Every year in Salmon, the Fish & Game, along with other businesses, sponsor a kids' ice fishing derby. This was a first for Jonah and Micah, but Ammon's third. Each one of our boys have been taught how to fish by their Grandpa Perkins. Grandpa taught Ammon the summer of 2006, so the following January, Ammon went to his first ice fishing derby. Since Grandpa taught Jonah and Micah this past summer, this derby was their first ice fishing experience.
Ammon, the experienced Ice Fisherboy
On that Saturday morning, I watched Josh (yes that's right, I stayed home where it was nice and cozy with the baby) as he packed up food and drinks, took some camping chairs, got a portable heater, prepared all the fishing gear, and made sure the kids were dressed warmly from head to toe. It was obvious that he'd gone before and knew just what was needed for the
several-hour, roughing-it-in-the freezing-cold, fishing-in-the-hole experience.
All the holes on the frozen pond had already been augered, and after arriving and signing up at registration, the boys found an available hole and started fishing.
Jonah, braving the cold
Micah, hoping for a fish (see all the crowds of people that ACTUALLY give up a Saturday morning to sit outside in the cold for a few hours around a hole in the ground!)
Jonah and Micah had a hard time just sitting by their hole the entire time. They ventured around, slid on their tummies and butts on a snow-covered hill, and Micah accidentally stepped in one of the holes in the pond. Luckily Josh (the Eagle Scout) knew just what to do! 
Unfortunately, none of our boys caught any fish this year. But, they all came home with prizes: a fishing patch, new hooks, a fish ruler, some magnets and stickers, and some sugary treats!
Some of the commercials were hilarious, like: the Budweiser one where the Clydesdale fetches a bigger stick than the dog, or the Coca-Cola one where the bugs took the Coke bottle from the sleeping picnicker, or the Grease Monkey one. (note: John used to think Grease Monkey was a restaurant. That's maybe why I remember that commercial as being so funny!) The half-time entertainment of Bruce Springstein was a little disappointing; I love his music, but I think his prime has past. The final score of the game was: Steelers, 27 and Cardinals, 23.
Jonah won the "Super-sized-Bowl" of No Bake Cookies for his predicted score of 24-21, which was the closest to the actual score. John won a "Symphony" bar as a consolation prize for his predicted score of 36-46 , the furthest from the final score. We had a great evening together...but then, Good Food plus Good Friends (and a little Football) always equals Fun!!!
Micah took Butterscotch pudding for his class to make together and eat. His teacher Miss Savanna helped him make a crown with his name on it. When it was time, we talked about all the photos on our poster. Then he took the Star wand and picked one child at a time to ask him a question.
Micah's favorite colors are red and orange and green.
