We finally got Gray out to the lake this year. We had intended to take him over a month ago, but a dog that will remain nameless (Wrigley) decided that she wanted to swallow a squeaker from one of her toys and be rushed to the emergency vet. Fun. Fun.

So, we finally made it on Memorial Day weekend. To make certain Gray didn’t absolutely spaz when we put him in the lake we decided to take a dip in the pool first. My parent’s marina (they don’t own it they just dock there) has a pool which is so nice after a long day out on the lake. I mean barges use that lake. I don’t want barge pee all over me. Eww grose!

The pool was a success. Although he doesn’t look like he was thrilled about the pool. I promise you he LOVES them. These photos are of his very 1st dip in anything larger than his ducky tub he bathes in at home. It makes sense that he looks a little reserved. The next day however, we took him to a friend’s house to swim and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen my child happier. That boy was born to swim.

After swimming we headed back to the boat because the lake was calling our names. How precious does he look in that tiny life jacket? I can answer that. VERY.

I mean just look at him. The kid is a natural.

Unfortunately, the lake was a tad too cold for a 9 month old. Heck, that lake was too cold for me. He did hang out on the swim deck with Aunt Toof for a few. So, at least he saw the lake.

I did hop on the jet ski for awhile, but made Derek swear not to throw me off. Nobody knows what’s lurking under the surface of that muddy lake. I mean Nessie, could have made her way in there all the way from Scotland, and could easily be hungry for something that taste just like me. Legit fear, for sure.

Since the lake was a bit too cold for my liking I stayed on board with my teeny tiny while he napped, ate, and pooped in way too many diapers. Occasionally, I would pop up to the top of the boat to take random photos like this one.

After we showered we decided to take a walk down the pier. We even managed to sneak in a half way decent family photo. Yay us!

I tried to let Gray dangle his feet off the pier and let his toes dip in the water, but his legs are still a good 12 inches too short.

That night we slept on the boat. Derek and I crashed in the bedroom and Gray was laid out in his pack-n-play in the main cabin. The next morning we went to breakfast with the folks at the marina’s restaurant. And of course, every single person knew my parents. I think they might eat there a tad too much. Nah, I’m the same way. Stick with what ya’ like.

After we stuffed our faceholes we packed up and headed home. It was a short trip, but it was nice to get away even if it was just for the night.

Don’t quite understand the last picture with the duck? You’re welcome.

On Saturday Derek and I took a break from painting the outside, cleaning storm windows, and repairing the wall in the living room where now only plaster remains (since last week I peeled off like eight layers of paint and the 60 year old wallpaper they were on top of) due to a hole in the roof that was causing a giant water bubble to form beneath this painted paper monstrosity.  Okay, so I fudged a bit on how much work has already been done…the painting has yet to commence, nor have the storm windows been cleaned.  But we thought about doing those things, so that counts, right?

So, like I said…we went to the lake on Saturday to catch some rays, and hang with some friends and family.  FUN.  The day began with me feeling guilty, as usual, for leaving the dogs at home, so I shoved tons of food and treats into these two treat-dispensing ball thingies the dogs love.  They never knew we left.

Once there we tied up with our friends in one of the coves on the lake, jumped in the water and enjoyed the sunny day.  NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY.  Guess that’s how I came to look like a raccoon later that day.

As a kid I never went to the lake much so I use to always wonder… what do people do at the lake if you don’t jet ski, wake board, or water ski? Well young Jennifer I will tell you…

You just sit in the water.  Really.  You just SIT.

This past weekend we simply tucked ourselves back in one of our favorite coves, and just floated all day long behind the conjoined boats.  We were so far back in the cove no other boats were behind us or even to the side of us for that matter.  We spread out in the water as far as we wanted.

One of the favorite flotation devices of the day was an inflatable dingy with paddles.  Amy brought her boyfriend, Matt, to the lake (excellent guy…good pick Amy).  Matt is some sort of bio-something engineery person.  That means the guy is like super smart or something, but I guess all the book learnin’ in the world can’t help you accomplish a task an 8 year old can complete.  Watching that guy struggling to figure out how to make the one paddle into two separate paddles; made me wonder about the guy.  Sorry Matt…watching you stare at those paddle pieces like a rubik’s cube was way too funny not to mention. After what seemed like hours Matt finally accomplished his goal.  GOOD JOB!

