Lake Powell 2013

This vacation is always a highlight of summer. We think about it and plan for it from the day school ends and dream about our fun time playing in the water and with family non-stop. It's just our favorite natural playground and so beautiful all around. We decided to leave our Luke home this year because he is just the busiest bear who has absolutely no fear and would be a huge bundle of stress on the houseboat and in the water. Luckily, both my big sis and Nanny were able to watch over him so we could head off without him for a few nights. The only sad part of our trip this year was that it was so short—we only slept out on the water for 3 nights! Next year we are determined to stay for the whole week with our whole crazy crew of kids (here's to Joseph not having to take 3 vacation days for pioneer trek :) We loved trek, but it was definitely tricky to add that in this summer).

 The Smith LP crew 2103

And so, Powell. It's such a gorgeous place. The adults were all talking about how when we see it each summer it takes our breath away year after year. Even though we think we remember and know we love it, it's colors and skylines, that bright blue water against the red rock and towering cliffs—too beautiful. It's one of my happiest places for sure.

 

We had the most perfect beach this year. Maybe we like the water level being low!

 

A little family of rabbits lived in the brush of the beach and we saw them regularly coming to drink from the lake and check us out. This one was super brave and let my dad walk right past him!

I took this shot from the back of the houseboat. It was fun to have our own secluded bay and swim and play in so much open water without worrying about boat traffic.

My cute dad had a new toy this year: his auger drill so we could anchor into rocks just in case we needed to. We didn't need to but he certainly wanted to try it out anyway :)

More shots of our beach and the view of Gunsight. We had such amazing clouds. Every year we have sudden rain and micro-bursts of wind and weather as the monsoons do their thing down there. We had threats every afternoon, just before dinner time but they never turned into anything–kind of a surprise. My dad may have been a little sad he never needed to fire up the props and keep us steady in a wind storm :)

 Lots of fun boating time this year—no babies felt pretty liberating and gave us such a free and easy schedule.

 Of course the kids had some great downtime on the iPads–

especially playing all of Mason's cool apps.

 My brother and his cute family. And they are expecting another baby in the new year!

 Crazy pose after lots of smiling and holding still

 Stacey and I channeled the matching vibe

 Cool boy Beans

 Livs and Mase watching as we made our way back to Wahweap at the end of our stay. It really was too short of a trip but we couldn't leave Luke too long, I had to speak in church the next day, and also had girls' camp with my YW starting the next week. Plus our babe got some gross virus while we were gone and was feverish and sad. It was good to end when we did but yes, next year we will sit back and enjoy that gorgeous place for a longer stay.

 

The best part of LP is the non-stop playtime with family. Love seeing my cute kiddos together, love seeing them make fun memories with cousins, love having so much time to swim and cliff jump and hang with my children, love playing games with the grown-ups at night, and love, love, love the great bonds my kids build with my parents. I would love to have these kind of memories with my own grandparents. I'm pretty sure my mom and dad spent a full hour with Bentley and Cares teaching them how to dive. And the next day they did it again but helping them practice and perfect their dives. What a fun thing that would only happen during our long days on the lake. Hope my kids realize how lucky they are to have these people in their lives!

More pics from the underwater camera coming in another post...