A whale of a tale...Only it's not.

Last Christmas when I opened a long, round package revealing my very own fishing pole I knew this was going to be a good year for fishing.  A few weeks later we found a nice pair of fishing boots for a very good price.  The thought of not having to wear my sneakers in the brook excited me.  Then just days later my Dad texted me asking I had any interest in a fishing trip to Ontario lake plus all I could eat steak.  My response: Heck ya!...It's going to be a great fishing season.




The trip was supposed to be four guys, but one backed out so I slide into his spot and then another backed out so my lil Sis got to come too.  The plan was to pull out at 3 am so the two of us crazy Momma's stayed up all night.  Well until about the time we got in the car, and then we took some sleepy pills and dreamed away.  I woke up just a few hours later, but my Sis who is very sensitive to any kind of medication just kept right on sleeping.  She woke up for lunch and then enough to settle into the hotel, get a bite to eat, and then slipped back into her dream world.  I was slightly worried that she would sleep through the entire fishing trip, but when you have a four month old at home it would be a pretty close call; fishing or sleep for the first time in months.  In the end she got both.  That one all nighter kicked our butts and we were in bed early for the rest of the weekend.

 

Our hotel was a stones throw from the docks and right on the river.  The part of town we were in was quaint and calm just lovely as we went in search of the boat that would carry us the next morning. 

 

 

Not quite as big as I had hoped as this girl does NOT enjoy boats one bit.  Not quite sure what I was thinking when I agreed to two eight hour days on this itty-bitty boat. Actually I knew exactly what I was thinking; Steak every night, and I just had to catch a fish bigger then Dad's just like I did when we were in the Rockies.  It was great!

 

All of us children organized a trip for Dad in the Rockies while we were already out there for my sister's wedding...Wait until you see my fish this time...

 

 

 

The day started of dreary.  Oh wait, no it started off dark, dreary, and windy at 5 am.

 



At one point the Captain left me in control of the boat...For about three minutes.  That's how long it took me to get from "just keep it pointed at that boat way out there" to a 90 degree turn pointing us straight towards shore, which was kind of a big deal as I could have thrown my sister's boot onto land from where we were.  (And yes if I had to try it I would throw her boot not mine.  Just like I promised to share half of my AMAZING dessert with her one night and then ate it all...I try not to let my head get too big, but let's face it I am one rockin' sister...)

In the first two hours we caught nothing, and so we slept or at least posed for pictures.  I think this is about the time the Captain decided maybe we should head out a mile or two into deeper water to find us some lake trout.

And then it happened She caught a fish the first.  And our eyes bulged as neither of us had ever hooked anything that big.

She may have caught the first one and the last one and the most, but I got the catch of the day! Oh yes I beat my Dad in the big fish contest once again coming in at 15 lbs and 33 inches long.  Actually I beat 'em all. Just sayin'  Isn't it a beaut?

The wind blew in from both the south east and the west causing 6 1/2 foot waves.  Standing was a breeze walking on the other hand was a challenge.  Here I had two options one flip over board or dive into the cabin area landing myself at Dad's feet...

 

Shortly there after the Captain started to get nervous and brought us back into the bay, where we caught...one small brown trout.

 

 

Because the wind was so strong we weren't able to go the next day.  Those 6 1/2 foot waves were only being pushed by 15 mile and hour winds.  The next day the winds were in the 40's, so instead we went back out that same afternoon, where we trolled for 6 hours catching us two more fish.

 

 

Just as we were packing up to head in the sky cleared and the waves calmed...

 

Even though we didn't get to do as much fishing as we hoped we had good food, good company with many, MANY laughs, good sleep, and have I mentioned good food?

 

 

So Dad whens the next trip?  Salmon, tuna, shark?

