Pleasant Surprises

@DianneN (247216)
United States
June 23, 2020 7:13am CST
I mentioned that our older son bought a big, beautiful house, so my grandkids could have a place out of New York City. Their summer camps are closed due to the virus. After one week there, my son fenced in the backyard for the two dogs, installed a sprinkle trampoline, and placed synthetic ice on one of the lawns so both kids can practice ice skating and ice hockey. They live on a quiet culdesac, so the kids ride their bikes safely there. The entire family took a bike ride in the opposite direction of the culdesac and discovered a pleasant surprise. Just 5 minutes away is a nature preserve filled with four ponds, a river, and lots of little brooks and streams. My grandkids love to fish, too, and that’s what they did on Father’s Day immediately after discovering this pleasant surprise! And what a pleasant surprise for the Ice Princess! She caught the first fish! I’m happy their summer will be wonderful! See you later. I’m off to play tennis!
40 people like this
39 responses
@LadyDuck (460454)
• Switzerland
23 Jun 20
Enjoy your game, your nice family members are surely better in this summer house now.
7 people like this
@LadyDuck (460454)
• Switzerland
23 Jun 20
@DianneN I am glad you live one mile from them, I hate those stinkers. Until your son can work from home it is the best solution.
5 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
The court had another couple, so we will try again at 10:00 our time. Those stinkers! Good thing we live one mile away. So far, the kids aren't whining from boredom. I hope it stays that way fro my son's sake. He's still working from home, but at least he has his own office now and not working at the kitchen table like in NYC.
6 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@LadyDuck Those stinkers have no business playing tennis on "our" courts! I'm so grateful that both kids can work from home. Thank goodness we are retired and don't have to worry. I could never teach online!
5 people like this
• India
23 Jun 20
That's great and it's a great way to make kids busy and happy at the same time
4 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
The kids haven't complained, yet! lol
4 people like this
• India
23 Jun 20
3 people like this
@much2say (53941)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Jun 20
Oh my gosh, we would be sooooo all over that - what a lucky family they are! This is a different from their normal summers, but it's all good . . . they are together, safe, and making some wonderful family memories. Hope they have a most enjoyable summer!
4 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
So far, so good. No whining and sighs of boredom. - YET! My son was so excited to have happened upon that nature preserve by pure chance. He was too busy settling into the house and setting things up for the kids. They plan on doing more exploring on the weekends. He is so ultra busy at work, but stops in time to use the barbecue every night for dinner. Many thanks!!!!
4 people like this
@GreatMartin (23675)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
23 Jun 20
It is absolutely amazing seeing the world through kid's eyes when you are an adult!
4 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
You're absolutely right!
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jun 20
Enjoy your tennis!! I'm sure your grandkids are going to love the new house and probably not miss summer camp at all
4 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
We finally got to play the second time. The first time there were peeps there and no could do. So far, there have been no whining or cries of being bored. Let's hope it stays that way.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Jun 20
That is a nice size bream.
4 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
Thanks! I had no idea what is was.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (171247)
• United States
23 Jun 20
It is always nice to find something unexpectedly delightful like that. Where I used to live, it had like a 40 acre woodland as part of the development, with nature and bike trails throughout and big stream running through it. It was one of the only wooded areas for miles around and everytime you walked through there you would see wildlife, turtles, beaver dens, deer, fox maybe. It was pretty cool. Son fished in the stream..I don't think it was stocked though..he never caught anything.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (171247)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@DianneN Fishing is always fun, whether you catch anything or not.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
How wonderful! That must have been a disappointment for your son. My grandson gets upset when his sister catches a fish and he doesn't. We live in such an area and my boys grew up here. They still enjoy hiking in the woods.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@snowy22315 Yes, for some. I prefer riding on a boat.
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47133)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
23 Jun 20
So glad that they're able to enjoy the place and do some fun things.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
So are we. They seem to have ants in their pants all the time and need to burn off their energy. So far, so good.
2 people like this
@marlina (154165)
• Canada
23 Jun 20
Sounds like a wonderful place to have tons and tons of fun,
4 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
So far, there has been no whining, so it's working out great!
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (96472)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Jun 20
That would be a wonderful surprise
3 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
Thanks. Back from tennis. Another couple was there. Going back again at 10:00. Sigh.......
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (96472)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Jun 20
@DianneN Good luck. Hope you get to play this time
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@wolfgirl569 Thanks. We did!!!!
1 person likes this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
23 Jun 20
that is awesome. I bet that is more enjoyable than the summer camp together with the whole family
3 people like this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
24 Jun 20
@DianneN oh yes, that is so true!.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
They love camp and their friends, but this will have to do. When they are at camp, their parents love to travel. The virus has changed everything.
2 people like this
@JESSY3236 (19056)
• United States
23 Jun 20
cute photo. That's great they will have a good summer.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
Thanks! That's the plan for now.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326726)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 20
What a wonderful environment for two growing children. Did the ice princess eat her fish?
3 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
No, they always throw the fish back into the water. So far, so good. No whining or complaining about being bored.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (158688)
• United States
23 Jun 20
What a nice surprise; and what a nice picture! Nice fish! I like the idea of the synthetic ice too. Sounds like a dream home.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
Andria told me it's a bream. I have no idea what fish is which. My son is very happy with the house and the kids haven't started complaining about being bored, yet.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@LindaOHio Thanks! My son loves it so much. He loves grilling dinners, too. He did the right thing.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (158688)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@DianneN It sounds really great.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
23 Jun 20
It is wonderful to be able to be outside and do so many things, even if there is no camp this summer.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
So far, they have been very busy and happy. Let's hope it stays that way.
@AmbiePam (86001)
• United States
24 Jun 20
That sounds fantastic! I am sure the kids are over the moon.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
24 Jun 20
So far, there have been no whining or boredom. We shall see how long that lasts.
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58482)
• Germany
23 Jun 20
I`m happy that your Ice Princess caught her first fish. Enjoy your day
2 people like this
• Germany
23 Jun 20
@DianneN Oh that`s nice. Thank you. I`m enjoying mylotting here
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
She has fished before many times in many areas. The fish bite more for her than her brother. Enjoy your day, too! We had to leave the tennis court because another couple was there. Going to try again soon.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@m_audrey6788 I'll be back!
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (48542)
• Mojave, California
23 Jun 20
Sounds awesome and what a neat place to live. Congrats to their new home.
2 people like this
• Mojave, California
23 Jun 20
@DianneN I bet, New York outside the city is so pretty. Especially the part that borders Pennsylvania.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@crossbones27 They are in New Jersey, close enough to the ice rinks where my grandkids need to practice once they open.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
Thanks! It sure beats being in NYC in the hot and humid summers!
2 people like this
@just4him (308693)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Jun 20
That is so awesome she caught the first fish. I'm sure it was a nice surprise in their back yard.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
23 Jun 20
She caught the fish before her brother caught one. She has caught many before elsewhere and always before her brother. Poor boy. They seem to be enjoying their time there, and that's all that counts.
2 people like this
@just4him (308693)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Jun 20
@DianneN So, she's the fisherwoman in the family. That's good they're enjoying their time at the preserve.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Jun 20
i like the bonding between your son and his baby girl. good fish catch too.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
24 Jun 20
Thanks for that! My grandson was there and my son’s wife. They spend lots of time together, especially on weekends when my son isn’t working.
2 people like this