Tuesday, October 1, 2013

PART ONE: Lake Powell Houseboat Adventures 2013

This is part 1 of a 2 part series.  PART TWO here.

Houseboating on Lake Powell is our entire family's favorite recreation and vacation!  It is, hand's down, unanimously our TOP favorite.  

To see our past Lake Powell vacations check here and here! 


Later this week I will be sharing more about the unique, breathtaking beauty of Lake Powell but today I want to show a "photobook" of our recreation and fun on the shores of Powell!  


We had many PICTURE MOMENTS...


We are blessed beyond measure.  A giant thank you to our dear, generous, special friends and hosts, Hans and Kathy!  

Hans makes us smile lol



We spent our days guiding our houseboat home through gorgeous waters and relaxing on exciting beaches.

All the boys took turns driving!


Chris and Guy made music for all of us as we floated up the lake.


Our houseboat at one of our camps!

For a lake workout, I swam across the lake to the big rockpile! I was excited!



Rock adventures!

 

Time to explore...


And time to play!






Houseboat sliding...


Stand Up paddleboarding was a hit!


The boys soaked up lots of seconds under the sun fishing with Brian. 

Thank you Brian! 


These boys were casting at early morning and at dark night!


Even fishing on paddleboards!







Steak Dinner!


With Hans' famous beer can potatoes.  Delicious.




And breakfast fuel!  The fruit kebobs are a Lake Powell tradition.





Lake Powell nights are magic,
sleeping under the stars and throwing parties in the silent desert.

We took night dips into the dark water under the full moon's light. It was so much fun! 

Campfire time in the dark with bare toes in the soft sand.  
Flames jumping into the dark 
and guitar music echoing against the canyon walls.  
Heaven stuff.






The guys were total guys and made an INSANE campfire with magnesium!  *Don't try this at home. ;)

Magnesium fires are extra bright...so bright you need to wear sunnies and you can't stare directly at it.  

Chris went all caveman on us for a couple hours with this fire...
You can see that when the fire erupted we vacated our chill chairs by the fire and left them all empty lol.



Magnesium fires create this thunderously HUGE BRIGHT light that lights up the dark!  These photos of us all were NOT with a camera flash!  They are the fire's flash.  Yikes.

Bright light contrasted with the deep dark!






Both days and nights were a chorus of adventure and peace.
We celebrated life at Lake Powell,
the vast canvas of  
God's minimalist and modern art.


Sun shining
Moon beaming
Stars sparkling
Heaven's amenities for our pleasure. 


Check back later this week for PART TWO of Lake Powell Adventures!


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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 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

PART TWO: Kicking mud at the Warrior Dash Race 2013, Copper Mountain, Colorado!


This is part 2 of a two part blog series.  Please see part 1 for more details. 

Yesterday I shared all the fun details about our weekend away with our 970 Muscle team: the good meals, fun recreation, and gorgeous lodging!   I have wanted to run a Warrior Dash for a few years and was finally able to put a jumbo checkmark next to it on my wishlist!


Our team, 970 Muscle, ready to run!

The Warrior Dash at Copper Mountain, Colorado, was 3 miles with 12 obstacles.  The obstacles included crawling under barbed wire, climbing over high walls, rope climbing, jumping over fire, swimming in mud, and a few more lovely things like that. 




Getting ready...


Talented teammate Lacie braiding my hair tight to my head before the race.


 My giant fear was that my hair would get tangled up in barbed wire.  Lacie pretty much saved my life with this braid.



Our amazing 970 Muscle Team


Our team is supportive, energetic, full of life,
ready to face challenges, and zeroed in on positivity.


Our men





Us


the girls





Experiencing this race as a big TEAM was without a doubt, what made this event PERFECT!  I am extra thankful for the quality people in our life.  Our trainer, Derek, shares my exact life values of living a life of gratitude and celebrating positive life moments.  Thank you Derek for making this happen and for bringing us together.  

I have shared a bit about 970 Muscle and Derek on my lil blog before:





Okay...back to mountains and mud and races.

Climbing, climbing up the mountain!  Colorado people are kinda cool.  ;) We deal with high elevation and thin air.

We were racing at 10,000 ft!



Fire!
These fire photos are courtesy of Jonathan Hobbs


Chris being Chris. 
Why jump over the fire when you could stomp on it?




These boys get too excited about fire.
Derek even did body squats right over the open flames. 




Baptized by mud!
Mud photos courtesy of Jonathan Hobbs




Climbing up cargo nets...
we worked together, as a team,
the entire time,
ensuring everyone completed each obstacle successfully.



This is my triumph-tongue-out-I-made-it-to-the-top look 


Giving my warrior cry!



Finish line coming up!



We did it!

 










Accomplishments are exciting gifts we get to tear open with racing hearts.  
Those gifts of accomplishments
 are always there, 
waiting for us to make them happen.




Muddy us
together.





This was a weekend celebrating the beauty of Colorado, 
with our capable bodies
and treasured friends.

It was a series of beautiful moments,
pressed together into a couple of memorable days,
moments of depth,
times of real connection, 
of support and teamwork,
with strong hearts and willing spirits.

I am quite sure we all collectively agree that our team won't forget this weekend of life lived in action. 



Most of these photos are courtesy of Jonathan Hobbs Photography.  Thank you Jonathan!
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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