Robots and broken hearts

Right out from under us...that is how it feels. The rug was pulled and we hit the ground. The wind was knocked out of us... and our hearts are weeping. Yet, it still feels so unreal...like we will wake up tomorrow and realize it was just a bad dream. She is gone... all that is left is the unfinished scrabble games I had going with her and those are slowly fading away as the time goes on. The photos from Christmas that I keep trying to look at without crying, and the amazing memories she left us with. She was incredibly fashionable, incredibly witty, very well spoken, and so very full of love. She honestly was pretty close to perfect. She was everything I wish I could be. She made you feel so loved from the minute you met her. We would spend hours on the phone. She told me stories about her life and her love...My favorite was how Clair came out of the bedroom every morning, to her sitting in her chair and he always said "Dot, you are so beautiful" I am so glad that she is getting to hear that again. I would guarantee you that those were his first words to her when they met in Heaven. 

She missed him so much, and yet she was so strong for the rest of us. 

I am honored that she asked me to take this photo for her. I was even more honored when she said she really loved it, a few days later. I wish I would have known that conversation would be our last. 

I love you grandma Dot. Thank you for loving me. I needed  your support the last few years and you made my life so much better. 

I hope you tell Clair that we smoked the boys at cards before you left;-)

The hardest thing so far has been not being able to call and tell you about Matt and his robotics tournament...

You know all those super early mornings that I complained to you about? They paid off!! Matt and his team rocked it at the tournament yesterday. 

 This is his team ...minus one

 Only two can run the robot in each event. The team rotates. This is Matt and his friend James running it for round 2. 

 They ended up going head to head against the other Byron team for the face off. There was a tie and they had them face off again! It was really fun seeing both teams cheer for each other!

Matt's team won overall. They had the highest team of the tournament! They will be heading to the state competition up in the cities. 

Here is a photo you would have loved. I am sad that he lost one of his biggest fans. He was very lucky to get to know you. There are not many kids who have had the chance to know their great grandma the way he got to know you. He will forever remember you and your amazing sense of humor.

I think we all thought you would live forever...

The dance

Matt had his first dance on Friday. The boys all acted like they did not care...however, this is the first time I have seen them all in jeans since 4th grade. They were all smiles after so it must have went well. 

The Pheasant Hunt

 Matt found his dream sport on Saturday

 He was invited by Tri-County Pheasants Forever to a special youth hunt. This is the youth coordinator for the chapter. He was really amazing. I can see why they have won an award something like 5 years in a row.

 The day started out with a round of trap. However, this was not normal trap. It was a in the field kind of trap. It was a lot harder than Matt expected. He got a nice bruise on his cheek from it.

 Then it was time to hit the field. It was a pretty warm day. I loved this but I guess the dogs don't do so well. This is Dave giving his buddy a drink of water.

 This is the oldest dog Korby. Matt loved her.

 This was Matt right before he shot his bird. I missed that. I really want another shot at this. It took a bit to learn when to be ready for the birds to fly up.

 Why is he all smiles???

He had just shot his first pheasant!

 All three boys did.

 Korby was excited too! 

 I really loved being around the dogs. I know they were working but this was the break time. 

 Korby was very well behaved.

 Of course Matt was all about the dogs too.

 Seriously! What an amazing group of men. They spent an entire Saturday away from family to share the sport with these there. I am forever grateful! 

 Proud boy and proud dog! She helped him bag it.

 It had a 22" tail. I guess that is great in pheasant world. 

 This guy showed Matt how to clean it to save the cape for Fly Tying. This really got Matt excited. 

 Nice to know this won't be going to waste. The meat was so good too! I really want more pheasant.

Yes, that was one very happy kid. He talked and talked and talked about it. 

Sometimes you just have to realize how incredible it is to have strangers take time out to share something they love. 

He will never forget this day.

Camp Life

 Mike and Matt were fortunate enough to attend Antelope Camp together this year. Mike has found that he enjoys being the camp historian as much as hunting. I love knowing that Matt will always have amazing memories in print of this time with dad.

This is the main tent. They guys are hardly roughing it with Satellite TV and some of the best food they have ever ate.

 Then there are the sunsets over the distant Montana mountains.

 Or there is the chance to shoot your BFF shotgun for 4 days straight. 

 He really loves his gun. 

That small hill they are on is what is called a dike. They are about to jump in in search of ducks to shoot. 

Matt shot a Mallard and it was promptly cooked up at camp! 

Now the count down starts for next year. 

7th Grade...

He is

Braver than I ever was

Really into Trap 

Good at baseball

Not afraid to voice his opinion

Not worried about what others think of him

Always making us proud.

getting so old...

Finding his passion

Tonight was a perfect fall night.

 Matt got to shoot trap, and I just got to shoot.

 He is off to a great start too! He shot 19 on his first round and 22 on his second round. Not bad for one of the youngest members on the team. 

 Better yet... look at that smile! I think he like this.

Yeah... you know you have issues when your trunk has more spent shotgun shells than the garbage can at a trap club. 

Did I mention he is also selling knives for a fundraiser for trap... 

and so it begins...

 Last night was the first official night of the Trap team. It was impressive to see 39 kids come out and shoot. What was even more impressive is how efficient, safe, and organized everything was.

 There is Matt shooting second with two coaches behind him. As a mom it made me feel really good to see so many eyes on the young shooters. 

 He was totally in his element.

 This was his first round. He shot a 17.  He went on to shoot a 19 in the next round. Not bad for his first week!

 This kid on the left was an impressive shooter. He was shooting a perfect round until missing the last bird. It was awesome to see the support and heartbreak felt by the men that were there helping. I think they felt the sting of missing the last bird more than the kid. 

The cabin

Growing up Mike's family had a small cabin. He spend many summer days and nights there. It was a very important part of his childhood. They sold the cabin a few years after Mike and I met. There is another cabin not far from there that we were lucky enough to have been granted access to. It was a huge blessing and we are so grateful! 

 There is a little stream that leads the way to the cabin

 the view is nothing compared to the smell... fresh crisp mountain air filtered with pine trees and spring water. 

 The neighbors were a bit nosey though.

 and the road in is less traveled than most

 and the constant traffic noise... it is babbling!

 and the shower... Oh, the shower!!

This is the view from inside the shower! 

 see the steam rising from the hot water... There was something magical about showering outside in the  mountains. It was my all time favorite shower in all my 40 years on this earth!

Then there was of course the outhouse. It was actually not to bad at all. It had electricity. It was only slightly frightful if you had to pee at 3:30 in to morning... However, something about knowing this made my have to pee at 3:30 in the morning a lot!

As we were cleaning up and getting ready to leave I found this poem on the wall. It was so completely perfect even 50 years later.

The best part was giving Matt a memory in a place that his dad, his grandpa, his great grandpa, and his great uncle Cal and numerous other relatives, already had so many. 

Thank you so much C&J! You have blessed our family!