My children are fisherpeople.

How's that for gender-neutral?

Yesterday, we went to a fishing contest for kids in our town. My stepdad went with us and we had a BLAST.

To set the scene for you, Major has a Spongebob Squarepants fishing pole, and Maddy has a Disney Princesses one. They got them for Christmas, and yesterday was the first chance they've had to actually use them.

The contest cost $5/child for cash prizes. Whoever catches the biggest fish, wins. (Spoiler: We didn't win. ) I wander around on the opposite side of the little city pond, which is liberally stocked with catfish, and pay the entry fee. I chat a bit with the old fellas who run the contest and measure the fishes.

So, we sit down on the banks of the little pond and my stepdad (hereafter: Pop) attaches the kids sinkers and bobbers and hooks and we bait the hooks. The kids try casting and nearly take their own eyes out with the flying hooks, so Pop and I do it for them and we sit down and wait. We're waiting less than 30 seconds before Major has a bite - a serious bite! Pop helps him reel it in, and it's a big old catfish! Major is so proud and happy he looks like he's about to burst. He wants to hug the catfish, but we're already stringing it on the stringer to take it and get it measured. We take a quick picture and then set off around the pond, where the old fellas praise Major heartily for such a great job and measure his fish: 14 inches! He's in Second Place and the man from the newspaper takes his picture.

The next fish is Maddy's, and it's about 10 minutes later - after a lot of casting and lost worms and hopeful glances at the bobber, Maddy lands a 16 inch catfish! She, unlike Major, would not like to hug it. She doesn't even want to touch it. As we're reeling it in, the old fellas start hollering across the pond "GOOOOO MADDY!!!! YAY MADDY!!!" She's so proud. The newspaper man takes her picture, too.

Maddy ends up with three catfish - 17, 16 and 14 inches. Major ends up with two catfish - 14 and 13.75 inches, and a little bluegill (maybe 4 inches?) that he caught and landed ALL BY HIMSELF. He reeled it in, landed it and then stepped on it for good measure.

It was fun. I took pictures on my mom's camera, so as soon as she downloads them, I'll post them!