How I got my BB gun taken away when I was 12

My father loved the outdoors and taught us how to hunt and fish from a very early age, but he was a bit conservative too. He made sure I always followed all the rules and regulations, and purposefully waited until I had completed Hunter's Safety before allowing me to have a BB gun.

So, while all my cousins got their first BB guns earlier, I had to wait a while for my very own, but because of this I was very responsible with it and with the exception of one very large bathroom mirror (quick draw accident with a BB pistol) had the presence of mind and self control to refrain from shooting unnecessary things like old car windows, mason jars stored in the old shed out back and neighbor kids.

I was so responsible in fact that I took it upon myself to teach my younger brother Grizz all about BB gun safety and usage. He was a quick learner and could shoot the gun under my close supervision. He knew better however than to ever touch it without my say so. Jennifer didn’t show as much interest in it but she also understood the rules too and I felt very confident that she would abide by them strictly. I should have known better.

The year I turned 12 also coincided with 6th grade at Vernal Middle School which was on a funny afternoon schedule because we were sharing the building with the Jr. High who went in the mornings while a new High School was being constructed. That meant that I attended school from 1PM-6:30PM or so and got home later.

Grizz and Jenn however were still in Elementary School and got home a lot earlier. One afternoon they arrived home and Mom was out running a few errands and left Jennifer in charge. Now at that time, it was very common for ten year olds to watch their younger siblings while parents were out and Mom had been giving her much more responsibility lately and Jenn had been responding positively.

On this particular day Jenn and Grizz began to play outside and noticed a large group of children playing outside at our neighbor’s house across the field from our place. This was quite uncommon, our neighbors were an older couple whose children had all grown up and moved away. Today was different however as the whole family had gathered to mourn the passing of their beloved grandfather and had just been present at his funeral.

Now, we were aware that he had passed away and I suppose that Jenn and Grizz knew why all those kids were there and as such wandered across the field, acting like they were ignoring them of course, to get a better look.

As they approached the fence, they pretended like they were playing in our field and one of the neighbor’s grandkids began heckling them a little. Now, you can imagine that words were said and knowing Jenn’s personality just a little and given the fact that she was only 10, condolences were not necessarily formally exchanged. As it turns out, the grandkid decided he would really impress Jennifer by mooning and flashing her.

Well that did it. She and Grizz went back to the house and though I don’t know for sure whose idea it was, (Jennifer will say that it was Grizz’s and vice-versa) it was decided that the BB gun would be used to teach this boy a few manners. Jennifer claims that her intention was only to scare him and at first they didn’t go directly over to the fence, but kind of wandered aimlessly in the field, pretending they were bird hunting I guess as a show of indirect intimidation.

At the time, Jennifer claimed that they only pumped it up a couple of times, but Grizz later confessed that he was pumping it all the way across the field, until he couldn’t pump it anymore, which he thought was like 15 or 16 pumps.

The indirect approach didn’t work, the kid kept on taunting and mooning, so they changed their tactics and became more direct. Jennifer took the gun from Grizz who told her to be careful as it was loaded and ready. “Good” replied the young and determined feminist avenger as she began pointing it at the offending kid.

This still didn’t deter him. He kept up with his rudeness but now that her bluff had played out, Jenn was left with few options, and she chose a warning shot.

Thinking that all she had to do was pull the trigger and then quickly move the barrel upwards, thus causing the BB to careen far above his head, she took aim at center mass and warned him one last time, hoping it would scare him straight.

Of course he ignored her and made one more rude comment so she squeezed the trigger and then quickly jerked the barrel skyward, missing his chest but landing squarely in the middle of his forehead. Feeling the pain instantly, the kid began to scream and cry and ran inside where the grieving widow and her children were sharing fond memories of their recently deceased father and husband.

Knowing they were in big trouble, Jennifer and Grizz ran back inside the house and quickly put the BB gun back in the gun closet. They were very quiet and acted as if nothing had happened when Mom came home, hoping that maybe no one would say anything.

A little while later however, their hopes were dashed with a knock on the door, it was Heddy, the grieving widow who was also an immigrant from Germany and still spoke English with a thick Bavarian accent.

“Oh, Hello Heddy, how are you doing?” inquired mom sincerely as she opened the door.

Jennifer and Grizz awaited her reply with baited breath as their hearts beat in their chests as they pretended to be doing their homework.

“Zey shot my grandson in ze head with ze BB gun!” said Heddy. “Now ve have to take heem to de emergency vroom”

“Oh dear” replied Mom, obviously shocked and appalled as she shot glaring looks at Jennifer and Grizz.

The door soon closed and it was determined that our insurance would pay for the hospital bill and Jennifer and Grizz soon came clean, each confessing to their role in the crime, somewhat truthfully at least. And truthfully I don’t remember what punishment they received but I do remember that Mom and Dad took my BB gun away from me for a few weeks, and I wasn’t even there for any of the incident.

2008 in Review - 11 years of being parents!

