "the farm"...so I guess R has two farms--(actually three if you count my aunt and uncle's real farm!)--Just to clear up any confusion! ;)

R has been down to the farm before, but I went with him.  This trip was his first trip without me...and with just the guys!  It's been something we've talked about since before he was even born, and it was finally time for him to get away for the weekend with the guys!  It was a work weekend, so no hunting took place, but he had a blast and was a HUGE helper from what I hear! ;)

Uncle G has been going down to the farm since before he was 3 years old.  He now makes trips down there by himself with his friends from HS and college.  It's such a special place to them that holds more memories than they can count!  The deer hunt, duck hunt, alligator hunt, quail hunt and fish out there...as well as all the other fun outdoorsy things! ;)

My dad held on to my tackle box from when I was little..and now R got to use it!  Good thing it's blue and he doesn't mind the flowers! :P

Helping load up the cooler (and no he didn't drink those Mt. Dews! ;))

Climbing up the deer stand to get out the cushions until next season!

This is Uncle George with his grandson Brady.  He's 1.5 older than Ryder--so I predict they will become the best of friends!  One day they'll be bringing their sons out to the same place to hunt!

Playing in the mud!  Doing what little boys do best!

This is Brady's dad Whit lifting R up to see the alligator popping his head up out in the pond...there are SO many of them out there it's scary!

He finally got to see (and ride) Poppy's tractor!  :P

Chocolate chip cookies before bed!

Thankful for the farm, and thankful for Poppy and Uncle G teaching and sharing with my baby their "love for the outdoors"!  I know this is the first of many trips down to "the farm" for this guy! ;)