Soggy Bottom

Last year, Steve and Preston were invited to go hunting with Brian and William Tanner at Soggy Bottom Hunting Camp about 75 minutes SW of Birmingham, in Gordo.  They had a blast!  Of course the hunting was fun (though they didn't kill anything), but they really enjoyed the bonding aspect.  The camp is large with cabins/trailers along the perimeter with trails all around the camp.  All of the kids have four-wheelers, and they enjoy riding them around on the trails with each other during the downtime.

It was a big decision, but Steve decided to join the camp (it has annual dues) and give it a try.  He debated about buying an old trailer, but elected to buy a new cabin and build it out himself.  Pres didn't like the color....really

wanting something brown and old instead.  But Steve doesn't like old, and was bound and determined to make this cabin perfect for them.  He spent countless hours sketching and planning the interior.

Many of his creations have come from leftover fixtures and wood in our basement, items that he has found on the curb, or he has bought on sale over the past several months (gosh we love Amazon).  In fact he built a great kitchen cabinet, installed a sink in it, and bought a large toaster oven that they can use during their stays.  

Steve was given a nice toilet from a builder friend, found vinyl flooring on the curb, which was just enough for the bathroom, an old door which he will hang once he completes the bathroom walls.  He has also done all of the electricity in the cabin, and built another loft and ladder so everyone can sleep above. 

Loft and ladder

Meanwhile, I have been shopping on the trading sites and getting a few things here and there that they will need to be comfortable.  Since the space won't be conditioned outside of hunting season, he really needed leather furniture.  I found a great, comfy soft and then an ottoman that will be perfect for them.  The ottoman has four little stools stored inside, which will provide extra seating for them.  In addition, the top converts to four small trays, again perfect for the kids when they need to eat since they won't have a table.  

I can't wait to take pictures of the finished product!  However, he had enough of it done for opening deer weekend for youth only, and works on it a little every time he is there.  Since it was a pretty weekend, and most of the families that belong were going to be there - it was a perfect time for the kids to all up and meet some other kids.  The boys had a BLAST!  Bennett enjoyed herself some too, but I doubt this will be a regular trip for her.

Slowly coming together!

However, we were both convinced to come spend one night up there recently.  Since several other wives were coming up, Bennett, Beckham and I rode up for one night too.  Though the space is tight, we made it work with the kids in the loft, Steve on the sofa and me on a cot.  The space heaters kept us toasty, and Steve proved to me that all of his hard work these last several months are paying off.  He vows to get it completed before next hunting season....maybe sooner.  

Christmas Eve

COVID has proven to be difficult in so many ways this year, but being apart during the holidays was not part of our plan.  Since I have had a cold for a few weeks, Steve and I decided to be cautious and go get a test prior to spending Christmas Eve with all of his family.  Thankfully our results were negative.  However, we all know that this virus can show up unannounced at any time, so all of the family agreed to wear masks at all times, except for a few pictures (where we held our breaths).

Everyone came with an appetite, good cheer, gifts....and masks.  We stretched out gift opening, and did it in a couple of rooms so we could keep our distance. Our boys were both surprised and shocked to receive new guns: Pres a rifle and Walker his first shotgun.  

Lots of smiles from Bennett as well as she opened up new lululemon athletic wear in addition to multiple new tops and sweater.  She also was thrilled to get a new jewelry stand along with several new pieces from Michelle and Louis.  Of course, Dan spoiled all of us....lots of candy, sweets and cash for the kids, and a variety of wine for us.  Thanks to some caffeine for Walker, he surpassed his usual bedtime of 8pm since daylight savings, and we stayed until close to 11pm!  

Learning all about guns from Uncle Goo

Duck Hunting in Arkansas

Thanks to my father introduction, Steve has grown to love hunting over the years.  That love started off with pheasant hunting, but has expanded to quail, dove, chukar, deer and now duck!  

Fletcher Smith, one of our friends was invited to duck hunt by one of his suppliers.  He was told to bring three other key people, but when his builder friend backed out last minute due to COVID worries, Steve was able to take his spot.  Fletcher and Steve drove over to Arkansas for the 3 day trip.  They had a blast, and Steve even shot a rare breed of duck, a Storm Wigeon.  Suffice it to say, Steve is in love with another type of  hunting. He had a great time with all of the guys, and I'm sure will be booking another duck hunting trip soon. 

He is also looking forward to receiving his three duck mounts from his inaugural trip.

Halloween 2020

This year has been different in every way due to this darn pandemic.  Initially, there was talks of cancelling Halloween, but of all of the holidays - why this one??  The kids are wearing costumes, that often includes a full mask, and sometimes even gloves. So when word spread that it was proceeding, we got ready.  Many decided to pass out candy outside, others left buckets outside, and some were creative enough to come up with candy shoots - ways to disperse candy while social distancing.

Bennett decided to be a zombie with a few of her girlfriends (Madeline Maxwell, Audrey Roberts and Sarah Elliott), Preston was Tua Tagovailoa, a professional football player on the Dolphins and

Walker decided to be a Ninja (like last year).  Walker didn't really care what he dressed up as, as long as he could trick or treat with Preston "in the good area where they pass out full size candy bars."  It was a busy afternoon, so no pictures with all three kids, but we got to keep some of the traditions like seeing Mimi and Papa.

