Fishing Fun

One of the first things we did after Jay got home was to take the girls to Olympic National Park. It is so breath-takingly beautiful there, and has always been one of our favorite haunts. We've been going there since the first time we lived in Washington when we were first married. Love, love, love it!!! And now it is associated with so many fun and wonderful memories, that we can't help but to love it all the more. Since it was still March, we just went for the day and brought along a picnic and the fishing poles!

Ellie enjoying the Doritos

Cheesy Face

Kate and her fishing gear

Heading to the river

We didn't have any luck in the fishing department this day, but we were fortunate enough to see a herd of elk as we were driving home. It was then that we realized the girls had never seen elk before. They were a bit stymied as to what these creatures might be. The guesses ranged from llamas to camels. We won't let our Wyoming relatives know that our children were unable to identify elk. Grandpa would be shaking his head...  

Important Fishing Update!

The girls were finally successful in their quest for a fish. Kate reeled it in, and she was so excited she was beside herself. She was dissapointed when she learned we weren't keeping it though.

"What do you want to do with it?," I asked.
"Take it home in a sack of water, so it can live at our house!"

Of course. Needless to say, the little fish was released and quickly swam away, hopefully back to his/her happy fish life in the pond.

"Did you get a picture of when we had to let it go?," Kate asked.
"I don't think so," I said.
"Is that because that was the sad part?"
"Yes, honey, because that was the sad part."

Learning to Fish. . .Pink Style

We took the girls to a new sporting goods store that opened up near our house. Whenever we go into a place like that they are magically drawn to whatever pink merchandise is on sale. It doesn't matter what it is, what it does, or what it looks like. Just as long as it's pink. Pink is the one and only qualifying factor. Well, Kate saw a pink fishing pole and that was it. We had to get it. Granted, the girls have both said before at various times that they've wanted to go fishing, so getting a pole didn't come entirely out of the blue (no pun intended). And Jay, being the awesome father of all girls that his is, got the pink pole and tackle box and bait to go with it. He too has long understood the power of pink.

We tried the new pole out and it was a resounding success. We didn't catch any fish, but that is entirely beside the point. Casting out the line and reeling it back in over, and over, and over was more than enough fun. There was even great excitement when Maddie managed to reel in a leaf. Actually, I think catching a real fish would have been too much, for now we're just acclimating to the new pink pole.