Well - it has been eleven great years since Deanna and I became parents. It has been a long road at times and we still have the hardest part to go - but we are loving every minute of it! We celebrated Kayson's big day yesterday and he had a great party. Well since this is the first blog here I am posting some pics of the kids over the last year or so to kind of get everyone caught up on us, finishing off with some of his party. This was a busy year. We started out with the kids playing basketball and then soon after school was out and summer was in full swing. We made a trip to Utah and then on to California and Disneyland. Then, August started and things got really busy! The boys both played football and did very well. The football season in Texas is very long - they started the first week of August and we wrapped up the season just before Thanksgiving. We know they learned a lot and we think they had fun. Then, just like that, the holiday season was upon us and now it is January. (Insert your own time cliché here). Well - I will let the pictures do the talking from here.




Starting out early in the year the kids played basketball - it was the first year for both Kayson and Bailey. Bailey thought she should be a more prominent figure in the offense - she played hard and gave it her very best and when that didn't work, she just bossed the other girls around.








Here is Kayson's team - they were league champs and Kayson had a lot of fun!













Bailey and I have a yearly tradition that we both look forward to with great anxiety - the Daddy and Daughter dance. I blogged about this elsewhere in the past. - (a little wordy - but expresses my feelings pretty well - please check it out!). Bailey still needs to work on her dancing.








One of our favorite family activities is going to Sea World in San Antonio. We have had passes for the last few years and go several times a year. This year, both Bailey and Kayson were the "Believe" kids - guest stars from the audience in the Shamu show. They both got to state what their dreams are and cheer on Shamu from up close. Kayson's dream was to become an Air Force Pilot and a Cartoonist. Bailey said she wanted to become a scientist and cure diabetes. The crowd roared for both of them. It was a lot of fun.


That's Kayson right up front - center stage.













This is why you should not fall asleep when baby- sitting a 5 and 7 year old with creative imaginations and access to Mommy's make up!











It is good to be brothers and best friends too!













Deanna was in charge of the Activity Days at Church and they did a newspaper fashion show and even though she is not 8 yet Bailey got to participate - one of the benefits of Mom being the leader! The dresses they made were very modest and absolutely fabulous!








Bailey did dance in the spring and loved the baton twirling the best. She practiced hard and went to several competitions. She progressed alot...











... even though she didn't always pay attention!













The three cutest kids in the woods!













Yes - we LOVE to fish with Dad! See how well we all watch our poles!













Yeah - we are tough! Think we are tough enough to take Dad? Let's get him and throw him in the pond!










Well - not everything is bigger in Texas, but yes - there are some fish in the water!












Kayson's dream come true - Jedi Academy at Disneyland. That is him clear in the back - the kid with glasses and hat.











Fighting his favorite character - Darth Vader the Dark Lord of the Sith. When Vader asked him to join the Dark Side, we were worried that Kayson was going to say yes!










Kayson and Branson - best buds!













The whole family including Grandma Carolyn and Alli (Deanna's sister), her husband Stacey, and their boys Branson and Dallas Palmer at California Adventure. We all wore Texas shirts on this day. Alli couldn't figure out why everyone kept flashing her the "devil horns sign" until we told her what "Hook 'em Horns" means! There were a lot of Longhorns fans at Disney that day.






Hey little boys! Help us hold this boulder back before it smashes us!!

















"It's no use! RUN!! RUN!! - Tyler, Dallas - come on - run."

"OK - whatever".
















The Oleen kids posing with their Dad.

HEY!! Kayson I told you NO EDITING THIS PAGE!
















Kayson participated in the Iron Mission Camp and got to march in the "Mormon Batallion". He had a blast.











The two "batallionaires" Kayson and Branson with possible sacks, muskets, canteens and straw hats.

















Tyler and Dallas - the two little dogs.













First day of school.


















"Come on Tyler - this is football! - No time to be silly!"

"Whatever - I can do what I want - my Dad is the coach!"









Kayson's team was the Round Rock Gold Tigers - Kayson is number 15 (just to the right of the ref).













YES! Dropped for a loss! Tyler pulled a lot of flags this year and by the end was one of the better players on his team.









An almost perfect smile!














Aren't we almost done yet Mom?












Yes - my legs are getting long and I am almost as tall as my mom!













All I need is sunglasses and I will look just like Tony Stark!
Yes - this suit used to fit Kayson.




















Of course, not everyone can say they got their start playing the role "Log Cabin" in the kindergarten Thanksgiving play.








Christmas Eve at Sea World - not real snow around the tree -just white plastic - the kids were not impressed.

















As soon as Santa leaves Sea World he makes his yearly run!


















Christmas jammies! In front of one of the best trees we have ever had. Of course, we couldn't get it to sit straight in the stand so I had to tie it off with 10# test. I should have sent it in to Berkley for a Trilene commercial!















What is it???













IT'S A Wii!! YEA! WE GOT A Wii!!!













New Year's eve - yep - we are both staying up until midnight! We both fit on this chair and these blankets mom made for us are so comfy! We've got our drinks and our popcorn and we are ready! Tyler made it to 10:15, Bailey did make it though.









Kayson's birthday - right after the chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. You can see the joy (and the chocolate) on their faces! Happy Birthday Kayson!












The party crew - it was a cold day but the All Star Sports-a-rama was a success!













The incredible flaming sundae! The basketball cake Deanna made fell over so we had to make do with candles in ice cream - which Kayson thought was "way cool" anyway. 11 Candles put off a lot of heat!