Our First Real Snow Adventure
Jan 20th, 2010 by Shalee
Other than freezing our patooties off, that is.
This weekend we are going to the huge ice fishing festival in Brainerd, MN. (My kids giggle every time they say that name. They’re sooo mature.) 
My boss invited us to attend this event. It’s a humongous 3 hour fishing contest where people who pull out fishes run quickly to the prize table because they can win all sorts of prizes like ATVs, $250 gift cards, cameras, ice houses, augers and the really big one – a 2010 Truck!
As it turns out, we are not fishing this time because we need a fishing license, and because we don’t want to pay for it now since it restarts at the end of the following month. I know, I know, we could get a 1 time license, but it cost almost as much as the year-long one. We’ll just chalk this event up to learning the ropes and having some fun.
I’m so excited as this will be the first time I will be walking on water! I know it’s old hat to Jesus, but this is all new to me. The kids are super pumped about it too. I just hope that their enthusiasm lasts through the sitting in the cold and keeping warm by watching the festivities and running to the heated concession stands now and then.
As a treat, we’re going to stop at the Space Alien, a neat looking restaurant that will at least spark some interesting discussions (and hopefully satisfy hunger when we’re done!)
How’s the middle of your week going? Anything exciting in your neck of the woods?
HEY! This is crazy, but Mike took Ethan-9yr fishing there (yes – Brainerd!) and it totally skewed Ethan-9yr’s idea of fishing. There were SO MANY fish that it was just a race of how many could they pull in. They lost count at 50. After that, Ethan-9yr couldn’t get used to ‘real’ fishing. Minnesota fishing is all he cares for now.
So. Maybe it was a good thing you didn’t get the license!
Brainerd. heh heh.
Take pictures! You are entering the heart of Minnesota with this trip. Maybe you should watch Fargo to brush up your accent!
I think kids under 15 can fish without a license. Here’s the fishing requirements (although maybe you’ve already looked at it) http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing2009.pdf
Make sure to visit Paul Bunyen!
Jessica (life long Minnesota resident who has gone ice fishing once)
Think about this now… could you ever have gone ice fishing in Kansas?!
Maybe God really wanted you to have this marvelous experience… and He will be grinning big time when He watches you walking on the water.
Oh how I wish I could be a little mouse in your pocket for this one!!! I am so jealous. Take along some of those hand warmer packets Santa gave you.
Give hugs all around for me.
LOL. Ice fishing is just something I don’t get. Unless of course it has those great prizes waiting at the end of it. :vD