More Lake Powell

Since tubing wasn't any fun, Mike searched out a place to explore! I manned the boat...keeping it off the rocks while the kids followed their Dad like little ducks in a row!

Next thing I know, Mike has found a place that they could 'walk' on the water. A rock that stretched just below the water's surface and allowed them to walk over to another rock to climb!

Pretty cool, huh!

Reed & Kierstin found us and soon Reed and two of his kids were on the top of the rock with my family! Kierstin did a great job on boat duty! You'd never know this was her first trip!

This is what I got to look at while everyone was exploring...gorgeous!

They crossed back over and had to explore more.....

It was a little stressful for me when I went to pick them up. The wind was blowing me right into the rocks and the kids.....but, we made it. Our kids can sure move when you tell them to get out of the water and onto the boat!

More Lake Powell! Here are some pics of the family on our way to Rainbow Bridge! It was HOT! But the bridge was beautiful! The hike was much shorter than when we were here last year with Francis' because the water is about 18 feet higher!!!

Sydney staked out her lounge bench

Almost a smile from Manda......the wind was blowing right in her face though....yes, she is that tan already!

B looking stylish in the front! He actually falls asleep many times riding up front like this....and even when asleep, he never lets go of the handle :)

Captain Mikey!

The Fam at Rainbow Bridge!

Afterward, we tried to do some tubing...but there was wind all the time! The kids went for about 15 minutes and then wanted back in the boat. That was the most we did behind the boat the whole trip! The last day, we tried to find Amanda some water to wakeboard on. We must have waited 2 hours. We had a small window where the water looked smooth enough, but by the time we got the wakeboard out the wind kicked up again....huge bummer!

Manda did wakeboard at Echo this past week though and she looked awesome! The lake was gorgeous and we were one of 2 boats on it for about an hour. Then, a mean looking storm with lightening rolled in and we headed home. Let's hope we get some better weather and water at Lake Powell for trip #2 coming up!

Here's the girls on the submarine tube....Mike dunked them a little :)

B preferred to stay in the boat. We got him on the tube for a bit, but then he was back in quick.

We love Lake Powell!!

Lake Powell - Day 1

Ahhhh, Lake Powell! After a full schedule of piano lessons on Tuesday, we left for Powell at about 2:00pm. We made good time and ended up being able to see our friends, the Laws, as we pulled into Page. After dinner, etc. we made plans for the next day.

First stop, the sand hill! We all climbed to the top and then spent some time swimming and playing in the sand....

Climbed some rocks and relaxed with our friends....

There's our girl!

After a little lunch, we headed down the channel to explore. Not long after, Reed's boat stalled. The guys figured it was the alternator! Well, there has to be some type of boat problem every trip. We had Amanda jump in the water and hook a rope to their boat and towed them back to the marina.

Mike & Reed spent the rest of the day getting the boat fixed and Kierstin and I took the kids swimming and then to dinner at a Chinese place. It was full of tourists, but was fast food and the kids were happy. Little Mia was so tired, so Kierstin had to take her back before they had any dinner. We headed back and got ready for a new day!!

Performance Night again!

For the last performance, Mike made it back in town just in time! Jim & Renae came to this one and we had Brandon along. It was another beautiful night! I feel lucky that we have such an amazing ballet studio in our little Kaysville!

Susie and Amanda after the show!

Susie, Amanda and Maddy

Sydney, Abby and Gracie

Papa and Grandma Arveseth

Our kiddos!

Love these kids!

Our little family!

After the show, we went to Fridays for dinner. Good times again!

We are grateful to both sets of Grandparents for being so supportive! We love you!

Performance Night!

This picture I added later and I can't get it to move. My new computer has presented a few learning curves for me...but we'll work through them!

This is Brandon giving his sisters the flowers after their performance! So sweet!

On the girls first performance night, Mike had to be in Denver last minute. We ended up buying one extra ticket for Brandon that night and going with my parents. My Dad was so nice to sit in the extra seat that we had to buy!

Don't they look beautiful!? We were applying finishing touches before they ran to the 'holding' room. Perfect time for a picture with Grandma!

And we needed a picture with Grandpa! Brandon wanted to be in this one, too.

After the performance pictures....

And one with me in it!

Brandon likes getting his picture taken, so here he is! It was a beautiful show! Afterward, we went for treats. It was after 10pm, so we could only find Applebee's open. It was a fun time and we laughed about Sydney's description of the magician the ballet school hires to entertain the girls when they aren't on stage. Good times!

Ballet Rehearsal-Sydney

Sydney's rehearsal....her teacher this year was Circe. Sydney is in the line closest to the camera right in front.

Sydney's rehearsal was on Tuesday. We were like 3 minutes late and so Sydney didn't get a crown for the rehearsal. But, it's easier to pick her out this way. She was mad at me because this girl does not like to be later. I was trying to teach as many piano lessons as I could before running her up there, so we just do the best we can.

Sydney's dance was Princess and the Frog inspired. The little green tutus are the frogs and you can see that Sydney's group are princesses.

After they 'kiss' a frog and it turns into a prince, the original song talks about how a handsome young prince will come and steal away your little princess's heart....yes, I cried. They did follow this little boy around the stage and made sighing sounds. It was cute!

Sydney in a fantastic love-struck pose!

Sydney and her friend, Gracie, were near each other the whole dance!

Sydney kneeling right in the middle. Gracie is kneeling...another bff is Abby who is facing the camera with her arms up.

I love to see how graceful our girls have become through ballet!

The girls had another rehearsal later that night. Parents are not allowed at this one, so we organized carpools to and from. I took a carload up. As the clock ticked about 10:30pm and our little princesses weren't home, I was getting a little nervous. Just then, the mom who was driving home called and said the practice ran really late and they were on their way!

The extra long practice was worth it, though, as the performances were beautiful!

Ballet Week-Amanda rehearsal

Clytie Adams School of Ballet: It's recital week! It's pretty much everything ballet that week! Amanda's rehearsal/staging was on Monday. This is when parents can watch, take pictures and film video. None of that is allowed during the actual performance. Our first recital experience with the 'rules' seemed pretty strict, but now we understand that it makes a much nicer experience as we watch our beautiful ballet girls. Amanda's jazz performance was a 'yell for your dancer, whoop and holler, and take pictures' and it was harder to enjoy.....

Anyway, this year's recital theme was Fairytales and Folklore. There were original songs written for the dances and we also had our live orchestra again!

Amanda's dance was the very last during the performance. She was a Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. (She is right side of 2 dancers up front)...

Here is Amanda's group getting instruction from their teacher, Sarah (in white t-shirt). Sarah is Clytie's daughter and is taking over the studio. She is AWESOME! Both girls have had the opportunity to be in her class and they love Sarah!

Although out of focus, I like these pictures :) Kind of fairyish

Beautiful dance! It was so fun to watch what a beautiful dancer Amanda has become!