Category Archives: montser

Rylee Get your Gun!

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For Rylee’s first birthday, we bought her a pink single shot .22 rifle. {While it may seem a little extreme that that was her 1st birthday gift, I assure you the only reason it happened was because the company I worked for at the time was owned by a gun manufacturer and I got a sca-reamin’ deal.} It’s been locked safely away ever since. Back in October, Rylee went on her first hunting trip, and since then, she’s talked about shooting her gun. We told her that maybe this summer she’d be big enough to shoot it and let me tell you, homegirl does not forget things like that, so we added it to the Big Sister Bucket List.

We had camping on the bucket list too, but our suburban is still not back from the shop, so unfortunately camping got knocked off the list. Instead, we decided to make a day out of it and headed out to our normal camping/fishing spot to do a little fishing, a little exploring and let Ry shoot her gun for the first time.

On the way out of town we swung into my dad’s to pick up the gun. Before I put it in the back of the Jeep I opened up Ry’s door to let her see it…this was the first time since her first birthday that she’d even laid eyes on it. She looked at the gun, looked at me, then back at the gun. She got a huge grin on her face and in an awe-inspired half-whisper, said “Wooow…it’s beautiful!”

We started out with some fishing. I’ve been going up to this area fishing since before I was Rylee’s age. Never in my lifetime have I had such a great day of fishing and caught such big fish! No joke. It was kind of surreal. Literally just about every other cast in the creek and we’d have a fish on! And while the term “big” is relative for this creek, I’ve never seen a fish bigger than 8″ or so come out of the water, but Ry’s very first cast she caught a beefy 11″ trout! Every fish we caught that morning was at least 9″ long.

Her first cast in…”Daddy, I got a fish!”

One excited (and proud!) Daddy! {And my new favorite photo of the two of them!!}

Casting with Mama…

Hey look…Another fish!

Once Ry’s attention span with the fishing ran out, I let Andy fish a while longer and Rylee and I went “exploring”. We played I Spy, picked up rocks and looked for butterflies. After a bit, we all headed back to the Jeep for some lunch. After lunch was over, it was time to shoot!

We started out by going over safety, none of this was new to Rylee considering we talk about gun safety a lot but she was a good sport and listened intently. {and for the record, no the “R” on her shooting ear muffs, do not stand for Rylee, just a nice coincidence.}

Safety first! Rylee got these youth sized glasses and ear protection for her birthday this year. {Also, like the belly in the reflection!?}

Daddy showing her how to hold the gun.

Getting ready…

Learning how to load in a bullet…

Taking aim!!

A few shots with mama…

Checking out the target…

After the first few shots, I started getting too hot, so I headed back to the shade to hydrate while Rylee and Andy kept shooting. She had a ton of fun and I think it’s safe to say we’ll have a little outdoors girl on our hands!

And just like that, another thing is marked off the bucket list!

Say Balls!

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Be prepared for an abundance of ridiculously cute photos…you’ve been warned.

Saturday Morning Rylee and I headed out to meet up with Lindsey, Otto and Loretta at the Science Factory! If you’re local and never been, I’d say it’s worth the $4 admission. The kids had a blast! We were there for at least two hours and I know if we would’ve let them, they would have stayed for another two. {seriously, Ry was not happy about leaving.}

It was my turn to grab the Starbucks so naturally, when Rylee suggested we get a cookie and her and Otto could share it? I obliged. The morning started off with a back-o-the-Jeep snack picnic where the kiddos grubbed on a cookie and some beverages while Lindsey and I had scones and caffeine!

{Please to be noticing the giant belly in the reflection of Ot’s sunglasses. Priceless.}

After snacktime was over, we headed down the path to the Science Factory. I’m pretty sure we could have just let the kiddos run around outside and they wouldn’t have known the difference. And bonus! I actually remembered to bring my camera and take pictures this time…so luckily for you, I won’t be required to turn in my blogger card. You’re welcome in advance.

{Fun fact, I know the artist that painted this duck. I guess you could say I’m kind of a big deal.}

After we finally rounded up the kiddos to…oh I don’t know, actually go inside, we had loads of fun. I think it’s perfect for kids that are in the 4-7 age range.

{Future astronauts.}

{Guess the smell!}

{Puppet Shows / Sailing / Bicycle Powered Electric Train / Ball Turn / Ball Pit / Arch Puzzle}

At one point, they were playing in the ball pit and while I was trying to snap a photo, Lindsey tried to get them to both look at the camera at the same time so told them, “Hey kids, SAY BALLS!”. {And then I died laughing and missed the photo op.}

Even the girls got to spend a little quality future BFF time together.

The kiddos have a blast playing together. It’s true we don’t get them together nearly enough, but I’m selfish and I kinda like my kidless Lindsey lunches…just sayin’.

The Big Sister Bucket List

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With less than 4 weeks to go before Baby Sister will be making her appearance, we’ve been trying to squeeze in as much fun as possible lately with a certain 4 year old that is at just the right age to go do ALL! THE! FUN! THINGS!

When I was newly-ish pregnant, we started thinking of things that Rylee would like to do before baby sister was born.

{Now, I’m not the type to become a hermit once this baby is born, but I’m also not the type to go on a Target run or rafting trip with a 3 day old, ya know?}

So, with that, we developed a “Big Sister Bucket List” of sorts.

We started crossing things off our metal list back in April when we hit the beach for the weekend. Then more recently, when Rylee shot her first bow, we hit up her first Em’s Baseball Game {complete with popcorn, a soft pretzel & local ice cream in a batting helmet bowl!} and took her to see her very first movie in a theater {complete with a giant tub of popcorn w/ butter and skittles!}.

 

We’ve been having fun. {and eating a lot!}

Other things on the list include bowling – car camping – kayaking – shooting her gun for the first time. {All per the kid’s request!}

We’ve already got plans in the works for the camping and shooting her gun.

Bowling will be easy.

Now, anyone have a kayak we can borrow?

{Preferably within the next 2 weeks? HA!}

My Own Little Brave

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Y’all have heard about the movie Brave, right? About the red headed archer? I just watched the trailer for the first time a few minutes ago. {Seriously, just watching the trailer I got that HELL YEA YOU GO GIRL! feeling.}

Last weekend among the umpteen other things we had on the agenda, we had to make time to take Rylee to shoot her first bow. And by we had to, I mean there was no ifs-ands-or buts about it. And for a very special reason.

I spent nearly 4 years working for one of the largest bow manufacturers in the world. Through my time there I met a lot of amazing people. One of which, being this guy down below, Ray Howell. He founded a 1-on-1 youth mentoring program based out of Minnesota called Kicking Bear. Over the years, Kicking Bear has grown by leaps and bounds and it is truly just an amazing program.

Anyway, even since I’ve left the bow company I’ve stayed in contact with Ray. When he was in town last summer, we had him over for dinner and at that point he said that he would love to teach Rylee how to shoot her first bow. Well I found out on Friday that he was going to be in town for only the weekend, and working an event at Cabela’s. So Saturday, between the k-9 police competition and my cousin’s graduation party we swung into Cabela’s to see Ray and Rylee got to shoot a bow for the very first time.

 The entire rest of the weekend, that was all Rylee could talk about.

Safe to say, I think she’s hooked.

In related news: I think we’re going to be knocking something off of our baby bucket list this weekend and taking Ry to see her very first movie in the theater!