Daddy's going to shoot stuff.

Neal's gone hunting this weekend in Georgia. Hunting, you say? Neal?

Ya, I know. Whenever people hear that Neal grew up the son of a cattle rancher, and spent his summers working with cows on horseback on a ranch in Kansas, they have a hard time believing it. One friend said to me once, "But Neal's so . . . urban!" "Yes, well, that's my influence," I joked. :)

So Mr. Animal Lover himself has gone hunting with his three brothers and his dad, none of whom enjoy animals as much as Neal does. He went on trips like this as a boy, but hasn't "shot a gun since high school." That doesn't sound very good, does it. He practiced at the shooting range last weekend with a friend, so as not to embarrass himself among his more seasoned (with guns) brothers. He went to the sporting goods store in search of hunter-crowd-friendly clothing (including some new, slightly tighter jeans). It's all a bit comical to me, as you can see: picturing Neal out there in the wild, taking aim at a small bird, and the manliness of it all. The fact that Neal's going to shoot quail (those cute little birdies with the little feather sticking out of the top of their heads) is really bothersome to Audrey. Not so bothersome to Parker, who really would have liked to go.

I can't wait to hear how it goes. He gets back on Sunday.

On another note, I am very respectful of all you wives who send your husband away on business for days at a time (MOM, my whole life!). I'm so not looking forward to him being gone. Not so much for my own self (I'll be fine with the all the kids, especially since my parents arrive here in about an hour), I just WORRY! I run scenarios through my head of all the things that could happen and how I would deal with it, what would we do IF, etc. It's not good, but all I know is, I can't wait to see that boy on Sunday. :)