In July we went to Lake Powell with aunts, uncles and cousins from the Johnson family. Cram a bunch of Johnsons into a houseboat and you are guaranteed a good time! It’s a proven fact that has been tested, and tested again for the past 20 years.
Brinley showed up in true style, wearing a 100% wool hat in the 100+ degree heat. Skinned knees were also a fabulous fashion accesory.
This fair-skinned beauty is ready too, but he can give me back my hat anytime now. Now!
This is the lap of luxury right here. Animal House parked on the most beautiful beach made up of sand and rocks. The perfect Lake Powell combination!
We parked at Padre Bay, which is a stones throw from Cookie Jar, a childhood favorite.
First things first! The kids hit the beach and showed it who was boss.
Brinley sprinkled her special Fancy Nancy dust. It’s a little girls’ way of marking her territory.
Poor unsuspecting Rowan got buried and then turned into a mermaid.
We eventually convinced the kids to get on the Water Zucchini. Some call it a Banana, some call it the Water Weenie…my kids call it the Water Zucchini. A little confused are they?
We started off with a chaperoned ride, floating along low and slow, admiring the diamonds in the water…
After Brittany and Addison jumped off the older kids decided it was time for a real ride! faster, Faster, FASTER!!
Woohoo! A big scary wave!
At snack time Brinley opted for some salty, yet satisfying goldfish. Drew went straight for the sugar and made sure to thoroughly coat each and every tooth in the colorful substance.
One evening Grandma took a few of the kids hiking up the rocks near our beach.
Fresh faced Rowan after getting a full nights sleep and a healthy breakfast of Froot Loops. Do you see why the houseboat is called animal house? RAWR! This little munchkin cut her first tooth on the boat without so much as a wimper!
Ryan and Brinley went out for a morning constitutional on the wave runner. Gotta start the day out right!
Drew was brave and climbed aboard the tube with his old man.
Daddy couldn’t hack it. Drew was more than thrilled to have been the only survivor on the tube. Muwahahaha…our evil plot worked! Confidence in himself – check, check and check!!
Ryan decided to try his hand at the wakeboard again this year, with much better results. Thanks go to Uncle Gale, teacher extrordinaire. He crossed the wake and then went in for a flip…
Errr, nope! He claims he was advertising for Liquid Force. Maybe next year, Ryan.
Brinley was eventually persuaded to hop on the tube with Brittany and Addison. It was more fun to touch the water than anything else!
Who says our favorite snacks can’t accompany us to the lake! Cups of dirt for all!
One day we left Rowan with Grandma and headed up to the lake to see the sights, mainly Rainbow Bridge. It’s a 2 hour boat ride one way, and not much fun for tiny babies with HUGE cheek-pinching life jackets!
She’s a beauty, huh!?
We also zoomed up Cathedral Canyon until we couldn’t squeeze the boat any further between the rocks.
It’s tradition that we swim at the end of the canyon where the water is a deeeeeeeeeeep green color. At this point, Brinley was still having a hard time trusting her life jacket.
It’s also tradition that we stop by Dangling Rope, aka “Ice-Cream Canyon” for some soft serve. Soft serve ice-cream has never tasted so good!
Many much card games were played here… Phase 10 anyone?
Poor Rowan had a hard time grasping the concept of a glass table. No matter how hard she tried, she never did get her grubs on an M&M.
As soon as the sun went down over the rocks we played endlessly on the beach. No sunscreen – yeah!
Keeping this one contained proved to be difficult at times. Rubbermaid tote to the rescue! We found these rogue water balloons floating in the lake. Then Rowan started it! How does she know?!
On the beach Rowan kicked it into 4-wheel drive and was all over the place!
She tried eating sand a few times but after getting her mouth swept out, she decided it wasn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Lesson learned!
The big kids started building a private lake, but once the little “helpers” got involved it was all over. If you look closely Brinley is shoveling sand off of the dam, and Drew is taking the water out of the lake and dumping it on the beach. It’s the thought that counts, right?
It’s all about a girl and her purple bucket.
Erosion man doing his part.
I hear ya Ro, I don’t ever want to leave either.
We did showers Lake Powell style. Lather up, get your mohawk on (a very important step…) and then – JUMP!
Halfway into the trip Brinley finally learned that her life jacket was her friend! Float Binnie, float!! Oh the freedom!
Rowan never got a chance to be towed by the boat. Aunt Jenna took pity and towed Rowan around the lake.
Uh-oh!! A little Rowie butt crack never hurt anyone! Please, no pinching!
What fun! Can we be your tag-alongs next time around?
What a blast!! Lake Powell has to be one of the best places. Such a fun place to make memories. Do you know Robyn and Adam Peterson? They are my neighbors, just curious. I think you guys might be related to the same people.
Oh the pictures really make me want to experience all that! We’ve been missing out!
good ol’ lake powell. my favorite vacation spot 🙂
Oh my goodness…what a blast!!! Wish I could go with you guys, he he 🙂 You guys seem to have all the fun…maybe you could adopt me!?! Love your pictures – awesome as always!!!
What a fun lake trip! I can hardly believe I’ve never been there! Shame on me. All those great pictures sure amp up my desire to go…SOON! what a fun vacation
Too many good pics to list. so cute! You know how I feel about Miss Brinley, adorable! Very jealous, looks like so much fun!