Deer Hunting Weekend

       Each November, for I don't know how many years, Sara comes home for the weekend when Colby goes deer hunting.  For quite a few years it was just Sara, then it was Sam and Sara and then it was Sam, Mac and Sara.  Sam finally was allowed to go along for the annual deer hunt and it was Mac, RaiLee and Sara who came for the annual deer hunting weekend.  
      The weekends were always fun with time spent entertaining the grandkids and eating lots of good food.  Sara and I would try to spend some time purging through the mounds of junk and cleaning the house for the holidays.  We would also take some time to figure out Christmas gifts and maybe even go do some shopping.  
         That first year that Sam went hunting and Mac had to stay with Rai was a bit of a problem.  There was some rivalry between the two little ones and we made an attempt to keep things calm - we actually bribed Mac and agreed to pay him if he didn't make Rai mad.  In hindsight, that maybe wasn't completely fair because it was pretty easy to make Rai mad but Mac had a pretty short fuse too!   Another problem with the money thing was Mac didn't really care about money so it wasn't much of an incentive to  not piss off Rai.   Some deer hunting weekends were more chaotic than others when the grandkids became involved.
      Then four years ago, Gracyn was born into the family and Mac turned six.   Turning six was a big deal, making Mac eligible to go on the annual deer hunting weekend and thus making the weekend an annual girls weekend getaway!
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Click here to view gallery of photos of "Annual Deer Hunting - Girls Getaway Weekend" from 2015 through 2018    

 

​       We just had our "annual deer hunting - girls weekend getaway" from November 15 through the 17th and it was Sara, Gracyn, RaiLee and Me with drop ins from daughter Ramie - who had to work various shifts during the three day weekend.

          We did the usual.  Friday was purging in the play room, a short walk, followed later in the night by pizza and a movie.  It was a late night on Friday and an early morning on Saturday.   Miss Gracyn joined me in bed for a little snuggle while her Mom took Rai shopping for donuts.  

          After a sugary breakfast and a lot of coffee, Sara headed to the grocery store to stock up on game food.  We decided on cheese pretzels, seven layer dip and hot wings for sure, but I told Sara to surprise me with the rest.   
          Once home and the groceries were put away, we started purging once again.  The play room had gotten cleaned up but the girls were intent on messing it up - so they did.  The whole cleaning, purging, pouting, thing continued for a couple of hours until the game started. 

  We watched the first half of the Nebraska/Wisconsin game with high hopes that Nebraska would come out with a win... and then fixed the game food during the half time break.  The girls focused on creating their best mess before coming upstairs for leftover pizza.  Ramie was able to come over for a bit and join us for snacks - it was good to see her - even for a short time.

      The game food was wonderful - the game... not so much.   The Huskers didn't give up and we fans don't give up either.  Win or lose we support our team!  So after the game, it was time to shake it off and go for a walk.  
         Nothing like picking up litter to snap you out of your game day depression - suddenly you are focusing on the assholes who can't seem to figure out how to find a garbage can and before you know it, you hardly resent Wisconsin at all.  Sara, Gracyn and Rai went their own way and I concentrated on removing the trash littering the block faces surrounding my house.  
        Sara managed to get her steps in, Rai rode her bike all over the neighborhood and Gracyn enjoyed a long ride in her stroller, seeing all kinds of new sights .  They toured the May Museum grounds and even ventured on to the Linden School playground.  They were gone a long time and were hungry when they got back.
          We do a lot of food on the "annual deer hunting, girls weekend getaway".  So Saturday night was designated "Gringo's" night.  We weren't sure what we were going to eat but strawberry margaritas were a must!    It was another late night and not quite so early  Sunday morning.  
        Sara made cinnamon French toast and eggs for brunch and we finished up the purging and pouting.  With the cleaning finally completed, it was time for the girls to mess things up.  Sara and I spent some time looking online for Christmas gifts and trying to figure out what I would do.  
         Sara and I had thought it was a good idea to follow the four gift rule.  1. Something they want.  2. Something they need.  3.  Something to wear.  4. Something to read.  Ya that isn't working out so well... maybe next year.
         Sunday was a nice day so we cleaned up the play room one more time, I put a chicken in the oven to bake, and we went outside to play in the back yard.  The girls and Sara made mud/sand pies and other concoctions in the outdoor kitchen while I  put up the Christmas lights.  
          Later in the afternoon we had a big Sunday meal.  It wasn't long after, Sara and Gracyn were on the road, heading back to Ceresco.  Colby had called and said they hadn't gotten their deer - oh poo.  
          Sam shot a deer last year - that's him with the deer.   He tried to shoot a buck last weekend but missed.  The kid is a pretty good shot so I figured something must be wrong with his rifle.  

        They didn't get a deer but I did end up getting a cleaner play room with less toys.  Sara also made a real difference in Rai's room.  My house has less clutter, but I did gain three pounds in three days, I got my Christmas lights up outside and I actually cooked a chicken. 
       Nebraska didn't win but the area around my house has less litter.  My girls have beautiful fingernails - each a different color.  Sara and I had a chance to talk and I had bunches of snuggles with my granddaughters.  It was a great time - our "annual deer hunting - girls weekend getaway" for 2019 is in the books.  

        At the end of the weekend, I took a few pictures of the clean playroom.  I felt the need to document the success of the purge.  I'm really pleased that the vacuum cleaner found a place in the toy closet.  
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