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Just spent my first weekend with my new best friend and our dog Charley, a queensland heeler/border collie mix! What an eventful day and a half to say the least! First off, props to Nannie for her ability to remain constantly at the ready for everything a 5 1/2 year old throws at you both verbally as well as non stop action. My Littleman as we call him is a very special young man (aren't they all when they are yours?) and doesn't really get into any real trouble other than possibly not listening to his Papa when he should, but we worked that out as well this weekend! The short trip from east Mesa to Tonto Village under the Tonto Rim was an hour of non stop questions from the Littleman and boy was that a show of things to come. I never realized how many times someone could ask why but I know now! We made it in one piece to our campsite and immediately had to go "Ranger-ing" as Caden calls it! So off we went towards Preachers Canyon in our Polaris Ranger and in 10 minutes max he was ready to go back and do something else???? So we went a little further, let the dog run out some of his energy and the entire time Caden was yelling "Papa where's Charley, where's Charley?" over and over! I finally asked him what's the big deal and he told me Nannie had talked to him about taking care of Charley cuz if something happened to him she was going to kick Papa's butt! So that is why the little turd was so worried about the dog, so we loaded him in the front seat and rode back to camp, dog and boy happy together and petting and licking one another all the way back! BTW - dogs are a great substitute for when you don't have clean wipes for a 5 1/2 year old! We get back to camp and in between all the why's we played washers, baseball, army trucks, cowboys n Indians, target shooting the bb gun, war game of cards and not once did the Littleman ever want to take a nap! What's up with that? Don't kids always take naps? He was cool about eating though, cold pizza for lunch and then again for dinner and yes breakfast Sunday morning but I had to warm that slice up on the grill cuz he was cold! As night approached the Littleman was exicted to of course build a campfire, do the Smores thing and Papa tell him scary but not too scary stories around the fire! Then he wants to hear the elk bugle but once he hit the sleeping bag it was all over. Oh ya, as usual he wants to sleep in his own bag until Papa climbs into his way far away from him (arms distance) and it's "Papa I think I am going to sleep in your bag with you" and there goes a decent nights sleep! Not once did he ever hear an Elk nor the 20 or so coyotes at first light and each time I attempted to wake him he resembled his Nannie when I try to wake her for anything! Scary but true so I alone heard the Elk frolliking around most of the night between dogs barking in TV. As I lay there I reflected back on my time when I was also 5 and was with my Father and it was a real nice evening of reflecting of my own childhood and my Father taking me outdoors as well as loving the feeling of this Littleman sleeping alongside me totally secure in his Papa's sleeping bag and arms, oblivious to all teh "scary" things around him! Charley was right next to us both listening to all the night sounds reassuring me he too would watch over this special little boy. The stars were out in force so as I was routinely kicked every 10 minutes or so by the sleeping monster next to me I dreamed of many more days and nights like this with my grandson, hoping I would always do the right thing by him and allow him to grow into a respectable, honest and loving young man. Before the roosters in TV could crow the Littleman was waking his Papa who had jsut falling asleep I think to let me know it was indeed morning and time to get up! I instructed him quietly that it was still early and the sun wasn't even up yet which is his que when in town its time to get up so he laid back down and was fast asleep in minutes or less much to my pleasure! Sunday went like Saturday, full of questions, learning things like putting sneaks on innocen, totally safe birds with his trusty BB gun and dog Charley, another ride in the Ranger this time not once asking to go back. One thing we did encounter that was the first of I would think many was we visited a disc up behind TV and I was showing Caden how it worked and then we decided to have him clear the mesh screen on top so the rainwater could get through to the tank below. I am sure I told him where he could stand and not stand but in his zest to be a real game and fish officer like his Uncle Jarrod he stepped on the access portal and for whatever reason it caved in taking Caden with him but only to his shoulders as his walking stick was in his hands and broke the fall. Of course Papa screams Caden in fear and he screams Papa in fear but no crying or freaking out and the littleman held on and climbed up out of the hole by himself. Papa's heart slowed back down and the Littleman actually continued to clean up the mesh though it was obvious he was a little shook up! We returned to camp, played some more games, loaded up and headed back to town where he of course had to tell his Nannie and Mommie how tough he was on the disc but for some reason they were not so receptive to the story and gave Papa the hairy eyeball! Hum? All in all it was a great first trip out and I am excited to spend more trips with my favorite friend and buddy and yes our dog Charley too! Hope this story didn't bore too many of you but I know a few who will appreciate it as much as I did! God bless all of you and as always, take a child hunting or camping, you will benefit from it as much or more than they will!