Lake Saturday

Everyone finally has a weekend off and what better way to start a Saturday morning than at the lake.  This week is Quail that we head towards.  Not many boaters out yet and the water was perfect.

Ryder

Getting way too confident and want to try doing tricks now.

Reganne & Rylee

Trying to decide if they really want to get wet.

Rylee

It all came back to her.  She popped right up on the 

kneeboard and proceeded to show everyone up.

Dave & Ryder

Let's try tubing!!!

Dave trying to get on without falling into the water.

They made it!!

Time for a ride with Ruston driving.

Ryder & Ruston

More tubing fun.

This time Ruston having fun with Ryder hanging on.

Up and Over?

Not this round.

Rylee & Ruston

Holding on for with a death grip.

Would Dave try and kill them both?

We all survived the morning.  No broken bones either.  It was fun being outside playing together.  I'm trying to decide if I'm tired or hungry.  The hunger won out with lunch and a quick pick up of the house.  I believe everyone fell into bed early.  Ryder did complain that his hands & arms were really sore.

Crazy Busy July Wrap Up

The apartment is starting to shape up.

It's almost livable.

Piper isn't sure what to do with

water falling from the sky.

Isn't is supposed to be on me feet?

Flip turns

Amazing to see how fast the swimmers 

do these.  They make it look easy.

They also love to create the splash to soak the officials.

Love this one!!

It also counts for officials.

What official would dare to DQ an Olympian?

I am definitely not signing up for that job.

Ruston & Ryder

Enjoying an evening ride.

Thank goodness for the helmets when I heard them take off.

Ryder is begging for one when he turns 16.

That request was promptly denied!!!

2 years of work!!

60 external batteries in each box.

38 boxes on the pallet.

1 year to test each battery.  9 months to find a recycler that would take them.

2 months to schedule the pickup.

1 month for them to show up, load them, and drive away.

It's been a crazy summer and now it's ending with school starting in a couple of weeks.  We are all ready for a schedule and a dull routine.  Bring it on August. 

The Story Behind the Post...What is this Called?

Name??

Many, many years of going to the lake I have struggled with how bad I always look.  Hairstyles, different types of hats, and even no hats.  I always look the same like a drowned little rat.  People I know have walked by me and have no idea who I am.  

It's now time to embrace the look and enjoy the lake.  I asked Dave where his bucket hat was?  My what?  You'r fisherman's hat.  My what?  Your Gilligan Hat!!  Oh, my Australian Bushman's Hat.  Ryder brought out this hat for me to try.  Perfect it shades my eyes, and protects my face from the sun.  The strings will keep it from sailing into the lake.  I'm ready to go.

When asking friends from Facebook they all said this is a Bucket Hat.  Dave produced the Amazon listing to support his title.  I laughed at all of them my name is the best and truly shows my age.  The funniest thing is when I called it a Gilligan Hat they found it for me.  I didn't even have to explain it to the kids.

It definitely didn't improve my lake look but I didn't get sunburned.  I also didn't lose it.

Kayaking Together

Saturday late morning we are all waiting not so patiently for another lake adventure.  We pushed through and made it too Quail with everyone all in one piece.  We even convinced Dave to let us bring Piper with us.  

We arrived along with way too many others and were convinced that this was going to be a wasted trip.

Surprise!!!

We found the perfect spot near the dock.

There was even shade, tables, and no people.

Piper even stopped to enjoy

the view.

Reganne taking a spin.

Ryder & Piper

Enjoying the water.

Thank goodness we have Dave.

He helped everyone in and out.

Reganne decided Piper needed to get in.

One wrong move and they both went down

into the water.

Piper quickly paddled to shore.

Reganne loving the water.

Time to head home!!

Nope, no more water for Piper.

Let's go for another ride.

Ryder took Piper for another ride and we finally loaded up.  Stinky dog in the truck wasn't pleasant but I believe everyone had a good time.  

