*Catching Up* Lake Powell--Big Kid Edition-June'08

OK. I am almost done with Lake Powell. I promise. Clearly I take too many pictures, but I also become attached to lots of them, so editing them down, doesn't always go so well.

The big kids had a great time at Lake Powell, too!

In this pic, we are getting ready to sail the houseboat away from the dock. This pic made the cut because it documents what Barry's chest looked like in his ultra-tight rashguard thing. Ooh la la!

Bobby and Amber rode the jet skis all the way to our campsite.

And here the silliness begins! This is the man of the hour. The whole foundation of this trip was the celebration of Bill's 60th birthday (Barry's dad). Most people don't get to see this side of the doctor/former bishop. I wonder if I could get any blackmail money out of him???

In lieu of a traditional birthday cake, we had a cookie cake featuring some of Barry's famous homemade cookies. Those molasses cookies were the perfect texture! They are making my mouth water as I type.

And what's a birthday without a little "Birthday Bingo?" Barry's mom had made this fun bingo game for the occasion, and what's more fun...we used skittles for the markers! We also showed the DVD slide show Barry and I had made for him back in April, and gave him a paper saying that the photobook I had been killing myself to make for him before this trip was on its way. Lame. I know. I did the best I could, but I just couldn't get it done in time to have it on the trip. The other disappointment is that some of the edges were cut off of the pages. We made a book of 60 memories about Dad. If I get a chance, maybe I will post some of the layouts I made for the book.

Barry took these lovely shots of his brother, Jared.

Here Barry is trying unsuccessfully to fly a kite.

So the big problem about Lake Powell is that it is HOT! Too hot to be out in the sun, so there was a lot of this going on (although it was hot inside the boat, too.)...

And quite a bit of this going on...

And even some of this going on (although I have no idea what this is)...

Also, an awful lot of eating going on. Did you know it is possible to gain 7 lbs. in about 4 days? I don't think I did until this trip.

Until next time, Lake Powell! (except for the family pictures I'm still going to post...soon...I hope!)

Barry "had a ball" for his birthday!

Lots of them, actually. I sent him on a paintball adventure this year on his b-day. I had some of his buddies (thanks, Adam!) kidnap him early in the morning and take him out to the paintball field. (They kept threatening him that they would shoot him 32 times for his b-day).

It was great fun to surprise Barry just a little with this, mainly because it drove him crazy to not be able to be perfectly prepared in advance!

The kids and I drove out to surprise him at lunchtime with the three-layer "Motherload" cake from Claimjumper. The kids had fun throwing around the old paintballs and Trenton loved getting to practice shooting the gun. He will be a formidible opponent in a few years!

Later that night, Barry and I went to My Big Fat Greek Restaurant for a yummy dinner. Barry was a bit beat- up after his adventures, but he says that's part of the fun.