KABOOM - SPLASH! KABOOM - SPLASH! WooHoo!

I was 'duck' hunting and ended up getting a couple geese to go along with my two ducks. It's been over 15 years since I've gotten a goose, so I was pretty excited. Geese periodically visit the lake and this time a flock of about 15 or so flew directly over my blind and I downed 2 with 2 shots. Definitely a highlight of the season so far. Limiting out with 6 ducks in about 30 minutes during my first hunt was pretty sweet too. You can see those pictures in an earlier post. Luci hasn't been hunting with me yet. I haven't trained her and I'm not certain she could sit still or handle the cold weather and water not having any fat and so little hair. Here are my prize geese....they make a lot bigger splash than ducks do! Hehehe!

Awww....Is She Cute Or What?!

Olivia decided to crawl in with Luci one evening. They're good buddies. One of her favorite toys is Mr. Potato Head. This is one of her many creations. She loves playing under the table too.

Duck Hunting!

Aaaaahhhhh yes, it's that time of year again. Cold breeze, sunrise, water, nature, my shotgun, and ducks. Can't beat that. Ok, so it's not the typical duck hunt....I have about a 2 minute (OK, 1 minute) walk from the house to get in my blind which is on the pond in the back of the house (you can see the pond behind me in one of the pictures).....ok, ok, and the ducks aren't afraid of people either. It's not my fault they don't get scared even when I yell to get them to fly. The fun part was that I hunted some ducks that you don't see in Missouri; redheads, buffleheads, and hooded mergansers to name a few. The redheads were by far the prettiest and largest. I ended up with 6 the first morning in a record 30 minutes time. It was a 'blast'. A couple days later I got 3 more. I fried up several and Tami's mother, Rita, baked a couple this past weekend. Yum, yum!

I'm cleaning a redhead.

Thanksgiving #1 - Dacula, Georgia

We drove down to Dacula, GA where Justin's Aunt and Uncle live. We arrived to a full house after 4 1/2 hrs of driving...thanks to a few wrong turns. The first of which was about 30 minutes from home; ugh! The trip home took only 3 1/2 hrs thanks to good navigation and no traffic. That was the first time we got to see Justin's immediate family since leaving Missouri in July and his extended family in many more months. We had a great time - even though it was only for about 24 hours. We'll be able to spend more time with them for Christmas as we travel to Missouri unless the baby tells us otherwise.

Cousins: Cara, Cameron, Chad, Cristen. Nieces/Nephew: Andrea, Aleah, & Nate.

Teeth of a Two Year Old

Ok....so I don't have a "Teeth" picture....but we went to an 18mo doctor visit last week. He was suprised to see Olivia's mouth. Apparently she has the teeth of a two year old! How cool. She weighed 21 lbs.(15%ile) and was 29 1/2 inches long (5%ile). She's so big, yet so small. Today was another first....she said the word "no". (I know...hard to believe, but she usually just shakes her head) At lunch Justin told Luci "No!" so she would stop begging. Olivia repeated it and said it over and over and over again. It was way cute, but now she knows the word NO. As long as she doesn't use it to tell us no....we'll be ok. :-)

We carved a pumpkin...a little late. Olivia did not like her hands in it, but really enjoyed seeing it lit up outside.

We made carmel apples too. This she liked!

Hocz visit

My friend Kristen came down from Ohio with her son Garrison for a quick visit. We made it to Gatlinburg for an afternoon lunch and shopping trip! We had some sleeping issues, especially the first night, so it was challenging to do everything that we had hoped for. It was still great to see them!

Olivia REALLY enjoyed having Garrison around...she even shared her pink car seat with him for our trip to Gatlinburg!

Fall smiles to brighten your day!

The picture speaks for itself!

Hugging rocks. Her favorite.

