We camped on the beach on Lone Rock Beach/campground. The further you get from the entrance the softer and deep the sand gets. It was a little scary driving around in there, but our Pilot did great! Through the days we were there several vehicles got stuck. A huge bus like RV was stuck one night and they were there for over an hour spinning their tires back and forth. I don't know how they ended up getting out. Another time a mini van got stuck, and Jacob's service oriented heart encourage the men in our family to go bail them out. They were a french family that spoke hardly any English. If you know my dad, you know he is full equipped to handle any mechanical type of situation. The van was sunk in to their axles. My dad was able to pull them out with his winch and had to pull them all the way to the parking lot. Another truck pulling a camper got stuck right by us on our last day. But they were able to get a truck to pull them out. Fun times.
These pictures don't do the scene justice. It was actually really pretty watching the full moon set. It was also cool to see the light reflect off the water. Southern Utah beauty.
The boys got right in the water after we got set up. They both loved the water and wanted to be in it as much as possible.
The next morning they got right to playing in the water and the sand. It was so pretty and peaceful there on the water. I just wish the sun didn't come up so early!
Most of the people at this beach were European. The little tent next to ours is a french couple. They pitched their tent right next to ours...it was weird because there was all this space they could have used...
Jake was the first brave diver! He looks like a pterodactyl to me! Haha
This was our camp after the first sand storm on the second night. We had 2 blue tarps up for shade, but after the storm we just did one. Also my parents tent is collapsed so in case another storm came it wouldn't get ruined.
That second night we were in the middle of getting dinner ready when we saw lots of sand being thrown around by the wind some ways down the beach, but we could see that it was coming. It still came too fast to get everything down. Max had fallen asleep on some towels under the blue tarp. And when the sand hitting him woke him up he was pretty scared. So jon grabbed him while I went for our new canopy that was blowing away and ending up scratching the paint Jeremy's parents Suburban, pretty bad. Then Jon tripped over a tie down while holding Max. Jon went right down, luckily not landing on Max, but his elbow when into his ribs and he bruised them. Me, Lex, Jake and my Dad caught our canopy, but it was already toast. Two of the legs were totally bend and unrepairable. It had been used for less than 24 hours! It was so sad, I had been wanting a canopy for a long time.
Jon had put the boys in the car. Then I noticed Jon holding our tent down, which the stakes pulled right up. Our tent doors were open in the direction the wind was coming so it was like a huge balloon being pulled away. Jon was holding it with all his strength. Me and Jake went over there to help hold it, while Lexie when to take her tent down. I realized we couldn't keep doing this and needed to take the pole out and collapse it. But I didn't want the poles to hit our car. So we pulled it away and struggled to get the poles out. After, that I noticed Lexie and helped her get her tent down. The I noticed Jeremy alone. The anchor had pulled out and the boat was being pushed down the shore while Jeremy tried to keep it off the beach and away from another boat! Craziness! Jon and Jake went to help him. There was a group of french people just standing there watching us trying to get our camp down. I kept yelling for the to help Jeremy with the boat, but they just stood there watching and...video taping!!! Seriously-come on people!
Then after helping Lexie, we took the "kitchen tent" down, and we went to help take my parents tent down, which was a canopy with walls. It got a little ruined too. But later my dad was able to take pieces from our canopy to fix theirs. Then after getting my parents tent down. I noticed Rachel's tent. Adam and Rachel were holding it down. It is a tall tent and was hard to hold. Rachel was pretty worried at the craze this storm caused and that she was holding her tent alone, since she was the furthest away. We got her tent down too.
Jon and Jeremy were able take the boat out to get it away from the shore. The storm took a while to calm down so they ended up taking the boat out. Fine sand got all over EVERYTHING. All of our tent windows were open. Still after washing the car a few times, sand comes out from places.
It was a crazy, fun adventure! And we were still able to eat our dinner! :)
We went tubing and I was so nervous. I guess Zac gets that from me. I know everything will be fine, but I really don't want to fall and get tons of water up my nose or hit the water hard. But I guess if you don't take the risk you don't get to enjoy the fun parts too. I am trying to teach that to Zac.
Hahaha, everytime we would get close to going out of the wake whoever was on the outside Lex or Me, would basically climb on top of Rachel to keep the weight on the inside. It was so funny! And I had a lot of fun! I ended up letting go prematurely without meaning to and Lexie came off at the same time.
I thought this was a really cute picture. I love to see my boys cuddling with family.
I also thought it was so funny that Max was holding his sunglasses up!
