Fishing at Bayside ~ Saltwater fishing tourney

We entered a fishing tournament with a local oilfield company and today was the day! We left the house at 4:30am and went to nearby Bayside with hopes of limiting out on fish and winning some prize money! Well it didn't happen, lol...I caught a crab and that was about it! We had quiet a few nibbles but no fish to show for it...We did enjoy ourselves and I had a blast taking photos...

I was just waiting for some light so I could take photos...

Sunrise at Bayside Texas

I love this photo one of the best I've taken of the sun coming up on the South Texas Coast!

A flock of White Ibis...

The view from one spot we fished at...

We fished near Bayside Texas the water is part of Copano Bay

Bridge that we fished near...

Fred with the Cast net catching Bait fish and Trey watching and learning. Fred caught quiet a few mullet and then he caught two Small Black drum. The drum were beautiful and as they were not bait fish we had to put them back...

A house being built on the coast...

Snowy Egret

Gull...

It seemed the birds were taking turns sitting on these post and I was having fun trying to get photos of them.

Trey picked a flower and threw it in the water, it floated down to me!! I told him how sweet to pick me a flower, lol...Yes we were being silly....

Really silly!! Trey the great fisherman...lol...we gave him a surf rod to fish with...

Fred and Trey concentrating...or at least Trey was....Fred was practicing sliding into the water, and ended up with wet shoes and none too happy!!

We didn't catch anything but enjoyed ourselves...and we even managed to get a babysitter for Michael so that was a blessing!!

We didn't win any prize money for fish but we all ended up with some great door prizes, t-shirts and goodies from the Company that had the tournament and dinner to boot too!!

This is the 2nd year we've participated in this tournament and I told Fred we really need to practice for next year as we've never caught any fish, lol...practice makes perfect...and I also wish they'd do a fresh-water tournament then I wouldn't have a problem winning some prize money...but alas it is only saltwater fish. We will try again next year!

There was one guy in the tournament who did catch a small shark (4 footer) and Michael really enjoyed checking that out at the weigh in...It's the first time he actually got to touch a shark and look into their mouth...pretty cool....and our science lesson for the day!!

Alligators at AWR

I told Michael after his dentist appt. we would go to Aransas Wildlife Refuge to look for Alligators...he calls them crocagators and I keep explaining to him that Texas does not have crocodiles but alligators...maybe sometime it will click but it hasn't yet...He was excited and after much walking and checking out the different lakes we found one, or rather it found us. When we walked out on to the observation deck this alligator swam directly over to us and checked us out. I think some people feed them, even though you are not supposed too, and this one was checking to see if we had any food...As soon as he saw we weren't going to feed him he swam off to check out a group of ducks....

He and or she was about 6 to 7 feet long...not to big. Michael was excited and kept telling me look at his tail Momma, Look at his tail!! Are you taking photos Momma, take more photos Momma....lol....

A wild turkey. There was a group of Turkeys in the road and when another vehicle drove by them they flew up in to the trees...


A whitetail buck laying down. The deer up by the office are pretty friendly and not to afraid of people.

Young Wild Hogs rooting around...

A nine banded Armadillo....This is the first one Michael has ever seen and he was just staring he didn't know what to think...we watched him for about 10 minutes.

A swallow tail butterfly.

The view of the coast at Aransas Wildlife Refuge during High tide.

A old beat up Javelina...This poor old guy was pretty beat up and by himself. He was hanging around the picnic tables and I'm sure waiting for someone to feed him. A couple of years ago we saw another Javelina, that was in poor shape, in the same area and I'm wondering if this isn't the same one...lol...who wouldn't wait around for a free meal!

Michael checking out a frog that he found.

A Blue Heron. I know this photo isn't very good the Heron was just to far away for a decent shot. I even rested the camera on the observation deck so that it would be steady but I so need a telephoto lense...I just don't have the lense power to get great photos of these birds...

I took 245 photos, got those down to 145 photos...I put a few on here but have more on my flickr site...you are more than welcome to go there and check out more photos of Corpus and Aransas Wildlife Refuge....

http://www.flickr.com/gp/10418594@N08/77nBpw

Michaels first Dentist Appt.

