Fishing with Daddy

Last Sunday afternoon Orrin decided he wanted to take the kids fishing at a pond nearby our house. The only problem was that it had been rainy all day. We finally saw a break in the weather....sorta... so we packed the kids in one of the four-wheel drive farm pickups and headed on the five mile trip. This is what the clouds looked like going there.....

Crash did what he does whenever we get into a vehicle around 5pm and CRASHED! Poor guy missed out on the whole thing! I was sorta glad that he did so we could leave him in the pickup (with the windows down so we could hear the bear when he awoke.) That and since it was so muddy I held Little Miss the WHOLE two hours we were there. So I was more than ready to go when we finally left.

Orrin and Scooter did catch two blue gills....with their hands. They had gotten trapped in ruts when the runoff raised the pond level. Thankfully they both swam off when released.

I sometimes forget how great all the opportunites of explore ponds was where I grew up. We would take my brothers' jet ski out to a watershed pond of ours and be able to tube or knee board on the pond! I also remember walking with friends to neighbors ponds and going swimming when I was in grade school. I will never forget the first time my brothers and I went tubing behind a three-wheeler and we went out on the frozen pond with the three-wheeler. Also the fun playing ice hockey with tree branches for goals and snow boots for ice skates. Oh yes we also went fishing. I took all that for granted until I moved to Northwest Kansas where the ponds look more like mud puddles to me. Did I mention we also lived near a creek and played hours upon hours in it? I don't know what my mother thought when we dragged ourselves home after these "adventures"! Ah rural life is great!

I wonder if we came home looking like this more than a few times? Scooter has to limit himself to the mud puddles on the farm for now.

Fun with Family

The last two weekends have been filled with family get-togethers or just spending time as a family unit. We had to go back to North Central Kansas for my *gasp* 10th year class reunion. It was a good time and I enjoyed seeing some of my best friends and their families.
On Sunday my brother Max and his wife Leann graciously hosted a swimming/BBQ party for our family and some cousins! It was great! My oldest brother, Milton, decided to still try some "older brother scare tactics" on me and I am glad to say, I did not go running:)


Even when he got this close! Yes that is his headlight, which is why he had to leave early, while he could still see!



This last weekend was the Herndon Ox Roast held in Herndon Kansas just straight north of our farm about 13 miles. I had never been and Orrin hadn't been as an adult. Since it had rained the day before there was no spraying or field work to do so for a change the men got to participate also. We had a "mini float" in the parade and with our Scooter(oldest child) pulling a wagon with a pedal tractor. The sign said "The future looks bright in Herndon" with all the kids wearing their sunglasses(on a very cloudy cool day!). I pulled a wagon with the other two kids in it and advertised for our VBS night at church which is coming up at the end of June. The kids had alot of fun. Little Miss(our little girl) was busy trying to steal candy out of Crash's(our second child) bucket so there was some tension in my wagon but otherwise went well! I couldn't believe the parade lasted so long....at least 45 minutes!



Crash "crashed" while eating corn on the cob. He would take a bite and slowly close his eyes, then open to take a bite. Sometimes even onery kids can be so cute!



*I am taking a clue off a fellow blogger and cousin by not putting my children's names but nicknames instead. Hopefully these will not change as to confuse you.*