Yeee Haw!

How many of you have ever been to a rodeo? Hows about a fish rodeo? No? Well let me show you how it's done. First off, find an old dance hall in the middle of a small town. Second, get the local fire station to fill it with water. Third, get a fish hatchery to truck in and dump 250 + trout into the water. Lastly, turn all the kids in town loose to catch dem fish!

Probably though, you might want to either put ear plugs in your toddler's ears or use your magic wand to put a mute spell on the other children around. Especially if your toddler is easily emotionally swayed. The Bug was all pumped up to catch herself some fish. She had been looking forward to it all day long. This little one? Not afraid of touching dead animals. Or live ones. Come on people. Have you met her father? I walked into the designated area and stripped her down to her shirt and undies, cuz no one wants to see a Laynee Bug in a dirty dress mood; it would ruin the image you have of her being so sweet.

Anyways...we get into position, wait for the trout to be pumped out of their holding tank and into the water, and no sooner had the little buggers flicked their tail a half a flick, than the whole area full of children (and fish crazy, rule ignoring parents) breaks out in screams. Now mind you, they were screams of delight and excitement, but to a toddler who is easily influenced by emotions of others (note I did not say opinions of others - she could care less what you or I think) they sounded like death hollers; pleas for mercy and screams of sheer terror. Upon hearing said vocalizations, my toddler began to climb my leg, and with a look of panic on her 3 year old face, she told me that, "THE FISH ARE GOING TO EAT MY TOES ALL OFF!" What did I do to assuage her fears? I put her back in the ankle deep water and made her catch a fish. *Michael sniff* It's what any good parent would do.

 

All the kiddos caught their limit. They had so much fun and to watch them go back for more was a proud moment for any parent. I love that they have no inhibitions yet. I love that they like to give us funny things to talk about. I love that when they were told they would have to clean their own fish, I caught a certain someone trying to put her fish back. She's lucky she's only 3.

Miguel, Dave and Anthony took all the young fishers down to the stream once we got back to the cabin to gut and clean their catches. Not all were as enthused as others, but they each took care of their own fish. Now that's what I call seeing it through!

Now. How many times you gonna see that in your lifetime? Unless you know of a place that has annual fish rodeos and you regularly attend, that is. In which case you could say it happens once a year.