Coming HOME to Lake Powell to PLAY: annual houseboat vacation PART TWO

This is Part 2 of a two part blog series.  
Please see here for Part 1.

Yesterday I shared clips and minutes of our annual Lake Powell trip.  Chris and I were born and raised at incredible Lake Powell and it's our hearts' desire to show our kids the exciting life on the lake.  Each year we are blessed to have the chance to bring them home.

Carrying on from yesterday's lake stories:

Chris and Titus talk in the stillness of the evening.

At night we build fires on the beach, Chris and Guy play beautiful guitar songs, we sing, and just hang.   

S'mores are always fun but this year I also packed stuff to make sweet stuffed bananas.  They are SO GOOD!  I shared a how to on how to make them in a past camping food snack blog post. 

Foil-wrapped banana goodness in the fire.

Mmmmm

Chris loves fire.  He turns into this excited kid when he builds a fire.  It fascinates him for hours.  Last year he brought magnesium along to make our fire light up the world.  He did it again this year.  These magnesium fires are legit!!  Once Chris has it all worked out, these fires light up the entire beach! It is incredible to see and so much fun.  You can tell by these photos that we are lit up as if staring at a camera flash...but no, it's just a crazy fire. ;)

Kathy and Titus

My babe and me

Nighttime on the lake is some of my most loved memories.  It is magic.  Black magic with the biggest twinkling star show you've ever seen.  We sleep on the top deck of the houseboat, outside, right beneath the stairs.  The view leaves me breathless always.  I can't take my eyes off of the vast sky.  God is fancy!  His work leaves me in awe. 

This is the first year our entire family 5 slept up on the deck.  I treasure these memories and loved every second!  We pull mattresses up, load up on blankets and settle in for our star dreams.

The sun pushes upward, 

breathing a new day into this vast land of peace.  

Sunrise on Lake Powell is a gift. 

 This non-morning girl wakes up early every day I'm here to experience it! 

I quietly sneak away and dip my paddle into the soft water in early morning.

Our camp circle in the early morning light.

Each year I make homemade muffins to start our day.

Hans and Guy whip up some 

delicious hot breakfasts for us in the mornings!

Then it's..."hello beautiful world, let's play!".

So we get to it!

The still lake quickly turns into a giant outdoor playground.

My hot man of the family

family five

I didn't get any photos, but I had the chance to water ski on Lake Powell again.  This has been a wish and desire of mine for a long time!  It makes me cry and swell with so much emotion.  I spent my life waterskiing over these waves.  I traveled a great journey and made a full circle back.  I thank God for my body and the opportunity to use it in the ways that delight my spirit!  Water skiing here again was actually on my after 30 bucket list!

Ready to ski!

My heart is full 

and I can't ask for more.

Here I am!

At home...

ready to ski again!

The boys had lots of playtime on the water too

Kotah on his wakeboard!  He is a water boy, like his mama.

We had a jet ski lake party for his birthday this year too!

Titus tears it up on a kneeboard!

Lots of paddle boarding adventures too...

The show off in me...

Go, go, go

all day long!

Beach play.  

I have countless memories on these beaches building sand towns and using my imagination all day long.  It makes me smile wide inside watching my boys do the same thing.

My sun kissed angel.

I love him so much, it hurts.

And always more exploring...

Our fun in the sun changes to indoor houseboat play when we pull anchors to move to a different beach.

Lots of games were played!

Poker Face!

Our amazing friend Kathy always brings the boys special surprises that encompass learning.  I so appreciate this about her!  This year, she brought owl dissecting kits for the boys to learn with.  

A BIG thank you to Hans and Kathy for your generous hearts.  We treasure this vacation and love you both!   You color our lives!

Our time in this land always ends too soon and it's time for the Moore family to pack it up and turn the boat back.

Thank you Chris-foot-through-the-floor-Moore

for making all of my dreams come true,

every damn day.  

How do you do it?

I am always grateful.

Love you like crazy.

This moment is over...

...and tomorrow may never come.

So, I'll keenly and passionately remember these days.

...longing for them to never end.  

But when they do,

it will be

okay.

Because, I have these moments lining my heart

layers and layers of memories

insulating my soul within

delivering me a promise that some things can never be taken away.

So we'll keep making moments,

gathering them in our hearts.

Until the fullness overflows.

And even when it does,

we won't ever stop creating the beauty 

that draws us to the people and places

that have our hearts.

This is the final post of a two part blog series.  Please see here for PART 1.

Annual Lake Powell Houseboat trip archive:

Who Says You Can't Go Home 

Family Vacation TIPS plus Lake Powell Vacation

2013 Houseboat Vacation part ONE

2013 Playful Peace under the SUN and STARS part TWO

*Many of these photos are compliments of my talented friend, Kathy.  Thank you!

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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Snap Creativity, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday