Bootlip Beatdown 1.0

 As soon as we got home from pheasant hunting Chris and his dad were headed out on the lake for ducks. One of his friends offered them two spots in his airboat. Todd had never gone out on the lake like that before and Chris COULDNT NOT WAIT to take him.

They set up in some mud

 and the birds were flying like crazy!!

They both came back with big huge grins on their faces and couldnt stop talking about it. 

They had a 63 bird limit in 2 hours. 

Kennedys first Pheasant Hunt

Chris was so excited about Kennedy passing Hunters Safety that Saturday we went looking for shotguns for her birthday. We of course had to take her with us to make sure we could find one that fit. Daddy was JUST GOING TO LOOK...and then he found a muddy girl camo one that Kennedy fell in love with and you can guess what happened next...

 Todd, Chris and I had a pheasant hunt planned for Sunday at the club.  Instead of getting paid money Chris takes it in trade for birds. We talked and decided this would be a great first adventure for Kennedy. Its pretty controled. Theyre released birds. Its just us in a certain area and its a good chance for her to learn how to start carrying a loaded gun in a hunting party. 

Grandpa, K and Momma

You can tell Kennedys beyond excited

 Todd

 Chris

 We found a bird sitting down in the corn. It was about 15-20 yards away. We couldnt sneak up on it any closer. Kennedy was hunting right next to me. I got her up on the bird and talked her through shooting her first bird and first time with a shotgun. She was really really nervous but we got the first shot off. She hit the bird and it took off. We found another one and she shot this one good. It flew off some but Chris shot it and brought it down.  SHE WAS ECSTATIC. She made Chris put it in her vest so she could carry it. This cute little kid was on cloud 9 the entire day.

 She even made Chris put another bird in her vest and she carried TWO! Thats a good chunk of weight plus you have to add in the shotgun and a box of shells in her vest.

 We hunted up and down the sections of the corn several times. Her little legs were finally tired by then. We went back to the truck to drop off birds and she put her gun in the truck and waited for us to go down another section.

 Chris shot a pheasanta that was flying across in front of him and it went across the river. 

Rue was on it. She jumped right in the water and crossed to the other side, found the bird and brought it back. Shooter put up all the birds and Rue retrieved them all.

 Kennedy made sure we kept her one bird seperate from the rest. 

 Look at the smile on her face!

She has told everyone about her pheasant hunting and how she got one. She has drawn pictures in her note books of her pheasant hunting. Its so awesome. She wants to go get coyotes next :)

Tucker Family Party

 Saturday was the annual Tucker Family Christmas Party 

(Chris's grandma on his moms side)

We started out with a potluck dinner. Then Santa came!

The littles were so excited

 Briggs thought he was ok until he had to sit on his lap. Then it was over.

 Ashley

 Hunter

 Derek

 Briggs LOVED Santa after he found out he brought him trucks! He went up and told him thank you and kep waving to him. He was so excited.

 Kennedy had gotten a new shotgun for her birthday that morning.. even though her birthday isnt for almost a month. Santa asked her what she wanted and she said the #1 thing was bullets for her new gun- it makes a mommas heart happy!- Well somehow Santa knew thats just what she wanted! She was skeptically looking at the box once he said it was heavy. She thought it might be shotgun shells but didnt want to get too excited.

 She was so excited!

She couldnt believe that only 4 hours after getting her gun Santa knew what she needed! I love the magic of Christmas in her eyes.

 Someone told Santa he had been a good boy....

 Jimmy asked for new underwear

 We sang Santa off into the night as the kids help jingle his sleigh bells

Kennedys Hunter Safety

 Kennedy has been asking to go into Hunter Safety for a while. Her and her two friends on the bus Maclee and Katelyn even planned to get into the same Hunter Safety class. I just wasnt sure if she was old enough to take it. You used to have to be 12, now its 8. I was mostly worried about the written test. We knew a few kids her same age that had passed (Parker and Kinlie) and Kennedy is pretty good with reading so we figured what the heck we will try. 

Chris got her all signed up for class and her best friends Maclee and Katelyn (who are both from Willard) even got in the same class. Chris is friends with Katelyns dad so they took turns carpooling the girls to class. 

She read her whole book, we took time going over guns and explaining parts of her book to her. Finally Friday it was time for her test. They were planning on written Friday and shooting Saturday but the weather for Sat was planned to be horrible. Friday before class they decided to try and shoot and test in the same day. I was so nervous for her. It had been her and Daddy going to each class and it was the hardest thing for me to not go with them to the shooting test. I didnt want to make her more nervous than she was and this was 'their thing'

I made him promise to take lots of pictures ha!

Taking her shooting test

 Chris right with her

 These 4 cute girls from Willard all passed!

Congrats Emily, Kennedy, Katelyn and Maclee!

We could not have been more proud of her!!

Love you Peanut!

Cookies, Class, Teal and Deer

Its been a busy week as usual for us. I was at my last Saturday class and Kennedy was at my moms with all the grandkids making cookies. 

Koree was snuggling on Uncle Chris

 and Kennedy was busy putting frosting on sugar cookies

 To add to all our free time Kennedy started hunter safety two weeks ago. It was Wed Thur Fri from 6-10 for two weeks. Chris took her to every class and helped her study at home.

 I was in my own Officer 1 class doing super awesome things like this...

 yay for math.. NOT and NO calculator allowed

 Our tree is all lit and packages are starting to go under it.

 Todd and Jana got an adorable new puppy named Teal. We have spent some time loving on her. Shes a spitfire and loves to cuddle

I had to puppy sit while they delivered some xmas goodies

On the last day of the archery hunt Chris and Kennedy ran out to the orchards real quick before it got dark. He was able to take a nice doe. Im not sure who was more excited him or K. He remembered to take a picture too :)

 We turned his deer into yummy summer sausage and put it in the smoker