Family out to SD for Thanksgiving........and Christmas

What a fun time we had this past week.  All of our kids and grandkids were out --- except our oldest son, Rick and his wife, Claudia....they live in the Netherlands.     We  (well, we slept in our own beds) -----all stayed at the Schelhaas Hunting Lodge.  Such a neat place ---- and so much room!!!  Full kitchen, Great Room, two bathrooms with showers,  and 14 beds.  Everything you need and more!!

"Tumbly" the Tumble Weed Snowman was our Christmas mascot............took lots of pictures around her...(note the flowers in her "hair")

Our Grandkids..........(Bottom row - L to R) Keller, Sawyer, Oliver, Halle....(Middle Row) Brennan, Sidney, Colton, Clayton... (Standing) Austin, "Tumbly" and Trenton   No! I haven't lost my mind - Tumbly is not a grandchild!!

We took our two 4 wheelers over and so they got used a LOT.  There was deer hunting and coyote hunting --- success in both.......   Then there were those nasty prairie dogs -- hunted them too.

Trenton

These two guys (Brennan and Clayton) were pretty happy too.   Not every day you find some with horns.

Grandpa said Colton could shoot all the Pheasants he could ---- WITH A SLINGSHOT!!  --- He got one!!!!  Yup - a tailless one, but oh well!!!  It was a pretty good shot too....."from across the road and then a little more".

Our two little grandkids who live in the city got to feed Don's cattle with Grandpa and
Brennan.   I found feed on the floor --- must have come in with their shoes.....they had fun on the grain pile. 

Oh -and then there was a clay pigeon shooting......and walks.......and cookie baking.....and picture drawing......

Top one is Sidney's ---- she's a Junior in High School and bottom one is Halle's ...she's in the 4th grade.  Anyway - they both just looked at a picture on a phone and went to drawing.   Halle didn't like her first one .....so she started over....this one is perfect.   And then, much to my joy!!!!!  - they gave them to me ----- They are hanging on our wall!!!

We were lucky enough to have a Raptor/Falconer -- what is it....come out to Don's Preserve to get a couple of pheasants.  Don and Jeannie were gone - so Gary caught the birds.  Anyway, it was too windy to send his Perigrine Falcons out (they are in training) but he did come out and "display" them --- which was so nice!!! He said he would come on another day to work them.  They (two of them) were born this spring.

Part of our "gift giving" was some crazy saying Tee-Shirts.  Here is a sampling.....

Holly didn't agree with that one --- that she snores --- but Dennis TOTALLY agreed!!

 Dennis is work work work.......

We did a lot of laughing over some of them!!!!

And then for our entertainment----Keller recited the entire poem .....

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

He's in Preschool!!!!

And every morning and every evening we had grand displays of glorious beauty!!!!

Thank you Lord for everything!!

Gary and Barb