 

 

A first of

While this summer has marked some last of's as the boys are just about out of the baby stage. It also began the first of's on a different scale. One of these first of's is the trip we took last week to see our Missionary sister who for now is living in New York, just outside of the city. According to Google it was only a 7 hour trip, but with two stops and hitting some traffic to say it was a 9 hour trip would be putting it nicely. Even so the boys did a great job. At one point Man of the woods said, "You should have waited until I was five or six before we went on a long ride, because then I wouldn't be so bored." To which we said, "Don't worry bud we even get bored, nothing would change if you were older."...

...As you can tell. White boards were a great buy for the trip maybe the most used toy (by all of us). Along with the introduction of Mad libs. The driving parts of the trip went extremely well.

Between there seats we kept a basket of toys to entertain with a bag full of more toys to trade out once they were bored, but for some reason that never happened. Between the front seats we kept a basket overflowing with snacks.

Food is something we all enjoy and I think it made the trip go more smoothly. However we did learn what not to bring along:

Kit Kat bars are not good for little boys in the car.

About half way through Maine in talking with Strong man I wondered if he had gotten directions. He responded with, "I meant to."... So as we got close to the city the white boards also became some crazy directions to get us where we were going.

It was good to see her.

For breakfast one morning she took us to a bakery where you can go into the factory and hand pick the warm breads yourself.

She wanted a date with the littles, sending us on a date of our own. We stayed up until midnight while the boys slept in her room.  We did girl things, while strong man read, and the three of us had deep conversations.  Then as a family we couldn't resist the Ren faire...

 A place where Robin Hood protects the poor...

...And falls in love with Lady Merriam.

Where rides are manned by human strength.

Where Auntie's love tanks are filled.

Where boys play with sharp pointy things.

Where we find the kissing bridge.

And where the littles find marshmallow catapults.

Where archery happens.

And fights break out.

Where jousting is watched.

By even the queen herself.

Where good always wins...

...And the hero gets the girl.

We're back...

...from our very first family vacation!

We have snuck away before, when life becomes overwhelming. It's a survival thing, but this time, this time it was planned in advanced. A fulfillment to a dream I've had since I found out I was expecting my oldest son. Two dreams actually. One to fill our big ole tent with our family and two to take my boys to Story Land.

Sweet bliss. To see the wonder and awe through two young pairs of eyes. Sweet bliss.

2354. 3 hour car ride with happy, happy boys.
2355. All of our camp gear fit in Rhonda the Honda.
2356. God's beauty shining through the white mountains.
2357. No damage done to my camera by an exploding juice box.
2358. Dollar store toys to keep boys entertained.
2359. The excitement and anticipation of Story Land.
2360. Laughter's joy of the small play houses.
2361. Laughter ringing the school bell.
2362. Listening to the story of the 3 little pigs while Laughter watched 3 real pigs and inspected each of there houses.

Man of the woods in awe of being in the presence of Princess Cinderella...In a production we watched Man of the woods volunteered to help set up for Cinderella's ball.

2363. 3 pirate men.
2365. 2 boys steering there own swan boats.
2366. Excitement over drinking out of a water fountain.
2367. Meeting Cinderella.
2368. Man of the woods finally getting to ride the long awaited roller coaster and loving it.-Me getting to ride with him.
2369. Going from one thing to the next with awe and wonder.
2374. Manuel merry-go-rounds.

2378. Two stories of flying balls.
2379. Boys at an amusement park wanting to play not expecting others to entertain them.
2380. Water ships.
2381. Laughter in love with driving the tractors.
2382. Laughter and Strong man enjoying ice cream while Man of the woods and I spend time together.
2383. Breaking out of jail with Man of the woods.
2384. Man of the woods becoming braver and braver with each ride on the roller coaster.
2385. Man of the woods asking to hold onto him a little tighter on the log flume.
2386. Leaving Story Land wanting more while also being very satisfied.

Loopy Labs a place where Nerf balls can be shot through sling shots, cannons, dropped from the ceiling just about anyway imaginable.  A favorite stop.