This last Memorial Day weekend I was lucky enough to tag along with the Paulsen family to beautiful Lake Powell.  We left on Saturday around 7:00-ish and began our long journey down south.  Isaac and I rode dow with his parents in the truck.  We stopped off in Kanab to make some lunch and then were quickly back on the road again.  

We arrived in Page in the afternoon and waited around the Marriot until our rooms were ready.  All the kids were very excited and eagerly waiting for the vacation to begin.  While waiting we played a little frisbee with none other than the Aerobe Flyer and goofed around with the kottlers.

After our rooms were ready and we finished unpacking, some of us went to go put the boat in at the marina.  We then got the boat in and headed back to the Marriott for some delicious pizza.  Shortly after Isaac and I headed to the pool.  It was a bit chilly outside so we hopped right into the hot tub with Emma and Ethan.  

That night Abbey and I headed to our room with Adriane, Mike, and there kids.  Mike and Adriane were so nice to let me squeeze in with them, it was very nice having a bed to sleep on. Sunday morning came around and it was time for church!  It was the craziest thing, when we walked into the chapel we sat right in front of the Lundbergs, a wonderful family in my home ward.

After church Annette (Isaac's Mom) had prepared a wonderful lunch for us all and we were off to our next adventure...THE DAM TOUR!   And what a tour it was!  

Stewart (Isaac's Dad) reserved a private tour at the Dam Visitor's center for all twenty of us!  That's right there were 20!  We learned so many crazy and interesting things on the tour.  We were able to walk on top of  the Dam and also go down it on the elevator.  Walking on the top was beautiful, but also a bit scary when you looked over the edge.  Little Ben (Amy and Josh's little boy) was fearless and looked like he wanted to jump right off!  The Dam tour guide was great and I learned so many great and interesting things. 

 

Isaac was so silly, but that's why I love him!  I have to say, my favorite part of the Dam tour was my Special Friend also known as Jane (Amy and Josh's little girl).  We instantly became friends on the tour and remained friends the rest of the trip.   

Memorial Day had finally come and it was time for the big excursion to the wonderful, the beautiful, RAINBOW BRIDGE!

Stewart was so nice and rented two boats so that everyone could go together to Rainbow Bridge.  We all met at the marina.  Isaac and i went with Adriane, Mike, Audrey, and McKala.  The kids were a bit hesitant about the boat it seemed, but they soon got the hang of it.  McKala even got her own little seat.  Isaac on the other hand was not hesitant at all and got real comfortable.  

On the way over we made a couple pit stops, one of which was at Dangling Rope!  We had some lunch their that Annette had put together and then we got some ice cream...and oh was it was quite delicious.  

As we left Dangling Rope it started to get a bit windy, so we rushed over to our destination.  We finally got to the canyon and then we arrived!  It was just a short hike up to the bridge, Ben had fun picking up swords...aka sticks and finding buried treasure...but not just any buried treasure, PIRATE TREASURE!  We had finally arrived at the beautiful Rainbow bridge! 

Isaac was ready to go!

As we were up there taking pictures, we saw a big strike of lightning and just seconds after heard thunder...it was time to leave, but luckily we got some good pictures.

This wonderful picture was brought to you by a young photographer named Jane...my special friend.  I think she's got some real genuine talent!

Cute little Ray-O was definitely enjoying himself.

 

As we were leaving there was a tour boat leaving as well, he tolds us all to just follow the boat and ride its wake, this was very nice because it was very windy at this point and VERY wavy.  We started to leave and it was still a very bumpy ride so we transported all the kids in the Cobalt and Annette came in the rental boat with Adriane, Mike, Isaac, and I.  It began to rain, and by rain I mean poor!  We were SOAKED!  But it all made great memories.  We all made it back safe with only a few bumps and bruises along the way.  That night I think we all slept very well.

The next morning we went out water skiing.  Isaac's family is very talented in the water.  Kera, Isaac's sister, who is pregnant, got up with no trouble at all and had some real nice cuts.  She even skied on one foot and held onto the rope with her other foot!  NO HANDS!  It was amazing!  Adriane also went skiing and got up real fast after not having skied for a long time, I was lucky I got up on my second try haaa, even though I had skied a few days before.  It was so much fun though.  There is nothing like the first or second ski of the season.  I love that shaky feeling in my arms and legs afterwords.  As I was out on the water I was feeling a bit gutsy and I guess got the good cuts in.  It was so much fun! 

The best part I think though, was watching Isaac wakeboard.  Boy is he talented!  And this was just him warming up!

Ya, he's a babe.

So later that day everyone decided to find a beach to just lounge around at, so Isaac and I went to go get the boat and bring it over.  It was so much fun, tubing, building sandcastles, lounging around at the beach, and the weather couldn't have been better.

The Paulsen clan at the beach.

Fun tubing tricks with Jane, Abby, and Emma!  They were all so brave and stood up!

And we made the most AMAZING...UNIQUE...MOST INCREDIBLE Sand Castle.  But we wouldn't have been able to do it with out the wonderful help of my special friend and the treasure hunter Ben!

Two great architects at work.

The whole designing crew.

It was so much fun getting to know Isaac's family better.  The Paulsens are incredible people and they were all so nice to let me tag along.  It was definitely a trip to remember!