Fishing with children IS labor......but enjoyable!

So .... since I work at this great place with 216 acres, 5 stocked ponds, 2 caves and full reign from the owner to have as much fun with my family as possible, who am I to say we shouldn't?

Labor Day, we pack up the kids, poles, lunch and such and head out to work. Hahaha, that sounds funny, but I enjoy where I work and I do find it relaxing more than often. How could I not? I was informed Friday to leave early and enjoy my weekend. There's no stress here, (okay, except when the code doesn't do as it should, the vault locks up, the Virtual Machine goofs on me and such, but that's just computers)

Last year I had purchased some fishing poles from one of the dealers at the South Eastern convention. They were cheap and all I could think of was the kids with one in hand learning to fish. How often do kids tear things up? Exactly! So why not have them learn on something cheap? Think I'll be the one buying my kids a brand new car when they're 16? They can drive the flat bed. B-bug had already decided when it's her turn she's painting it pink with purple flowers on it. Nothing fails to be an adventure with her. (makes me proud)

I actually took a picture of Bubs with the fishing pole in his hand, right before the batteries died on the camera. So I didn't get the 5 fish Dink caught, the 3 B-Bug caught or Doog-Boogs exasperated look at catching nothing. Even D got in some fishing. He took it on himself to teach Dink and B-Bug how to cast.....all day long. I offered, but he told me to go have fun. So I toted Bubs over with me and we joined my oldest on the other side of the pond.

Here's the three of us. Bubs on my lap clicking the release, then the lock, release, lock, release....you get the picture. I'm trying to hold my line so he can't reel it in when the bobber sinks. Ever try to wip a pole around with a 2 yr old hanging off the end of it? Interesting......

Bubs! We caught a fish!!! I reel it in while he's crying because I had to sit him down. That ended shortly after this fish about slapped him in the face. So I pick him up and we tote this fish back over to my husband to find out that we forgot a very important tool in fishing. The pliers. So he, with VERY LOUD PROTESTING AND NON AGREEMENT, violently has to remove this hook.

I realize people have this opinion that trappers have no respect nor consideration for animals but that's not the case, and were you to know D, you would find out that one way the kids are for sure to get into trouble is to harm an animal out of cruelty. Not cool.


So this one we don't throw back, it goes in the bucket. Bubs is thrilled. Everytime it flips in the water he yells in excitement. Pick him up, back to our side of the pond with Boog, now determined she's catching one also. Throw in the line. Bubs is now paying more attention to the line than the cookie in his pocket, to which he added his own worm.

Everytime I'd pull in my line he'd yell, "Yeah!" Thinking we had a fish. It was so cute!!! After the second fish we caught, we joined the other girls and dad on thier side. He was doing so good. I couldn't believe how much patience he had. Here's little Dink trying with all her heart to cast this line out and he was patient, gave her tips and let her do it on her own. She was doing a fine job and catching fish herself. God love her!!

Then B-Bug (who is ill today), she's gonna try to catch some too. Here's the two of them casting over each others' lines. Hahahaha! It was so funny! And D was so patient. Let me point out also, D's allergies are kicking his tale pipe. So he wasn't feeling so hot when we left the house even. I kept asking him to let me take over and he have some fun also, nope. I was to have fun. Awwwwww..............

Later on, he told me thank you for letting us fish at my work, cause he had fun and caught some too. Good. Now that made me feel better.

So Boog grabs a chair, plops her line in the water and just sits. I look over and theres her worm sitting on a bit of leaves and her bobber all sideways. She's not intentionally fishing, she's just being. Alright. I understand that. She's getting to be more bossy lately and the little Henny Penny is growing to that scary part of life that all Mothers have to face. Puberty. I'm very proud of her. More and more each day. I will call her name down the hallway, ready request a chore of her, only to find out she's already done it without asking. She instructs her sisters when they don't do things correctly. Okay, I'll be honest, she's bossy to her sisters, but she's trying. And she's so beautiful. I'm watching her in church the other day. Those almond shaped eyes under those long eyelashes. Long hair. And she's already taller than me. I know, I measured her last night.

I have the best kids in the world and I'll be the first to tell you. Now, let's all pray they stay that way.