AHEM...

So, Jenny wanted me to make a quick post, detailing my adventure with the CHAMP this past weekend. she claims that this blog is acting as a journal and that it is chronicling the important events of our daily lives for posterity's sake. This is all fine, however I have a bit of difficulty following the full-page advertisement for J-Crew and GAP from the last post with any information that could possibly be of more value to my posterity. Really. You want to know about the life of Grandpa Todd, squirt? The post from 10 minutes ago sums things up rather nicely. A simple Amen will suffice. But I will add a little travelogue to appease the joy of my life and to show the world that I am at least attempting to be a good dad to the boys still...

Ryder and I set off this Saturday for his first angling adventure. If you want to fit in out here in the pacific northwest, you need to fish, a wardrobe with at least 2 outfits resembling military fatigues and you need an endless supply of fish stories. This weekend was all about helping Ryder fit in. Friday night we stopped at Target and the CHAMP picked out his very own SUPERMAN fishing pole. Since he already has camo shorts, we decided to forgoe the wardrobe revision. Saturday morning we packed up some lunches, our fishing gear and a two-for-one coupon to jamba juice (a yuppy twist to a manly outing). We headed about 20 miles south to a small golf course with a stocked trout pond.

PRE-adventure photos... a requirement in the house of Jenny

Upon arrival I was informed by the 13 year-old 'pond attendant' that there was no catch and release here... you catch it, you buy it... and each fish is $6.50 a pop. Memories cost $$$. Who can put a price on the CHAMP having the time of his life though. After a brief tutorial on the basics of casting and reeling (brief meaning the time it took for him to say "I already know dad" 17 times), we sent our first cast into the pond. I knew my wallet was in for it when the fish were jumping out of the water after the bait before it had even hit the water. Within 1 minute Ryder had reeled in a 14" Rainbow Trout, his first conquest over nature (besides squishing bugs) to date. He wouldn't stop smiling and telling me how awesome it was. I must say, I was pretty happy myself. After three casts and three fish, I started to think how this was going to be the fastest fishing trip or the most expensive trip ever. I had to be witty... I stopped adding bait to the hook, I pretended the fish were squirming and threw them back in when my 13 year old escort wasn't looking, and I stuck bait to the weights and left the hook bare so the CHAMP could get a bite, but not reel another $6.50 in. It all worked too! We were able to prolong the morning, bring home some sweet rainbows and give the CHAMP a first class fishing experience. In the end it was well worth the price- besides the CHAMP now has a few fishing stories to help him fit in here.

first ever fish!!!

fearless fishers of the pacific northwest, no fish is safe

the house now stinks like fish