Field Trip to the Dinosaur Museum

Our family took a field trip to the Dinosaur Museum in Fruita, CO yesterday. Mike had never been before, and Hunter can never get enough of dinosaurs. We especially enjoyed the interactive displays - the earthquake simulator, excavating dinosaur bones (reproductions, of course), and getting squirted by a robotic dinosaur were some of our favorite things.

 

 

 

 

Autumn Photos

 

Mike's Mountain Goat Hunt

I just returned from my Mountain goat hunt. It was the toughest hunt of my life. A couple of times I feared for my life and was praying all the way up (and back down!) that steep mountain. It took 4 hours to climb to the top where the goats were. On the backside of the mountain where I had to climb, there was snow. I had to lean on both my rifle and shooting stick to be able to lift my foot to take another step. I had to pick small rock out-croppings to get a foothold. It got so bad, I could not turn around and go back down, so I had to go up. When I finally reached the top, I spotted 6 goats bedded down, 258 yards away. I shot the only billy in the group. First shot was a double-lung hit. I was afraid he would fall 1,000 feet down the mountain, so I shot again hitting him in the shoulder. He fell and rolled a couple of times before stopping. Then the work continued. After skinning him, I put him in my pack. I wrapped the meat in a trash bag and my coat because I was not making another trip up the mountain. So, with about an extra 125 lbs. I found a wash, and slid down the other side of the mountain because it was impossible to stand up. And I feared for my life again. It was a hunt I will never forget. The pictures do not do these mountains justice. It was incredibly steep. (NOTE FROM WIFE: It's a good thing this was a once-in-a-lifetime hunt because I don't think I could let him do this again. Way to nerve-wracking!)

Here I am with the goat back at camp. I forgot to take the camera with me on the hunt.

The goats were in the saddle between the two peaks.

Here is a photo of where I was when I shot my Mountain Goat. I was at the very peak - 13,000+ feet.

Happy Autumn!

Today is the first day of Fall, and the weather has finally cooled down here in Colorado. Last night it got down into the 30's, and the kids and I are wearing sweaters today! We love to celebrate things - so, of course, we are celebrating the beginning of our favorite season. So far today we have made leaf pictures, caramel apples, and pear bread. (Sorry no pictures - I need to get new batteries for my camera:( After lunch, we're going to Big B's to get some freshly pressed apple cider - YUM! We are leaving this Friday to go camping/hunting for Mike's once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat hunt. Hopefully we'll be posting some pictures soon!

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Brad and Brenda - Anna is beautiful! And to Matt and Lyndi - I hope you'll bring your little guy to visit us in Colorado!

Mike's Bear

 

 

 

 

I filled my bear tag this morning on the mountain behind our house. I had to make a 500 yard shot. The bear weighed close to 300 pounds. My friend, Jamie, is here from Missouri with some friends to hunt, and he got to be with me for my bear hunt. A big thanks to Jamie and the guys for helping me get it out.

Unit 66 - Camping/Scouting Trip

We went camping last week in Unit 66, where Mike and his dad will elk hunt in October. The kids had a great time rock climbing, and trying to kill squirrels and chipmunks with the throwing sticks Daddy found for them. (I know - we're a bloodthirsty bunch:) We camped at over 10,000 feet, and on Wednesday night watched the Perseid Meteor Shower while cuddled up around the campfire. It was truly awe-inspiring!

Moose at Cottonwood

While Mike and our friend Lance were scouting for mountain goat, they ran across this bull moose - which is a very big one for Colorado. (For a better view, just click on the picture:)

Cottonwood Lake in Colorado

 

This is a beautiful photo of Cottonwood Lake near where we camped earlier this week. We took a 3 day jaunt over here so Mike could scout for mountain goat. It's about a 4 hour drive from our home.

On Top of the World!

Here are a few pictures that Mike took on one of his scouting excursions near Mt. Princeton. He was hiking at about 13,000+ feet in search of the elusive mountain goat that he plans to hunt in September. Mike says that a person feels very close to God up there.

