They're gone!!

Well, they're off!! Last night, James (Caleb's dad) flew in from Fort Worth to go elk hunting with Caleb. I cooked them a good meal, helped them pack up, and this morning they left around 4 am. There are four guys total, and they will be backpacking about a mile in near Aspen. This is Caleb and James' first elk hunt, so I really really hope they get one!!

If they kill an elk (usually 300-400 pounds), they have to clean/field-dress it, quarter it, and pack portions out to the car. Each person could carry at least 100 pounds per elk per trip to the car!! So besides the difficulty in actually tracking down and shooting an elk, they have to pack it out, too.

They plan on being gone until Sunday, so it's just Bella and me at the house this week. If they get one before Sunday, then they come home sooner! Otherwise, I'll see them Sunday. And this is the longest Caleb and I will go without communication with each other since we met. Compared to so many others, I know this isn't that long, but it's still so weird for us!

I am first, and foremost, praying for their safety! It's going to be COLD...like highs in the 30s, lows in the teens, with a good chance of snow (there's probably already snow on the ground, too). They only have small tents to sleep in, no camper, heater, etc....just tents and a campfire!! So I'm praying for warmth, wise choices, a functioning Garmin (GPS), and safety from animals (bears and mountain lions).

But also, I am praying for success!! Caleb and James are so so so excited, and I know it would just make their year if they shot an elk....plus, I want some meat, too!! :) I absolutely LOVE elk meat. :)

So, if you happen to think about it, please pray for these wonderful men, too!

Here's the only picture I managed to get this morning:

Love y'all!!

McElroy #3

Please welcome the newest addition to our family, Bella. :)

Two week ago, Caleb and I were running errands after church, and he needed to stop in Sportman's Warehouse to pick up bullets/ammo for his elk hunting trip. I told him I would just stay in the car so that he didn't stay in there for an hour. :) Well, dummy him, he parked two spots from a car selling lab puppies. I didn't say a word, but as soon as he was inside, I got out of the car to just "look" at the puppies. :) There were only two girl puppies left, and they were sooooo sweet. So when he walked out of the store, he saw me holding a puppy, and you could see the "oh no" look on his face. :) Long story short, we talked to the owners for over an hour, passed the pup back and forth between the two of us, watched her walk, pee, etc., and wrote a check. :) (And actually, we were holding a different pup the whole time, but at the last minute switched to Bella because she was prettier and less whiny) :) We then went to Petsmart for an hour to buy everything that dog owners need!

We have had her for two weeks now, and she is wonderful!! We never lost any sleep, which we were not expecting. She is only 10 weeks old, so she is teething pretty bad. We have bought her all sorts of toys to chew on so that we can distract her from our hands and feet. We are still trying to potty train her, and she is getting better, but my lunchtime routine now consists of mopping up pee. :) She has already learned to sit, and Caleb works with her everyday on playing fetch. :)

Here are a few pictures of our sweetheart:

The day we brought Bella home...8 weeks old.

Caleb and his baby girl. :)

First snow in October. Bella is 9 weeks old. :)

Teaching Bella to play fetch.

First family photo: Halloween with Bella the Ballerina...though the tutu didn't last long, as she wanted to bite it off immediately. :)

Wearing our friends' dog's devil costume.

Taking a nap on our front lawn with Bella. :)

Bella found the dirty clothes last night. :)

We would be grateful for any dog training tips, so please feel free to pass any this way!! The chewing and the potty training are our toughest obstacles right now, but we have only had her for two weeks. Just gotta give it time!!! :)

Hope everyone is doing well!! Love y'all!