duck #172

in murphy's the streets are lined with shamrock's.

and once a year they host the duck races.

a fundraiser for the humane society.

you buy a duck for $5.

they put your duck in a huge garbage can.

and then dump them all off of a bridge.

the first duck to float to the next bridge is the winner.

second place gets a prize too.

duck #172 was retired this year.

after three years of winning in a row it was determined he was just too good.

poor duck #172.

happy retirement.

there are four races.

2 kid.

2 adult.

after each race, the kids get in the water and throw the ducks out.

so they don't go down the creek.

brennan died and went to heaven throwing those yellow rubber duckies to shore.

max watched.

and sucked on one's head.

until they made her throw it in the can.

and do you know who won 2nd prize???

GRANDMA SANDIE!

who knew?!?

she had gone to buy a pie for that night.

raspberry rhubarb.

when sean heard her name.

hot dog,

it's always more fun when you win.

really, it is. 

brennan picked the dragon.

max picked the butterfly.

with glitter.

and then they both fell asleep in the car on the way home.

stuffed with three kinds of ice cream.

the way YOU want {not burger king}

my brother is a big believer of enjoying the lake house the way YOU want to enjoy the lake house.

there is no doubt about it.

brennan did JUST that.

every day.

all day.

get fancy

get babysitter.

get fancy.

get Excedrin for migraine.

get a night out with all of the grown ups.

in attendance:

dad, sandie, brother adam, sean, me.

prime rib.

baked potatoes.

loaded.

stuffed mushrooms.

calamari.

cokes for the mormons.

wine for the catholics.

lemon drops for the other.

chocolate cake.

creme brule {my favorite}.

after dinner drinks.

and a whole lot of laughing.

...

have you ever mixed chocolate cake with creme brule?

well,

you should.

that is all.

wakin' it up.

i always forget.

until i get in the water.

and do it.

that it's fun.

behind that boat.

carving back and forth.

taking the board and gliding across the water.

over the wakes.

in the wake.

and this year, i learned a new trick.

toe grab.

trust me,

it's fancy.

in a really unimpressive kind of way;)

but it feels great to reach down and touch that glass.

and it feels just as great as it looks.

 ...

and my family was impressed:)

or they said they were.

whichever.

claps all around when they picked me up.

that's right folks,

i've still got it!

i loved ben.

my parent's saved my sister and my tackle boxes from middle school. 

as you can tell,

we were quite the couple of professional artists.

there was even old fish bait in kelsey's.

which might be why brennan had a fish come up and sniff his bait twice,

but never take a bite.

can fish bait go bad?

can fish smell?

better question?

WHO WAS BEN???

b/c apparently,

i loved him.

taste tested

 SHHH!!!

don't tell;)

it had to be taste tested.

MEGA SPY

 brennan keeps talking about the boat and grandma and grandpa's dogs in his prayers.
blessing them that they will sleep well.
random.
and his "mega spy."
a.k.a.
his new cars 2 super spy car.
that grandma sandie bought him the day we took him on an alone trip to frozen yorgurt and walmart.
no idea where he came up with the name.
but i love it.