Granpda will you take us tubing??

A favorite past-time for the grandkids is riding the big tubes together. I wish I had photos of my older brothers tubing when they were teenagers - they were truly talented and took a severe beating every time they got on the tube and challenged Jason to 'just try' and dump me off. Oh good times. :) The joke being 'I'll take you for a nice easy ride'......

When the water gets rough and the clouds cover the sun, the skiers leave the boats and the tubers emerge. I spent most of my time being a spotter in the boat to help my dad manage the 12 younger grandkids who suddenly all wanted to go at the same time. 

Tanner, Rachel and Liz wanted to go first for a nice easy ride - please don't dump us off. (what is the point then??)

 They were like popcorn popping back there - one up, then the other, feet up then down - too funny. That tube is hard to flip because it's so big.

 Connor - my nephew's son.

 These 3 really did want a nice easy ride - seriously. Lea, Calla, Tyler. Lea's on there - the pictures tell it all of how much her and Grandpa's idea of a 'nice easy ride' differ.

 the sign for slow down is a thumbs down.....

 the look.

 there's the look again.

 another group ready for a nice easy ride - waiting for the good fun to happen and trying not to get motion sickness as I hold the camera up to my eye for pictures. Lucas, Tanner, Ryan

  Lucas is a smidge nervous and I think Tanner is holding on to the back of Luke's lifejacket.

 phew. survived.

 More easy rides now with Abbey and Conner (Liz and Rachel)

 holding on for dear life - 10 mph

 Okay last round - Grandpa, bet you can't tip us over. Okay, get on. Liz, Rachel and Tanner back for round 2 and it's game on.  Aunt Alison - try to get a picture of the bottom of the tube....okay....

 Turns out we managed to do both - flip the tube that's not easy to flip and get a lovely picture of the bottom of the tube - HO brand.

Rachel, Tanner and can you see Lizzie's head as she enters the water??

 quote: 'THAT WAS AWESOME!'

Last riders going back to the dock with words of advice from Abbey - Grandpa don't get us wet.

 We slow down to take some good pictures of the down trees - lakeside view.

 We look back to see the boys laughing, Abbey screaming, and Lea giving the sign to stop (cut-it). We had slowed down too much and the front of the tube had dipped into the water - doing the one thing Abbey specifically said not to do - Get her wet.

 Grandpa found himself moved to the very top of a short list of 'you're not my favorite right now'

Even being bribed with ice cream didn't work unless I went with her.....she got over it.

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.