Lake Powell wonderful

We had a grand time at Lake Powell this last week. For the first time we brought kayaks and the kids were so happy paddling around nonstop. We all were so happy when we found this super shady camp site in Crystal Canyon (only 1 hr. 30 min. of direct sunlight each day) after our Ez-Up shade tent got ripped apart by the wind in Hansen Creek Canyon and we were left frying in the blazing hot sun. This camp spot was surrounded on 3 sides by red cliff walls nearly 500 feet high- amazingly picturesque.
We all did some elbow, knee and butt rock climbing moves getting up this crack at the very end of Crystal Canyon. This was the view when you looked up. I'm so glad this rock didn't shift and trap one of us, it would have really put a damper on the trip if we had to team up to chew off a trapped limb.
Up under the cliff walls was the most amazing sand, we played in it for hours. It was like a spa treatment laying there, eyes closed, getting cool trickles of sand poured over your limbs by the children. We were all throughly coated every time we set foot in the stuff because you just couldn't help rolling in it or burying yourself every time you touched it.
Looking up from where we slept under the cliff walls. The night sky framed by the red rocks was breathtaking. To see more pictures of the week look here.

somethin' to blog about

The yard sale went well and wow does it feel good to get rid of a few things. I was rewarded at the end of the very hot day with a mountain bike ride with a few good friends on the top of the Alpine loop, Ridge trail. Here is the view of the Mount Timpanogos cirque, it was gorgeous and refreshingly cool in the mountains, and it felt so good to get on my mountain bike.
Wild delphinium and blue bells along the trail.

After taking the afternoon off to ride my bike (while my lovely spouse recovered from having his wisdom teeth taken out AND held down the fort- thank you dear) I paid dearly for my time off by having to pack for camping at Lake Powell until 3 o'clock in the morning. So, the adventure continues- off we go to Lake Powell, maybe I can catch up on some sleep.

recap

I'm in summer mode, which means some things fall through the cracks while I scramble to party/entertain/motivate the children while keeping things clean/organized/weeded around here. Here is a photo recap of the last week of our lives.
Father's Day brunch on the back porch.

A Father's Day walk to our neighbor's pond.

What is happening when I am out doing some triathlon training- the kids are getting into the Halloween costumes, jazzing up the little brother cop up the Sharpie mustache and patch of chest hair. He wore the hairy embellishments until they wore off in the pool a few days later. What can I say, it's summertime.

Self portrait, is there anything better than 8 year old chiclet teeth?

I slaved all week cleaning out every closet, the crawl space and the garage in preparation for yard sale Saturday. Here is one of the treasures I came across- a photo collage of out 11 year old as a chubby little baby. I love this series of pictures. (click on the picture to see a bigger version)

scared straight or... how to get in shape for summer

OK, I did it. I paid my money and everything. I am all signed up for the Yuba triathlon September 6th. That should get me out of my boring workout rut and get my butt moving.
I have never done an Olympic distance triathlon only a couple Sprint distance triathlons two summers ago. Here is the breakdown for Olympic: swim 1500 m, bike 24.9 miles, run 6.2 miles. It's going to take some work to get ready, but that's what I'm really after anyway. I'm nervous, but finally crossing that finish line is such a fabulous feeling.
This should make me think twice before I eat an entire giant scone (nearly the size of a small pizza) all by myself at the Art City Days carnival or any other summertime festival that sells tempting things like scones and deep-fried Twinkies.

prom pictures

This is a shout out to my niece Megan- way to go on the awesome prom picture!
Ooh to be young again- wait I take that back. When I really think about it... no thank you.
I do so love this clever prom pose, and getup Megan's date is wearing.

The hardest thing about rollerblading

Because I have been enjoying the sport of rollerblading this week, or 'fruitbooting' as BMXers so lovingly refer to it- I though I would pass this on.

at the beach

There is nothing like some time on the beach- just lounging in the hot sand, staring out at the water- to provide some ultimate rest and relaxation and really clear your head. Until, 2 seconds later your kids find you and whine, "he smashed my sand castle..." or "I'm hungry..." but really it's all good. I just added that last bit to make everyone reading this who is not at the beach right now feel a little bit better... I hope it helped.
Ahhh summer is finally here, I love the beach and I'm lovin' life this week.

hairdo

Well, we did it... kind of. We didn't shave the sides of his head, but we did go to town with the egg whites and blow dryer to create this hairdo for the last day of school. He wore it proudly, to the last day of fourth grade, even when most of his friends forgot. His classmates measured it at 6 inches tall. That mohawk lasted the rest of the day, as we drove to Mesquite on our way to California- even rebounded perfectly after being under a hood at dinner at Dairy Queen for 30 minutes or so. It even lasted through a gymnastic session on the hotel beds at 10 pm, right before he finally washed it out.

The very next morning... we found this guy in the Smiths grocery store in Mesquite. It is a tale that starts like this... you know you have become an obnoxious middle age woman when... you march right up to a punk rock stranger and insist that you follow her to her car because her son had a mohawk yesterday and her kids sitting in the car are going to love his hairdo. Then she pulls out the camera and starts taking pictures (not asking permission until after the pictures had been taken). What have I become? I was so overwhelmed with the good fortune of finding another mohawk out there in the world (if only we had meet up with him one day sooner) I couldn't help myself.
I'm pretty sure by his reaction that this sort of thing happens to him a lot. And, in the end I didn't embarrass my kids too bad, they said they were pretty happy to have gotten a good look at this fella. I say, just you wait until you're teenagers.. you ain't seen nothin' yet...