Beaner's World: Lake Powell Gardner family

Lake Powell this year with my family was crazy to say the least. The houseboat was damaged in a storm the year before and they took forever to fix it so we didn't even know if we were going to be able to go until a few days before hand. We ended up being the maiden voyage for it after getting fixed and definitely had some major issues!! But we all still had fun and got to do a lot of skiing. My cousin Megan came with her two girls. Emma and Kaleigh, Kai had so much fun with them and was so sad when they had to leave early!

Taking a break to swim out on the big tube!

Our dear friends, Chris and Rachael Haines and their four boys were able to come with us. It was so fun to have them, I was sad that they had to come on a trip that ended up being a lot of work!

The steering was not working on the motors!!

Fun times driving a house without any steering!

The girls getting the anchor ropes out.

It was fun to have both my Aunt Shereen and Aunt Debbie there with us. It brings back many wonderful trips as a child.

After getting the houseboat anchored and secured we headed out to do some skiing! McKean again was not loving his life jacket!

Chris loves babies and babies love him!

Jacob trying out the ski!

Nothing is more refreshing to me than swimming in lakes!

Kai braving it with the big boys!! She is so AWESOME!!

Joseph became one of her favorite pals!

We decided to go find some little cliffs to jump off.
McKean was warming up to the water!

Kai jumping without hesitation!

Keaners and I hung out just watching everyone!

Climbing up for more fun!

Ben taking his turn!

Kailie loves Chris as well!! She always has so much fun with him!

Sam trying it out!

Joseph contemplated jumping off this one for awhile and then he finally did it.

I missed it with the camera and he really wanted a shot. Well he ended up having to do it like 5 times before I finally got a shot! Hate slow cameras!!

Finally got one!

Tubing on our way back to the boat!! I love that I can tube with my little squirt!

Joe showing off!

Trying out the slide with Ben!

Kai was little bit more cautious this year over last year! Last year she was nuts and had no fear.

Kean had fun floating with Mommy!

I think someone likes Lake Powell!

Rach and Emma feeding McKean a green smoothie!

Trying to get McKean to take a nap on the bed. Some days he fell asleep pretty fast and other days he just played. Little stinker!

Checking out the water!

The boys try out the gigantic tube! Joe loved it , Jacob and Sam were not to sure about!! Love Sam's face!!

Get us off!

Megan and I took our girls!!

This is my favorite photo from the whole trip!! My uncle Ron was driving and he can be a little crazy so it was a bit too fast for the girls. Even Kai got scared which is why she is reaching for the handle. Megan's face is classic. She is and has always been my tubing buddy. We have a winning tally going for who can stay on the longest! She has always been ahead of me but this year I dominating. Mostly because her contacts were bugging her!

Now our girls can carry on the tradition!

Kean and Daddy!

Kai playing with Joseph!

Love those eyes!

Playing with Jacob and Papa!!

It is always fun for the kids to get to play with Papa!

Stillness! I love this place, even amongst all the craziness there is still a calmness about this place!

The kids spent most of their time collecting more sea shells or she shells as Kai calls them!

Still looking!

Dusk is by far my favorite time of day at Powell!

Kaleigh and Kean!

Throwing sand like the best of them!

Much more fun to just play on it without it moving!

These two became quick little buddies. It makes me sad that they hardly ever get to see each other!

I am so glad that Megan got to come. It has been way too long since she was at Powell!

McKean thought this thing was the best!

His own personal trampoline!

Till these two should up and ruined the party!

Trying to escape the madness!

My Aunt Shereen is always crafty so she brought some beads and strings, all the kids love it!

It was fun till they kept spilling on the the floor and McKean would try to eat them!

Just a little too pink there kiddo!

Thinking about going down the slide.

McKean was loved by all!

He is such a fun little guy!

Scooting around under the hammocks!

Being tickled by all the girlies!!

Poor kid is always surrounded by girls!

These two are definitely siblings!

These three are siblings as well. My Uncle Ron, Aunt Debbie, and Dad

Shereen helping to keep Kai safe!

Megan teaching them how it is done!

Kai showing the girls how it is done!

We must have done a major turn right here to be at this angle with her behind us!! So funny!

Kaleigh tried it out. She liked to sit but didn't want to stand up!

