Costume Party #1

This Friday night we went over to our friends house for a costume party (the first of two that we are going to be attending this year). They had the whole house set up and even got it catered. Of course the food was fabulous and there were a lot of people there that we have not met before or had not seen in a long time so it was quite a good time.
The guy in the cowboy boots and the pregnant chick were dressed up as a white trash couple.

Drew Froese carved this joker pumpkin.

I dressed up as a hunter and I carved this Elk pumpkin.

Drew and Amy were a baker and a stove with a bun in the oven. She is due next month.

Harry was Michael Phelps (he usually did not have this wig on, but just tried it on for fun) and Mindy was Joe the plumber.


Brenda went as an elk and I was a hunter.

Drew acting like...well an idiot.

Josiah had a little accident.

Tri-bi-athlon

Last weekend there was a all girl triathlon out in Napa that Brenda participated in. She and some of the other teachers from the school thought it would be cool to participate in and all went up as a group. I arrived just in time for the start. I guess it would be called a biathlon because they cancelled the swimming portion due to the high winds and whitecaps on the lake. Instead of the swimming they just ran the 1/2mi distance they were supposed to swim. Brenda was a bit disappointed because she had been training for the swimming for a while, but with the cooler weather and high winds she was happy she would not be cold for the whole day. Brenda did a great job and finished the 3.5mi running and 11mi bike ride in 1hour 31min.

Nice hardware.

Brenda before the race getting her bike ready before the race.The supportive husbands. Of course I was on time because I care about my wife. These guys were a little late...what does that tell you?
Very very tough women. I am told that their team names was the "sisterhood of the dark knighties" (I have no idea why).

This past week my grandmother died so we went to Ripon for the funeral on Friday. Although it is very sad to see her go we had some great visits in the past few weeks and we are thankful that she did not suffer a long series of medical problems like so many others do. It was very sad to go to the funeral, but it also was very nice to see my family again. I think that this is one of the first times in 10-15yrs that all of my aunts and uncles were together in one place. Those kinds of family get togethers are priceless and something I know my grandmother would have loved.

The Great White Hunter

So yes I did just get back from the hills and I had a great time. I went on this hunting trip to Wyoming with one of my friends from college (Isaac Borema). We arrived last monday to rain and word that it snowed about 1ft at hunting camp. The camp was in the wilderness area and had to be accessed by horse. We went up on Tuesday and there was indeed snow. The next day we went out hunting. A typical day of hunting would consist of waking up at 5:30, riding and hiking for about 5hours, taking a midday nap for a few hours, hiking and spotting till dusk and a hike or ride back to camp. This is very relaxing and I really got used to the naps. The food and our cook were great and we had a good time.

On Friday I we got a couple of bugles and chased this one bull for about 4hours. Dave and I went into the woods chasing the bull while the others stayed back. We snuck up on this bull within about 60yrds. We then hear a bugle and move in closer and very slowly. Dave then gave a bugle and the Bull immediately was pissed off thinking we were another bull coming to steal his girls. He responded and then we could hear that he was heading our way. I looked down the draw and saw antlers and knew he was coming. He came up the draw and was walking parallel to us about 10yrds away. He was walking past and I was just waiting for my shot. Dave then gave out a grunt to stop thee bull and I fed him 150grains of lead right in the sweet spot. He staggered back about 5' and then I gave him seconds (he was already mortally injured, but I didn't want him to suffer). He went about 5' and then was down. I could not stop shaking and I was so jacked up I could barely contain myself. I was such a rush and a great time.

Ike and the awesome PT cruiser we rented. I think it may have been the only on in the state so we decided to get it as muddy as possible. This is just the first day and there was more in store for this little car.
Dave is packing Dandy Mule for the ride up the hill. Our cook Rachael is in the background.

Meadow lake and the fall colors. Aspen are great in the Fall.
Camp is at the end of this meadow. Very nice spot and lots of trout in the stream.

Chapping wood for the week on the first night.
That's me and a few of the other hunters on the first night. The snow melted later in the week and the weather was great.

The smallest set of bear prints we saw....very fresh.
Heck ya. Elk take this as fair warning that a De Jong is in the woods.

Ike and I about 1hr before the real fun started.
The Bull I got shortly after the previous picture. A mammoth beast.
Notice the perfectly placed shot. Of course at 10yrds there is a lot of room for error.
After gutting the beast. I shot a hole right through the side of the heart.

This is about how far I was. Notice me in the back right of the picture taking aim and Ike is acting like the bull.
Skinning and quartering the beast.

I know I know....nice rack.
Sunsets were awesome of course and the Wyoming nights were breathtaking(can a guy say that??)

Dave, Ike, and I and being men.
Ike is scoping out the glacier and spotting Elk (or trying to). It was the hardest hunting season Dave has had in 20yrs of guiding.

Our crew at the trailhead.
Ike fashioned a back country beer koosie.

After we returned to civilization we went for a ride up to the Green River lakes and Squaretop Mountain.
Me and the muddy PT.

We also did some offroading in the PT and got it stuck on this rock. It is nothing that a little accelerator and the peace of mind that rental car brings couldn't fix. The frame had a very large scratch, but they don't check that when I returned it.

Daves son Sean had a football game that we drove to see.


All in all it was a great time and we both would do it again. Although Ike did not get an elk he had a great time and he was a good sport about the one I got a chance to take. He and I are splitting the meat (I couldn't eat that much meat in a year) so I am glad he can help me out there.

Check out this video of me trying to manly up the PT by adding mud. I should have shut the window. We also had Bernie (game and fish warden) in Camp and he sang some great songs.