Monday, October 18, 2010

Family Reunion at Lake Powell

On June 17th of this year our family had one of the best vacations ever. We had our family reunion at Lake Powell on a house boat. Now I am not a huge out doors fan, but I would do the Lake Powell thing every year. We all had an absolute blast. We were especially excited that Shaun and Becca were able to come also since we don't get to see them as often. What an awesone week we had!!

Here were are on the ramp loading up the boat to head out. With 17 people you can imagine all the stuff that had to make it on that boat. I'm surprised it could float after we got done stocking it up.


This is our vessel, "The Milky Way". My Uncle Kim and Aunt Kathy have a time share in this boat so we were able to all go.

Here is the view from the top deck in the morning. We were in this beautiful cove with cliffs, a swimming area and room to ride in the boat.
Ashlee and Morgan waiting for dinner.

Becca and Ella in the kitchen.

Mom, Shaun and Carter (Cooper) on the back deck.
Nothing like a kiddie pool in the middle of the lake. Top deck and all. Here Ella is sharing "HER" pool with Maddie and Coop. Ella is hilarious and she says everything is hers. A girl after my own heart.
Maddie and Paul going for a ride.
Shaun showing off on the cliffs. Actually the cliff jumps were a constant competition all weekend. My poor Dad, "Who refuses to lose a competition even if he is to old" was forced to go to extreme heights to keep up. He did it though.

There goes Bill. And yes his back hurt after this.
Haley and I got in on the jumping action too.
This was funny. I was holding Ella while everyone was cliff jumping. After Shaun went off the cliff she told me that she needed to do it too. So we took her up and she jumped off. She is a little dare devil that girl.
Jaci and Bill getting ready for bed time.
All the kids and grandkids.
Shaun and Ella in the morning at breakfast.
Hi Quincy!!
Heidi and I watching Shaun try to ski off the back of the boat.
Lunch time!
Movie Time!
Jaci and Grandpa fishing.
Morgan and Ashlee sitting by the water.Heidi, Paul, Quincy, Jaci, and Ashlee going for a ride.
Ashlee, Morgan, Becca and Me going for an afternoon swim.
Mom loved the shade so she volunteered for baby duty.
Ashlee and The Coop.
Haley, Ashlee, and Morgan preparing to be thrown from the tube.

There goes Jaci off the diving board.
Ella and Aunnie swimming in the cove.

Paul and Quiny showing off their muscles.
Farmer Shaun getting ready for a concert. Hey Shaun we brought those $ toys for the kids.
Bill with a catfish.
Mom and Dad on the back deck.
Becca, Ella and Maddie hangin out in the boat.
Marshmallows!
Haley and Coop.
Jaci and Bill at dinner.
Here's Dad on our trip to the cove.
Mom, Haley and Heidi on our way to the cove.

Aunnie and Ella

My Project

I have always wanted to refinish furniture. So I decied to choose an easy piece as my first project. I bought this cabinet at DI last October for $30. Bill was furious and thought I was crazy to even put this ugly piece in the house. But like I always say... "I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do." So I started sanding it, and getting it ready. I stained it and it went from this...
To This...

First Piano Recital at 15


Ashlee started taking piano lessons for the first time in January of this year. (I know... shame on me) She went through two lesson books by April and on May 19th we went to her first piano recital. She played "The Entertainer, New World Symphony and Minuet in G." She loves playing the piano and has since learned to play songs from Twilight and is working on Hymns. It is nice to listen to her sit down at the piano and play. Right now she is working on her own version of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. It is beautiful and when she plays and sings it I can't help but to realize that music is truly her gift.