Don't let go of the rope!

T made his first attempt at wakeboarding this past Sunday at the dam. We have tried over and over to coax him into doing it. He finally decided he wanted to try and out he went. J had T put his legs on the board and J held the rope while T hung onto his legs. They went for quite awhile before T decided he had had enough. But, as he came in he had a grin from ear to ear. However, he insisted no more for the day, which was fine with me. But, later on he decided to try maybe just one more time before we went home. So, J decided to try something a little different this time with the handle and rope and what not. Anyhoo, T is holding the handle on the rope and daddy just held the rope, no handle. As soon as we started going, daddy lost his grasp on the rope, and so I thought T did too. To my surprise, there T was hanging on bouncing off the waves. I didn't get too much of it cause as soon as I saw it, as you will see (and hear, minor expletive muttered at the sight of T slamming through the water) in the footage, I dropped the camera down. Both me and his uncle were yelling at him "Let go of the rope, let go of the rope!" Finally, he released his white knuckle grip on the rope.
Well I thought for sure he would be freaking out and screaming, but as we pulled up next to him, we was laughing and cracking up. He asked if I got that on video and then proceeded to watch it 100 times, laughing everytime. He didn't want to get back out there, who can blame him, but he said he will go next time. So, way to go T! You did it! He couldn't wait to get home to tell his friends that he wakeboarded, and wakeboard he did!

A Day at the Fish Farm

Well I ask you, what could be more fun than going to the fish farm? Ok, a lot of things, but it is like watching fire, you just can't help it. I just had to go. My mom and dad invited the kiddies to go, who love going there by the way. I thought I would have a few hours to myself to go shopping or something equally as fun, like reading. But B wasn't having it, she wouldn't go unless I went. If the truth be told, I was going to go anyway, but I will act like I didn't want to. That charade would last well after we got there, as I pretended I didn't want to fish either. The fish farm we frequent is like an insititution in our family, I have gone there since I was a little girl and it still hasn't changed a bit.

I remember going there with my grandpa K, he would sit in his own folding chair we would bring for him and throw his line in. He was quite the fisherman, although at the fish farm, everyone is. He would catch fish after fish and then ( like a child) bring his line back for my dad or aunt to unhook the fish and put in our bucket. Then when it was off, back in the water and then back out for my dad to unhook. This went on til we caught what we were willing to pay for and we were back on the road.

Well, these trips are not much different. My grandpa has since passed away, well 20 years ago. But T would throw his line in and "snag" one, flinging it out for his papa to get it. Yep, same guy who got to take the fish off for his dad, now gets to take them off for his grandson. Then B got in on the action, yelling "papa, I got one, come get it. Hurry!" They were a riot. I think T got about 10-12 fish and that doesn't count the 10 or so that "got away." ;-)

Well, I took a different approach. There was a pond at the very end that had the big ones. The reason why they are big, is they are smart. T & B started there, but too boring for them, no bites at all. The fish would come up eat that food off the top and be gone. You could see them swimming around teasing us, but they weren't about to fall for the leather on my line. So, I sat....and sat....and sat...and sat... Sweating, waiting, melting. I found a spot where I could hide my line and it blended it with the moss and food. I could see some big ones thinking about it, one especially kept swimming around my line, not quite sure, but sniffing (do fish sniff) for sure.

I just kept throwing food around my hook, keeping it right on top, which is where they were eating, right off the top.

Well, long story long... I got two 4-5 pounders. They were awesome and I felt like quite the angler. I called my hubby to tell him my accomplishment and his words were "wow, that is saying a lot, you caught fish at the fish farm. Wow!" Well, he wasn't there to appreciate all the hard work I had to do to catch these two "thinkers". Trust me, no easy task there.

Anyway, I recommend taking the kids up to the fish farm. Just be careful, its addicting and can be quite costly when you go to leave. All the fish that T caught and B, along with grandma and papa came to $64, skinned and filleted. My two big ones came to $14, although my 2 weighed as much as their 15. Go big or go home, right?

Happy 4th of July

How sweet? I love this pic... T, B and J just chillin' waiting for the candy. The anticipation, can't you just feel it?

I am so sad that the 4th of July is over, it is one of my favorite days of the year and definitely my favorite day of summer. Seems like summer just flies by once the 4th is over. I love the parades, bbq's and our annual bbq here followed by the fireworks. There is so much stuff to cram into one day, but I love it all.

B & T loving running through the water, especially with the heat that day.

We started with the parade this year as usual and the kiddies made a killing with all the candy they got. Although a really small parade and not much as far as floats, I love the atmosphere, watching all the kids get excited and hanging out with my friends at "our spot." Then over to the picnic after, with all the kids running through the water and enjoying the heat. Again, the best part of that, is hanging out with friends. I was so happy to have J home this year, instead of working. He got to enjoy ALL the festvities of the day, lucky him. The kids LOVE having him around, it is like a holiday everyday their daddy is home with them.

T and J.H. in the mud puddle, where did T go?

The water fun turned into a huge mud puddle, with the hole going up to T's knees. Oh, but what fun jumping in it. Him and his buddy JH took turns running through it and jumping in it. We had to drag them out covered in mud. The best part of the whole day for T, I think.

Later on that night was our annual BBQ with friends and family, food and fireworks, what more could a person need, I ask? Again we had too much food, but never enough fun. I love our front row seats to the fireworks, they were fun again this year. I must say having all the kids around was the funnest part, listening to them "oooh and aaah" over everything.

The only bad part was while T was playing in the backyard, a wasp or yellow jacket attacked T and stung him twice, once in the eye the other time on the head. Needless to say, and with good cause he freaked out. He came running in the house yelling "what am I going to do now?" Poor guy, his eye swelled up and he was pretty upset, so much he didn't even want to play for awhile. I located his pirate patch (aka, Jack Sparrow patch) and that made him feel a lot better. He was able to wear his patch over his swollen eye for a good part of the night. He is all better now, with no cool scar or even a mark to show for it. What a trooper!

Ow, look at my eye. Da** those wasps! He was scared to go outside the next day, he was afraid they were going to sting him again. He's ok now though!

Look at those sweet lil' boys! T & B love "their twins". What's not to love!

My girls: B, K, Me and A. I love you!

Thanks all of you who made it, it was a good time. Same time and place next year.

**A Special Thanks goes out to our Troops who are protecting our freedoms and Bless those who are away from their families. Thanks to our active military and our retired military for their sacrifices!**

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!