Above is the hwy into Corpus Christi. Michael had an appt. with a pediatric Dentist in Corpus on Thursday. I told him we were going to see a kids dentist and he was all for the idea. I found the office fairly easy and when we walked in they had a large lego table with an enormous amount of legos and Michael was in Heaven....When they finally called us back in the room he wouldn't get in the chair so I sat in it and he climbed up into my lap...As my friend Helen said it is a strange feeling sitting in the chair and not having my mouth looked at...But he did so much better than he did at my dentist last year when he wouldn't even come within 2 ft of the chair...He let the Hygienist look in his mouth...while we waited for the dentist to come I persuaded him to stay in the chair while I read books to him...I can not explain to ya'll how PROUD I was of him....He let the dentist look in his mouth...the dentist was poking and prodding and not a peep out of Michael...The synopsis is 5 cavities...I was given several options as to how we can go about filling these cavities...I chose the oral sedation and laughing gas for him, now hopefully all will go well. I was told to expect to spend at least half a day at the dentist office with him when we go back, ugh!! What irritated me was he is not to have any food or drink that morning...it's a 1 1/2 hour drive to the office and trying to tell my son he can't drink or eat in the morning isn't going to go over well...Our appt. is at 8am so hopefully I can just wake him up and pack him in the truck and go...He likes his audio books and maybe if I put one in on the ride over there he'll be okay...What is funny is on the way out of the dentist office Michael told me his teeth were all fixed and he wouldn't have to go back, ekkk!! I told him no that they just looked at his teeth and that we had to go back for them to fix them...he was none to happy with my reply and started arguing with me...So I have a month to convince him that he will be just fine and they won't hurt him....The dentist will not use Novocaine so there will be no shots. The cavities are surface cavities and shouldn't be hard to fill....

We left the dentist office and picked up some dinner and went to Aransas Wildlife Refuge to hunt down some Alligators and Michael was really excited about that....

Weds ~ Adventure

Ya know when a boy gets something in his head he's not going to be satisfied until he's done it!!...First thing out of Michaels mouth this morning was "Can we go FISHING", ugh! I knew where we were headed...He wanted to try out his new Rocket Fishing Rod. I told him that we had to go get the oil changed in the truck (forgot my appt. yesterday) and then we'd go fishing...He was jumping for joy!! He hurried around the house and helped me feed everyone and get things ready to go...and we were off...After the oil change (1 1/2 hrs of waiting, grrr) we went to a local man-made lake (old gravel pit)...Saxet Lake (notice it is Texas spelled backwards, lol)...it's pretty open and not to many trees for him to get tangled up in...I've seen some nice fish there but never caught any, but thought we'd try our luck. I didn't put bait on Michaels but a lure just because I knew he wasn't going to fish but play around...and that is certainly what he did...After 5 minutes he'd had enough...it was 91 degrees and it WAS HOT!! I wanted to fish a bit more as I am still bound and determined to get a fish out of that lake, lol...but with Michaels noise and rock throwing and the heat I didn't see it happening....and it didn't. I had a few nibbles, saw a HUGE fish swim off and another one jump clear out of the water but that was about it...As to the Rocket rod I think it may work but it needs to be in atleast 4 ft of water or more...I also think Michael does better with his other rod and reel....I should probably use live bait (night crawlers perhaps) for his rocket rod and see if he catches anything...I can't imagine anything going after the bait with that large bobber contraption up above it but if the fish are hungry you just never know...so better luck next time! I did get a GREAT photo of him....so that is one plus to the day!!

Rocket Fishing Rod

The boys had a blast and it worked in the yard...now for the real test!! Saturday we are in a Salt Water fishing tournament and we'll let him take his Rocket Rod...I pray that he does not catch anything with it such as a redfish, trout, catfish, or shark because it only has 6lb line on it...Ekkk But then if he doesn't catch anything he'll be very disgusted with it...so I may end up taking him to the creek for a few practice runs...that is if we can get to the creek...swale hole is still pretty much full of water and I haven't been in the mood for mud bogging or getting stuck and walking out!!

Now look at the tongue work, LOL!! He is really working hard on reeling it in...Don't ask me how but I did manage to put the rocket rod up and told him it was for fishing and not playing...and I didn't get any arguements either...Fred said it was all the vaccinations today, lol, he isn't feeling good!! I told Fred it is because he listens to his Momma, ha ha ha...

Honestly though this Rocket Rod is pretty simple and I think Michael will enjoy it...we shall see how it holds up and how often it gets tangled up, ugh!! I'll keep you posted if and when he catches a fish with it...

Hmmp!

Have you ever had moments where you are so proud of your children you could burst but at the same time your totally disgusted with them....Mine was this morning!! I am so proud of Michael he did so well at his Dr's appt....got on the scales (31lbs), no problem! Let the nurse measure him (40 inches), no problem...let the P.A. check him all over (Ears, nose, throat, chest, heart and unmentionables), no problem. I told him he was going to get "SHOTS" (6 of them) and he whimpered a bit and cried while she put the needles in...(2 in each arm, one in each thigh), no problems!! He told me he was a bit sore but that he would be okay...Sigh!! Now the person writing this blog is the one as a child that ran out of the dr's office when the word "Shot" was mentioned...It normally took at least 3 people to hold her down...Screaming, Kicking, Sobbing, yep that was ME!! So you can imagine this morning I'm ready for a Scene, atleast a little one....but nope not my Son!! LOL...I was disgusted, LOL...My son was a little M.A.N!!

