Today I took Daniel and Mia to go fishing for the first time. After seeking advise, I chose a place where I hoped we would catch piles of anything that would classify as fish. And what a success! Daniel caught about 5 bluegills, Mia caught maybe 3, and I caught one. Of course, all my time was helping them bait the hook and reeling in sometimes an empty line, but sometimes with a fish. Daniel was so excited, he even helped take the fish off the hook and toss them in (as long as he could use the rag I brought (he did not actually want to touch the fish or anything yucky like that). If you look closely, that tiny minnow looking thing on the right is the first fish he ever reeled in.

Mia was the one who squealed when the fish got too close. She had fun reeling it in, but did not want any more to do with it.

A young fisherman sporting the biggest one caught of all; a small mouth bass weighing less than a pound. The kids were so excited, I promised that we would take it home to show their Daddy and I would cook it. After removing the skin, head, tail, and bones, there was about three bites (toddler sized bites) in all. As Daniel ate them, he said, "UMMM!! Delicious!", as he ate it with ketchup. What a fun morning! We had no injuries and a belly full of fish - err - make that a mouth full of fish - err - make that a bite of fish.

Shane and Mia while walking through a state park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Daniel and Mia, Aunt Sarah and Aunt Mandy

 

 

 
Mia enjoying Aunt Mandy and the swings.

 
Daniel walking the ropes at the park.

 
Aunt Mandy and Daniel

 
A woman on a mission!

 

 
Ready for shopping!

 
What's the normal thing to do when Mom has a pile of clean clothes being folded on the couch? Well, the kids grab as many as possible and try to put them on. Here we have McQueen undies on Mia's head, 2 shirts and 2 pants on her body, while Daniel is putting on one of my shirts. I'm just hopng their hands are clean!

 
I have been asked to take a picture of my tulips. I have probably 50 or more which are about to bloom. I plan to get some nice mulch in the beds soon. When the flowers come to bud, Daniel ran outside and pointed saying, "Mamma! They are turning red!"

 
Mia loves to use side walk chalk. She will make random marks on the driveway, and will be saying, "C, D, K, P..."

 
Daniel enjoying some grapes and his bike.

 
We are attempting our first potty training try this week. So far, she has done very well. At one point, to help her stay on the potty just a little longer, I started to play games with her, like use the pastic training pants as a hat. It was a hit! She wore those pants for her head long after she got off the potty!

 
Mia loves the camera, and was saying, "Che-e-e-e-ese!"