We share a week on a houseboat with our friends. Our two families LOVE Lake Powell and we were so grateful when a week came up on their parent’s houseboat that we could share. We don’t live in the same neighborhood anymore…so catching up over the week is an added bonus.
Our week is in late August. Unfortunately, this year it landed over Kate’s college freshman orientation. She wasn’t able to make it at all. Ellie, Sam, Jake, Biz and Frankie had to leave a few days early so they could attend the first days of school. Sophie wasn’t worried at all about missing any school- Sophie, Gib and their Sam stayed for the full week!
I’m convinced that no matter where you are on the lake-there is a gorgeous view surrounding you. I love that our families LOVE the water and boating. I am a fair weather…jump in the water person. This year-it was warm (high 80s most of the time) and the water temp was perfect…so I jumped in every day. I even got up wake surfing for the first time!
(right) Gib mastering a 360! I loved all of these “kids” cheering him on and weighing down one side of the boat to give him the wake he wanted.
On Sundays we jump in one of our boats and take a Sunday drive. We traveled the San Juan river. It was beautiful and it was the first time for all of us. Because the water is so low, we were stopped 30 miles shorter than the map charted. We love exploring the amazing canyons Lake Powell offers! With the water lower, we were able to see sunken boats that had been there for years…and exposed land previously covered.
We also love that almost all of our time there is spent outside-we even sleep outside, under the stars, on top of the boat. With little cellphone and wifi service, it is a true escape!
It takes a few hours to drive the houseboat back to the marina. As we traveled, Heidi and I took stock of what we need to replenish in our “houseboat bins” and decided the menu and food quantities for next year, based on how it went this year. I loved doing that while it was fresh on our minds.
Here is our plan for 6 days…eating at Stan’s for lunch on our way there and our way home.:
BREAKFAST
ham, egg & cheese croissant: scrambled eggs, sliced ham, sliced cheese & fruit
egg, sausage & english muffin sandwich: fried egg, English muffins, sliced cheese & watermelon
fried eggs and pancakes: eggs, pancake mix, syrups, bananas, candied nuts, peanut butter, Nutella & whipped cream
breakfast burritos: tortillas, eggs, hash browns, sausage, spinach, black beans, green salsa, shredded cheese & sour cream
french toast/bacon: brioche bread, maple syrup, whipped cream, blackberries, peaches, thick cut bacon & eggs
LUNCH
chicken salad sandwich: chicken, celery, grapes, mayo, sprouts, croissants, chips, baby carrots & watermelon
hot dog/brats: hot dogs, brats, buns, mustard, ketchup, J dawg sauce, red onion, pickles, relish, potato salad & chips
wedge salad with flank steak: romaine lettuce, bacon, grape tomatoes, blue cheese, bacon, croutons, red onion & blue cheese dressing
turkey, salami, crackers & cheese: sliced turkey, salami, crackers, sliced cheese, grapes, bread, mayo, mustard, lettuce, pickles & cookies
buffalo chicken salad: chicken nuggets (1 bag), romaine, crumbled blue cheese, Heidi’s blue cheese dressing, sliced almonds, buffalo sauce (primal kitchen) , celery, red onion & grape tomatoes
DINNER
chicken rice bowls: chicken thighs, rice, celery, carrots, cilantro, jalapeño, crispy noodle, peppers, red onion, & sauce
pizza: naan bread, Raos sauce, garlic butter, mushrooms, pepperoni, sausage, peppers, red onion, olives, pineapple, mozzarella, parmigiana, red pepper flakes, & spinach
hamburgers: ground beef, buns, sliced cheese, bacon, blue cheese, mushrooms, mayo, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, red onion, horseradish, & fries? (frozen)
spaghetti & meatballs: spaghetti noodles, leftover meatballs & sausage, butter, Raos sauce, parmigiana, asparagus, & french bread
grilled pastrami cheese: sourdough bread (2 reg 2 cracked wheat), sliced cheese, sliced pastrami, sauerkraut, pickles, pepper jelly, tomato, arugula (1 bag), butter, mayo, mustard, green apples, potato chips & jalapeño dip
meatball subs/spaghetti factory salad: hoagie rolls, RAO’s sauce, meatballs, parmesan, bagged salad mix, croutons, provolone cheese & creamy pesto dressing
flank steak burritos/tacos: flank steak, seasoning, romaine lettuce 1/2 pkg, corn, cilantro dressing, refried beans, shredded cheese, corn dip, crispy jalapeños , flour/quinoa/corn tortillas, sour cream, hot sauce, green salsa, buttermilk, jalapeño dip & TJ enchilada sauce
drinks: Bubbly, Gatorade, Bai, Bunderburg, Diet Dr Pepper, water & Ice
See you next year Lake Powell! I promise to take more photos!
One response to “our favorite home away from home: Lake Powell (Bullfrog)”
I love that your family has these joyful opportunities for friendshipping and recreation. It is pleasing to learn of your children’s accomplishments. I love your family so much. I sent birthday greetings to your brother Mike, this morning. He responded graciously. I have returned to California, from Nicaragua, and will be settling into a seniors independent living apartment complex, in Modesto. I want to be part of the temple building process there. Unfortunately, the political climate in Nicaragua is delaying the temple construction there. (Nicaragua’s president just declared the Pope a dictator and the Catholic church an evil dictatorship. So, religious liberty is on the wane there.) Please express my love to your Mom. She is my last living aunt, I think. I’m not sure if Ikjku (Coco) is still living. Jimmy has passed on, I know. Stacia recently learned she is pregnant (at 45 years, when she thought she was “menopausal”). Here due date is Valentines Day (Clinton’s 50th birthday). Much love to you and Danny. I’m looking forward to General Conference this weekend.