 

 

 

Ghost Town - St. Elmo, CO

 

Feeding the Chipmunks

While on our camping/scouting trip, we took an afternoon and visited St.Elmo - a ghost town which used to be a silver and gold mining town. There are hundreds of chipmunks and many hummingbirds now inhabiting the town. Feeding the chipmunks was the highlight of the kids' trip!

 

 

 

 

Katie and Hunter at South Cottonwood Creek

 

NY Vacation - Boldt Castle

We were able to have a wonderful visit with my family and friends in Upstate NY for 10 days in June. Here are a few pictures of our day trip to the 1,000 Islands to see Boldt Castle. Boldt Castle was built around 1903 but was never quite completed - such a sad story. 77 years later restoration began on the never lived-in castle.

 

On our way to the 1,000 islands, we stopped to look at this neat osprey nest!

 

Here is a view of Boldt Castle from across the St. Lawrence River. We were waiting to board the ferry that would take us to the castle.

 

This building is called the "Playhouse". There is a bowling alley in the basement!

 

The kids (mine and my brother Greg's) posing on a rock with the clock tower in the background.

Picnicking at Beaver Reservoir

 

Our first family outing (in June) after I finally began to feel better. It was a long haul, but I'm back to relative normalcy. (My friends would question this:)

Ear Update

Just a quick update on my ear - Mike and I leave tomorrow for Denver for my pre-op visit. My surgery is scheduled for 2:30 on Wednesday afternoon. I'm not certain of all the details but do know that the surgeon will be removing scar tissue which is now closing off my ear canal; replacing my thickened eardrum with a skin graft; removing a (possible) clostiotoma from behind my eardrum; removing alot of extra bone that has grown in my middle ear; possibly replacing my stapes-incus prosthesis; and giving my middle ear a thorough cleaning. Hopefully everything is OK in my inner ear. He won't know for sure until he gets in there. I'm quite nervous about it all, as I don't do well with the pre-surgery routine. Usually I pass out or go into shock after getting the IV. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated:) Recovery time is about 3 weeks. My mom has been here for almost 2 weeks now helping out, and she will stay for another week following my surgery. What a blessing she has been!

Mike's Spring Turkey

 

 

 

After several truly grueling days of turkey hunting, Mike finally shot his turkey this morning. (I'll try to persuade him to write more details later on:) Congratulations to my husband! We had a delicious turkey stir-fry tonight for supper.

Happy Birthday Weekend

Hunter turned 5 years old on Saturday!

 

Hunter and Katie on Easter Sunday morning.

 

 

Katie hugging Daddy after she sees her birthday present:)

 

200 Inch Mule Deer Sheds

 

Finally, after several years of antler hunting, and many, many miles of hiking, I finally found a big set. Each antler scores 90 inches, with an inside spread of 20", making this a 200" buck! And I'm going to be buck hunting this unit this Fall:)

I Have Returned!

Sorry for the VERY long hiatus. I haven't actually been anywhere - except to Denver to the ear specialist and the hospital for a CT Scan. Other than that, I have been hidden away here in my home with an overwhelming case of dizziness. I haven't been able to drive anywhere by myself for 6-7 weeks. To say that this was getting really old would be a considerable understatement! (My husband quite agrees - he despises going to the store!) But I should have the results in the next day or so, and my Mom is coming to rescue me in 9 days - yeah! "Rescue" in the sense of helping clean my house, take care of my sorely neglected children, relieve my overworked husband, and give me some much needed adult, female companionship! (Sorry, Mom, but you did volunteer for the job:) Other than my physical ailments, the only other noteworthy excitement was Hunter's broken wrist. It was actually a buckle fracture that he obtained while doing an unsuccessful monkey impersonation - in other words, he fell off the top of the swingset! Never fear, he is already back to his primate practices - some people just never learn! I hope to give you a medical update soon. Until then...