Being close to the dock Dave was able to help a few families with problems as they got close to the dock.  One had an upside down submersed jet ski.  Another family was paddling towards the dock.  They had wrapped a rope around their prop.  They needed assistance loading it onto their trailer so they could untangle the rope without more damage.

It is now time for a shower, lunch, and a nap.  The first 2 happened but the 3rd was just a dream.

High Adventure Camp

He survived Montana by himself.  He is headed to the High Adventure Camp with the young men in our ward.  It's been a while since they have gone camping together.  This was definitely going to be an adventure heading up Beaver Mountain.  The instructions to the boys was to pack warm clothes and rain ponchos.  Ryder doesn't like to pack but what he loves to do is go shopping for all new stuff.  After much discussion  he only needed a few new things.  He was packed and ready to go until we reviewed the list together.  It was now time to repack and reorganize his stuff.

Loading up

All smiles and ready to go.

They were all anxious to hit the road.

Leave Mom!!!

You are embarrassing me.

Rock Climbing

New adventure for many.

There was cell phone silence until Friday afternoon.  Then the text came through can I come home tonight?  My reply Why? How?  His reply "It's wet & cold" and "There are a couple of leaders headed home."  "I can get a ride if you say it's ok."  My next replay "It is up to you".

He arrived home tired, dirty, and wet.  Everything he brought home was soaked.  He was ready for a warm shower and sleep.  He had a great time and didn't mind the cold or wet weather until it dragged on and on.  

It has been fun listening to his stories and adventures that shares at odd times.  We are really glad that he is adventurous and is up for the challenges that come his way.

More Fun at Home

While we were away the girls stayed home due to their work schedules.  Even with their crazy schedules they found time for a few adventures of their own.  

Back to school manicure

for Reganne.

I love the colors but the length is going to be tough to work around.

The smile on her face is going to be worth the pain when she takes them off.

Cowboy Piper

Going with Rylee & Ruston to the lake. 

Where are you headed?

Send me a picture...

Why do all her pictures look the same?

This is headed to Gunlock.

Ruston & Rylee

and Piper

This dog hates the water.  She loves getting on the kayak's

Hates getting wet.

It has been a busy weekend.  I am hoping for a little quiet over the next two weeks with no swim or running around.  Instead we need to get ready for school which might prove to be even crazier.

Beehive State Swim Meet

This is our first time at this meet.  It is usually held the weekend before the state championships and our team didn't want to travel twice in the same week.  This year the changed it to follow up afterwards.  The kids all needed qualifying "B" times to attend.  Ryder having missed "A" times in a couple of events by tenths of a second.  His "B" times qualified him for 6 events.  

He is ready to swim and I am ready to officiate.

It's cool this morning

but the kids were ready to jump in.

Great morning 

with great times.

Saturday morning...lunch didn't settle too well with me.  I was feeling like crap but the meet must go on.  We kidnapped Grandma for a second day.

Waiting for everyone to get into place.

Today's rotation was a little more involved since

we had more officials.

This diving platform looks like fun.

Doing a perfect flip turn.

WOW!!

Ryder medaled in every event.

Our SUSA Team

Coach Kate handing out

all the medals for the meet.

Great support from parents & coaches

He worked hard

and stayed out of his head.

Swam his heart out and was successful.

I believe they all cleaned up 

in the medals.

One girl was missing due to trying to change.

Ryder declared it was time for food!!!  We can't be in Salt Lake without visiting the Greatest Pancake House.  There is a new location only 5 minutes away.  It was just as good as we remembered.  I still wasn't feeling the best so we decided to head home and not wait until tomorrow.   All I wanted to do was snuggle in a blanket and watch the Olympics.

This popped up on Instagram

It made us all laugh.

I have never been thankful for feeling awful until the news reported a horrible crash on I-15 due to a sand storm creating horrible conditions.  If we had stayed we could have possibly in the middle of this.  One of those tender mercies I am grateful for.  I was feeling better by Sunday afternoon.