Paradise Powell

If camping is no vacation for moms, then staying on a houseboat is no vacation for dads! When we went down to Lake Powell this weekend, poor Eric had his work cut out for him: he spent the first day disinfecting the bacteria-laden water system, servicing the jet skis, and repairing the electrical system. See him at work testing the water: Michael, worried that Eric was so often out of sight, would walk around calling out "Daddy-o, Daddy-0, Daddy-o!" until he found him (I don't know where Mike picked up this nickname for Eric, but he uses it exclusively: not Dad or Daddy, just Daddy-o). Eventually the boat was in running order, and we spent a few glorious days enjoying the lake. My mom and sister were even able to come, making it a particularly special trip.

We loved these:

1. Kayaking! The boys and I zipped around in this little beauty, even giving Aunt Kim a scare when we totally almost beat her in a race.

2. Sandcastle-building! My mom helped the boys make this intricate tunnel/dam/reservoir/waterfall system. The boys could poke around all day in the sand, digging and finding little treasures. Once Zachary, upon finding something special, turned to Eric and said, "This egg-shaped rock could really make a guy happy." Apparently, it had.

3. Jet-skiing! Because it's early in the season, there were only a few boaters out and we could really rip up the water.

4. Hanging out! Once I noticed Jacob holding a rope off the end of the boat calling, "Zachary, come here! I need you to help me lasso this fish!" After several failed attempts, the boys decided to feed the fish crackers instead.

These memories make family trips worth the effort, even for a husband who's too handy for his own good. So thanks, Eric, for making this a paradise Powell weekend. Sure love ya.

P.S. On the way home we stopped by Goblin Valley State Park, where we climbed and ran among the creatures. It was a perfect way to shake off the road trip restlessness and definitely worth the detour.