Good Ole' American Boys

I have been blessed to be raised in a good ole' American family.

We love our country.

We love our heritage.

We love our rights and freedoms.

We love our traditions.

So every once in awhile we enjoy all these things piled into one. I love hanging out with  my dad and my brother and just being one of the guys. I love these times. They have so much strength and wisdom and so much to teach me. Most of the time I just like to sit back and listen to them talk about all the stuff I never take the time to think about. 9 times out of 10 it's sports and politics (which is exactly why I don't take the time to think about them. Those two things interest me less than rocket science) but even with that I am still learning.

This time Mom was in San Diego taking care of an ever-growing, incredibly sick, and pregnant Kattie. 

So it was just the 3 of us. We drove out to Ben Avery to dust off some old rifles and give Dad's new Smith & Wesson a try.

I had never shot a handgun before. It was a little nerve wracking at first, but I quickly got over it and got a little power hungry. I was quite the Annie Oakley. In fact, I was the best shot out of the 3 of us for awhile. (Please observe the target to the far right. Yeah, that bad boy is mine)

But I quickly got a taste of humble pie when it was time for the rifles. We stood up on some platforms and were shooting clay disks. My first shot and the gun literally kicked me off the platform. I forgot how hard of a kick those suckers can punch. 

Round 2

I'm down again...What the crap???

Finally, after they stopped laughing, the guys gave me some advice and I sort of got the hang of it. I wasn't as good with the moving, flying disks as I was propped up on some blocks aiming at an unmoving target, but I still had a blast.

Next morning I noticed a very impressive bruise on my shoulder. I came down to show it off to Oliver.

Turns out he had one too...only his was in a very different spot. Notice how my bruise is basically on my arm - just above the bulging bicep? Yeah, WRONG spot to have the butt of the gun. No wonder that thing was kicking me around!!!! Next time, tuck her into more of the shoulder/collar bone area. Then we'll see who's laughing :D