Summer Fun # 11 ~ Gone Fishin'!

One of our summer bucket list items was to go fishing in our little neighborhood pond.  Evan has loved the little neighborhood pond since we first moved here in 2009.  It is a great shady place for walks or just sitting on a bench and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.  It really doesn't feel like you are in a city when you are walking around this little retreat.  Last year, the neighborhood did some major renovations to the pond and really cleaned it out and added some new landscaping.  It was never terrible, but it really looks nice now.  The pond isn't very deep so it is doubtful that it could ever support any substantial fish supplies.  Likely, you won't catch anything but turtles or maybe an occasional snake.  The boys and I don't really mind since I wouldn't really enjoy the whole touching the fish thing anyway.  Instead, we just use it as an opportunity to practice putting our artificial bait on our lines and casting and reeling.  Evan has really improved and can cast his line perfectly.  Brody is using Evan's old rod so Evan advanced to my old fishing pole that never really saw much use before.  Eddie made me buy it when we were dating because we had a tradition of meeting his church friends and family at a lake for a camping and fishing weekend every summer. I do think I caught my first fish on one of those excursions.

The boys lead the way to the pond.

The little pier was also added with the newer renovations.

We spotted some little tadpoles swimming by the shore.

And a turtle

We tried fishing from the pier but due to no place to sit and the railings being too high for casting, that didn't work very well.

Brody trying out his little rod.  We purchased this for Evan because it had Diego, his favorite old cartoon character, on it.

Evan using Mommy's big pole.

Reeling in his line.

I just love watching boys learning to fish like little men.

Evan casting his own rod.

One cute thing about Brody's little pole is that it came with a little fish to attach to the line.  Little ones love that they always "catch" a fish.  

It was a lovely day for fishing.

Love that Evan was helping Brody.  Daddy didn't come with us this day so Evan was being a great big brother.

Looks like a pro.

He looks like he could sit there all day waiting for the fish to bite.

Brothers fishing together.  I see years of fishing together in their future.

Brody wanted to try out the big pole.

This one reminds me of one of Evan from back in 2009.

Two and a half year old Evan fishing.

After fishing, the boys had to stop at the playground for a little bit.

They built this new playground a couple of years ago as well.  Lots of nice changes to the neighborhood in recent years.

He was a little nervous going down the big slide.

Pretending to be an ice cream store clerk.

Time to swing.

Happy boy.  He wanted to swing in the "baby" swing although he can swing in the big swings.

Do all kids at some point like swinging this way?  Evan was pretending he was flying.

Resting on the slide.

Little monkey climbing the jungle gym.