Lake Powell 2019

We spent over a week in Lake Powell this year!  It was SO fun.  We had the funnest couples trip with Jared's family in June.  We've been looking forward to that for years.  I'll write more about that soon.

But last week we went to Lake Powell again.  Its always been my kids' favorite vacation.  But it is turning into my favorite too.

We've been to Lake Powell about 7 times, mostly in the past few years.  The first time we took the kids, Miles took off his lifejacket and went down the slide without anyone knowing.  He was only five and couldn't swim and he easily could have drowned.  He said "an angel helped me" when we asked how he was able to get back to the houseboat.  Well that scared me so much.  On that same trip, Kristen's Dad got carbon monoxide sickness from hanging out by the generator.  The toilets broke, the freezer's didn't work, and it was just so much fun but also stressful.

Before our next trip to Powell (about 7 years later) I had a huge amount of fear.  I was not making the connection that it was anxiety probably related to Miles's episode.  To me it felt like maybe I had a really bad feeling because someone was going to die and I was having a premonition.   I told Jared that I wanted to stay home with Soren and that he would take the big kids.  I was afraid of Soren drowning.  But Soren is a good swimmer, so Jared was insistent that he come because he was already looking forward to it.  So I had to go too and as soon as I was there it was a great time again.  But I ended up loving the trip even though there were also lots of broken toilets, cleaning up after kids all week, houseboat issues, etc.

The best part was the kids were having the time of their lives.  We jumped off cliffs, went fishing, paddle boarded, and they all bonded sleeping up top under the stars.  They thought all the things that went wrong were just funny.  And at the end of the trip they said they would rather go to Lake Powell than Hawaii.  I couldn't believe it!

Each time we've gone to Powell, I've kinda been freaked out about things going wrong the day before the trip.  But I'm realizing that it is just my pattern and as soon as we are there we just have such a great time.  We are learning more and more each time about how the boats, houseboats, and weather issues.  So I feel more comfortable and prepared.  Its also a feat to figure out the food for big groups.

Last week we were on our houseboat for a few days then went with the Siris and it was a blast!  They are so fun to go with and they were nice enough to invite us on their houseboat that we love.

Over the years we have aligned our expectations with how these trips work.  Powell is a lot of planning and work for the parents.  Jared drives the boat a lot of the day.  There is still food to prepare and clean up with a lot of people in a relatively small space.  At first I hated this aspect of the trip.  But I'm realizing that I actually really like it.  I don't mind cooking and cleaning.  I'm relaxing and surfing most of the day.  Spending an hour making dinner is no big deal and when it is the only thing you really have to plan for the day its pretty easy too.  I need to be better at getting the kids involved.

Our houseboat is fairly old, but really comfortable.  It feels homey to me now.  We are getting the hang of how houseboat toilets work!  I am hoping we can update a few things with the other owners soon.

I'm getting better at surfing which is so fun!  Tonya was an inspiration to me.  I think why this trip was never that fun for me in the past is because we had so many people that I couldn't go on the boat very much.  I was always staying behind to keep an eye on the little kids.  So I couldn't surf much.  So Tonyas favorite thing is surfing.  And she is so good at it!  And I realized that I'm not doing my kids any favors by constantly giving up my turn so they can do more.  Mom's and Dad's aren't subhuman.  And they shouldn't be treated like their fun isn't important.  We all need to learn how to drive the boat so Jared can surf more too.

This last trip I got to surf with Soren and it was a blast!

It was fun to have Taylor and Spencer for a couple days and Monet and Dan!  They had tons of fun and I of course loved having these beautiful subjects to take pictures of!  They are all so cute.

But how did I not get any pictures with Tonya?  We were always on different boats in the day when the cameras were out I think.  I'll do better about that next time.

Our favorite houseboat name haha

Taylor and Spencer Lol!

               

This Week {Letters to Elise}

So this week, we are all missing Monet who is at HEFY.  Its really hard to have two kids I can't see.  But Dad said, "we are just getting a taste of what it will be like next year."  Way to be super depressing!  That definitely did not cheer me up at all.