We had some good news too!! He is done with all of his vaccinations, YES!! No more until his teen years!! That is such a good feeling!!

We went to the library afterwards and read some books and checked some books out and then we went to lunch! After lunch he got to go to Target to do some shopping with his B-day money...He is so funny to watch...he studied all the toys over for quiet some time....and then he decided on a pair of swim goggles (he's really been wanting them so he can go under water and see things), A Playmoble Police Helicopter with the bad guy on a jetski ( He wanted a lego shark but it was a bit old for him and I'm not ready to pick up legos either)...He is in the bath tub right now playing with it...and the one thing he has been wanting for months but Mommy would not buy it for him...he saw it on TV...."Rocket Fishing Rod"...I kind of figured this was what he was after and after much searching through the aisles and going to where the fishing poles were and looking at me with questioning eyes...LOL...I gave in and took him over where the "Rocket Rods" were at and he scooped it up and said "Please, can I take it home!"...I told him it was his b-day money and if that was what he wanted Yes he could take it home....Oh MY....He took off running to put it in the CART!! He was so proud when he got up the cashier and handed her the money to pay...LOL...and then trying to carry the bag out to the Truck...He finally decided Mommy was worthy enough to carry the bag for him...

On the way home he fell asleep and I was thinking YES!! I so wanted to take a nap...I got him home and in bed and was taking care of stuff when who should stumble out of the bedroom but MICHAEL...ugh!! So much for me getting a NAP!! We sat down and put his Playmoble toy together and he is having a blast playing!! He wanted to play with the Rocket Fishing Rod but I told him Daddy would help him with that one and he agreed!!

That is our day so far, not to bad!!

BandAid Boy!! OUCH!!

His Moble Toys....he loves it!! It sure beats legos, LOL!!

The PRIME JEWEL of the day...

I'm glad he's waiting because I'm afraid this one is not to be used in the house...and I'm not sure he's going to be able to use it down at the creek either...as it supposedly shoots 30ft and the creek is only about 15 ft at the most and lots of trees to get his Rocket Rod caught in...sigh!! But try explaining that to a 4 yr old, LOL!! Boy won't Daddy be excited when he gets home, ekk....Old Mr. Grouch isn't going to have fun this evening, LOL....

Birthday Boy and Busy day!!

WOW what a day!! I asked the birthday boy what he wanted to do today since it was "HIS" Birthday...he questionably asked Water park?...I said okay lets go....LOL...that was just the beginning of the day...

Michael with his backpack waiting patiently for Momma to get ready so we can go to Splashway Water park.

We made it and Michael enjoyed climbing on a Giant butterfly in the baby pool...

Swimming, Swimming, and more Swimming....3 hours of swimming.

We then met Daddy and Trey at the Incredible Pizza Place for food, games and rides...

We spotted a double rainbow on the way home, it was gorgeous and I just had to stop the truck and get out for a photo...Daddy was not to happy with me!! But it was worth it!!

Grammie sent Michael a Train Pinata and it was packed in a box full of Popcorn packing...Michael liked the Pinata but honestly he had more fun with the packing....In 10 minutes he had it all over the house and I mean all OVER the HOUSE!! UGH!! It was his birthday and I let him go, he was having a BLAST!! I think the packing popcorn was the best gift he received at least in his eyes it was....It's funny how the simplist things are the ones they find the most joy in!!

That was was just about everything we did today. I think Michael really enjoyed his day and to end it with the packing popcorn was the BEST!!

Thank goodness Trey was here and he helped me clean them up, Bless his heart!!

The house is back in order and it's bedtime for Birthday boy, I'm exhausted!...tomorrow is not going to be a good day for him...Drs Appt. and vaccinations, OUCH!! But I told him I'd let him take some Birthday money and go shopping at target, he loves their toy section!...Of course I didn't mention the Drs appt. yet...he is not going to be a happy camper...but I'm hoping the shopping adventure will make up for it!! We shall see!

My sons birth story

Michael August 25, 2003...5 days old!

Michael, August 20, 2003 a few hours old checking his new world out!

Me on August 11 (my supposed due date) standing in my cattle tank....Oh how I loved to lay in it and soak!!

On this day 4 years ago my son was born and this is his birth story.

