Lake Powell July 2010

This is one of my favorite vacation-spots of all time. I'm so glad we get to go at least once a year! There's really nowhere better than Lake Powell. It's hot, the water is warm and there's always good company and good food. We get to pig-out at Lake Powell and not feel too guilty because we have so much fun burning off all those calories!

Not a great picture but you get the idea. Here's our view the first night there. The nights are pretty miserable but the days more than make up for it! This year, our family all slept on top of the boat. The girls up front against the railing (there's no way they could fall out or slip through) then Aaron slept at their feet. That way, if someone woke up and tried to walk around, they'd have to step on him to get to the stairs. Then we had Jacob's port-a-crib and then me. We put a fitted sheet over the crib so it stayed dark and the wind (when we were lucky enough to have some) didn't bother Jake. It's normally really hot, even at night, during July but it was perfect this trip. We actually used the blankets we brought this time.

My mom is amazing! I truly hope I am still skiing at age 63. Seriously!

Aaron had gone down to Lake Powell before all the rest of us this trip to drive the houseboat around for some friends of ours. They had found this perfect cliff to jump from so when we got there we had to go try it out, too. It starts small and then ascends to about 25 feet. So it's a "choose your own adventure" cliff. It was just right for the kids and adults alike. This is Jocelyn's limit, about 4 feet.

I found out this year that Olivia is a daredevil! I was so surprised that she dared to jump from the high cliffs. I went after she did and I almost didn't jump. It seemed so scary to me. It had to be about 25ft high, which really isn't that much, but it sure seems like it is when you're looking DOWN!

Left to right: Adam, Caleb, Brigham, Hyrum, Dianne, Mom (Grandma), Makell, Mariah and Olivia. They were trying to jump at the same time. This was a close as they got.

Dianne's family--plus Grandma.

Grandpa doing a swan dive. Now I see where Olivia gets her guts from! (Besides the fact that Aaron has NO fear.) I'm just glad that everyone wore lifejackets while cliff jumping.

Makell at her limit of about 10ft.

Adam, Hyrum and Grandpa.

Olivia and Makell.

Olivia decided she wanted to try wake-boarding this year. (Yahoo!) I was in the water with her coaching her a little and helping to hold her up straight. She actually got up for a second but I think it scared her so she let go of the rope. She never did get up again after this, but there's always NEXT year!!

Macey, completely worn out after so much excitement. She had so much fun with her cousin Sophie this year. They were inseparable. They played in the sand and swam like little fishies, always side by side.

Jacob did what he does best, and most, which is EAT. He was in hog heaven once he found the food totes! Usually both hands and a mouth full, then he's happy.

Since Aaron just had back surgery in February (only about 5 months ago) he couldn't ski or wakeboard. I think it almost killed him, too. He still got just as tan as usual though. I wish I had his skin! I tell him to just keep tanning so then maybe he'll look as old as me when he has leathery, skin! I'm sure even he can make leathery, wrinkly skin look good though!

Grandma and Grandpa just relaxing and watching the kids play in the water.

We brought the "glow ball" that we bought for a YM/YW black light volleyball activity. It was so fun at night. You just stick a glow stick inside it and have fun. The kids absolutely loved it. They played on the sand with it and a little into the water. Afterwards we took it to the back of the boat and threw it in the deep water. Olivia and I went after them (there were 2). It was really late by then and I have to say, it's really freaky swimming in dark black deep water! I won't go in without a lifejacket though, so it was all just in my mind.

Really, does it even get better than this?

Eating something, as usual. Hopefully nothing he picked up off the deck floor!

Grandpa decided to take all the grandkids out for a ride on the big tube. Unfortunately it ended up sinking the front of it because of all the weight. I didn't get a picture of that part! I guess Macey got pretty scared but everyone had on lifejackets so it was fine.

Since we don't have a boat anymore, the Meyer's let us borrow theirs. It was extremely generous of them and we were very grateful. Lake Powell just isn't the same without a boat! We took good care of it and then had a "boat cleaning party" after we got home. We washed and waxed and scrubbed and vacuumed. It was sparkling when we gave it back.