Fishing and Baseball: Just one of those rad Saturdays!

Last Saturday we woke up early to a drizzle outside. Pulled on our jeans and kids in their boots, stopped at the donut store and headed over to El Dorado Park for the Youth Fishing Derby. The lake is stocked with trout and catfish, children under 15 are provided with instruction, poles, bait and help and they can fish for free from 9am-1pm.

This was their first time fishing!

Fishing isn't really a kid's sport. There's a whole lotta patience involved. HeaBug was already a little wigged out at the live bait. I did make her carry her own though.















We went through the workshops and learned what fish we were looking for, basic safety, etiquette and best practices. We learned how to hold the fish and given a chance to practice casting a line.

Mr. B set the kiddos up while HeaBug and I went to get bait. We baited the hooks and casted the lines. The group next to us were pulling up fish after fish after fish! Poor JT was getting discouraged. There were two gentlemen from the park and dept of fish and game that were offering help and advice and encouragement. One of the men set JT up, helped him cast his line out far enough and then had him lay the pole down on the ground. He told him to watch it carefully and when the line started to move to give it a quick tug and then start reeling in! Sure enough, it worked. JT caught two fish and HeaBug caught one!

They were both very excited as were we! We were by no means prepared for them to actually catch fish so we didn't have a line or even a bucket. The other gentleman was helping us take the hooks out and offered to give the fish to other people that would take them home for eating. He was really great helping HeaBug take her picture with her fish.

After the Derby we headed over to Blair Field to watch the Dirt vs. Bags inters-squad tournament. JT was so excited to see some of his coaches from Dirtbag Baseball Camp this past summer. When we got there we found out that the game had been postponed two hours so it wouldn't start until 4. Mr. B, JT and I watched them warm up and practice. JT got to tour Blair Field with one of the Team's coaches and directors and a few other boys. They met with the players in the dugout and even got to run from the first base side to the third base side on the dirt.



JT spent most of the time at the rail, chatting with the players and watching them warm up. We had to briefly leave to take Mr. B home and pick up HeaBug but we came right back to the field to watch the game. I told JT that since it was such a steady drizzle and I was super cold, we could stay for 5 innings.

On our way home, Mr. B sent me a picture message. He took Uncle Edward to a Clippers game for his 30th birthday. Their seats were amazing!

 



We were so wiped at the end of this full day. So many cool things, when I asked each kiddo at the end of the day what their favorite part had been, neither JT or HeaBug could pick just one. Love that.

The next night we celebrated Uncle Edward's birthday with his favorite dinner, pork chops, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes... Then we would normally make strawberry shortcake but I didn't get the stuff in time so we made an almond cake and slathered it in homemade strawberry jam! Happy 30th Birthday Unk. We love you SO SUPER much!