My Cousin Jenn was there as well. We were all pretty close growing up being only a year apart. We haven't all been at Powell together since we have been married and had kids!

Posing for some silly shots!

Trying out the Canoe!

Jenn in the Kayak and her boys, Brendan, Ammon and Greyson!

The girls had to try out the sunken island!

McKean was supposedly taking a nap but I came upstairs to find this.

Rachael and I took the kids for a hike one morning. Kai loved climbing into the little holes.

Rach was standing guard!

Sam, Kai and I showing off the beautiful scenery and our muscles!

At our second beach location the kids found this huge hole. They thought it was awesome and spent hours in it!

It got really windy so one of them came up with the brilliant idea of putting a sheet over the hole to protect them from getting sand in the their eyes! Kai just preferred her sunglasses!

Kean taking a bath in the kitchen sink!

He had a grand ole time just hanging out minding his own business why everyone else just carried on!

Jack and Carolyn were able to join us for a day! Unfortunately, it turned out to be a rainy cold day which was odd and somewhat refreshing!

We went out skiing in the rain because the water was amazing. It was a really cool experience and the only people that were cold were the ones in the boat!!

It warmed up a bit later on so the kids took a turn at the ski. Ben goes with out any hands!

Greyson seemed a little unsure!

I wanted Kai to try the big ski's, she was excited but she got too cold putting the skis on so she only tried once and then was done.

Next year for sure!

Ben jumps off the high dive!

Brendyn takes a turn!

Kai a little unsure after last year when she kept her legs open a bit on impact. Ouch!
This time she did great and liked it!

McKean bonding with Aunt Debbie!

Kai was tad bit lonely with Kaleigh and Emma gone and she was the only girl with 8 other boys!!

Building a sand castle with Papa and Mommy!

I can't place who or what he reminds me of here but it is definitely something!

Gollum?

Rach and Chris making a yummy dinner!

Love my monkey man!

The cool cloud with a the sun or moon. Really not sure which!!

Greyson taking a break!

Classic view of my Dad, reading his scriptures!

Friday morning dawned beautiful and great water. Jared, Chris and Rachael all got some great skiing in!

Chris!

Rach

I stayed back because McKean slept in and I needed to nurse him. I was bummed to miss the great water and sunrise!

Love these two!

The men taking a much needed break!

Kailie and Chris catching a fish!

Chris trying to get Kai to hold it.

She was a little unsure about that!

Jim enjoying the good life

I let Joseph use my camera, he took a lot of great shots of everyone: Cute Kailie!

Shawn rocking his awesome beard!

Sammy happy as always!

This photo pretty much sums up Jared this trip!

Jacob enjoying a drink!

We decided to take the Haines to the crack and the Indian ruins.

Kai loves riding in the boat!

Dad getting ready to hike, the ruins are on the cliffs in the background!

The gang getting ready!

Beautiful Rachael, the woman who I admire and aspire to be like!! She is my nutrition specialists. I just want to be a fly in her home and learn all she knows about food and the body!

McKean enjoyed not having to wear his life jacket in the boat for a few minutes!

Getting ready to head up!

Off they go!

They found this little guy on their way up. So glad I wasn't with them! Creepy!

The ruins from below. It is still amazing how high they were. How did they get up there!

We have done this hike at least a 100 times and every time the water level is completely different!

Ben taking a break!

Like these two have not read that sign a dozen times if not more!

Original graffiti!

Rach and Kai running up the hill!

The guys taking it slow and leisurely!

Joe took all these while up there!

There was a ranger there explaining more of the details!

Kai heading down into on the houses!

Sam happy again!

Ben thought it was pretty cool!

Daddy making sure Kai is safe!

Kean looking up and wishing he was there too.

Or just enjoying gnawing on his beef jerky!

He stayed back with me and Debbie!

Taking a swim with mommy!

Chris and Kean playing. Kean was loving this and laughing so hard!

Wiped out!

Watching a movie on the rainy, cold day!

Kai and the boys!

Doing what we always do, sitting around outside just enjoying the time!

Our last day we went out skiing the water was not nearly as good but still so much fun!

Joseph and all the Haines boys loved McKean and kept asking if they could keep him!! He loved all the attention and the first couple of days after we got home he was super fussy, I think he was just missing all the attention he got. I texted Rach and told her they could come get him if they wanted!!