Lake Powell: Day 2

 On day 2 we had decided that we were going to go further up the lake to Rainbow Bridge! We have always wanted to do that and attempted to last year when we hit a rock and had to cancel. So we were SO excited to FINALLY get to see it! (Chan has been there as a kid with his parents, but the rest of us were new to this adventure!)

 It was a great day, a bit overcast but still quite warm out. Perfect for the small hike we were going to take up to the arch.

 The trip on the water up to the bridge was amazing! The mountains were gorgeous and the further we went the prettier it got!

 After we made this turn it got REALLY TIGHT going through. Kathy made the comment that she was shocked the tour boats could get through. She even said she was pretty sure if they stuck their hand out they could touch the sides of the rock.

 It was pretty unreal going through that narrow bit! Will got really anxious!

 Chan had to attempt to touch the sides, but obviously it wasn't THAT close!

 After about a 45 minute boat ride we finally made it! We tied off on the dock and started on the small hike to see Rainbow Bridge.

 I had to get a picture of Chan and I! That's Rainbow Bridge in the background.

 Here's the group that took the hike (along with Kathy who took this photo!) Tom had to stay with the boat since we were parked in the tour boat area and may have to move.

 Pictures really don't do this justice. It really is amazing! There is a definite feeling, reverence, spirit there that is strong. Carter came over to me not long after we got there to tell me he could feel it and that was before I had said anything! It's truly majestic!

 We got all the way to the end of the hike right at the base of the bridge and there is a ranger there who talks all about it. It was awesome and he was SO great! You could tell he loves his job!

 He shared with us that it had been YEARS since any of the rock broke away from the mountain but that in the past week 2 PIECES had fallen! Not off of the bridge but just near it. He had pictures of all the dust that it created and you could see white marks where it had fallen. It was cool!

 I couldn't resist getting this picture! it turned out GREAT too!

 Brianne's wasn't quite as good but it's still cute with her little pig tails! Will and Dakota opted out of this one! I'm sure they thought I was ridiculous! I was just being creative!

 There was an area of "historic graffiti" on our way to the bridge. I liked the part with the ox so I snapped a picture :)

 This was right at the base of the bridge. There was a time that people used to be able to walk right up to it and under it but they stopped allowing it years ago. In fact the ranger told us it took 20 years for the landscape to recover and go back to how it originally was around it.

 I thought this was cool and one of the major reasons for not allowing people right by it any longer.

 After our trek it was time to head back to the boat and head over to Dangling Rope Marina. For years Chan has told us stories of going there as a kid and getting soft serve ice cream. So off we went to create that same memory for OUR kids :)

 It's amazing how they built this marina literally out in the middle of the lake! Everything has to be brought in by barges. There is a small store, snack shack, restrooms, garbage dumpsters and gas pumps. Amazing!

 So off to the snack shack we went for some nice COLD ice cream! The perfect treat for right after our hike!

 YUMMY!

 I had to get a shot of the boat tied at the marina. Then we were off to our camping spot where we had left the wave runners. It was time to do some more swimming and play!

 I spent quite a bit of time taking "action jumping shots" of the kids! It's so fun and I got too many to show but here's a couple! (In case your wondering the yellow things are swim belts. We only allow them at our camp spot for the older kids/adults.)

 This was my favorite of all of them! It's my new desktop photo!

 I loved this shot of Dakota! He's getting so handsome!

 Chan jumped on a wave runner for a ride! I think he took the younger kids on rides too :)

 Will helped get the rope attached to do some tubing! He was excited!

 Carter rode the wave runner a bit and enjoyed swimming too :)

 Brianne spent a TON of time in the water but got out for a small snack before jumping on the tube with Will!

 I never get any shots of myself so I asked Will and Brianne to take one- not the cutest- but at least now people can tell I was there too! :)

 All geared up and ready for tubing! Unfortunately the goggles Brianne is wearing (which I found out later were scuba goggles that were expensive- had I known she would not have been wearing them) fell in the water and were lost :( big bummer!!

 Don't you love how relaxed Will looks in this picture! Heading out to be thrown about the waves and it looks like he's going to be watching TV on the couch!

 I took so many pictures of the canyon we were in! It was so amazing! I loved watching the light change throughout the day on the rocks.

 Here's a shot of our wonderful parents! They went off for a little ride on their own after pulling the kids on the tube :)

This is what kids look like at the end of a day on the lake.... yup....exhausted! So were we! So it was off to bed for all of us!

