Fort Mills

Since Christmas it seems that our backyard is more of an army training center than the peaceful park-like setting we've been used too.

Here, Sargent Mills demonstrates how to build a sturdy shelter out of your basic camo material and some parachute cord. The luxury base camp comes complete with a hitching post for your trusty army canine.

G.I. Joe recently had the opportunity to sharpen his rifle skills with his brand new Red Rider BB gun (thanks Aunt Jenna and Uncle Kevin). This was his first experience with a real-ish gun, so he spent about 30 minutes with Lieutenant Daddy learning some fire arm safety.

Some items covered during this informal session at the backyard picnic table included topics such as; Don't shoot the squirrels or birds, don't aim at people or houses, don't shoot Belle, try not to shoot your eye out, don't look down the barrel, etc. Let's just say that the Ol' LT's list was a combination of a little common sense, a little class room training and some possibly regrettable real world experience.

Lawson did pretty good in his first session. He hit inside the target about 7 out of 10 shots and even had a bull's eye.

What's that you say? Is that a picture of Niki just back from the big deer hunt? Nope, no hunt. And no, it was not taken immediately after the assassination of a foreign head of state. Nope, not that either, just a little BB gun target practice in the back yard. But I catch your drift, I think with that look I'll be purchasing a trigger lock for our new firearm.

P.S. - We won't mention how she almost blew Daddy's head off (a.k.a.- shot my eye out) when she dropped the gun while cocking it.