So here is what everyone has been up to!

1.  Brody the Goaty.  He's so cute.  He is BFF's with Lewis and Annie now that his balls are about to fall off.  At first introduction he head butted Lewis and Lewis freaked.  So dad decided it would actually be a good idea to have them "fix" the goat after all.  It makes them a friendlier pet without all the male hormones.  So when we were in Lake Powell the guy who sold him took him back and he banded him so now he is fixed.

And he certainly seems better already.  Simone was petting him forever and he is really attached to her now.  She was out there clearing the whole chicken area.  Her and dad went and bought a doghouse that is really insulated for it to live in in the winter.  Soren got stung by three wasps out in the chicken area.

Lewis and Annie love him and are really curious about him.
He tried to ram the glass door because he was sad everyone went inside.  Yikes.  He can also jump really high.

2.  Yardwork and chores.  Our yard has been neglected during all these trips.  So I've been digging out weeds and trying to get everything nice again.  Its a ton of work.  The guys are coming tomorrow to help so that will be good.  I'm trying to get Simone to have Brody eat the weeds in certain areas.  Today Soren and I went out and swam for a couple hours after we finished pressure washing the pool cover, weeding, and sweeping all the patios, cleaning the pool, etc.

3.  Soren Selling Geodes.  Yesterday he sat in the front yard with a sign.  Lol!  It was too funny.  Dad actually got a screenshot off the cameras.  He looked pretty sad out there.  So dad sent Simone's friend out with $3 to buy some things.  And a couple other people took pity on him too.  This morning after earning his $8 he set out again.  But I told him we need to add some cold drinks and better signage to help boost his sales.

4.  I hiked to Timp Cave this morning.  It was fun!

5.  Simone climbing with her coach Jon from Lehi.  She's missed climbing so much!

6.  I'm trying to stay busy with little projects.  I sold some stuff on KSL and most notably, the old brown sectional.  Everyone really misses it.  Except for me.  The new one is great and doesn't have to be fluffed up all the time.

7.  All three cars got the bumpers dinged up this week.  Curses.  But actually the damage is minimal.  Someone hit the big SUV and drove away in the parking lot in Holladay.  A guy witnessed it and took a photo of the car leaving the scene without putting a note on.   I ran the Jeep into a little pole at the gas station.  Dang.  It was stupid.  I was distracted and it was super busy.  So it just happened.  But it is mostly the license plate that looks bad.  I was in the car wash with the Tesla, when the car started automatically putting itself in park several times because I didn't have my seatbelt on.  Lame.  So the car behind me hit me.

8.  I had dinner with my high school friends and it was so fun!  I haven't seen them in so long.

Other than missing my oldest girls like crazy, this week isn't too eventful.

Simone's Summer Bucket List

We were just in Europe for two weeks and it was so fun!  I'm going to write all about it.  But first, we REALLY missed our kids!  Thankfully they were home having the time of their lives.  Right before we came home Simone went to Lake Powell with a friend so we didn't see her for almost three weeks!  Forever!

Anyway, first day back I took her to climbing and we were chatting on the way home.  She was reflecting on how weird it is going to be not to have climbing next week when they have her break.  So then she started thinking of things she will do when she doesn't have climbing:

1.  Work on her one arm pull-up
2.  Ride motorcycle
3.  Earn enough money to buy a goat.

This really was the funniest list for a 12 year old girl to have, I had to write it down.  The other day she was looking at the fenced chicken run area and said that she wanted a goat.  I must have been missing her a lot because I agreed she could get one if she could earn the money for it.

So the last couple days, she's been working nonstop to get the goat.  And in two days she went out and did curbs and got $200 for that goat.  She's got some work ethic!

I love seeing how she figures out what she wants and just goes for it.  She already earned enough money for a motorcycle and expensive helmet in June.  So she's been riding that around a lot.  She's so cute.