Barnyard Babble: Braden

The 2011-2012 school year has almost come to a close, 75% of the year is completed. Today was the end of third quarter break.

Last night, Diane called and invited us to go to the zoo. The weather was looking good. After cheers of excitement from my children we decided to join them.

But, reality had other ideas. When I finally started moving this morning I realized I had many obligations to complete before we could go anywhere. The top of the list: posters for Relief Society. My terrible procrastination habit once again revealing itself. Kimo's isn't open on Saturday, posters needed for Sunday, time expired.

As the morning progressed, the zoo became less and less of an option. The wind was beginning to blow, Mary Dawn and family were heading our direction, and the almost unaffordable cost of fueling my Tahoe kept circling through my mind. But, on the other hand, the kids had the day out of school. We needed to do something to celebrate.

I decided miniature golfing at Trafalga was the solution. Half the gas, we could golf inside if the wind was too much, Ryan could drop Mary Dawn and children off to join us, and with our Pass of All Passes the price, free. Can you say, win, win, win and win.

We tried to keep score for the first couple of holes. Not a good idea. Everyone had so much more fun when they went at their own pace. Kyler and Braden broke off first, I think they did some holes 2 or 3 times all in a fast-forward motion. Keanna and Taylei played together and actually followed the rules. Aysen had his own style of golf swing. I tried to correct it once but decided to let him be, he was happy, therefore I was happy. Maci was just delighted to have her own club.

After one of the quickest games of miniature golf known to man, we went to ride the go-karts. The line was longer than any of us wanted to wait in except for Kyler. He was determined to go for a ride. After 20 minutes passed and the line hadn't moved Kyler gave up and granted us permission to leave.

To finish off our date we headed to Cold Stone and treated the kids to an ice cream. Delicious.

After a quick stop at Costco we travelled home. As a side note, three car seats will fit on one row in my Tahoe. The older kids can enter and exit the vehicle from the back window. And, 18 holes of golf are exhausting, even when it is the miniature variety.

We went to Lake Powell. The place is amazing. I'll try and sum up the trip with a top 11 of sorts . . .
1. The first and maybe biggest highlight was "The Bat." A friendly, neighborhood variety must have taken up residency on our boat. With all of the hustle and bustle of our group moving in it awoke from its slumber. In search of a new area to rest it took flight right. up. Andy's. (yes, my husband) shorts. This happened while we were trying to anchor the houseboat to shore. He seems to have spent a lifetime in scouting, but nothing in his past helped him to "be prepared" for this. I would have died from a heart attack right then and there. Luckily, the bat flew out without biting my dear husband in the unmentionable place it found itself.
2. Lizard chasing was in high demand. The one Braden is holding was knocked unconscious or might even be deceased. Braden didn't realize their was a problem. It just sat nicely wherever he placed it or threw it for that matter.

This lizard was caught on one of our "hike-abouts." It was transported back to the houseboat via noodle. It seemed quite hesitant about escaping until it decided to crawl onto and over Mary Dawn. Her reaction involved sporadic movements and high pitched squeals.

Last time we were at Lake Powell we were teaching Kyler to chase and like the lizards. (Grandma Lou is an awesome lizard chaser, not sure how that didn't get passed on to her daughters). Kyler was finally convinced to hold the lizard and it turned and bit him. Not nice.
3. After September 11, 2001 when the world was still quite cautious about terrorists, we spent the 4th of July weekend at Lake Powell. I found myself quite safe and comfortable. Who would launch any kind of attack on such an unpopulated desert attraction? Someone decided to burst my bubble and told me Lake Powell was a huge target. I guess if the dam was blown the water released would flood Vegas. Not sure there is any truth to the tale but it doesn't take much for me to believe. We found ourselves at Lake Powell over the 4th of July holiday again (the stake 4th of July calling has expired). I was sitting on the boat working on lunch when a noise you don't want to hear flew overhead. I'm told I said a few unkind words and looked out the window to see a fighter jet fly down the canyon. Five seconds later jet number two flew past. I thought of death, destruction and the boys on board kept cheering praises of awesomeness. Seems Powell is a hot spot for training fighter pilots. Who would have guessed?

