Mother and son excursion

So as some of you know, my dad has a fishing guide business in Idaho but comes down every year to the Southtowne Expo Center to participate in the Sportsmans Expo. So my dad needed a lift down there in the morning and help setting up his booth and my Grandpa Scott rode along too. I decided Ethan might like seeing all the fishing and wildlife things so I took him along as well.

They had a whole section just for kids and he got to go around to all the booths and learn about each activity and then when he completed the task they would stamp his little "passport" and at the end he won a prize for completing it which ended up being a coloring book with caryons. He was stoked!

So first things first, Ethan had to go fishing with Grandpa! My dad always talks to him about goin fishin and catchin BIG fish and has yet to go on a real fishing trip. (Maybe cuz his mom really doesn't care for him to be a fisherman. :) I hate fish.) He learned how to hold the pole and waited and waited. He actually hooked the biggest fish in the tank TWICE but didn't pull up in enough time so it got away. Then he hooked a smaller fish. He was so excited but I think didn't quite understand why he didn't get to keep it and take it home. This picture is like two seconds before he hooked the BIG fish so if you look close you can see it!

Then it was on to the Dog Splash! They had a big water pool set up and people were competing their dogs in a jumping contest to see what dog could jump in the water with the longest jump. Ethan loved it!! Has been asking for a dog ever since! Her he is waiting for the next dog and telling Great Grandpa Scott how they make big splashes and then swim around to get their toys.

Here he is learning about boat safety!

Here he is minature golfing.

Ethan sits on a four wheeler just his size while he learns about ATV safety and the importance of helmets! He chose the green one of course....green being his favorite color!

Ethan loved this hammock and begged to buy one. I told him we didn't have trees to hang it between. Then he asked if we could buy some trees! :D He is so funny!

Then he got his face painted like camoflauge and thought this was awesome!!

Then learned how to shoot a bow an arrow. He was a really good shot and the guy was surprised at how well he did for his age(4) and said he was a natural at archery! He chose the green bow of course.

He ended up getting 8 out of 10 arrows at the target with one of them being a BULLSEYE! Then Ethan and I went rockclimbing! Ethan only made it up not quite halfway and wanted down. I made it up to the top.

Then right before we left Ethan got a fake elk tattoo and this is him showing his best Bad Boy attitude!! Look at him....isn't he so TOUGH!

As much as I hate to admit it...I DID have fun at the Sportsmans Expo! Mostly cuz I got to spend the day with Ethan and watching him have so much fun! He was so excited to see all the "REAL" (stuffed) bears, deer, and elk and all the "BIG" fish and don't forget the splashing dogs! And it was fun spending time with my dad and my grandpa scott.