Lake Powell: Day 1

 The day after Will got home from scout camp we all loaded in our truck with wave runners in tow and headed down to Lake Powell to spend a few days with Chan's parents and Dakota. We left at 3 in the morning and arrived at the marina around 10:30 am. We waited at the courtesy dock for a bit until they brought the boat around and then loaded the wave runners into the water and loaded our gear onto the boat. A few minutes later we were on our way!

 All of us except Chan and Carter went up on top of the boat to enjoy the view while we headed up the lake. It was a gorgeous day! We were thrilled that Tom and Kathy had decided that we were going to go further up the lake than we normally do. We went to an area that Chan frequented when he was a kid! We ended up going to Wetherill Canyon which is east of  Dungeon Canyon. Its AMAZING!

 The hardest part for the kids is waiting to jump in the water! Especially Brianne! And now that our kids are getting older Brianne is the only one who has to always wear her life jacket outside of the boat! :( She was kind of bummed about that! Only 2 more years babe!

 Kathy and Dakota posed for a picture for me too! We were all so excited to get out on the lake!

 Carter and Chan were following the boat on the wave runners. Carter LOVES to drive them and is even getting adventurous and jumping waves behind the boat (and they are some mighty BIG waves behind a 40 foot boat!) It is VERY fun!

 Finally after checking out the scenery, changing wave runner drivers, having a small encounter with the park trooper we were able to get to camp and tie down for the night. Brianne was MORE THAN ready to jump in! It wasn't long until she found some soap rock. One of her favorites! And a BIG one too!

 Then it was time to just swim away!

 There's nothing better than the swim deck! It's fun!

 Brianne and Will were out there for a while! The rest of us were just hanging out, talking and enjoying the beautiful scenery!

 Then Papa and Gamma jumped on a wave runner and hooked up the rope so that Dakota could wake board. Papa bought a new one and new boots this year since the kids are growing and were having a hard time getting the old boots on! Dakota popped right up and headed out for a long smooth ride! He loved it! I tried to talk Will into trying, but he wasn't up for it. (I'm going to try to get him up by the end of summer though!) 

After a bit of wake boarding and a bit more swimming it was time for dinner and to head in for the night. We were all a bit tired given how early we had gotten up- so off to bed we went so we'd be ready for the next days adventure!

Scout Camp 2012

 This year Will was the only one to attend scout camp. As usual Carter missed out due to football practices. (not that he was complaining about it :) This year Will's camp was at Bear Lake!

 He was really excited to go and as I usually do I took him to the grocery store to get some "special treats" to take to camp. You can't be away that long without pringles, candy etc right?!! There's nothing quite as good as  "secret stash!"

 I sent him with a camera and a small plea to get some good photos and these of the lake were amazing. They did go out on the lake and did a bit of tubing which he enjoyed. His favorite activities were archery and rifle shooting (of course) and he did pretty well. He also learned how to use a compass as well as some other classes.

 It got pretty chilly up there at night so he brought his knit cap ( a silly one we sold on our web sites) to wear at night.

 Here's Will and one of his tent buddies Alex. They had a great time and I was so glad he came home without any cuts! Yay! These pictures were ALL he took while at camp... yeah ....well at least it's better than the ONE he took last year!

 I snapped this picture of him right before I took him over to the church to drop him off. I was pleased that he wasn't nervous, just excited! I KNOW that is because he LOVES his leaders and has some good friends that were going along too.

One of our friends in the bishopric who went along took this photo of Will that first day. The caption was something like "look out a Crismon has a saw"! Yeah, us Crismon's don't have the best reputation with sharp things! But I'm happy to say, as I did earlier, no cuts at all! He just needs to tie his shoe! Anyway, so glad that he had fun even though we missed him A LOT while he was gone! Another camp success! :)

4th Grade Program

 I can't believe I almost forgot to put this on! I discovered these pictures when I was looking at some new ones I had just taken. So I figured better late than never!

 Actually this was my 3rd time seeing this program! Carter and Will did this same one! It is very cute though! They play songs on the recorder, sing songs about the native Indians/railroad etc, do a little square dancing etc.

 Since Brianne loves to sing this was right up her alley! She also had a small speaking part as a reporter for when the east and west railroads connected. It was cute!

 I can't imagine the work that the teachers must do to prepare them for this!

 I think they did a great job and it was fun to watch!

Yay Brianne! It's time to move on to 5th grade!!