Catch of the Day...

Image by Luke Brookes

Last Friday night on the Connecticut Shoreline...
the sea was a swelling and a storm was a brewing...
2 brave fisherman, the Tall One and his Dad, "Grand",
decided to brave it and head out by boat in their quest to 
catch the winning fish for the Annual Wesson Family Fishing Tournament.

At 10:30 at night, the Tall One was a bit hesitant..
BUT
Adventure Seeker "Grand" pushed onward and yelled "bring the boy!"
The Monster being a mere 2 steps away from being dressed in his cozy pj's, grabbed his rod and the trio set off for the dock.

In the darkest of nights and not a star in the sky, 
3 generations of Wesson men waited patiently for the first bite...
They waited...and waited... and waited...

FINALLY..
there was a bite...
a rather BIG bite..
The Monster carefully with all his might...
reeled her in..

Flashlights and a tape measure came whirling out...
Could it be a keeper?

 

 Image by Gay Wesson

Absolutely!!!

37 inches my friends!!

Triumph!! 

 But as my Great Aunt always said,

"one cannot keep a fish unless you know how to clean it"

 Image by Gay Wesson

So that's exactly what he did...

A day and a night went by and no other fisherman had caught a mightier fish...

So with the help of a magic chef, Cousin Dave, they honored the fish in a glorious feast...

at the Big Table..

with stories about the one that got away...

and how The Monster battled, caught and won

The Annual Wesson Family Fishing Tournament!

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

 Needless to say..I am one proud Mama..
Yes..he won..
yes..he is the first kid to be on the trophy
BUT 
it's really about the other lessons learned..

1. You never know until you try.
2. You are never too old or too young to take risks.
3. Family is important.
4. Grandparents can be much more fun than parents.
5. One cannot achieve great success without the help of others. 
6. All our dreams can come true, 
if we have the courage to pursue them. 
-Walt Disney
 So I say HOORAY to my 3 generations of Wesson men, who each won an award...
BUT 
who also won a moment and a memory that will forever change and better their wonderful lives...

Westward Ho...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

A few weeks ago, the Smith & Wesson clans went on the adventure of a lifetime..

We touched down on a mere 7 states in only 9 days!!

We saw AMAZING, LIFE CHANGING, and PURELY MAGICAL things...

Watching a ginormous herd of Buffalo cross the wide open plains of Yellowstone, through a river and walk right in front of us HAD to be the highlight of the trip!!

A HUGE thanks to my parents for gifting our family this glorious adventure!!

But there was definitely one highlight on this trip that truly only a mother's heart could understand.

It happened on the first leg at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. We had just entered our first gift shop (there were about 5,000 after that) and the Monster was determined to find some sort of souvenir...

It was a hot mess of rocks, snow globes, books....blah blah blah..

I am sure that you have encountered it all before.

The Tall One and the Monster were at a stand still..

arguing and fighting over items made in Japan.

I realized it was a perfect time to escape..

and I did..

(by the way, the Tall One does this to me ALL the time..

so I only thought it fair)

Back on the bus(that's a whole other story), safe and sound I tried to find a few bars on my phone to check into civilization..

No dice..

Finally..Last but not least, my two boys arrived on the bus and slowly made their way back to me.

Casually and quite blase...

The Monster dropped something in my lap..

no words...

just the subtle drop..

which wasn't so subtle as everyone and their mother turned around.

I looked in my lap

and there she was...

black cord, purple, white, silver and sparkly.

There were some ooohs and ahhhs as everyone realized that

the ONLY thing he purchased in the shop was for me.

The Tall One winked and whispered..

"I told him it wasn't your style"

So I did what every good Mother does..I put it on and wore it for the entire trip...my heart singing silently inside..

Soo..what does a girl do after she has spent time in the wilderness without internet..

She immediately logs onto Anthropologie and goes virtual shopping..

What surprised me was that this trip had REALLY gotten into my soul

and as I uploaded my images from the trip..

they began to tell a story...

Lavender Oxide Pendant and Yellowstone

Vespero Necklace and Yellowstone

Crowned Stag Earrings and Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Seven Stones Necklace and Yellowstone

Balance Necklace and Wyoming

Sarsen Necklace and Views of South Dakota,Montana and Wyoming

 Polygon Necklace and The Nature Gates at The Crazy Horse Memorial

Fanned Alloy Necklace and Yellowstone

Electolier Necklace and Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Metropolis Bib Necklace and Waterfalls In Wyoming..

Melodist Hoops and Dreamcatchers

Last but not least...my coveted necklace from the Monster...

 How did he know that The Tetons which we saw on our last days of the trip would have so much in common with my precious jewel?

 

All images by Anthropologie & Chocolate Creative Design

11

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

11

They say that Steel marks the 11 year anniversary.

Luckily for us, Tall One, that we just so happen to be in a steel tube flying over some of the most gorgeous landscape our country has to offer. Even though all of our boys aren't with us now, I know that very soon we shall be a family of five again.

To think...

We started out as two

then three

then four

and now finally five.

How wonderfully lucky we are..

to be wrapped around their fingers
 

Whale of a Dad...

Father's Day is rapidly approaching and I dare say that it is always tough finding something for the Tall One. If only I could purchase a Grady White with center console that would take him out to the Reefs to fish, then I would be set for life!

Clothes are impossible to find....

Being  a mere 6'7" makes it quite hard to find a decent tie...

Luckily..way back in 2000, Vineyard Vines solved that problem for our wedding!

Sooo..since the Tall One has been on a "Get in Shape" kick and has been looking like a hot tamale..

I think he would appreciate these Pattern Fish Board shorts from Vineyard Vines..

 I also have a deep sinking feeling that Mr. Lil Hoot will be wearing these Mermaid Trunks in Pink, 

if his ladies get their way...

and if I know my ladies..

They will..

Memorable March...

Image by Gemma Comas, Found via Dress Design Decor

For most, March is one those strange transitional months...It's not quite Winter and not quite Spring. It can be very cold, damp, dreary and wet with the possibility of a snow shower or two. Those fabulous new colorful Spring clothes which you have been dying to wear still have to hang in your closet until mid-April even though it's considered "Spring".

But for me, the signs of crocuses and daffodils peeking through the soil give me hope for warmer weather just around the corner. What keeps me even warmer during this month??  The most wonderful of wonderful memories of some of the most special moments and occasions of my life that just so happen this week of March.

11 years ago today...

Image found via Country Living

A very handsome, tall and loving man asked me to marry him, overlooking 3 states with a sun and a moon high in the sky.

The next day...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

We just so happened to find our antiquated farmhouse to call our very own.

Our first born son (with a tail), the distinguished Mr. Hobbes, was born this week and it only took us 7 months to find him.

Yet, I wouldn't have all these wonderful memories without this amazing person who just so happens to celebrate his birthday today...

Image by Gay & Donald Wesson

To my Tall One....

What a wonderful week, what a wonderful life...

To sharing a life together and maybe a popsicle or two..

To the perfect catch and many more years of memories that keep us warm on cold and rainy March days...

Happy Happy Birthday!