When we first got to the lake Zac was afraid to get off the boat into the water. Every time we switch riders most of us get in the water to cool off. The water was perfect not to hot and not to cold! We tried to ease Zac in by just dipping him in and then back on the boat. But by the end the trip he loved to get in the water and was one of the first ones in every time the boat stopped. He was also scared to jump off the boat into the water. But by the end was doing that great too! Whether in the boat or on the shore Zac was in his life jacket in the water.
Jon was able to convince Zac to do a tube ride. He had a good first ride and even asked to up the speed. With no falling off. A little later they rode again, at a pretty good speed, staying in the wake of course.
Then Jon pretended he was falling off. He wanted to make sure Zac knew it wasn't a big deal. It was so cute to see Zac holding on but also trying to pull his Daddy back up on the tube. Eventually, Jon grabbed Zac's leg and pulled him in. Zac was pretty shocked when he went under, but when his life jacket "popped [him] right up". He thought the ride was great!
Taking the boys and tube to shore
I am so glad Max got a nap. It is pretty hot in the tent at night and they take a while to fall asleep.
On one of our Wal-mart to get ice runs, my parents bought a bunch of ice cream. It was a great treat in the hot afternoon. But they melted SO fast! Even with dry ice.
The storm on the 3rd night looming in the distance, before it hit our camp. Most of us had gone out on the boat for a quick run. Jon stayed at the campsite. We were barely out of the no wake zone when we noticed the storm coming. We headed further out to see how fast it was coming and then headed right back to the camp to help Jon take everything down. By the time we got there the storm was already there and Jon was already taking stuff down.
The other side where the storm has yet to go. Jeremy has some amazing tent stakes that we borrowed and with the rain fly on and doors and windows closed those stakes held our tent good. That night we went to dinner in Page and waited out the storm.
On our last day, we got a little wake boarding in. I didn't-which I am totally bugged at myself for! I should have just sucked it up and did it. Now, I regret it and it'll probably be harder to do next time.
Jon got up on the first try! He did great! Even with his bruised rib that was constantly hurting him all the time. This is only the 3rd time he has been wake boarding. And the first time was really hard. Getting advice and tips from 10 different people. The second time was a few years ago and I think he did get up for a little bit. But this time he did great. He had a good stance and got out of the wake without falling.
We did a little exploring and found this rock right under the surface of the water. It was pretty freaky for me. If I let my mind wander while I am in the ocean or Lake Powell for that matter and start to think of everything under me, it really makes me scared. Weird-I know. Its like this picture; it literally makes me sick to my stomach. (I really hesitate to post it.)
So it was so freaky to swim up to this rock and think about how far it goes under there and how deep it is. Serious, jitters. I am glad I pushed that aside and just did it.
This is how Max was anytime we were in the water. He didn't have much control over the direction he life jacket would tip him. So he'd hold on to anyone around.
Then we headed over to Sand Mountain. It has been almost 10 years since I've been to Lake Powell, I really missed it. And I missed the Neilson's too. When I was in High School we'd go every summer with them. It was a blast. That is when we learned about Sand Mountain. I remember hiking all the way to the top and running down into to the water. It was so fun!
This mountain is literally, around a 60 degree incline. Steeper than 45 degrees. It is tough and in the sand and heat. I decide to hang out at the boat in the water with Max. While the boys took off.
I didn't think Zac would go much, but he followed along a ways behind. Zac is the lowest person in the picture. I am so so so impressed with how far he went all by himself, and alone with no encouragement. I have been surprised lately at how he is starting to stick things out better without complaining. But it has to be completely he own desires and choice to do the thing. Like yesterday, he spend TWO hours putting together a lego boat. With a little encouragement here and there, he did it none stop by himself with no complaining. I was so proud of him.
Jon came down from almost the top to help Zac up the rest of the way. Then they ran down. They had a good time!
Then we had lunch and headed home. On the way to Lake Powell we saw this "Best Friend's Animal Santuary" and thought the logo was so...I don't know, I can't think of a word to describe it... (Mind you Jon worked for a logo design company for a few years so he is quite opinionated when it comes to logos. But we had to take a picture on the way back.
It was a great trip and I am so glad we got to go and that Jon was able to take a break and relax. The week before they had some major fires at work. I am so glad they all got taken care of somewhat so they weren't too much of a concern.
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Even though this vacation was a little crazy, we had some great times. I loved having everyone there. I hope its not too many years before we can all get together and do something that that again. Love the pics!
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