Confessions from Carley: December 2008

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Last week was a wonderful week for me! First, my neice was born on Monday! Here's a picture of sweet baby Sarah Kate.

The next day, I went to Arkansas for the first time and met Brad's family. We had such a good time. This was the first time I've ever spent a holiday away from my family, so I was a bit homesick at times, but I managed. I definitely miss seeing my neice and nephew. I'm overdue for a visit!!

We left on Tuesday afternoon and drove for 11 hours. We arrived in Arkansas Wednesday morning around 2 a.m. Around 3:30 a.m., Brad went duck hunting with some other family members. They got back around 1 and we (me and brad, his brother and his girlfriend and his dad) loaded up our stuff to go deer hunting. yes, I went hunting! What's happened to me? haha! I've become a city-fied country girl! I actually killed my first deer that night. That was definitely not something I ever thought I'd do in my entire life! I was pretty impressed with myself though. We were only allowed to shoot doe where we were (I know some of you are thinking I'm awful for killing a doe!) but it was really population control - they had way too many on their land and all the doe were not getting bred. Anyways, I actually hit her with my first shot. For someone who's only shot a gun twice for target practice, I was very surprised I hit her! Actually everyone that was in a stand killed a deer. Brad and I were in the same stand since I'm not an expert hunter (and don't want to be!). So we had a great night - but it was really long! Brad only got 5 hours of sleep that night (in 48 hours) before he was up again to go hunting. He finally got some sleep Thursday night/Friday morning.

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. His family came over to their farm and we all hung out on the porch eating and having a good time. Friday we hung out at the farm until we went about an hour away to go to another town where they have a place on the River. This is where they go duck hunting (I still don't understand all the different places!) Saturday, Brad's mom and I met up with the guys and went to this huge outdoors store called Mack's Prairie Wings where they had this huge annual festival, including the national duck calling contest. This place was about 2 hours away from the river (3 hours from Brad's house). Sunday, Brad went duck hunting again while his mom and I went to a little country church near the River. It was cute, but definitely not New City! I miss my church! Brad took a little nap after lunch and we hit the road around 4 p.m. It was a long ride home, but we finally (and barely!) made it back in Macon around 3 a.m. I felt like we drove the entire time we were in Arkansas - I can't even tell you all the cities we went to! So, it was nice to finally get back home. I'm so glad we're flying at Christmas. Just 3 weeks and we'll be out there again!! :)

Here are some pictures from our trip. Have a great week!