I took a really neat class recently called "Women on Target". It was great to learn about firearms in the context of twenty-five fun women!
The experience blew away all stereotypes that I had of "people who own guns". These women were grandmothers, professionals, crunchy mamas, doctors, lawyers, teenage cheerleader-types and everything in-between. And everyone was there to learn! Wow! I've been so brainwashed to think that "gun = thug or scary redneck"! I really appreciated getting a factual education regarding firearms without the dramatized hysteria that the media creates.
I was surprised to learn that, by itself, a gun is not actually dangerous, in the same way that car parked in the driveway isn't dangerous. It's the people USING them wrongly who are dangerous - just like drivers who talk on the phone, run red lights, or drive drunk can injure or kill others by operating the car in an unsafe manner. A car doesn't hit you or run over you without someone controlling it. In the same way that we have rules we follow to make using a car safe, guns also have rules that you follow to make using them safe.
The classroom portion of the day:
Then we went out on a firing range that the local police use for training.
(You have to wear eye and ear protection at all times, hence the cool looking gear):
We kind of "graduated" from talking about firearms to seeing them up close and in action on the range:
Our excellent instructor, showing us how it's done:
That's ME, taking my turn! (Above & below, pink hat)
(The instructors, in red, were so wonderful and patient to coach us along. Most of the problem for women is fear. Once we all did it though, it was surprisingly...FUN and NOT scary!).
We all cheered one another on!
Our whole class!
What a great experience. I started with many biases and stereotypes regarding guns. How freeing to be able to choose for myself how to view them, and not be controlled by the images that the media creates and perpetuates!
I missed my early-morning workout one day, so I was doing my weightlifting with the kids in the afternoon. Joshua was thrilled to get in on the action! It was HILARIOUS.
He tried to copy everything I did! He wanted to get in on the laying down exercises, but couldn't quite figure out how to make it work.
Yeah!
The best thing to do when caught with a big brownie spoon in your mouth? 
The classroom portion of the day:
Then we went out on a firing range that the local police use for training.
Our excellent instructor, showing us how it's done:
That's ME, taking my turn! (Above & below, pink hat)
We all cheered one another on!
Our whole class!
What a great experience. I started with many biases and stereotypes regarding guns. How freeing to be able to choose for myself how to view them, and not be controlled by the images that the media creates and perpetuates!
Our friends have been so generous this summer to have everyone over to their pool almost weekly. It's become one of our favorite things to do this summer ~ swimming with friends!
I'm stumped. He begs to take his toy basket and play on our bed! LoL!
"Mmmmm!"
"Yummy!!"
"Mmm, having a hard time keeping it down..."
"Okay, think I'm gonna barf now!"
"WHO did this to me?!"
"I mean really, people."
"Can you believe these people feed me mud?"
"Mmmm! That was FUN! I think I'll go get some more!"
(I think this series is destined to become a classic in our photo history)
Natalie LOVED the water!
And Joshua too...!
"SCOOOOP!"
"DUMP!"
YaYa & Natalie:
YaYa has Joshua make himself useful to cool her off!
Natalie will play peek-a-boo with anything and everything. A yogurt lid will do just fine!
This is serious business, scooping and dumping, you know.
She LOVED the mud!
Who needs beach toys when you have shoes and an empty yogurt container!
"Daddy, can I eat this mud?"
More funny pictures to come!!
