Lake Powell

We couldn't have been more excited to re-join the family for the annual Powell trip...since we missed the last few being in Ohio. It was our first time with kid (s) though, which makes it a completely different experience. Still a good one though :) My mom was sweet enough to babysit (read: spoil and love on) Jet while we were gone. The heat is crazy there and naps are next to impossible on a houseboat, so that was a good route for us to take...

There are far too many pictures :) (so what's new)?!

Some of the highlights: finding a FABULOUS spot for the houseboat to anchor, prime cousin time for E, Brett and Jared's hideous Powell shirts, swimming 24/7, Emri taking her first ride on the ski-board (the orange thing--brett learned to ski on that old thing!), Emri loving the tube rides (her face says it all), Emri being brave and going off the waterslide over and over again, hiking on the rocks, dance parties, getting our nails done by Jaimilyn, yummy food, napping is optional (in the afternoons kids would be passed out in random places around the boat), touring through the beautiful canyons (lots of pics), wakeboarding, sleeping on top of the boat (and sometimes going in for cover in the middle of the night because the wind/rain gets too crazy...then going back up top an hour later once it dies down cuz it's so flippin hot inside!), no sleep, lots of memories and fun times! Really, this is the best place on earth in my book! Thanks Mom & Dad Anderton for making this happen! 12 adults, 17 kids (2 whole families missing....that's a lot of people)!

**I tried to make the pics small since there are so many, but the writing is all screwy now! Click on on the pics to see em bigger** (can someone tell me how to make picture collages on a Mac? What programs do you like best?)

The last pic I took on our way home. Obviously I had forgotten how BEAUTIFUL Utah is! The difference between southern and northern Utah is from one extreme to the other...but both are breathtaking. I couldn't stop taking pics. I think I took it for granted before when we were here. It's nice to be back. I don't think I could live without mountains permanently :)

Thanks to Momma Max for keepin Jet while we were playing...and for turning him into a cuddler!!

PS...the tatoos are fake :) as you can see even the kids are sporting them! They say SHAKA LAKA. My bro-in-law works for the company. Good stuff!

4th of July...Anderton Style

Each year Brett's extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins...) gather at his parents over 4th of July weekend for a big sleepover! It's quite the production...

This isn't really part of it...but Brett's sister Mindy drove up on her birthday for the shin-dig, so I made her a cake to start the weekend festivities.

Emri got plowed over by someone on the swingset and came out of it with a nasty fat lip....nothing that an otterpop and sugar cookie can't cure :)
Grandpa lit fireworks...
Everyone sleeps out in the backyard (i think there were close to 50-60 people). Lucky for us since we are living with Brett's parents I didn't feel too bad sneaking to my own bed in the warmth of the house!

The following day we had facepainting for the kids... golfing for the dads....

and swimming for families (pretty sure she'll float)! Not to mention LOTS of delicious food and treats!

The fam in their festive red, white, and blue.... (except for me)

I stayed home and got us packed for Lake Powell while Brett and Emri met up with family at the Morgan parade (things don't ever seem to slow down here)!

Liam, Ruby, and Emri with their parade treatsBrett said E just stood at the side of the road as people threw out candy to her. I think she was still in the "overwhelmed" stage of the move and constantly being around sooo many people! Luckily she had her older cousin Morgan there to comfort her!