Toyomafia - The Clubhouse. 151.880

It was someone on here that said "When you have kids, it's as if the fast forward button on life got pushed". Little AK is 2 now. I have no idea where the last couple years went. Just yesterday, a tiny bundle in my arms was staring up at me and cooing. Today a toddler was laying on my lap watching Bluey, looked up at me and said "Daddy home, I happy!".

 

Bro... I do not need that level of emotional pull on me at this hour!!!!

I am going to be an emotional wreck in that delivery room and I know it. To have made peace with thinking I would never, to a few long years learning that my entire life will be changing forever..... I... I am trying so hard not to buy all the things already LOL.

Have you seen the Tundra power wheel? Yeah... I want that, build a trailer and get him goats LOL

 

Y'all are gonna be fine..
You're gonna be strong for your wife, she's gonna be strong for you and baby AF.
Remember she's doing all the work.

I know little about you, but I've gathered you're a good man.
You wouldn't be part of this cru and thread if you weren't..

I remember when my son was born and we brought him home.
My wife and I looked at each other and said "What do we do now?".

Instinct takes over.
Seems like you had a good role model, just keep it going..

Later guys...

 

I blame it on a terrible car accident he was in when he was 20. Skull fractures, TBI, and clinically dead twice in the two miles from the scene to the hospital…other than some gnarly scars all over his skull, you’d never know it now. Except when he does stupid shit like getting married two days before elk season.

 

the last wedding I went to was a destination wedding, in Florida, on a Monday.....

And mine was worried about having our shower on a Sunday LOL....

People make strange decisions with weddings... Opening day in TX was a hoot. lots of weddings scheduled and then people not understanding why people didnt go

 

Yeah
I got married on a Thursday, despite both mothers (mine and my wife’s) saying “no one gets married in a Thursday!”
We had our reason, and it worked out just fine.

 

I got married and it didnt work out.... so dont listen to anything I say on the matter LOL...

People need to influence couples less. Get married for you. Guests can adapt or dont. I get invited, a gift goes out, regardless of my attendance.

A thursday is a new one to me, but as long as its not opening day on a bird or a fish, I would be fine with it.

 

It goes by in a blink brother. This is where I’m at now.

https://youtu.be/yEBDsX7YbDc?si=2F1ioAXhJOavIraG

 

It goes so fast. My youngest is now 10 and the big one is out of the house trying to figure out life on her own. Embrace everyday especially the good ones.

 

I bought AK a rifle 3 months before she was born. Just sayin'

You got the brains, he got the luck.

 

I bought, allegedly, a Henry Golden Boy 22 LR about a week after she told me she was pregnant. Then she promptly put it on the mantle when we moved in to the new house. It was a moment of beauty.

Allegedly.

 

One of the first things we talked about, was the collection that was lost when my kayak flipped on my way out to the island for range day. We had to cover this topic in detail because of where she originated from. I found one of those rare California ones who isnt that kind of crazy.

When we talked about the fathers pass down gun and what it meant to me since I was a little kid, she asked which one he was getting. I told her i always wanted a lever action but couldnt justify it with my lifestyle but dreamed of this particular one because of Americana... she asked why I hadnt bought it yet.

She now knows what that phrase means to me LOL. Mind you, she sat right next to me in the waiting area while the paperwork cleared with her own excitement. Her first time shooting a lever action promptly followed. Then she saw something she has never seen before... "How did you pay them and then leave the store the same day?"

of course, allegedly.

 

Excellent choice, Henrys are great...

 

All of this talk is a blast from the past. I have 6 grand kids and have been done with my parenting for many many years. I tried getting custody of my kids during the divorce but with me moving to a different state I screwed myself. There are no classes for Divorce and if a person knew the implications by filing in different states then Divorce could be much easier.

In the end I have an excellent relationship with both of my Daughter’s and my step son, proud of all 3 of them!!

@Florida AF, you may be an emotional wreck in the delivery room but you will be a great Father when the delivery is over. You got this and it is long beautiful road that goes by in a blink of an eye. Cherish every moment you have along that road.

