Lake Powell 2022

 This year we made the sad decision to sell the houseboat.  Simone's climbing nationals conflicted last year and this year and it is very difficult to switch weeks.  But we were so excited when our friends invited us to come with them!

We love going with the Siri's.  They are a super fun family and we had a great time.

The Siris surf a lot so we did too.  We stayed in the marina for a few days because of strong winds, then took the houseboat out to Last Chance.  

Last Chance had plenty of deep water and we didn't have to worry too much about prop strikes or sandbars.  Plus there really weren't many people there at all we practically had the lake to ourselves.

Driving out was surreal!  Its just the most beautiful place.  And we are so lucky that we have been able to come every year for the past 5 or so years.

Our favorite are all the traditions!  We played lots of games.  For some reason Monopoly was a big hit this time.  Watched some movies, and made bracelets in our down time. Because we only had a few days out on the lake there wasn't as much cliff jumping, fishing, kayaking.

We got a rainstorm one or two of the nights so all the kids had to sleep in the living area.  Lucky it was big enough!

Soren learned to carve!  And he improved so much just in one day.  All the kids drove the boat a bit.  Simone was actually super good at it.  We all need to practice a lot so we can get good at it.

I'm a lot more confident at backing the boat up.  That has been nice!  Also I officially decided the Ronix with the small fins is my favorite now.  It was so smooth!

I was ready to go home on the last day and sleep in my own bed, get some alone time and have a shower.  But to be honest I miss it already!  

There is nothing like being on the water with some good music and your family.  I realized what I love about family boating is that we all have to work together.  Its also fun to watch each other surf.  Our surf songs just remind me of fun times on the Lake now.  I love lakes so much more than the beach.  Its so hot outside but feels so good when you jump in and swim!  We all washed our hair in the lake all week.  

Soren was so outgoing all week!  It surprised all of us.  He knows the Siris so well and they are really nice to play games with him and are so sweet to him.  

Living in the Present

Today I sat by the pool which is a big accomplishment for me.  Lol.  Really though.  It is hard for me to sit in the yard and enjoy it instead of running around picking weeds and doing all the little things that need to be done. 

For instance, I had to fight the urge to get the wet vac out and clean the corners of the pool where the leaves and debris had accumulated in the part where the cover closes.  There is a high and satisfaction that comes with being productive and then sitting back and enjoying your hard work.  But you need both, otherwise life is just a hamster wheel.

I relaxed on my new float and it was great.  Might be the second or third time I've done this in ten years by myself.  Usually I only do it if I have a friend or one of my girls there with me.  I realized that maybe its because I feel kinda guilty enjoying my life.  

A few years ago someone made a comment about our hiking group and it was basically a derogatory comment like somehow hiking together was coddled moms that didn't have anything better to do.  There have been random guys on the trail that say stuff like that too.   I don't know why I let it bother me!  And I felt defensive after.  Why would I feel like I have to prove my value to some unseen stranger on the internet? I know it isn't the critic that counts and all of that.   Maybe part of it was that I feel proud of the hard things that I conquered in my earlier years and when things are good, I already feel a bit guilty.  Today I kinda figured that out.  Why can't I just enjoy this stage of my life without feeling guilty about not being productive all the time? Its okay to sit by the pool.  Or watch a movie.  Or go on a hike.  My husband and family are all on board with this.  Why do I need to worry about other peoples opinions about my life? 

I saw this quote on insta and I liked it.

My whole life I've wanted to be what I am right now.  A stay-at-home mom with a little flex time.  Yes I've had several jobs.  And they are interesting and I like learning new things.  But at the end of the day, I'm doing what I want to be doing.  My job is intrinsically important and I know this.  I admire other people who have careers and someday maybe I will choose that.  But I don't need to feel guilty or coddled for enjoying the perks that come with being a stay at home mom.  And I don't need to worry about these comments.  These people don't matter to me one bit.  And I shouldn't worry about their opinions.  You can't please everyone anyway.  On one hand people are saying to take care of yourself, get outside, be social, exercise.  On the other hand you are judged if you do just that.  I don't see the male climbers being judged that hard. 

Anyway, back to gardening.  I love June.  June in Utah is so beautiful.  All my favorite flowers are blooming.  I had a few good days with my favorite Coral Sunset peonies before they faded.  I'm thinking of all the plants I'm going to divide and which ones I'm going to put in my front area that is looking bald right now since we took out some perennials that were spreading too much.  

We are really enjoying all the fruits of our labors though.  Last year I spent a lot of time weeding, mulching, and then we got our retaining wall put in and the curbing and sod pushed back and it really makes a difference and requires far less maintenance.

Here are my Coral Sunset Peonies each day this week.  They change so fast!  It is a little sad actually.  But they are so pretty!

Also I am loving our little inlets that make the hammock and slackfline so much easier to access.  

A couple notable fun things this week.  

I dropped Soren off at Basketball camp and I hiked the Y.  It was spontaneous and fun to do again!  Not too hot yet.  

Also hiked with my friends.  I took no photos which is very rare for me.  We were going to do Bell's Canyon but then one friend (who planned it all) wouldn't have been able to come.  So it was pretty cute to see how everyone wanted to change plans and go close so she could be with us.  It was so good to catch up!  I learn so much from these ladies.  And I got some good tips from Rose on hiking in the Dolomites so I can plan for our upcoming trip!

We got to go to Top Golf and the new Jurassic Park movie with Soren.

I did a 26 mile bike ride yesterday.  I was very tired after.

This is from a few weeks ago when I rode to Tibble Fork. 

And there was lots of weeding, yard work, goat fence repairing and cleaning this week.  It feels good to get it all done.  

Lacrosse, Climbing and Track Season!

 Its been an awfully busy spring!  When Simone was a little kid she was super athletic.  She learned to do a back handspring from her friend at recess and was just always very strong and able to do pretty much anything.  

But I was a very busy mom with three older siblings who all had music and sports, a new baby, and a husband who traveled for work frequently.  Our Saturdays were maxed out.  So Simone had to wait a few years before she could do sports.  She did a little gymnastics class at a garage here in Alpine for a few months and sewing lessons instead which she also really loved.

I felt a bit of guilt then because I knew she really wanted to do sports and that she would really enjoy it.  But we are making up for lost time here!  With only one older sibling in high school she has my full time availability these days.

So I spent March through May driving Simone to her various sporting events and to and from climbing practice, which often had to be fit in around the other things.

She loved it for March and April.  By the end of May I think she was a little burned out!  

I still don't know what she's going to cut out next year because she really loved all three!

Pole Vault is pretty low time investment and easy to do with Climbing.  She won't ever quit climbing cause that is her main thing.  But lacrosse because is also super time intensive and I'm not sure it will work next year.  We will see!

It was sure fun to see her play lacrosse again and she really loved being part of a team like that.  The fun part of sports teams that are not also individual is you are not competing against your teammates but with them.  And there is a camaraderie that is really fun.  Her team was super "hype" and had so many cute girls.

She was so happy and relieved that she was able to qualify for nationals in ropes/sport.  She knew missing practice so much might affect that.  She wasn't even sure if she was even going to go to divisionals.  But in the end it worked out.  She had to miss a fun concert she'd been looking forward to in order to go to divisionals and was bummed about that and that became her motivation.  If she had to miss the concert she wanted it to be worth it.  Glad she was able to pull it off!

Anyway it was a fun season.  I'm glad no matter what she will have her drivers license next year and it will be easier on us all either way.