6th Anniversary!

To round out our fun-filled weekend, we went to Flying Rabbit Sporting Clays this morning.  Coincidentally, this weekend was the one weekend each year when instructors-in-training give free shooting lessons.  They provide everything that you need; guns, ammunition, clays, etc.  When we called last night, the owner was very excited about our inquiry and told us to come on down.  

Getting some instructions

Rich getting set

There were about 15 men and 2 women there for lessons and just as many instructors-in-training.  I had never even held a shotgun before, but they threw me right out there with everyone else.  After a few rounds I caught on to what I should be doing and started hitting some of the clays.  It was a huge change from shooting handguns the day before...totally different type of shooting/aiming, etc.  Having something moving to shoot at was awesome and challenging at the same time.  I think I have a new hobby for sure!

Almost ready

I met up with one last instructor who was awesome.  I'm not sure what it was that he did differently, but I liked his style and I crushed both fast moving clays that were thrown out.  It's a shame that our two hours were up because I was just getting into the groove.  I think I'll be purchasing my own shotgun in the near future! 

After shooting, we went to Outback for lunch, then to the movies to watch Ted, and ended the night with a nice steak dinner:)  I feel like we had round two of our honeymoon...lots of activities and very little downtime.  Just perfect.  

I'm so glad that I found Rich at Wild Wings 10 years ago this month:)  We are a perfect match of outgoing and reserved, funny and silly, messy and neat, carefree and structured.  Thank goodness we even each other out;)  Here is to a lifetime of more adventures and new experiences together!  Love you, honey.   

Fueling Up

After all of that shooting, we decided to go out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary a day early.  We headed over the mountain to Wild Wolf Brewing Company.  Unfortunately, my mashed sweet potatoes were cold so we HAD to get two free desserts. Shucks.  We devoured fried Oreos (Jennie hates me!) and a brownie sundae.  Not so clean eating.  Oh well!

Okay, so back to dinner.  I had the cider brined pork loin with brussel sprouts and mashed sweet potatoes and Rich had the shrimp and grits.  Once the heat issue was resolved my meal turned out fantastic.  The shrimp and grits disappeared in about 2 minutes as well:)

Mine

Rich's

We had a wonderful night out despite the rain!  And, yes, for all of you who see me in jeans day after day after day, I fricken wore a dress.  The shoes were a nightmare in the pouring down rain, but I sucked it up.  Take a good look because I won't be in another for months:)

And for good measure...here is one of Rich chugging his beer:)

Locked and Loaded

The first activity during our weekend of anniversary celebration was hitting the shooting range.  It's our "Activ-ersary" weekend;)

I know you are jealous of my pink shooting glasses:) 

It's something that I've been talking about for months.  My desire to learn how to shoot stemmed from wanting to be able to protect myself and probably watching a little too much of American Guns, Duck Dynasty, and other Discovery television shows.  

Getting everything set. 

After a quick run this morning, we headed to Hite Hollow Shooting Range.  We brought along a 380 and 45 to practice.  I  started with the 380, but then moved to the 45.  I'll admit that I was a bit freaked out when we first got out of the car because there were rifles firing really loud and there were already people on the pistol range.  Once I was out there and knew the people around us were being safe, I was ready to rock.  

It didn't take long before I was tearing up the clays that Rich hung up for us and even destroyed a shotgun shell that he hung just for kicks to see if I could hit it.  I preferred the 45 over the 380 even though it has a pretty strong kick.  My aim was much better for some reason, maybe the heavier weight?

The 380

Would I do this again?  Heck yeah.  I loved every minute of it.  On to shotgun shooting next....  Oh yeah, and maybe a blinged out gun of my own?! 

Knocking them down! 

Rich tearing it up. 

The 45....picked two off the top and the shotgun shell!

Random wild turkey crossing the road...

It's Our Anniversary

The kids were away on the 15th when we celebrated our 5th anniversary.  We had a fun day of finishing up summer school, cleaning carpets, and moving furniture;)  It wasn't too bad.  We took Carol, Isiah and my mom to one of our favorite lunch spots, Stone Soup, during a break from the cleaning.  Rich and I both had our favorite meal there; 1/2 smoked turkey and cranberry chutney on grilled mulitgrain and 1/2 signature salad that has cranberries and spiced walnuts....so delicious!  They have a nice shaded patio which is perfect for cooler summer days, not the 100 degree days that we've had this week!

Isiah enjoying his grown up soda.

So happy that summer school is over!

After lunch and finishing up the carpets, we headed over the mountain to the Ivy Inn for dinner.  I had not been there since Megan's rehearsal dinner.  I dined on a fabulous crab cake, green beans, and potato cake while Rich had the best chicken he has ever put in his mouth!  The chicken came from a local farm, Polyface, that also supplies Chipotle in Charlottesville.  All in all, it was a great day to celebrate our time together and the beginning of summer for me!

Getting ready for dinner!

Rich's chicken, fettucini, and mushrooms

Awesome crab cake!!