B, Audrey, Sarah and Madeline

After visiting them, we came home to eat a quick dinner and then Steve took the boys to Preston's favorite area where they continued to fill bucket after bucket!  I stayed back to hand out candy for the first time in 12 years, and it was incredibly anti-climatic (won't be doing that again).  After an hour and a half, the boys pulled in and I couldn't believe the 25 lb bags they EACH carried inside!  They both admitted they had enough candy, so we decided to go watch the Bama and SMU games with friends. 

Walker ended up getting tired after hanging out for a bit due to his big day, so I took him home to hit the hay.  Bennett and her girlfriends ended up at our house about the same time too.  Meanwhile, Preston and Steve hung at Leah and Fletcher Smith's home with folks into the evening and got to witness not only a full moon, but also a blue moon.  

Having both occur on Halloween was a rare treat.  In fact, the last full moon visible for most time zones on Earth hasn't happened since 1944.  But it was also a blue moon, a designation for the second full moon to occur in a month.  They are pretty rare, only occurring ever 2.5 years.  Lots of fun for a very full Halloween day!

Homewood Havoc Plays Fall Ball

Thankfully COVID didn't stop these boys from playing baseball!  Things were a little different this Fall...masks are supposed to be worn when not playing, and the fans are supposed to social distance themselves and wear masks when they are unable to stay apart.  But since our boys are all close friends, as are the parents....we didn't follow the rules that closely...and fortunately we have stayed healthy.

The Havoc have played in several tournaments this Summer and Fall, as well as a handful of scrimmages, and I love watching them improve.  The team has definite talent, but they just don't all fire on the same cylinder every game, or they have one rough inning which kills them.  And when they play tournaments, they don't always have the stamina to last all day.  But all of these tournaments they enter, are practice for the big week-long tournament they signed up to play in next summer.

This summer our team decided to enter a tournament in Branson, MO called the "Ballparks of America."  All of the families are planning to accompany the boys, but it will cost a chunk of change for the tournament entry, new uniforms, food and activities during the down time.  So I volunteered to lead the fundraising efforts, and we came up with a great plan to raise $12,000!

Hopefully the boys will continue to improve and play well together.  Preston is still working on his pitching, and though he loves short stop - he has been playing a lot of third base this Fall.  He has even played in the outfield some and has made some incredible diving catches!  We love to watch him, and I truly believe he loves the sport.  Just hoping he realizes how hard he will have to work to make the high school team. 

The little siblings of these boys have become friends too, and look forward to hanging out.  Walker loves playing with Caleb and Bowen.  They will play on playgrounds, play wall ball, kick ball, color, ipad games and even entertained themselves for an hour one day trying to get a paper airplane off of a roof with a ball.  Whatever it takes to keep them happy.

The final Fall tournament was an all day event.  They had their first game at 9am (they won), second one right after at 11am (they won), then had a FOUR hour break!  It was a forever long time, but the boys came back after break and won their third game at 5pm.  Preston pitched that entire game and did a fantastic job, with three innings as a three up-three down!  They played a great game!  However, they lost steam in their final game, and sadly ended in second place.  They were thrilled to make it that far, their first time in awhile, and they were able to leave with some hardware.

Fortunately, the whole family enjoys watching him, and I think it will be a fun week in Branson next summer!

Kids are Back in School....Kind-of

Six months after schools closed up in mid March due to COVID-19, they cautiously reopened again.  They were delayed a week, but after multiple meetings with administrators, Homewood City Schools rolled out a wonderful, detailed plan on how they were going to protect our children.  Since all of our kids were ready to return, and see their friends again, we got ready!

We learned that Walker (like all elementary-aged kids) gets to attend school 5 days a week, but he has to wear a mask all day.  The big kids have a different situation.  Their school was split in half by last name, and each half only goes two days.  They learn virtually the other three days.  Of course some families elected to do virtual learning for the first half of the year, so all class sizes are smaller. 

Walker's class has about 15 students (compared to the usual 20), but Bennett and Preston only have 9-10 kids (less than half their usual).   No dressing out for P.E., all cafeteria meals are pre-packaged and the same for the entire week, and the students can only sit 3 students to a table, and sometimes eat outside or in their classroom.  Lots of little changes, but they can adapt thanks to their resiliency.

Since only Walker attended in-person school on the first day, the whole family went to see him off.  He was a little nervous walking back into the school without Preston.  The anxiety was exacerbated by the fact that he also didn't know where his new classroom was located (and no one could enter the building to help guide him). However, he had a terrific first day, and loves his teacher - Ms. Werner (who was also Bennett's 1st grade teacher). 

Bennett picked out her outfit to showcase how much she has changed the past 6 months.  She has grown taller, gotten more fit, got her gums lasered to expose more of her pretty smile and she was proud.  As expected, she looked beautiful!  Preston was a little nervous about what to expect at HMS.  He walked in with Bennett, and waited to meet his teachers in person (he was sent videos earlier in the week where they introduced themselves).  He sadly found out that he didn't have anyone he knew in his class (there are only 9 children), but he likes all of his teachers.

Time will tell how all of this pans out, but we are off to a good start....nice teachers and everyone is healthy!