Busy Weekend

What a crazy busy week it was. Deer hunting season opened last weekend. Grady's 2nd birthday was Wednesday. It was Thanksgiving on Thursday. Friday was Hillary's 35th birthday. The Badgers won a Big Ten Title Saturday. Hunting season wrapped up on Sunday. Christmas decorating got underway last night. As always here are a few pictures from those events.

Friday we headed back out for a day of hunting. The weather was a bit colder as can be seen above.
Even though I had yet to see a Buck, there was sign all around and then...

This guy came out on a drive while 5 of us had him surrounded. It would be the first Buck for the two youngest hunters in our group. Both shot at the same time. He was the only Buck our group of 12 guys would get. In all we took 6 deer.

Friday was also Hillary's birthday and we spent the afternoon and evening at Grandpa and Grandma Lobenstein's where she was surprised with a birthday ice cream cake.

On Saturday the kids visited their Aunt and Uncle Marx. Audra gets a hand from Uncle Rick.
Luke and Gracy keep an eye on Audra.
Audra watches as the boys practice their fencing.
Luke, Audra and Grady hang out before bed time.

Meanwhile Hillary and I hung out with our buddy Bucky for part of her birthday present.
On Wisconsin
The Badgers gave Hillary a Big Ten Championship for her birthday.
Touchdown Wisconsin...Badgers 70, Northwestern 23.
Could a trip to the Rose Bowl be her Christmas Present?
Camp Randall 11-27-10
Sunday Sunrise
Blue Mound State Park is in the distance.
One last trip to the woods to carry out our blinds and to wrap up the 2010 regular gun deer season.
Sunday evening back at home Grady and I settled in to watch a movie.
It turned out that Star Wars was on and he actually wanted to watch it. I can check it off my thing to do with my son list.
"The force is strong with this one."

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. Today Hillary and the kids headed over to Uncle Trevor and Aunt Ashley's home. They hosted Grandma and Grandpa Phelps along with Trevor's family.
Dinner was delicious! Thank you!
Our little Turkeys hang out on the couch after dinner.
Meanwhile I headed into to work today but was able to take a long lunch.
If you are watching the news tonight look for this at the end of the shows...
Gobble Gobble

Happy Birthday to our Grady

After a trip to the pool with Mommy, Grady went to lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Phelps, Aunt Ashley, Mommy and his sister Audra too. It appears camel was on the menu for lunch.
Hillary made cupcakes for Grady to take to school and for his birthday cake. No dirt cake is complete without worms!
Two Candles for our 2 year old!
Audra wasn't too sure about the whole candle process...
...but she sure did like the taste of ice cream Momma gave her.
Mmmm worms.
After supper it was time to open presents. For the first time Grady seemed excited to open presents.
He is making sure to get all the paper off.
Grady in his new Packer helmet playing with his trains.
Audra tries out Grady's helmet.
Happy Birthday little buddy. We Love You!

Deer Hunting 2010

Sunrise over Plain
Another Gun Deer Season opened in Wisconsin. This was from stand early Saturday morning.

A panoramic view from my stand.

Two of the seven doe I would see on opening day.
My cousin Josh took this buck on Sunday in Governor Dodge State park.
Our neighbor Phil's buck he shot up North.
This would be the best I could see on a very foggy Sunday. So foggy I saw no deer.
This was on the table when I got home on Sunday. Not sure if I should look at it as an insult or inspiration.
I hope to get back out a couple more times and find a reason to read it.

Grady's Birthday Party

Sunday we celebrated Grady's 2nd Birthday at a party Hillary planned at the Madison Children's Museum.
Uncle Rick and Cousin Luke arrived early and put up this message for the party goers. (Thank You)
Grandma Barb, Aunt Ashley with Audra, Julie, Mya, Cam and Jenny enjoying the party.
Grandpa Gary and Grandpa Randy guarding the coats!
After playing, it was time for treats. Grady digs in. He apparently was hoping for bacon.
Treats might be the only way to get kids to stop playing and come to one room.
Audra was wiped out from all the fun. Thanks to everyone for holding her for us.
Grandpa says bye to Audra.
Cousins! Actually they would be my cousin's kids. Tyler, Jackson, Kaila and Audra.
Grandma Barb and Audra making plans for June 5th.
The Party People, Grandpa Randy, Caleb, Ally, Cam, Chloe, Luke, Tyler, Jackson, Kaila, Grady, Mya, Aunt Colleen and Audra.

Grady would like to thank everyone for coming and for all the amazing gifts. He hopes everyone can come over to his house some time to "share" his toys with him. Thank You from mom and dad too. We hope everyone had a fun time.

Visiting Bucky's House

Today Grady and I went to the Badger game with our neighbors and friends Paul (Woody) and Missy. Woody and Grady take a picture from our tailgate spot in the parking ramp behind Camp Randall. As you can see it was raining all morning and continued you to do so off and on for most of the game.
The rain wasn't a problem as our seats were in the Varsity Club. It was the perfect place to be on a cold rainy day, especially with a soon to be two year old.
Grady was super happy to get this Bucky sticker and to watch him on the sidelines.
There would be plenty of opportunities to watch Bucky. The Badgers scored 83 points. For each score Bucky did a push up. Total Push Ups 573!
Grady and I want to thank Missy and Woody for bringing us along. Thank You!
Daddy, Grady, Woody, Missy and Grady's new friend Jenny.