4. This is Chance. Chance was great to have on the trip. He was good with Kyler and Braden. He seemed to be the first to jump off the boat, go on exploration hikes and is very athletic being pulled behind his dad's boat. He did have one flaw. He had numerous conversations that went something like this. Chance talking to Kyler or Braden, "What's Up?"
They would respond, "What?"
"Chicken But."
There were a few more varieties, "Guess who? -- Chicken Poo" or "Guess why? -- Chicken Pie." Kids mimic and learn after only hearing things once. I won't say more, someday though, Chance will have children and I may return the favor.

5. This is Rick, Rick Carlton to be exact. Nice guy. He happens to be a member of the high council. One week, Andy shared a speaking assignment with him. Rick likes to boat and he mentioned an experience as part of his address. My parents were there to support Andy and during the visiting after, Rick's family was invited to join us on our trip. Rick and Chance came down with us and three of his girls came later. On the afternoon Rick went to pick them up his boat would NOT start. The men spent about an hour checking every cable they could find, prayers were said and we were about to call for boat repair when Rick found the problem. The key wasn't in. Funny, kind of like the bat, you can laugh afterwards.
6. Movies are always a highlight. Andy brings his giant screen and assembles it on top of the houseboat. Each night we watch a movie under the stars while the children are put to bed and the waves lap against the boat. This year everyone was so exhausted not one person stayed awake for an entire movie.

7. If you've never been to Lake Powell you are missing out. Every year is different. The water level varies which eliminates beaches and creates new ones. We try and scout ahead to find a place to park the house boat with the wave runners. The goal is to find a spot at the end of a canyon away from the other boats, but you also need a beach for the kids to play on and maybe a little shade from the afternoon sun. It was pretty crowded this year and we ended up parking in a little cove off of the main channel. It ended up being one of my favorite places yet. We had islands to swim to where we could cliff jump. You could hike quite a distance on the rocks. There was enough sand for Paul to make an attempt at a hot tub. Andy found a narrow channel for Taylei to keep up on her pitching practice along with a shore that gradually sloped into the water before the 30 foot drop off. Almost perfect! You couldn't have asked for a better spot for hike-swim-and jump abouts.
8. I'm sure one day Braden will share his mother's love of the water but he isn't there yet. He would NOT get in.

Mary Dawn is never good at being too forceful so I took over. I captured him on several occasions and helped him in the water with me. He would be unhappy, his mom would come and save him and everyone won except me. I'm was sure Braden was going to start calling me Aunt Bully afterwards.
9. The wave runners are always a highlight. We were even smart this trip and took the mirrors off right at the beginning in hopes history wouldn't repeat itself.

I didn't get a picture but this year the wave runners doubled as a fishing boat. Lake Powell has "boils" where the stripers are jumping out of the water to feed. This is quite spectacular to watch and all you have to do is cast your lure into the middle and walaaaa you have caught a fish. One morning the fish were boiling and Andy, Kyler and I decided to chase them on the wave runners. We were skunked. I would drive, Andy would cast with his lure landing perfectly at times but he didn't even get a hit. We tried a dozen different lures to no avail. I loved it though! It would have been awesome for Kyler if we had landed one. Maybe next time . . . and just a little bit red neck.
10. My dad was captain of the house boat for the first time and did a mighty fine job.

He had help from two highly inexperienced first and second mates. It is a really good thing he didn't get into any tight binds and have to call on their services.

11. Rick has a great boat, tubes, ski's, wakeboard etc. and everyone loved being pulled behind him. Taylei and Andy showed quite a bit of skill in the wakeboarding department. Keanna pulled herself up a few times and did fine but lost interest before she had much practice.

Grandma Lou is still young enough to take a turn on the slide.

Aysen wasn't convinced the water was a good idea or a bad idea.

Coalie definitely had her opinion and HATED the water. She was terrified to run down the gang plank at first but soon fell in love with Lake Powell as well.

Keanna was always having a good time.

The life jacket was not a big hit with this guy and I can't blame him. A straight jacket would have been more comfortable.

Braden was awesome at wearing his life jacket. He was warned by his dad in advance to always have it on and he did a great job following this council.