Typical Monday

Since we don't ski on Sunday or do any other water-related activities, we eagerly anticipate Monday morning bright and early for the first ski. 6 am....I take the 8 am shift and this time it started to rain so we head back to the dock. Skiing in the rain is not as much fun as it sounds - the rain hurts at 32 mph.... and the weather never really warmed up. For most of the day we dawned the sweatshirts and found other activities to pass the time until the sun came out.

I think the above picture is actually Sunday since my mom and dad were in church clothes.

Okay here we go - the sweatshirts and helping Grandpa make orange juice for breakfast.

Now take a picture of us together Aunt Alison - Shay.

Okay now me in front and leaning the same way as before.

Sure Shay - cute girls.

Somebody finally braves the cold air and we go for a boat ride in Uncle Ryan's boat.

Tanner, Steve, Trenton, Camron(lifejacket), Dallin, Calla

Cam got some great air

We rocked out to 'Call me, maybe'

I love a good sing-a-long.
Next it was Dallin's turn to wakeboard:

 I stopped taking pictures because I thought he was up......

 he crashed - Calla holding the flag up.

We chatted just like the old days - Jim and my dad

We raced the babies down the street - I think Mo is the clear winner in this race.

 We started a 'quilting/crafting club'

Paige is learning the fine art of 'Tying a quilt' with Nana and Stephanie to guide her

 

 I handed off a project to Shayla from Kristin to make my mom a lava lava.

Margaret crocheting a beautiful blanket out of the softest yarn I've ever felt.

The boys were less than interested and found food to pass the time. Mo could often be found on Dallin's lap - eating.

My mom's friend Betty made a mad dash to join the quilting club, but they had already finished it - I bet she could have beat Mo down the street. :) She and my mom have been quilting friends as long as I can remember.

What's not to love about this face on Monday morning?? :)

Blessings

 Sundays at the lake we have church - this year they waited for everyone to arrive and church was at 2pm. It's honestly the most peaceful and beautiful experience to have church outside. I did have to 'go home' - about 100 feet to the cabin to the 'mother's lounge' and change Mo. I feel the Spirit instantly as we gather to sing hymns and share testimony of our Savior, His gospel, and the beautiful things of the earth. This year it was to one of gratitude to give thanks for sparing lives and destruction of the resort during the microburst. No one was hurt and it was truly amazing that noone was.

This week would turn out to be one of the most unexpected years we've ever had - from the way it started to the very end. A testament of God's power and love for his people no matter their religion or place in life - He is there, He is real and had the events of the week been any different - there is always, ALWAYS, something to be grateful for - a silver lining in every situation.

 This tree fell on the truck of the person in the cabin (green roof) to the left - there were only scratches on the roof of the truck. Wow.

 To the left as you drive into the resort there are trailers, mobile homes, etc. These are owned vacation homes. One lady we saw comes up the same week as us every year and was now spending her vacation cleaning up - her cabin was spared - the one next door was totaled.

 They made quick work of the clean up - I was very impressed with how quickly, safely, and efficiently they cleaned everything up.

 the below picture is the other side of the one above with the tree in it

 this was the cabin next to the one the Nelsons were to stay in - their cabin was fine, but this one had downed power lines and a missing roof.

 beautiful creatures

  a peaceful view of the water

 Liz, Abbey, Shay, Rachel, Lea headed back to the part of the resort we rent for the week. Water is to the left, store/laundry and entrance to the right.

 This is the same view from my parents cabin porch - the trees were already been cleared. More to come as we watch the massive tractors (I'm sure there are other names for them) come in and take care of a tree to the right that was being propped up for the moment.

Sunday drive

 Rearranging the vehicles, dropping off cars for family and rearranging passengers, we finally head out of Richland to Twin Lakes to make it in time for Church. I started out the journey with Aubrey, Ammon and one mad little Abbey. Lea and Lucas went with my dad, Dallin, Calla and Lizzie. I had to keep Abbey because of her carseat otherwise she could have gone too. We followed my mom and Kristin to the Spokane airport to drop off a car for Jonathan as he was flying in and needed a way to get anywhere from the airport. We made it 1hour and 45 minutes into the drive before Abbey finally spoke up and said 'Mom, look water.' We were passing some lake on the way to Spokane. She ignored Aubrey the entire time, covered her head with a blanket, stared out the window - anything to make Aubrey disappear. Mo slept.

 My mom and Kristin came with us and I sat by Mo while Kristin drove and my mom navigated. Finally made it to the Gifford Ferry - left Mo to slumber in the van and got out to take the token Ferry pictures.

 A beautiful church

 she finally warmed up to Aubrey and I tried to take a decent photo.....

 Mo woke up less than thrilled to still be in the car.