Lake Powell and the River

We drove 8 hours to get there and Carter literally asked for 3 things: A movie and a piece of bread...twice. Alexis asked a bi-jillion times "Are we there yet?"

This is my mom's parents family reunion. It's happens every year. I've gone since I was 4. Chad and I have only been able to go every couple of years because of the time off work. This year there were: 62 people, 3 houseboats (2 of which we park side by side and tie together), 5 ski boats and 4 jet skis. Fun, huh?

Alexis learned to wake surf on her own.

Of course, Carter didn't want to be left out.

But his real highlight came when he agreed to advance to the tied-together skis. He was a pro.

I LOVE this picture of Chad and Alexis!

Chad and Alexis doing a 360 and this is the shot I end up with. It might just be my second favorite picture because their butt's are so dang cute.

A big perk of boating all day: You never have to fight a nap.

Chad and Carter went to Rainbow Bridge while I stayed in the houseboat with Alexis who spiked a fever for 2 days.


I took the kids on a few jet ski rides and wake surfed...it's the only thing I can talk Chad into letting me do when I'm pregnant. The boat goes sooo slow so a fall is like jumping in the water. However, on Thursday night I had 2 hours of horrible cramping. (like I did with Carter when I was put on bed rest) I really did not want to make the hour boat drive into Page. So, I talked with my doctor and drank a ton of water. Chad had to time my contractions/cramps for an hour while we laid on our air mattress in the middle of the night on top of the house boat. They didn't go away and the doctor said it was my call. I decided I wanted to wait a little longer. Chad and my Dad gave me a blessing and I literally didn't have another contraction after that. I took caution after that night and took it easy.

The last day. Our family with Grandma and Grandpa Whitehead who made this whole week possible. (And have, annually, for the last 27 years.)

As we drive the houseboat into the Marina we always stop it in the middle of the lake to get one last bath in! There's just something so refreshing about bathing in the middle and sliding down the slide super fast.

Alexis jumped off the top of the houseboat and to this day...that is her favorite thing from our trip.


After unloading the houseboat we got the car packed up and made the 6 hour drive to the river house.

We tested out the 2 new jet skis. Alexis and her poses kill me.

I only went wake surfing twice because I was taking it easy.

Chad hit some golf balls around with my brother on the empty lot next door.


Jumping off the rocks by our dock.

Carter and his cousin, Sadie. Carter got a fever and was out of commission for 2 days at the river.

Alexis, Emily and Chelsea going for a tube run.

Carter loved playing with my brother's boy, Aaron. They get along so well.

I found the girls playing pretend...with real babies.

The highlight of Chad's trip was probably that he is getting closer and closer to landing a 360 while jumping the wake wakeboarding. He actually lands it but can't catch the rope.

The highlight of my trip was watching Chad chase his receipt outside of wal-mart in Parker. He chased it so far and every time he almost had it another gust of wind would blow it in another direction. Then he got it and looked up to find his cart with all our groceries wheeling itself down the parking lot 30 feet away heading for a parked car. So funny. I thought it would send me into labor I was laughing so hard. I had taken the kids to the car to cool it off and pulled up to the front of the store to pick up Chad. I watched him in my rear view mirror the whole time. I kept thinking it was going to end so I wasn't about to leave the car and help him...but he just kept going and going and by that time if I moved I might have peed my pants.

2 weeks later and it's back to reality. I've been cleaning the house all day today. I've been out of commission for the most part Saturday and Sunday because I have horrible rashes...again! It started at the end of our river trip got worse once we got home Friday night. I spent 2 1/2 hours at the doctor on Sunday...another allergic reaction...to what I do not know. But lets pray these rashes don't stay another 10 months.