i have many happy places in my life and this is one of them.
i love to bring our kids to carolyn and mike's.
i want to live at carolyn and mike's.
we even brought waffle.
i had a bunch of pictures of him in the water but realized after that one of my children
changed my camera settings without telling me so they were all ruined.
even without photos you can imagine how excited waffle was
to swim for the first time and play with their dogs max and cash.
we swam and the boys got in the kayaks.
then scott hit sean in the head with an oar and there was a lot of crying.
craig and i floated on a raft while the kids played…it was heavenly.
i love getting time to just sit(float) and talk with him.
mike gave into annie's begging him to fish.
he got out the poles and baited their hooks for them.
and fish started biting.
on annie's first of course…she has a way with the fish.
i think it has something to do with that little finding nemo fishing pole.
we tried to get talby to hold it…not going to happen.
so i tried.
first i screamed like a girl and dropped it…then i did it.
woo-hoo!
annie threw her fish back in.
sean caught two fish that day…both catfish.
i did not grab that one.
it's just too gross with those whisker things.
waffle did not know what to think.
mike and carolyn had to leave after awhile so we were on our own with the fishing.
annie started to cry "it's not going to be fun without mike"
no problem i thought…i can put a worm on a hook.
then they caught two fish…ummm…MIKE? MIKE? who is going to take this fish off the hook?
they were long gone.
yuck.
together craig and i did it…but it was gross.
and then we promptly announced "fishing time is over!"
ok…i saved this picture for the end.
it's the grossest picture i have ever taken.
by far.
so gross.
are you ready?
yikes.
but it's still my happy place.
even with fish guts and hooks stuck in fish mouths.
thank you letting us come and making us feel so welcome.
can't wait to come back!
Holly Rhodes - I am enjoying going back through your blog!! Looks like an amazing place! One day I will live on the water… even if its just a pool! haha
Maybe this next move we are gearing up for will bring a pool into our future =)
Nicole - Haha, not gross at all…that’s a super cool picture! My husband is getting ready to leave on his annual 10-day fishing trip to Canada, but they wash their worms before leaving (no American dirt allowed in Canada), so it’s not *as* gross. =)
carissa... brown eyed fox - i think i’d find it happy too… just as long as i didn’t have to touch one of those worms!
April G - I just found your blog today. I was scrolling along thinking “oh what a beautiful family”. THEN I get to the fish picture and I screamed.
Thanks. Thanks for scaring me. I could have gone my whole life…
P.S. Even though I sound snotty, I am really just sarcastic and I really love your blog.
Secret Mom Thoughts - Awesome photos. Definitely a happy place.
christine - Looks like it was a wonderful day, fish guts and all!! Thanks so much for sharing your happy place.
tabitha - i actually think the “gross” picture is pretty cool! these pictures remind me of the one i saw in country living a few months back, i think it was of your youngest daughter? i know it was a terribly cute picture! 🙂
pam - your happy place is awesome. 🙂
you look cute holding that fish!
Tracy - Love the photos and especially the ones of the worms and fish (and of course Waffle and the kiddos too) – but the fish pictures remind me so much of when we would go camping and fishing as a family when I was growing up – I miss those days tremendously now! *sigh* However, where we live in our new house is a dock that my kids can fish off anytime they want and they are really enjoying themselves.
Hugs, Trac~ :o)
Mindy Harris - eww, icky fishy!
Have you ever though of going to the BlogHer conference? The next one is August 2010 in NYC. Just curious. I’m thinking of going–roadtrip, maybe?
Kelly - You are one brave woman touching those fish. I tried to reach down and just touch the back of one salmon in the stream with one fingertip on our trip to Alaska last week and when I got close to it, it began swishing that big tail around and I squealed and jumped back. ha ha ha I was a scaredy cat. 🙂 Kelly
Angela - LOL–The worm pic was grosser to me!!!
erika - the series of pictures of waffle and that fish crack me up! what an awesome place!!
My First Kitchen - Yeah, that’s definitely the grossest picture you’ve ever taken. 🙂 Looks like the perfect summer day. I love seeing families outside enjoying whatever is around. Lovely.
Cate O'Malley - so many fun pics! the last one is definitely gross but in a very cool way. 😉
Danielle - Your grossest picture ever still manages to be beautiful…what color!
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - What a fun filled day. You LOOK really happy!
Staci - I LOVE the second picture of Annie letting her fish go!!!! We have a pond…and two boys…and I REFUSE to bait a hook or remove fish of their line 🙂 I’m mean like that 🙂 It’s just Daddy’s job I say!!!! What a great place for your family to go 🙂 (Oh yea..we have 3 GIANT catfish in our pond…SERIOUSLY…GIANT!!! I’m scared they might eat me…I WON’T get in!!! I just like to feed them!)
Jen - That gross picture looks like a cucumber with teeth!!
se7en - Oh you have inspired me to get out of the house and take a trip. Just an everyday trip into the great outdoors because well we haven’t ventured forth in a while and it just looks so lovely out there!!! Thank-you for the pure delight, even the hideous fish.
down pillow - Great pictures, but I’m right there with you on the fishing thing. No chance I’d bait or “unhook” a fish! YUCK! lol
Lorilee - I want to live there too!
Blessings,
Lorilee
PS~Erin - Oh my: what awesome pictures! You can definitely feel the happy place vibe through your photos! And I just love your dog.
Sophie - Looks like such a fun place! Waffle is so sweet with his short fur.
And you’re right, that IS a gross picture 😛
Kathy - Looks like it’s the whole family happy place love all the smiles.
erica - what a beautiful place! i wanna go!!!
Stephanie - Mmm…looks so peaceful and relaxing. My cousin & his family live on a farm in OH. I love when we have family gatherings at their place. There is something about the quiet, and the open space, and nature all around. I would love to live in the country – if I was so spoiled with the conveniences of the city!
Brooke - your happy place looks very peaceful. i’m not really into fish, but it still looked awesome 🙂
Joy Cronauer...Joy at Home - love the photos! camera settings…ugh, as I just got the editing thing down I finally got my very own cannon rebel..so sweet! but oh, so much to learn! love, love your shots thanks for sharing and the inspiration!
AshleyR - Love the pictures.. especially the gross one!
Looks like everyone had a great time. Love those summer days.
alice - that shot down the insides of the fish is awesome! by far my favorite one – although all are fun.
Renee - Great pictures, my favorite is of you! You look so happy and relaxed. My turn come the 15th — woo hoo! Hope the fish don’t bite. Ewe is right. xoxo
kasey - sounds like so much fun.
xo
charlane - LOL the reason I don’t fish is my father had a rule – if you caught it, you had to clean it. no way
mom - I’m going to book my retreat time at Carolyn and Mike’s right now. That was so nice last year. Arts & Crafts seems so far away!
kelly - Such happy shots… 🙂 Waffle looks just like Roscoe when he’s trimmed. Except for the tail, they could almost be twins. 🙂
Starnes Fam - Your hair looks cute! Shorter than usual, it seems.
Cute post….fish pic is awesome….so fun!
We just got back from Cali and had a fabulous time. Enjoyed the tide pools very much – thanks for the inspiration from your blog. What a way to see nature…..and sea life…..in person, rather than behind aquarium glass.
emily :] - EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
gaah i hate fish.
but very fun post.
Lanny Stanard - Love the picture of waffle and that fish… once again great picture’s looks like you had a wonderful time 😀
Lanny
elizabeth - remarkable photos! Thanks for taking us fishing with you…