Boating...

(Shandra posing with all the kids)

A fun filled day of boating deserves a tribute to Amanda...Let me introduce you to her. (Sorry I didn't take your picture!) She is my dear friend, who can drive a truck with a boat, back up a truck with a boat on it, she's totally cool...need I say more? Oh, and let's just say she has WILD and CRAZY ideas when it comes to FUN and being spontaneous. For all these reasons (and so many more) this is why she is my friend! So after a fun Saturday filled with SUN and BOATING with just women and no kids, we decided to go back out on Monday with all the kids. Three Moms and 10 kids set out for a day filled with fun and boating...even though it was windy, a dead battery, a broken air pump, etc. We did have success, no injuries and SO much fun. I loved it and so did my kiddos!!!

Alayna, even attempted to knee board. She did great. I would start out on the board to stabilize her but then I would let go and they would go around and around. I was so proud of her! At first she was afraid and she chickened-out and stayed on the boat after I had jumped in...I was NOT happy about this (did I mention this was in Utah Lake (yuck)...anyways, I yelled up to her that she will have to do the dishes for me because she didn't knee board. Finally, after she decided to hop in and try knee boarding after I had done it by myself she gave it a shot. She LOVED it! She was having so much fun. When her turn was over she looked straight at me with a BIG smile on her face and said, "Now, I don't have to do the dishes!"

Let's just say that the reaction from the kids was WAY BETTER than Christmas morning! Seriously, the older KIDS LOVED IT! The very next morning Jake and Alayna said, "Mom, I think I'm going to ask Santa for a boat." Then I said, "Well, Alayna you better ask Santa for a truck and trailer to pull the boat!" They smiled but didn't get my sarcasm.

Here's to show that Caleb smiled for a brief moment...Oh, how I will totally PAY REAL LIVE MONEY for a babysitter next time!

Oh, let me introduce you to Mr. Grumpy. When I got home and told Jared about our fun adventurous from boating that day, I said "Caleb cried the whole time." Jared said, "You mean some of the day." I responded, "Oh, no. I picked my words carefully...the WHOLE day!" Oh, this age did not enjoy the boat ride. Seriously, he needed his 12 hours of sleep and his crib. By the time we returned home for dinner, his eyes were bloodshot red and puffy. He was one tired kid. Sorry little buddy, next time you will stay home and sleep the day away! :)