 

Someone once said, or so the internet told me.. "You can spend your whole life fighting to make it work, or you can be happy with someone who compliments you." Life has changed dramatically for me and that was one of those moments where I felt more than complimented, but encouraged. Then when she saw it all, she was like; whoa.?! they make them look that good? and is this a good brand? um... yes ma'am, I will show you.

i have been debating taking one of my less loved ones and doing a toyo or TM theme on it.. we will see. My ideas always go deeper than my pockets LOL

 

So many facts there! I had what would be called an "amicable" divorce and even so, I would not wish that on the worst of people. Life can change for the better, quickly, afterwards; but that pain is real. As I have said to some, no one... absolutely no one gets married with the intent of divorce... but damn is that road a dark one to hoe.

Every step right now is "remember to enjoy it." Her face lights up daily as our little man moves and she can feel it. I have been able to feel maybe 3 kicks and 1 reposition. I want to feel him all the time, but we are not there yet so I am trying to be supportive. Which is easy when I see her smile. I now understand why my dad was so excited for me to have a kid. Being the oldest of 5 (mixed fam), I have always taken care of a younger one. This one will be so different.

 

So true... Built a nice Henry last year, might only have 50 rounds through it. Was supposed to go on a Hog hunt with it in GA last year but weather derailed that trip.

 

OH, in non kid related news....

We are still planning on making next years road trip stay on schedule. With the little one and her work, we will be making more stops along the way. But the plan is Florida to South Dakota and Back, roughly 3 months again. And since she hasnt seen a lot of the areas I have, we will most likely be doing more scenic routes. I will let the group know if in case anyone wants to meet for a beverage (From water to adult). I doubt we will be doing any real trail type stuff. But we will be hitting some places like Zion, Palo Duro, Lowman ID, and various other non Vegas type things.

 

I am both jealous and familiar. I built a 300blkout for hogs when I lived in TX, before I found out the average is $300 per gun per day. needless to say, it has only dropped a GA deer and paper...

 

One thing I will never forget and I repeated it with my second daughter was talking to them while they were in the womb. I would always lay with my head on her belly and talk to them. Then when they were born and they came out crying I held them and started talking and they both stopped crying and I could tell they could tell from my voice who I was. That was the best first feelings I had with both girls

 

Sunrise on the BestCoast... Gonna be warm for us today and tomorrow (showing low 70s)

 

I've heard this to be so true

 

My daughter got married in Vegas on a Wednesday..
She wanted the wedding to be on the anniversary of their 1st date.
Luckily my employer was able to change one of my vacation weeks so I didn't have to eat sick days.

For my vacations at work, I have to select all of them in October for the following year.
They usually don't change them, but it was in their favor as far as how many drivers were off that week..

When I used hunt I always took off the first week of September.
A group of us would go every year for a week and dove hunt at whoever's deer lease..
It was some good times..

 

Damn, I don't think I could plan that far out...

How much time do you get?

 

All this talk about kids and grandkids. Well I am now 50, my oldest is 8 and youngest is 5. Yes we started late. I may be completely exhausted at the end of the day with ice on my knees and back, but it is so worth it just to watch them experience something new that they have learned or even that they have taught me. Even with them being as young as they are, it seems like yesterday that they were just coming into this world. It all does go by so fast as everyone has said.

 

Buying guns for the sole reason to hand down to children;

I've told this story on the forum but not here.
I'll try to make it short, which I'm not good at.

My daughter's first time shooting a firearm at 14, was a dirty West German SIG P228 range gun at a local range.
Her first shot of a firearm, given it was only a few feet away..



Over the years my son and daughter would go to the range with and then help me clean the guns.
About 10 years ago I found a pristine 1991 WG SIG P228, bought it, ran a couple of mags thru it, and put it in the safe.
Original box, test target, paperwork, zipperback magazines, etc...
I gave it to her as a wedding gift last year, it was a gift from Dad.
Wife and I had given her other wedding gifts as well my wife did the wedding shower.




I gave my SIL one of my S&W Talo 686+ revolvers.
Everyone needs at least 1 revolver..



I've got a pristine 1988 WG SIG P226 to give my son.
Just haven't given it to him yet.
He isn't really into firearms as much as my daughter and SIL.

 

She has been shooting since age 6. Understanding guns is the best defense to keep our kids safe from guns. She loves it.

 

6 weeks and 1 option week.
I try to take a week off every 2 months.

Each week is 45 hours of straight time pay
Option week options being;
1. take the money
2. take another full week off
3. take 7 individual 'option/sick' days

I always take the option 3 sick days.

It's hard to plan anything.
Wife has had people say 'Hey we are going to So and so in a month. Y'all want to come with us?".
I can't go, I always tell her to go if she wants..