The Happenings of the Anderson Family: The Crazy Daze of Summer...

I know tornadoes are rare in Utah, but an F-5 has been blowing through our lives for about two months! Not a day goes by that I don't feel like I am two weeks behind. Boxes are still sitting in the hallway, knobs are missing on new cabinet doors, window boxes are waiting for flowers and to be mounted, etc. etc. etc. I have to keep reminding myself that those are just "things," and not the important "things." What is more important is what is keeping me from getting those done like family, work, and family.

I will patiently deal with the tornado that might be lessening to an F-4 by taking one day at a time and trying not to overload myself or Hubby. He said the other night after we spent 3 hours working on the For Sale house yard, "I am sick of all the work!" as we collapsed on the couch at the new home. I agreed. I am a "nose to the grindstone" kind of gal and have to be careful that I don't push other people's noses out of shape! I am trying...

What has taken our time lately was a delightful family trip to Lake Powell. This year our ski boat was in great shape and everyone made it down except Son in law S, the runner (who had to work), and Baby Z (who will be one this month so I have to stop calling him BABY Z.!

Baby S was taking a nap, but this is the whole Famdamily on the Crystal 88 at Lake Powell!

Son B with his sweetheart Britni- aren't they cute!

Daughter M and Baby S wearing a pink bandanna to block the sun.

Daughters M and K with their babies S and M - both are real Water Babies!

Baby M and me in the water with other grandkidlets at the back of the houseboat

A helping to make a mud, I mean sand, castle!

Big Boy J

Ta-Da - the Sand Castle!

J and S lazing in the shade - ahhh

J, the Cougar and daughter S with hubby J, the 2nd Ute, working hard to fix the mighty High Flyer tube. You CANNOT go to Lake Powell without it!

J, the 1st Ute, also lazing in the shade. Most people slept on top of the houseboat because it's cooler up there. Only problem is when the wind comes up followed by a quick thunderstorm and downpour. This year Hubby's phone was ruined in a puddle made by one of those downpours. Yes, it's expensive to go to Lake Powell!

Hubby with one of many catfish caught at the back of the houseboat. We let them all go.

Granddaughter, I, DID NOT LIKE THAT FISH!

Big Boy J thinks the fish is so-so

Baby S doesn't know whether to like it or be afraid

but

Brit REALLY LIKES THAT FISH!

!!!!

Nana and Baby S. We really had a great location this year. Sandy beach, instead of rock, an island to swim to, climb up, and - YIKES- jump off! It was just about perfect.

Daughter M and her baby set up a tent to escape the heat inside the houseboat at night and I set up one nearby to help if she needed it since her husband, S, the runner, had to stay behind and work. We beached the ski boat on the other side of this point, protected from the wind/waves in the little cove. At nights we roasted marshmallows in the fire pit on the left and made peach cobbler in a dutch oven.

Baby M loved the rocking of the ski boat on the way to Lost Eden Canyon where we have our traditional Watermelon Ball game. It's crazy. Did you know that watermelons not only taste good, but can be thrown and that they float?

We had a "ball" playing Watermelon Ball!

I don't think this picture needs and explanation...

Son B, Brit and I

The tube is a blast

D, N and I watch their daddy, J, the 1st Ute, show off on the wakeboard.

Daughter M on the wakeboard. Daughter S also rocks on the water, but there was no camera on the boat when she went out. Sorry, S.

1st Grandson, D, doing great!

Big J, the Cougar, showing that big guys can get some air, too!

Youngest son, B, not about to be outdone!

You think motherhood slows a woman down? Not in daughter M's case. She can still slalom.

No, she not only doesn't slow down, she takes it right to the edge...

Going, going...

Gone! (She came up just fine!)

The mud fighter!

The watcher

The sunburned bathing beauty

The relaxed

The patriotic.

On July 4th I put up as many American flags as I could find all around the houseboat. Spontaneously in the afternoon Big Boy J started strutting around and we all sang America, the Beautiful, the Star Spangled Banner and other songs of Independence Day. Later that night some campers around the lake shot off fireworks and we fell asleep to the flashes and booms of the fireworks.

I love America and I'm so glad my family does too. God Bless this choice land! May we be worthy to live here and always appreciate our amazing circumstances.