One Fish, Two Fish...

Alex, Elena, Hayden, Ryan, Jordon & myself at Bonelli Park

So Day Two of our summer vacation started out rather nicely. We received a call from friends wanting to know if we maybe would like to go fishing. Sounds like a plan. So we woke up early (8:30am btw - thanks Alex for the early am phone call!) and headed over to Bonelli Regional Park.

Ducks, ducks, and more ducks!

After looking at the web page and seeing they recently stocked the lake with 500 lbs of catfish I had visions of blackened catfish frying away in my cast iron pan while spicy hot smoke billowed up and throughout the house. If you've ever blackened catfish you know all windows and air vents must be open! But it is so worth the effort and pepper burnt lungs!

That's my girl!

Coffee pot was set to perk while I busily made our lunch to throw in the cooler we meant to drag along. Packed the chairs, umbrella, cooler, and with sunscreen applied and hats on our heads we headed out the door for a day at the lake. $10 later and we were in the park and looking for a parking spot. Which was not a difficult task to accomplish since there was hardly any one there. The swim beach was closed for the day, some sort of private party and we past what looked like a really nice playground on the way to our designated fishing spot.

The boy getting ready to cast out

Talk about excitement! Ryan & Jordon chasing our car and ready to help us unload with such grins and enthusiasm. Such good boys. As we were meandering toward our spot a park official pulled alongside us and asked if she could take our picture. So now our grins will be gracing some sort of flyer for July. Celebrity? Maybe, but we're getting used to our paparazzi.

Donuts?

As we settle in the resident ducks march by reminding us they will require some sort of food or they may just nibble away at our toes or something. From the safety of their little burrows ground squirrels look on deciding with their pea sized little brains if they could possibly snatch a donut before we closed the box. Ha! No such luck for them, but man are they brazen.

What a lazy day....

So we settle into our day. Make camp so to speak. Get the gear ready and cast our lines out. Funny thing about fishing with kids, especially rambunctious kids, they don't sit still for long. Frisbee out and now they start chasing all over the hills. This is when I think to myself, shoulda brought the kite. perfect day to fly a kite. So before we know it the kids are done with fishing, while lines are in the water and the adults are left on the shore trying not to doze in the sun while they run amok. As the sun creeps over head and the marine layer burns off we set up the umbrella and enjoy our simple lunch and watch the bobbers float along.

The kids and that Frisbee

Did we catch anything? Was there a power struggle of man against beast? Will my cast iron pans be blackening away some yummy fatty catfish? In answer to those questions a big 'ol NO! Sadly, I didn't get to enjoy my blackened catfish along with some garlic mashed taters and grilled asparagus, but I really did enjoy the day of just sitting and relaxing while listening to the kids laughter.

Such avid fisherman

Our day quickly came to an end and as we were cleaning up our spot the kids grinning, happy faces made me think we would definitely be coming back again. Empty fishing nets and all. Maybe next time we will use the equestrian center or even camp out there....didn't know they had campgrounds....hmmmm more summer activities to ponder.....

View up by the bathrooms

As we head home I contemplate the activities we planned for the remainder of the day thinking we could slip in a nap before heading to my Uncle Danny's Graduation. Sadly, the day must of really wore all of us out because we overslept our naps and totally missed the big event. I woke with a sore throat and feeling rather ugh, so maybe it's a good thing hu? Anyway, Congratulations to my Uncle Danny! Good luck as you pursue your new paralegal career!

Aaaaahhhhhh!

As the day closes I am sitting here contemplating the day. Day at Bonelli Park, Uncles Graduation, Those bad neighbors FINALLY move out, what an action packed day. Kids are tucked in and I get to enjoy the silence until the little one wakes in the morning. He's my early riser. Tomorrow is a day of getting ready for Fathers Day. Hopefully we will be able to make it over to leave some flowers on Granpa Carlos's grave before we have the in-laws over. Sounds like a nice quiet weekend hu? Like I said before this summer has started out a lot better than last!

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa