Vacationing on Lake Ouachita - The largest lake in Arkansas

We went on yet another trip to the lake. We went to a lake in Arkansas called Lake Ouachita. It is a huge lake and even had houseboats. It was different from any other lake we have been to, the shore line is covered by trees and shale/limestone rocks. We had lots of fun boating, swimming, and fishing. We stayed at a mountain resort right right on the lake.

Mikayla loves fishing.

The only fish we caught! Mariah caught it the second time she cast out.

Exploring one of the islands at the lake.

Just a cute picture of Kayla!


Kneeboarding!

Swimming with Dad

Mom, Dillan and Kayla riding in the tube,
it had a big hole in the seam so we were taking on water fast.
It was a short ride.

Kayla had enough sun and found a place to go to sleep
while we were pulling the boat out of the water.

Tristan took a nap everyday in his favorite chair.
How he can sleep sitting up is amazing to me.

Look what happens to Naturally curly hair in humidity!

My hair is out of control after coming back from Utah. It is kinky and frizzy. Now you can see why I wear a pony tail almost everyday lately:)

Lake Powell with Grandpa and Grandma Potter

Pat and Mariah had to go home prior to us going to Salt Lake City so they missed out on all the fun with his mom and sister and going to Lake Powell. We went to Lake Powell with Grandpa and Grandma Potter. It is one of our favorite vacation spots since I grew up going there frequently with my family when I was younger. We were able to do all the usual things we do such as play on the beach, roast marshmallows overs the campfire, go kneeboarding and skiing. But this time I wanted my kids to see some of the sites on the lake so we went to see Rainbow Bridge and Hole in the Rock. Just some info on Hole in the Rock that I found interesting:




The Hole in the Rock is a crack through which pioneers lowered wagons as they make a tedious expedition across Glen Canyon to reach the Bluff area on the San Juan River. The pioneers traveled what we now call Hole in the Rock Road. The road is sandy and rutty; a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed to get to the rim above Lake Powell. It is a challenging drive in a modern vehicle. It is a marvel that pioneers in covered wagons made it down the road.
But that was the easy part. Getting teams and wagons down the cliff face into Glen Canyon was an almost overwhelming task. The blasted rock and rigged a block and tackle system to lower wagons. Ruts from wagon wheels can still be seen in the rock.

Tristan and Mikayla swimming with Grandma Potter

Climbing the sandstone mountains in camp

Tristan hated the sand since it had stickers and got in his shoes,
so he sat in his chair the whole time he was on shore.
Doesn't he look happy!

Tristan's favorite place, to stay in the boat!
Far away from the sand and close to food.

Roasting Marshmallows around the campfire...
I think more went in the fire and sand than in our mouths.

Dillan kneeboarding

Rainbow Bridge

Grandma Potter, Dillan, Mikayla, Tristan, Melissa and Grandpa Potter under Rainbow Bridge!

Tristan was tired and whiney so he got a ride from Grandpa...

The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

Oquirrh Temple Open House

We went to the Oquirrh Temple Open House with several of my mom's siblings and their children. It was a lot of fun to see some of my cousins I haven't seen in years...The temple is so peaceful and beautiful, my kids loved it.

Dillan, Grandma, Melissa, Tristan and Kayla

Deppe Family

Tara, Larue and Jerry Nelson

Dinner Parties

Playing at Grandma Hardy's House

Britton and Carter Groebs and Dillan

Mikayla and Lauren Groebs

Shaylee, Dillan, Carter and Britton Groebs... We sure love playing with our cousins.

Tristan loves that Grandma lets him play with her flash light...One of the favorite things to do at Grandma Hardy's house is to go downstairs and play with flashlights in the dark. The greatest thing is they can be as loud and wild since all the adults are upstairs.

Dinner Party at Aunt Natalie and Uncle Kerry Groebs Home.
We all got together since we hadn't been to SLC in a year... It was a lot of fun to see family.

Devin and Carrie Simper - the Newlyweds!

Steve and Shaylee Bundy...

Natalie and Lauren Groebs

Aunt Natalie and Lauren making cupcakes...Kayla was the only one that liked them. They were supposed to be gourmet cupcakes but they were gross.

Bundy Reunion

We went out to the Arizona Strip to Patrick's mothers family reunion. They had 1100 people in attendance. It was amazing to have that many people camping in such a small area on the old family homestead. It started on a Friday with all kind of activities like skeet shooting, horse shoes, etc. Then on Saturday morning, we went to the foot races. They have races for each age group, and several of our nephews took first place. Way to go guys! For lunch, all 1100 folks get together for a potluck and beef roast. That is a whole lot of people to feed. On Saturday night they have a dance. In between we sat around and talked with relatives and played with cousins. Pat was so excited to see so many cousins he hasn't seen in many years. On Sunday, we had a church meeting and then everyone packed up and went home.

It is usually hot and dusty out on the Arizona Strip in July but it rained several times this year, bringing cooler temperatures. We weren't prepared for rain and we froze a bit at night. Lucky for us, Grandma Hardy brought extra warm clothes for the rainstorm and bedding to keep us warm at night. The kids got so muddy, we had to throw a few pieces of clothes away...that red dirt just doesn't come out.

Bundy Family Races

Tristan had to be coached across the finish line by Dad!!Mariah running in the Bundy Races..

Dillan getting ready to run his race with lots of older cousins giving him great advice...

Visitng family in St George

What a fun time we had with everyone on our trip to St. George. The kids were excited to ride in a airplane and then the shuttle bus to get the rental car was just as exciting. You don't have to wear a seat belt on a shuttle bus...

We are so lucky to have such fun things to do just with our own family. Thanks to Aunt Julie for taking us horse back riding and Aunt Janelle for letting us use her swimming pool. As you can see in the pictures the kids had a great time.