Our friends Ryan and Meredith took part of the crew tubing.  I’m sorry I missed getting to watch that.  They came back with some hilarious pictures.

And a few questionable ones…

In all the day was perfect…right up until the last 30 minutes or so.  I say this because the most tragic, horrific, unimaginable thing happened.  Up from the murky bottoms of Pickwick flew the creature that has eyes so severely irratated by the harsh mid-day sun it has to live at the bottom of a muddy, algee ridden, dead fish filled lake just to mute the  scourging pain that awaits her on the surface.  This creature of murk, do you freakin’ know what she did?  This little *&#T*^ saw me in my stylish Banana Republic, UV protecting, Jackie O-style shades and feels that she deserved them more.  Next thing I know I tilt forward in the water while sitting on my little pool saddle.  Pool Saddle :: a blue foamy thing that sits between ones legs to keep them buoyant in a body of water.  Yep…it looks like a diaper!  So there I am mysteriously tilting forward, adorable sun glasses on my head, and the next thing I know ~ s l i p ~ there goes Jennifer’s adorable sunglasses.  The sunglasses she wore on her honeymoon, the sun glasses she thought were so adorable she decided to break her rule of never buying expensive sunglasses! FRICK! FRICK! FRICK!  Yep, pretty sure those were the only words that exuded from my lips.  FRICK!

Derek being the sweet husband that he is attempts to dive down into the murky water and comb the bottom of the lake with his hand in an effort to recover my precious babies.  With 3 attempts down and us and the boat constantly drifting he finally had to call off the rescue effort.

We leave the lake and head home with my nephew JD in tote, and decide to stop at Sweet Peppers in Corinth, MS for some dinner.  I guess my parents stopped at Sweet Peppers the night before with my nephew on the way down to the lake, because the employee that brought us our meal told my nephew HEY I KNOW YOU.  YOU ATE HERE YESTERDAY.  My nephew, JD, replies back with YEA, I DID.  The employee asks WELL YOU MUST REMEMBER ME TOO, RIGHT?  I BROUGHT YOUR FOOD TO THIS TABLE LAST NIGHT.  JD replies with a pompous NO I DON’T REMEMBER YOU AT ALL!

Being the good aunt & uncle we are, we remembered to let the little guy use the restroom before we got back on the road to Memphis.  Just as we are 30 minutes from our house JD asks if we can finally stop.  I’m all why?  He’s all cuz’ I’m about to pee!  I ask well how long have you been holding it.  He replies  A REALLY LONG TIME.  He said he didn’t want to bother us and ask if we could stop to use the restroom.  Sweet kid.  Sweet kid who almost urinated inside my brand new car.  So there we are on the side of the interstate with a 6 year old on the shoulder peeing into the wind.  Hey…at least he wasn’t peeing in my car.

I wanted Derek to have one last relaxing, school free weekend before he began graduate school. I decided we should both take Friday off work, and head to Pickwick to spend the day on the lake with my parents. See to get my husband to take a full day off work for any reason other than death (by death I mean…he would have to be dead for him to take a sick day) is nearly impossible.

To my surprise when I made the suggestion to take Friday off he agreed right away.  I think he knew that he wasn’t going to have much free time until school ends.  Unfortunately, due to Murphy’s Law the boat was broken on Friday, and had to be worked on.  Luckily, he was able to fix the boat, and we headed to the lake on Saturday instead.

Side Note :: My dad has been trying to decide on a name for the boat for almost a year now, and finally came up with Phish Food.  This is of course, named after his favorite Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Phish Food.

We had a nice laid-back day on the lake.  We cooked some brauts, read some books, paddled around in a tiny blow-up boat, and simply enjoyed a mini vacation at the “Redneck Yacht Club.”

Yep, I said redneck.  Just look at this Burger Boat…

Although only something a southerner would have the nerves to do…it’s not a bad idea.  Think about it, you get to chill on the lake all day and make a little money.  This floating Tiki hut serves hamburgers, hotdogs, and other various snacks; so you don’t have to go back to your car and eat the now hot PB&J sandwiches you had to take out of your cooler so that you could fit that 18th beer in there. Smart thinking there buddy! The burger boat also delivered, in a sense, they had a guy driving around in a 2 man boat that would drive the food right up to your boat.  Yes sir, this is how the lazy get lazier.  You can always tell when summer officially begins, down here in the mid-south, by the hoards of people shoved into the small offset coves on the lake.