O'Neil Family: BIG FISH, little fish

I was given instructions to post these pictures on September 27, the day they were taken. Needless to say, I've missed my deadline. However, I did make sure to post EVERY single picture....forgive me for the redundancy!!

I've been asking my dad to take me fishing for weeks!!.... you see, before I had kids, even after I was married, my dad took me hunting and/or fishing almost every year...without me having to beg!

Recently a new rule was put into place...I couldn't go, unless Nakiah came. Its official - I've been replaced! Now that I've got my sob story out of the way.... I finally agreed to allow Nakiah out on the river, which sort of freaked me out a bit.

I wasn't sure if she would be scared or not, out on the water. As it turns out, she loved it.

She's been playing in Auda's boat since she could walk, really. She's just never been in the boat while it was in the water.

She did fantastic!! She listened very well, didn't get into too much and had a blast. I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. I couldn't focus on fishing, I was too busy keeping my eyes glued on my baby. Being on the river isn't so relaxing when the thought of your 2 year old falling overboard is flooding your mind.

Auda, however, was in HEAVEN!!

He has been waiting to fish with Nakiah for quite some time.

As soon as he got one on, he taught Nakiah how to "pull up, reel down"

She still tells me, "Mom, pull up, reel down"

I thought she might get bored with the whole fishing thing, but she stayed right with Auda pulling up and reeling down...

...until she brought the fish to the surface.

She was pretty surprised to see what was on the end of her line.

She kept telling me "look mom, look mom"

I don't think she really knew what to think of that big ugly thing!

Auda & Nakiah with Nakiah's very first fish!

I think Auda was more proud than Nakiah!!

Down the Skagit

Up the Skagit

Mommy eventually relaxed, just a bit, and caught a few too!

Auda even let Nakiah drive us back to the truck

Nakiah had a very successful first trip on the river, the first of many I'm sure. She's already been tapped for Auda's next fishing partner, whether mommy likes that or not.