It was Tuesday August 19, 2003 I had been home from work for a week and a half and under strict orders by my midwife to lay down and get plenty of rest. My due date was August 11 but I was over due…I was bored and anxious. My girlfriend called me mid-morning and invited me to lunch and I told her yes I needed to get out of the house. I was slow and cumbersome and very LARGE…I told her it would take me sometime to get ready and then I would come into town and pick her up. I arrived at her house and she said she had movies to return so we drove over to the video store to drop them in the drop box. As I reached over to drop the movies I heard this pop and instantaneously felt a rush of water and said “Oh SHIT”! LOL…I told my friend to grab the towels in the back seat of the truck as I thought my water had just broke. She stared at me in shock! I put the towels under me and told her that I didn’t think lunch was going to be possible…I called my midwife and told her my water had just broke…it was noon….I asked her if I could still go to lunch and she said she thought I should go home and get some rest (I should have gone to lunch!)….Dawn offered to drive me home and I told her no I was okay….So I went home and slowly waddled into the house and jumped into the bathtub and stripped down…I called the midwife and told her the water was clear and that I still wasn’t having contractions…I called Fred and told him that I didn’t think he needed to come home and that I was fine…I went and laid down but by then I was pumped with adrenaline and had a really hard time sleeping….By 9pm I still wasn’t having regular contractions and the midwife called and said she was on her way….She asked me to take a dose of Castor oil mixed in some Orange Juice and I did…She hoped this would start the contractions…The midwife arrived with her Assistant (who was her daughter)…They checked me over and monitored the babies heartbeat and everything was fine, but no contractions….So everyone went to bed….I couldn’t sleep and was laying in bed watching birth stories on TLC, lol…the midwife thought this was funny…At midnight the Castor oil hit and as soon as that was done the contractions started…OH MY!! I was having contractions and had a rough night….It was back labor and I kept asking Fred or who ever was nearest to rub my back…At about 10 am on August 20 the midwife was starting to get a little upset with me as I was not progressing and she wanted me up and about…So Fred and I took a walk down the road…whenever a contraction hit I’d lean into him and bear it…after getting back to the house I asked the midwife if I could get in my cattle tank of water and relax for a bit…She said that was fine but the water was to cold to have the baby in it and if I started pushing I was to get out immediately…so I laid in my water tank and after 15 minutes…the pushing began…I was in my own little world and didn’t realize what I was doing until the midwife told me to get out I was pushing…and I told her NO I am not and she said yes you are and insisted I get out!! I did and we waddled back to the room…I laid down but that wasn’t productive and the baby wasn’t moving…so I got up and used the rails on the bunkbed to hunker down and push…before long the midwife asked me if I wanted to feel the head and I said heck NO I just want the baby out…I was sort of in my own little world due to the pain…kind of numb…I remember Fred saying oh Wow this is cool! LOL…The babies head got stuck in the peritoneum and I remember the midwife telling me to push and I told her I would as soon as the next contraction came…by this time I was laying back down and I told the midwife if she wanted the baby to move at that time she was going to have to pull it out, and we all laughed!! The baby was born after that and I remember someone saying it’s a boy and she immediately laid him on my chest…He didn’t cry and he was beautiful it was 3:05 pm August 20, 2003…The midwife left us alone for a bit with him before she weighed him and checked him over…She asked me how much I thought he weighed and I said 8lbs…She said Nope…how about 9lbs 3 oz….Wow!! Michael and I then took a herb bath that was after some of the family came back to our room to see him….Our little MAN had come into the world and we were just thrilled….I have no regrets having a midwife and having my son at home…it was the most beautiful experience I’ve ever had and Michael never cried and was so alert, looking around and checking out the world he had just come into…Fred had 3 other children from a previous marriage and he said this birth was the best and he loved me for having Michael at home…So that is Michael's birth story and today he is 4 yrs old no longer our little baby but a handsome young boy!!

Michaels Cake and Ice Cream

Michael's Birthday is tomorrow but we had Cake and Ice Cream today with Family.

He loved all the people that came over and all the attention. Specially playing with Zeke and Brianna.

I made him a Scooby Doo Cake!

Blowing out the candles!

Zeke, Grandma and Michael laughing!

Amy, Brianna, Pocka, Shauna, Daddy, Grandma, Zeke and Michael checking out a present Michael got from Shauna and Zeke.

Diana and Miranda came a bit late and weren't in the photos. Thank you everyone for coming over for the money and gifts and for helping us celebrate!!

Michael also received a special Sticker book from Australia from Helen and her family and he has been enjoying it and learning about the different terrains and Australian animals. Thank you Helen!!

I'm not sure what Michael and I will do tomorrow...I want to do something special with him but just haven't figured out what yet....LOL...so stay tuned for the Birthday boys Birth day photos!!