Lake Powell Prep and Day 1

This year Lake Powell was a little different than it usually is. First we were missing some of our family...Nate is on his mission and will be back next summer to go with us and Kim and Ez couldn't come due to the move and timing of all of it but hopefully next year they will join us as well since we really missed all of them. Secondly Matt and I were in charge of pretty much everything Since we have the boat we were in charge of packing the boat, grocery shopping for everyones food, along with prepping all of our own stuff. Although it was a lot of work I like being in charge of stuff like that. Im not sure my kitchen has looked such an unorganized mess but here it is

Can you find the little blonde girl hiding amongst all the food and boxes?

Oh and there she is again I guess she wanted to make sure we didn't forget to take her along. We cleaned everything out of the boat and vaccumed and deep cleaned so we would have a fresh start although now looking back I think this was probably a waste of time since we had to do it all over when we got home.

I spent Tuesday morning packing all the last minute thinks mostly food. Matt worked half day and came home about noon. We ate and loaded up to start our vacation. Since we had eaten before we left the kids fell asleep pretty fast since it was nap time. Matt and I enjoyed their sleeping and just visited and made sure we had remembered everything before we got to far from home.

After a while they woke up and found some activities in their basket to do to pass the time. We have such good kids. They were so great the entire ride.

 We stopped in Kanab to get gas and grab some dinner before heading to our final destination the lake. When we got there we had about a hour til it would be dark. We were the last to arrive about a hour after Nic and an about 2 hours behind my parents. In some ways that was nice so everyone pitched in and we got most of camp up before dark. The 1st night was hot and loud. We had some crazy neighbors that were drinking and fighting throughout the night. We also found out that when we have another baby we will need a bigger tent. The next morning the rangers showed up wanting details about the night before and ultimately decided to arrest the guilty party and kick the remainder of their group off of the beach. We finished getting up camp and had some breakfast before we went on the boat while the water was still smooth.

 This was our 1st year without a trailer in 2 years so we made some adjustments to try to have some nicer accommodations. We bought a porta potty, brought a portable a/c unit, and a dark colored tote to use as a bathtub. See you fill it in the morning with the lake water and then it sits in the sun all day getting it nice and warm just in time for evening bath time. The tote was heavier than I could lift on my own when filled so this stud muffin helped me.

 It didn't take long for the boat to take its toll on the tired kids. Rigs was first.

 We bought a ski trainer last year but Hallie was to afraid to try it but this year we had been practicing on the lawn and she couldn't wait to get out there and do some skiing. We started close to the beach and I stayed in the water by her to make sure she was ok. Matt held the rope so she could be closer behind the boat. Then they pulled her up and off she went. Her face was priceless she was so proud of herself.

Then there was only one problem we had talked so much about how to get up we had forgotten to explain to her how she should let go when she was done. She got a little scared but did great and is getting better at figuring it out each time she goes now.

 Then Maddi and I went knee boarding by then the water was getting a little choppy so we didn't go very far we were getting beat against the water.

 Time for a swim break this is a good chance for everyone to get wet and out of the boat...always a kid favorite

 We found the "cliff" we have been jumping off for the past 6 years although each year we have reassess how deep the water is and where is safe to jump due to the constantly changing water levels.

 This is where they settled on jumping it was about 30 feet. Nic and I were talking in the boat about how the older we get the less appealing cliff jumping is to us. As we were having this conversation we each had a kid asleep on our laps. Floating in the sun with a baby on your lap is the life

The boys started crafting how they would best show the cliff jumping so Matt decided to take his phone up against the cliff and record Kyle jumping over him.

 This is our little hat gang...lol but truly the last thing you need at the lake is a bad sunburn

 And sometimes after day one with little to no sleep and more snacks than one should eat in a short period this is what we feel like although most of us are better at hiding it. Someday she will kill her dad for taking this

 Seriously...no more pictures dad

But a warm bath and some yummy food seems to make everything better

That night we bathed all the kids in out tote. It wasn't the warmest bath they have ever had but it was warmer than the lake. Then after everyone was cleaned up and in their pjs it was time for Uncle Kyle to show them how to fish.

It was a great 1st day. The wind blew a little but not enough to both anyone much. Once the sun started to go down the air cooled down and it was very nice and quiet sleeping.