Drake and Widgeon Go To The Vet!!!

The boys went into work today to have their annual vaccines and a teeth cleaning. Widgeon has had a mass on his front left arm for a couple months now. We also have been complaining about bad dog breath and nasty teeth for awhile. It was just time to take it off and get those pearly white look like new again. So this morning we headed to work with empty stomachs and sad faces....No big surprises or much exciting happened....however, I am embarrassed that these are my dogs at the moment. Widgeons teeth were disgusting I can't believe I have let them go this long and Drake....oh Mr Drake....fatty...fatty....fatty. He weight 83lbs... twenty pound more than he did last year at this time. While he needed to gain some weight last year after many months of vomiting and diarrhea...I don't think the magic number was twenty. SO...I guess that means we will just have to get out and do some more exploring and excercising (maybe not top off the old cup of food for a few months) Widgeons mass removal went well. He's such a boob though. there are few patients as upset and beside himself as Widgy is. He never want to go in a kennel at work unless he is the patient then he runs and hides...he drools like crazy and wines....poor Mr. Widgeon. I;ll have everyone know he topped the scales at 100 ibls today. I think while I wouldn't call him overweight he needs to get on the doggy treadmill as well. Here are some pathetic pictures of the boys after we got home. The are both in bed and sleeping soundly....Mama won't be too far behind...

Droopy eyes...

Widgeon....looking a little star struck...

Is it bed time yet.... (its been bed time all day)

Mama's handsome not so brave boy

Wheres dinner ma......

Pearly whites...
Chompers back in order....

Mr. Widgeon's sutures from his mass removal

Jen (my office manager/friend at work) put Widgeon's mass on her face and thought it would make a great mole!!! Creepy

Fast asleep....haven't moved since I started writting the blog...not sure where I'm going to fit in to that bed or Robert either when he gets home from poker with the boys....

Happy Easter 2009

What a gorgeous day......it makes me wish school was over that much faster. Robert got up early and made wonderful stuffed mushrooms with pork sausage from the pigs. He also made me breakfast in bed (thick piggie bacon and an apple turn over..mmmmm) We then headed to church were the little kids were just adorable and we spent most of mass whispering about all their outfits. From church we headed over to Jeremy and Michelle's for a wonderful get together with friends and their family. We had ham (from the piggies), turkey, stuffed mushrooms and all the fixings to go along with it. Robert and I helped hide Easter eggs out back for the kids Easter egg hunt. We had just as much fun hiding the eggs as the kids had hunting for them. After a lovely meal outside in the sunshine and a few good laughs we headed home to pick up the boys. Chris and his dog Tux joined us for a drive out to Horseshoe Springs for a early evening dip. Tux has never swam before so the boys quickly initiated him and he picked up the art of splashing around before long.

Robert and Chris

Tux sitting on the bank watching the boys......thinking "I don't know about this guys"

Tux trying to swim but more splashing...

Robert and Chris calling Tux over.

Once he got it down he was flying...(not swimming)

Chris and Tux...love this picture

As some of you may know Widgeon is an avid fisherdog. He takes after his father in that he loves to hunt and fish...he also comes home sorely disappointed and skunked. He has been trying to catch a bass or carp at Horseshoes springs for two years now and spends all his time watching the water then diving in if he sees a fish in the water ( horsehoe springs has very clear water) or if he sees one antagonizing him by jumping. Poor dog....it drives him crazy. He was so close this time and even put his head underwater but came up empty mouthed. He even tried to catch a muskratthat darted into the bank. Poor Widgy...he'll catch one before he leaves Utah. In the mean time it is extremely entertaining to watch and he has so much fun doing it.

Widgeon scanning the water for fish....

Widgeon swimming around looking for fish and muskrats.

I got one......nope I missed

Widgeon, Daddy and uncle Chris looking for the fish...

