Pleasant Surprises
By DianneN
@DianneN (247184)
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!
39 people like this
39 responses
@DianneN (247184)
• 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.
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
@Butterfingers (66583)
• 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
@much2say (56053)
• 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 (247184)
• 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!!!!
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 (23671)
• 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
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• 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
@snowy22315 (182184)
• 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 (182184)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@DianneN Fishing is always fun, whether you catch anything or not.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
23 Jun 20
@snowy22315 Yes, for some. I prefer riding on a boat.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108161)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Jun 20
That would be a wonderful surprise
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108161)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Jun 20
@DianneN Good luck. Hope you get to play this time
2 people like this
@JESSY3236 (20040)
• United States
23 Jun 20
cute photo. That's great they will have a good summer.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• 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
@GardenGerty (160949)
• 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
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
23 Jun 20
I`m happy that your Ice Princess caught her first fish. Enjoy your day 
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (49722)
• Mojave, California
23 Jun 20
Sounds awesome and what a neat place to live. Congrats to their new home.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (49722)
• 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 (247184)
• 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
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
24 Jun 20
i like the bonding between your son and his baby girl. good fish catch too.
2 people like this
