The Best Family Day Ever

We took an impromptu trip with the kids to the fish hatchery today.  Nick had the day off, and we had no plans, so it was a no brainer.  The kids were so excited when we told them we were going fishing with both Mommy and Daddy.  We stopped to pick up some lunch at the store and then headed to the kids pond.  Christian took a long nap in the car on the way as Tes methodically chanted "Are we there yet?"  I just smiled in the front seat.

When we got to the hatchery, Nick started to set up all the fishing gear, and I lathered the kids up with sunblock.  Nick and Tessie made their way over to the kids pond, and after I got Christian in his walker, we slowly followed them.  I set Christian up on the grass at the edge of the water and locked all the wheels on the walker.  It would have ruined the day if he rolled into the pond.  Nick handed him a fly rod with no hook, and he started to happily cast while he said "To the sky, to the water."  Nick cast a spinning rod out for Tes, which was rigged with a lure, and then handed it to her to reel in.  The kids were in heaven.

We took a break from fishing to eat our lunch, and we all munched happily while we watched the birds and the clouds.  Nick had cast the lure out into the middle of the pond while we ate, and suddenly, it went under.  He grabbed the rod and handed it to Tes, and we all cheered as she reeled in the fish, a first for her.  Christian jumped up and down in his walker, and Tessie looked serious as she landed the little rainbow trout.  Nick took it out of the water to show the kids, and we congratulated Tes.  Just as he was about to release it, Tessie said "Ok, lets eat it now."  We laughed, then told her we thought we should put it back.  "No, I want to eat it." she said, mater-of-factually.  Nick and I were a bit stumped.  Catch and release fishing is something that is pretty ingrained in our fishing practice, not to mention the fact that this fish was a stocked trout, and not too tasty looking.  Nick managed to release the fish by convincing Tes that this way, someone else would have a chance to catch it.  "Okay," she said, shrugging.  "We can eat a different one."

A while later we hooked another fish, and Christian got to reel it it, with a little help.  We had a perfect record, and it was time to quit while we were ahead.  Before heading home, we took the kids over to the hatchery to feed the fish.  They loved it, and we had to refill our stash of pellets a couple of times.  Tes had to go potty before we left, so I took her into the bathroom at the hatchery.  While I was standing in the stall with her she said "Mom, this was the best family day ever!  I'm glad Daddy didn't have to go to work today."  I smiled and agreed with her, wholeheartedly.  It was more than the best family day ever, it was beautiful.