Mamma stop taking my picture....your interrupting fishing

See ma you made me miss a fish I heard it jump over there (lips flying as head turns)

Drake on the other hand only cares about fetching his rubber floaty stick.....
Stick....stick.....stick

Widgeon and Drake fetching stick

Tux and Drake playing

Handsome man

While the boys were playing and fishing....down at the other end of the springs I found a large group of American Avocets. I suspect they are using the area for breeding, as they typically show back up in March and their breeding season is from April to June. GSL counts of the American Avocet have exceeded 250,000 – greater than any other site within the entire Pacific Flyway. The GSL is an extremely important ecosystem to the American Avocet. I was also able to see non breeding Avocet which have a differing plumage that doesn't display the rust colored head.
Female on right, male on left (females beaks are more turned up)

Flock of American Avocets

Beautiful birds

It was such a wonderful sunny day. I even got sun burnt during the hour we were at the springs. It was great to get some fresh air and relax after a long week of exams and rain. These pictures make me long for more nice weather, camping, hiking and spending weekends at the lake.....makes it hard to study. At least the boys got out some energy before they are locked up in the house all week while I study.....speaking of I need to knock this blogging off and get back to it.....Happy Easter everyone...hope your days was as lovely as ours.

This about says it all....Drake and his stick.....Widgeon wouldn't look at camera he's too busy fishing.....Tux's head coming into view!!!

Happy Birthday 2009

SO this year we had a huge turn out and a wonderful time for our annual birthday dinner. The last couple of years we have gone to PF Changs, but this year opted to go to Stone Ground. After spending the morning trying to get a hold of someone at the restaurant to no avail Robert finally spoke to the manager of Stone Ground who wouldn't take a reservation because it was Friday night and would not accommodate all 20 people in our party. After royaly pissing Robert off, Margo suggested Buca de Beppo's who was wonderful at accommodating us with such short notice and smiling faces. For those of you who do not know what Buca de Beppo's is all about, it is a family style itialian resturant, which makes ordering for 21 people quite the overwhelming task. We all had to agree on a few dishes and someone has to take charge to get the descsions made and everyine happy. We had a wonderful time and had great company. It is so great to be able to get 21 of our closest friends together and have a night of catching up and fun. Thanks you all for making it such a joyous celebration with lots of laughs. For those of you who couldn't be here to celebrate my 25th and Roberts 28th here are the pictures. ( the only ones not on here anr Brian, who bought me some gorgeous roses and Chris) See you all next year.....if we are here in SLC.

Robert, Gadas, Chris, Ryan and Kelsey waiting to be seated!!!!

Janice and Annette
Thanks Margo for putting together such a great night!!!! Can't wait to go to the Melting Pot!!!
Kevin King and his girlfriend. Sorry Kev. I'm bad with names just means we need to hange out with you two more!!!!
Wouldn't be a birthday with out a pictureof me and Kevin. At least I don't have umbrella's in my hair in this one!!!
Janice and Aaron Hamm
Drew and Allese Smith

Gadas and Annette

Tim and Monica

Ryan and Kelsey Frisbee
Erin and Kyle Evans

Everyone signig Happy Birthday...robert and I fighting over the candel

MMM...cake

Pig Hunt Corine,Utah

Robert is so excited to be sharing these pictures with you. River Bend Trophy Hunts offers a guided pig (half farrel half Russian boar) hunt in Corine Utah and after several years of wishing Robert got together Kyle Evans, Chris Andersen, and Jeremy Shaw to start saving their pennies and after several months of planning the date was finally here. Like kids anticipating the holidays, the guys spent their free time this week sighing in guns and bows, buying new gear(arrows, bow strings, and ammo was all I allowed Robert to buy otherwise he would have owned half of Cabelas) and checking the weather for only a few hours of fun, with a life time of great hunting stories to go along with it. Unfortunately Jeremy had to have shoulder surgery and was not fully recovered enough to shoot a gun but was nice enough to ask another buddy of ours, Gadas to shoot the pig for him and split the meat.

This morning at 8 A.M sharp, 8 of us, Robert, Kyle and Erin (Kyles better looking half), Chris, Jeremy (who wasn't going to miss out on a good time and seeing his pig go down) and his girlfriends son Elijah, Gadas and I piled into two trucks and headed north. With tons B.S. along the way no one in Chris vehicle or Kyles for that matter, noticed till 13 miles past our exit that we were at the I-84/I-15 split off and rapidly approaching the Idaho boarder with few chances to exit and get back on. Before we knew it Chris had the Dodge truck in a sliding illegal U-turn on one of those emergency vehicle only dirt pull outs between the two directions of the freeway and instantly heading south back towards our exit. It was like a scene out of Dukes of Hazard and may I state no one needed to use the little boys/girls room when they got to Bert's Diner for breakfast.

