Family Vacation to Michigan

This Thanksgiving we went home for the holiday. We left early in the morning on Saturday the 17th. Ray began driving as I got my beauty sleep. Then I drove through the Virginia's to Ohio, and Ray took over and drove us in to Michigan. Before going to my dads house, Ray had a great idea to stop in at the mall to eat at the food court just like we did when we were newly-weds. As we entered the mall we noticed everything had changed and little do you know they took the Chinese food out with leaving the pizza place, subway, and some sit down restaurant. Nothing really looked up to par with us so we decided to leave and head to my dads house with getting McDonald's on the way (wasn't the best dinner but the fries were delicious).

We made it to my dad's safely enough time for conversation then it was time for bed so we could get up early for church. 

Sunday got up to my dad making me breakfast (eggs and bacon) which was very delicious. Then it was off to Crystal Lake Church. My dads church is small but the kind of style I'm used to. We actually saw a few people we went to high school. It felt weird when people within the church were asking us thanks for visiting when we grew up here but I guess we are visitors now. 

After a wonderful church service we went the McAlvey's for lunch. It was AMAZING! Everything was home made, the table was full of about 12 people and most of all it felt like home. The food was great as well as the company. Later we played with the kids before their naps, and played a card game with the adults before going to my sisters. Thanks to the McAlvey's for invite and for the wonderful meal. We hope to see y'all again soon! 

Now its about 3 PM and its time to head to my sister's house in Lansing. Its been close to a year since I've seen her so I was pretty pumped and so were her kids. We finally arrived and the kids were so excited their Aunt Bubba and Uncle Ray were there to see them and to take them out. Yeah that's right take them out. We all went to Chuckie Cheese for a few hours to let the kids have fun and to have good food. After all our tokens were out and the kids were drained it was time to leave. My sister had a great idea of seeing the Christmas tree downtown. The city decorates it different each year and being that it is in front of the capital its really beautiful. The kids really enjoyed it but before you know it, it was cold and it was time for both us to be heading back home. We were staying with my dad since I was going hunting in the morning and Ray was gonna be off visiting with his family. 

Monday was spent relaxing with my dad and spent deer hunting. We got up early to go deer hunting. We got in the shack in plenty of time. As the sun rose we had our binoculars up hoping we would spot a deer or a few. We did about 7:30 it was a buck a small buck we think it was on our feeder but did come into the bait. Shortly after the fog began to roll in and we couldn't see as far as 20-30 yards. But before we got out of our shack a doe fawn ran in to the bait. That was all we saw in the morning. 

Went back at night to sit in a different shack on the field. It was warmer today so we knew the deer wouldn't be moving till later but we get there early not knowing where we would be since it depended on the wind. Being where we were that night we could of waited at home longer but I was okay with getting their early since it gave my dad and I more quality time in the deer shack. 

About 4:30 we saw our first deer, it was a doe fawn (thinking it was the same doe fawn we saw that morning). It came right in to the bait and started eating. I felt bad for her because she was all alone, I was hoping one of the does would take her in so she wouldn't be alone. She didn't stay long and left. About 5PM all the does came running out of the forest to our open field. It was cute because they were chasing each other and playing. Then between 5:15-5:20 a buck stepped out. As soon as I saw it was a buck my legs started to shake and my heart began to race. I said dad "should I get my gun up"? He said "Yeah go ahead". Well the buck was pass our 100 yard marker, as I got my gun up I asked if I should shoot him, and dad replied with no he will come in to the bait and he will give you a better shot. So I listened and dad was right, he came in closer, right into the bait, started making a scrap and as he turned to give me a clean shot, I pulled the trigger. I was so nervous hoping that I made a clean shot and that he was down. Dad knew he was down from my shot but being that I haven't been hunting in 2 years I was more nervous. 

We walked over to where I shot the buck by looking at the ground it was guts and corn. So we decided to let him lay for awhile to make sure we didn't jump him and that he was going to be dead. Seeing this and knowing this made me more nervous about not finding him, but I knew that my dad was making the right decision. We went back in the woods about 8:30 PM and began tracking. The buck didn't have the best blood trail but it was getting us closer to finding him. He took us through the thickest brush, briers you can imagine. Finally the last 60 yards was good blood and he was down and dead! Which made me relieved and very excited I bagged a buck my 2nd set of being in the Michigan woods! 

Tuesday morning we slept in due to it being foggy and I needed my sleep from being out late from tracking. We were back out in the woods about 2:30-3:00. It was warmer tonight knowing that the deer wouldn't move in till late but we needed to be there early since we were setting in the woods. About 4:30 we saw our first deer which was a doe and a doe fawn. They came in right to the bait but the doe was skid-dish  she ran and hid behind the brush leaving the fawn eating. We knew the wind kept switching, we hoped this wouldn't ruin our set. About 15 minutes later 2 does come up from the swamp in to the feeder, one makes it to the feeder and the other one spots me in the shack and stares at us for at least 15 minutes (at least it felt like it) then she ran back to the swamp. Shortly after the other doe ran after her too. As the sun begins to go down I have my binoculars up, hoping were going to see another deer. Little do you know I saw movement, it was a buck, a big buck. My dad got his binoculars up and we were both shaken up and hoping he would give me a good shot. I got my gun up right away. The buck came in walking toward me, started eating the bait, behind a tree and wouldn't turn to give me a shot. Now in the mean time it is getting darker and hes not moving. I keep saying move, turn, come on move, please just move! Finally, it seemed like an hour later he turned and I shot immediately. As I pulled the trigger my arm hit my dads and he wasn't sure where I hit the deer. So he had his binoculars up trying to see where the deer went in order to for tracking. I was concerned I messed up because I was so nervous and my heart was racing so fast. Dad saw him through the binoculars but didn't know why he wasn't running because he ran about 20 yards stopped and sat down while moving his horns around. Again he knew he was a dead deer but wanted to let he lay in case he did get up. So we went back in about 7:30 with his buddy Kevin. We found one drop of blood and my dad says "There he is"! What a relief, the biggest buck of a hunting career I kill it when I'm 26! I was so excited.

Wednesday was our 1st Thanksgiving dinner, at my sisters house. We tried to get their early enough to help her with everything. Being that it was foggy made it harder to get there sooner but we made it safely. Before arriving at my sisters we had to stop at the grocery store to pick up dessert (Meijer's famous Pumpkin Pie) since I didn't have to bake. We arrived to the wonderful smell of turkey, dressing, mashed/sweet potatoes, a full spread of veggies, cheese, shrimp and more. She did a wonderful job and everything was wonderful! 

Thursday-Happy Thanksgiving, Ray and I went for morning run before going to his sisters for lunch. Not sure how far we went but did the route twice. Then we took a cool down walk around town while taking pictures. 

After our run, we had to get ready to go to Ray's sisters house for lunch and a family photo. It was so nice reuniting with the family and everyone was congratulating me on my buck I shot! After dinner, Ray's sister Marie showed everyone how to make your own Christmas wreath. At first it was difficult but after awhile it was fun. 

Friday was a lazy day for us, being that it was black Friday and snowing our goal was to not go anywhere before our road trip on Saturday. We slept in till about 8, and my wonderful mother-in-law made us breakfast. Around lunch time Ray's sisters came over to play games and quality time. We had our favorite Main Street Pizza for dinner, could not go home without having it! We all had a great time and hope that it won't be another 6 months to year before we see y'all. 

We got up early Saturday morning to get on the road back home to South Carolina. Before getting on the road we stopped at my dads house first to get my deer meat, my horns, and to say goodbye. Thank you to all our family for making our trip wonderful! We hope to see y'all again soon! 

Us back home safely