Charleston South Carolina Vacation

Justin's school had a week long fall break....something we're not used to in Missouri....so we decided to take advantage of it and vacate to Charleston, South Carolina for a few days. We had lots of fun, but it's definitely WAY different being on vacation with an almost 1 1/2 year old! Olivia did amazing. Although the car ride home (6 hours) didn't go over so well. We also went to Dollywood and a Tennessee vs Alabama football game during the break. I've never seen so much orange or heard such loud shouting from one group! I bet that's what it sounded like when the walls of Jericho fell with a shout of Joshua's army! Lots of fun!

We stopped at the Apple Festival in Waynesville, North Carolina on the way down. Olivia found a few pumpkins instead of apples....

Olivia got pretty worn out during the trip. We might have to look into getting another car seat for her baby-she's awfully big! In Columbia, she was so tired, she fell asleep before she finished her gram cracker.

We stayed one night in Columbia, South Carolina. Before we left, we stopped by Finley Park in the downtown area. It was very nice with a cool waterfall set up.

In Charleston, one of the places we ate at was Hyman's Seafood. This meal was cool because they served boiled peanuts as the standard appetizer! Olivia and I were loving it! We each ate a bowl a piece! Other great spots were the Charleston Seafood House, where we had king crab on the roof balcony and Jestine's, which was is a local favorite and has received mention from Rachel Ray and several cooking magazines.

Charleston water fountain. Olivia managed to only get her toes a tad wet.

We took a carriage ride around downtown Charleston to learn some history of the area. Very cool. Plus the horses, named 'Hit' and 'Run', were a hit with Olivia.

We took a boat ride out to Fort Sumter (first shots of the Civil War). Lots of history.

Olivia was HILARIOUS with the cannon! She kept yelling and singing into it because it echoed so well. It was like her echophone (microphone) only bigger!

This was under a pavilion in Battery Park. One of the few family pictures we got.

This was also in Battery Park. Justin has a picture just like this from when he was young.

Olivia had to carry on the tradition.

We went to Folly Beach and shell hunted. The water was way too cold to get in, but Olivia still had fun running in and out of the water with the waves.

We toured through the Heyward-Washington House. Thomas Heyward lived there...he signed the Declaration of Independence. Also President George Washington stayed a week there when he visited Charleston. We were in the outside kitchen area.

Go VOLS!!! Here are a couple pictures of the Univ. of TN vs. #2 Alabama football game. The stadium and crowd were pretty cool, but the team sure stinks this year. We sat on the 30 yd line, second row in the balcony; a very nice view.

Dollywood was fun too. VERY similar to Silver Dollar City. Olivia just got a toy train, so watching this one was fun.

Ohio Trip, Bear Swing, & Duck Hunt

Justin had an administrator's seminar last weekend, so Olivia and I took the opportunity to visit Aunt Tara and Uncle Will in Ohio. It was a quick visit, but very nice to have a change of pace. Here's a few pictures:

Olivia carrying on a conversation with Aunt Tara and Uncle Will at the Outback Steakhouse.

We went to a base (Wright Patterson Air Force Base) picnic and enjoyed a free lunch. Olivia of course finished up with cheerios. Tara and I have finally gotten comments that we look alike. This is a first. Although, I'm still not sure I see it.

We went to The Greene (shopping and dining area) in Beavercreek and enjoyed some fountain time.

Here's the pre-non-halloween outfit Olivia almost kept. It was just a little too short, but very cute none the less.

Olivia really enjoyed pushing buttons on the gigantuous TV that Aunt Tara and Uncle Will had. What a face!

And of course here's us enjoying Olivia's favorite dog, Jackson. Yes, I think he beats Luci because he's smaller and doesn't walk away when she pulls on his cheeks. Plus he's super soft!

Random Olivia pictures

She got a new toy train that comes with lots of stackable pieces. Plus it lights up and toots a horn. It's a hit.

After a few pushes of the bear swing, she decided she wanted him down. Yes, he's tied to a tree by string....not so much a bear hanging....more like a bear swing. I thought it would be a good idea.

Olivia got to pick 3 ducks and get 3 prizes at the Jefferson County Old Time Days. After finally picking one duck, I think she would have sat there and emptied the whole pool.