Gadas in the back seat of Chris's Dodge, hung over, but ready to hunt!!!

Erin at Bert's for breakfast.

Kyle hangin' at Bert's ( I actually got a picture!!!)

Jeremy and Elijah drinking coco and coffee, waiting on breakfast.

We spent an hour hangin' at Bert's and eating a delicious breakfast before heading to the Sinclair in Corine to meet our guide, Lee. Worried all week that we were going to get rained on, have horrible winds and eventually have it start snowing, after having 70 weather all week and then seeing Lee pull up in a truck COVERED in mud we were all worried we were in for a muddy day. The ride out to the hunting area covered the two trucks with mud, but at least they looked like country boy trucks instead of city slickers just trying to look cool in their camo. Lucky the weather held of just long enough for the group to find four picks in a bunch. Gadas used a 300 WFS, and shot his pig square between the eyes. Kyle shot his pig using a 50 cal black powder muzzle loader. They both dropped their pigs. Robert and Chris had to work for their two since they were using their bows. Robert shot his from about 25 yards putting his arrow clean through the pig and puncturing his liver and lungs in the process. Even though the pig was fatally wounded her had to shoot again to keep it from going into the Bear River. His second shot landed just behind the ear (right were the guide told the guys shooting guns to aim and telling Robert it was near impossible to hit with a bow) Chris, however, had to shoot 6 times....his sow was stubborn and relentless . The rest of us carried gear, cameras and camcorders and caught the whole thing on film and video. The weather held off just long enough for the guys to get their pigs down and then it started to get windy and sprinkle. Lee gut all the pigs and was extremely grossed out when Gadas asked to take a bite out of his pigs heart to satisfy a $1,000 bet with friend that he wouldn't do it. We caught it all on camera and I think Lee almost threw up. The crazy thing is Chris did it for not money!!!!! Lee was extremely impressed that the guys offered and helped him load the pigs into the truck. The guys were blowin' away that most people wont touch them, no less help load them.

Robert and I waiting in the truck at Sinclair for our guide to show up.

Chris and Robert rarin' to hunt.

Kyle talking to the guide Lee. Love the man purse Kyle it really make the whole man!!!!

Erin.....come on guys lets get going already!!!!

Robert and Chris looking for piggies.....at lest it wasn't to muddy....



Group talking to the guide about where best to shoot the pigs.

Spotin' piggies....Gadas, Chris and guide Lee

Kyle and Gadas getting ready to shoot

Strategizing

Robert taking his first shot on his pig with his bow

Chris taking his last shot on his pig, me taking video and Robert standing by

Jeremy and Elijah with Kyle's pig

Chris's pig with last arrow stickin' out.

Robert and me with his pig

Gadas found Robert first arrow that went through the pig puncturing lungs and liver

One of Chris's broadheads

Robert with his pig

Another good pic

Gadas with his pig

Chris with his pig...... Swiss cheese

Kyle with his pig and he is actually smiling

Gadas official piggie picture

Group shot with Kyles pig

Kyle and Erin together

Robert, Jeremy, and Elijah with Jeremy/ Gadas' pig after being gutted

Celebrating the victory

Elijah was so interested and thought the whole experience was cool

Guide, Lee asking Gadas if he is sure about eating this heart

Gadas diving in...he actually thought it taste pretty good and took four bites!!!!

Victory and where is my thousand buck buddy!!!!

Another great pick of Robert

and another

Lee gutting Roberts pig

Chris and his pig again

Can you believe it Chris ate his heart too...but no money involved crazy kids....

Proof....blood on his lip

Pigs in back of Lee's truck

Victory beers.....

Robert and his pig head

Gadas gets sickest picture of the day award...in more ways then one..... knid of distturbing like load of the fliesRobert at the butchers in the freezer

Group shot in front of butchers shop

All in all it was an exciting day. The guys had fun and can't wait for the meat and skulls back in several weeks. Thanks River Bend Trophy Hunts and Lee for making this day so awsome and memorable......we will be back for bigger pigs!!!!!!!

I compiled a movie of video and film footage fromt he hunt. I hope you enjoy.....There are a few typos I have no intention of going back and fixing since this process is time cinsuming. Gadas shot his pig with a 300 WFS and Erin's last name is Evans

If you want to check out what River Bend Trophy Hunts has to offer visit www.riverbendhunts.com