Whittaker Lake Powell Trip 2010

This trip to Powell was the "3rd Annual Whittaker Family Trip". It was a great trip and a great time was had by all. This year was very eventful. It was full of many, many activities; a few scares, lots of laughs, good food, and even quite a few weather changes. Every year we come home a lot closer and wishing it wasn't already time to go home. The only thing I think I would change about this trip, is that our sister and her family would join us.
This is our houseboat "Play Station", not our choice of names. Our choice was "Dam Boat" only because everything in Page is called "Dam restaurant or Dam Salon"

This is "Cookie Jar" the bay that we camped at in Wahweap.

We went on many hikes. It was hot, but very fun. Gave us a bit of exercise considering we ate all the time. We also did some cliff jumping, but I didn't have any pictures of it. It is probably a good thing, considering Easton was jumping off 35 foot cliffs. I told him that he and his dad were grounded and he just laughed and said "Oh! Mom!"

We had our traditional campfire and roasted smores. Jord and the kids also had their dance off! They made up a dance to this years Powell song...."California Girls" Don't ask me why, but it was played alot. The funniest was watching Easton sing it and Jensen dancing to it. It always makes for a good time.

Easton enjoying a smore.

We had to put the fire out quick when the wind kicked up, which it did every night and through the morning. Pretty sad when there wasn't "Dawn Patrol" because of the wind every morning.

A few of us read alot, and actually enjoyed it.

These four beausties would swim laps across the bay that we were camping in. Jensen is a fish. I think he spent more time swimming laps than doing anything else.

Easton got a fishing pole for his birthday, so Boom was helping him try it out. They never caught a fish, but E and J had a good time trying. Easton was excited about his pole, especially when he said "I can go fishing with Logan when he gets home"

Boom trying out the new pole.

There was lots of snorkeling being done. They even found a few treasures.....like some golf balls that were probably ours from last year. The found a bag of junk, a shirt, and a sock.

There is something definitely wrong with this picture! Hahaha!

Easton and Jensen spent hours snorkeling around the bay. One time Jensen flew out of the water and onto the back of the house boat. He had this look of panic on his face. I asked him if he was alright and he said, "There was a giant catfish staring at me." It was pretty funny.

Even Jordy enjoyed some snorkeling.

Three cute girls...Lindsay came with us. We loved having her there. We were excited to take her on her very "first" trip to Lake Powell.

Easton wakeboarded for the very first time. He tried really hard and got up for just a bit. We were very excited for him.

Jensen showing off his skills.

As Logan would say...."The old man has still got it!"

Jordy getting a bit of air.

We even had an engagement while we were there. John and Cathy are getting hitched! We are happy for them both and wish them all the happiness they deserve.

Todd made up an obstacle course for those that wanted to participate and gain membership in the "Whittaker Seals" Meggie, Todd, Jensen, Easton and Boom (with some prodding to swim all the way under the boat) became the newest members of the elite group.

Jensen as he was swimming the length of the houseboat during the competition.

Boomer shimmying up the rope.

During the competition, the observers enjoying the sun and long talks.

We had handstand competitions as well. Jord was on the end, she had a bit of trouble, but what a trooper. Jord is never afraid to try anything, especially if her brothers are doing it. Jensen, Easton and Todd all were competitors.

A few of us skiied, but the weather didn't cooperate very well for us.

We had great tubing runs, and played hours of "Elimination". Nothing better than a good "Boomer" tube ride.

Lindsay, Jordy, Meg, Easton, and Chez.

Relaxing in between tube runs. That's what makes Powell so relaxing....You can do nothing if you want, rest for however long, and eat as much as you like, and nobody cares.

Boomer suddenly grew hair in places he didn't have much.

And funny thing, so did Todd.

We had a few days where we had storms. These were unlike any storms we had seen before. Where we had partial sun, winds at HIGH speed, waves that were taller than we'd seen in a while, and boats that we had crashing into each other. However, through a few prayers, the storms always subsided and we were kept safe. We only had to sleep inside one night, which is good.

We had storms as we were coming home from the marina's twice, and when we were driving back from Antelope Point, we put the bow cover on and the 2 little boys got under it. It was fun to listen to then giggle as we hit bumps unexpectedly. I have to say that we had fun and laughed regardless of the situation.

We had just one injury. John decided that he wanted to wake board. Yes, he pulled his bad shoulder out of socket. We tried for quite some time to get it back in, but it wasn't happening. He stayed in the water, because the water helped stabalize it. After quite a while, John asked his brothers to give him a blessing. Yes, in the water. Can't say as I have ever seen that, and I don't think Boom had ever done it. But through everyone's faith, we were able to get his shoulder back in place. It was a spiritual experince for us all, especially when Jord put us adults to shame when she reminded us the importance of giving thanks.

Thanks to all for an amazing trip! We have an amazing family and we are very grateful for them.

Easton's 8th Birthday Party...swimmin' at Annie's!

Easton wanted to have a big party with all of his friends, and he pretty much planned it himself. He even decided on his own that he wanted to have it at Todd and Annie's pool and even asked Annie if he could have it there, while I was standing there. He loves to swim and loves Annie's pool. Annie was great and let us have E's party there, for this we were very grateful.

He had lots of friends there. Jensen, Jaxon, Jackson and Brigg's Gregory, Talon, Andrew Sobatka, Tessa, Shaye "Bubba" Taylor, Jake Taylor, and Trevor Cullimore. Quite the group!

He opened many great presents! Thanks so much!

They made trains on the slide and had a blast!

He even had hot girls there! Haha! Little Bubba, Big Bubba, Jordy, Devyn, and Lu

We had cupcakes and his favorite Sherbet! Happy Birthday Easton!!

Easton's Birthday Adventure!

When our 3 oldest were little, we would take them to feed the ducks at the park....ALL THE TIME! Not too long ago, I asked Easton if he had ever fed the ducks, I am sad to say that he never had. Thus again, my fear of my youngest child not having the same experiences as the older kids! So for Easton's birthday, we got our lunch, and Jensen, Easton and I went to the park and fed the ducks.

Feeding the ducks didn't keep their attention long as they started walking and then jumping from rock to rock! They were watching the fish that were close by the rocks, too!

Easton decided that he would try to jump to a rock that was a little too far away from the rocks he had been jumping to. Well.....he missed. I have never seen him moved so fast to jump out of the water....he was scared of the fish! He thought they would bite his bum! Hahaha! It was very funny, until he started to cry because he was so scared. We wrapped him in our picnic blanket after taking off his clothes that were wet, and our feeding the ducks picnic was over. At least he can't say his mother never took him to feed the ducks!