Lake Powell

 We rented a house boat with the Granata and Stewart families this year.  We left on June 12th, the day after Garin and I ran the Utah Valley half marathon.  I was pretty beat and sore, but we managed to get packed up and to Antelope Point with no problems.  My niece Michelle also came.  She is leaving for her mission only a few days after we get back.  Also, David found out from his "jerk-boss" a few days before our trip that he wouldn't be able to take the week  off to come with us, so he will only be joining us for Friday and Saturday - BUMMER!

 We arrived to Antelope Point on Sunday evening and got the houseboat loaded and ready.  We were scheduled to leave the marina early the next morning.  Jake kept asking, "Mom, when are we going to set sail?"  

Josh ended up puking even before we left (thankfully into the water).  Maybe a bit of the stomach flu or maybe a nervous stomach.  He slept most of the first day and NOBODY else had any problem - thank goodness!

 Sarah and Michelle

 Ryan and Karin Stewart

 Most of our days were spent sun bathing on the top deck or swimming in the cove.  We all ended up with great tans!  This is Shanna Stewart, Michelle and Ray.

Sarah, Lauren, Rachel and Shanna

 Most evenings Michelle would take the kids up on the shore and have evening "work-outs" and "free-hug" clinics.  The girls had fun just being silly.

Ryan, Josh, Michelle, Shanna and Sarah

Playing cards and "hangin'"

Nail and body art.

Sarah is showing off her "sweet moves".  She is getting pretty good at wake boarding.  She even managed to get out of the wake without face planting.  Now getting back in is a whole other story!

 Dave finally made it up late on Thursday evening.  He and Karin's husband drove down the Stewart's boat because the Granata's ended up not working.

Jake requested that Dave bring the fishing gear.  Within minutes of casting his line into the water, he caught himself a HUGE stripped bass.  Unfortunately that was the only catch of the trip, but it sure made Jake's day!

Heather volunteered (the only one, in fact) to clean the fish.  She had it filleted and fried up in not time.  YUMMY!!!!

Heather and I lookin' HOT!!!!

The kids were POOPED every day from the heat and just playing hard.  Buried in the towels is BUBBA.

When we had boat troubles, we rented a wave runner.  The kids kept busy going for rides and tubing from the back.

 Me and Ray.

The "relaxation station" was a big hit the first couple days when we were boat-less.  Later it became the "washing station" where we shaved our legs and washed our hair.

Heather brought a bubble devise (I don't remember the fancy name for it, but it was super cool!)

Sarah, Jake, Mason, Dan and Ray chased bubbles all over the beach.

Another one bites the dust!

Sarah and London REALLY wanted a campfire to roast marshmallows.  I told them if they could find some wood to burn on our beach then we would.  They impressed us with quite the stick pile!

Mike was the "skipper" (somehow I ended up being the captain- I'm still not sure how) and safely got us to the best cove.  He brought a 2 foot drill bit to drill us into the rocks.  It was so much better than using the anchors that easily slip.  The water was rising at least a foot a day, maybe more.  We had to tighten and retie the boat down several times as day.

 This was our second day.  By the time we left, you couldn't even see the top of this arch on the rocks.

The favorite activity each day was to paddle out to "lizard rock".  It was named for all the little lizard scurrying around on it.  That is the bigger of the two rocks. By the end of the trip, there was only a little tiny bit above water.  The little rock was a great place to sun bath on.

 

Sometimes even "old ladies" can have some sweet moves!  I was way too chicken to do much more than just hang out in the wake.  I could get out if I did it fast enough at the beginning, but was too chicken to go back in.  Maybe next time!

The kids all got into fishing.

All-in-all it was a great trip.  The kids all got along, the weather was great and their were few "problems".   Now it's time to get planning for next year's trip!