My family's favorite vacation is on a houseboat. We spent the last 4 summers at Trinity Lake in California, but since we are all Utah residents we decided to try out Lake Powell. These two lakes couldn't be more different, but both have their perks. We didn't get the glass water this year at Lake Powell, but we had beaches and Utah arches and bonfires! 

Either way, being on a boat is one of my favorite places to be. My family always makes such great memories with each other on the boat. There were 4 toddlers under the age of 3, yet we all made it out alive! ;) All in all, it was a success and we all had such a great time! 

And now for the photo overload...

The twins had their first bonfire. It was successful, except the twins did not get to touch the fire like they wanted.

My brother Jace and his wife Bella are a favorite amongst the kids. I mean, do you blame them?

This picture cracks me up. Clara has been terrified of men for a while. By the middle of the week Clara finally let Jace hold her and stayed "content" long enough for this picture, but that scowl!! Ha! However, by the end of the week she was flirting and smiling up a storm with him. Too bad they have now moved to Seattle. :( tears from us all. 

Max and his cousin Chandler having the time of their lives in the sand.

The best captain there ever was.

We "hiked" to Rainbow Bridge one day. It was amazing! Utah is rad.

Clara discovered cheetos. 

Max and his older cousin, Grayson. Buddies already!

The boat has this amazing ability to put babies to sleep. 

The scenery is pretty hard to beat.

Max was obsessed with the ramp that led in and out of the front door. That ramp and a few trucks occupied him for hours. I need a ramp in my house STAT. 

Clara's the only granddaughter on my side of the family (for now at least). Lucky girl!

Shenanigans

"twinlove" hits again!

Take me back, please?!

And this was our sunset on the last night. 

Thanks Lake Powell for an awesome week. We will be back!

The Fourth.

I really loved the 4th of July this year.

 I just felt super grateful all day for our freedom, the country we live in, the many amenities we take for granted, the beauty of my surroundings, all of it. I loved spending the day with my little family, and feel even more grateful that I was able to see both sides of our family in the same day. I know this is rare, and I cherish it. 

We started the day at the reservoir that is only 10 minutes away.

After naps we went to a park and then had a bbq with Russ's family.

We came home, put the youngins' to bed, and my family came over for a fun fireworks session in my very own neighborhood. Russ, me, Jace and Bella rode along the trail on our bikes in the dark and watched the fireworks explode overhead. It was magical. 

I love this country! God bless America!

U.S.S. Twindependence had it's successful maiden voyage that even put Max to sleep. 

We stopped at a park before dinner with Russ's family for some quick photos. I love these pictures, but I don't love the fact that Max's Contigo water bottle made it into every. single. one. Haha. Gotta love toddlers and the random objects they will not let go of at the most inopportune times!

I call this "twinlove." 

My little people!

"No you may NOT steal my water bottle, Clara!" 

Max is so incredibly patient with Clara ALWAYS being in his business. It's been this way since they were in my belly, and I'm guessing it will remain the same for life. She just has so much passion and excitement, and he is a calm and loving boy. It works out. 

San to the Diego

Russ's cousin Aly got married in San Diego (and what a gorgeous wedding that was!), so we decided to make a trip of it and stayed 3-4 extra days. We rented a little house close to the beach and spent our days taking it easy and doing whatever we wanted. The family time was just what we needed.

San Elijo Lagoon. Max was a fan. 

Hotel Del Coronado. Best beach ever! Someday I will stay in that beautiful hotel and not just bum off the perfectly manicured beach. 

Obivously Clara was also a fan (haha!!!). Should I be concerned she already knows how to post up on the beach like this?!?

Deep conversations in front of the hotel. 

Clara LOVED the beach. Loved loved loved it. She also loved getting in and out of the hole her and Russ built, but once Russ started putting sand back in the hole and "burying her" she made it known that she was no longer a fan. 

I have been told Clara has the perfect cartoon-style crying face. We have lots of these pictures. :)

If I had to push a stroller on the beach to get babies to sleep every day I would not be sad. 

This girl and her zebra melt my heart every day. Also, the humidity of San Diego made her hair even more amazing. (I seriously didn't comb it the whole time). 

This goofy, sweet boy also has my heart. 

Sand everywhere. Double Bob for the win. 

Max is a hardcore Daddy fan, but how could you not be?!

 

Water shoes left to dry. Not a bad life. 

Thank you San Diego for a great time. We will be back. 

Summer is here, and it's going to be good.

After a long morning of running errands with fussy babies, nap time is here and I should be productive and starting to pack for our road trip. Instead I'm choosing to procrastinate and update the blog with yet more pictures of my babies. 

Summer has hit in full force. I can already tell this summer is going to be so much fun, especially compared to last summer. I still had two small babies that couldn't do... well... anything. I'm loving that we are down to one nap and that Max and Clara love water, the park and the museum at Thanksgiving Point. I love being out with them and watching them experience the world. 

It seems lately that they are starting to play with each other a little better than they have in the past. When Max is sad Clara will bring his bear over to him, or when Clara is crying Max will bring her binkie and put it right in her mouth. Not every moment is idyllic, but I can tell they are little buddies. I love my babies.

This tether ball game was sooooooo intense. ;)

I love this cheesy boy's smile. He loves sliding down this tube on his belly. He chuckles every time.

Peek-a-boo!

This was Clara running to the playground with so much intensity and excitement she wiped out only seconds after the picture was taken and scraped her knee :(  She doesn't let life pass her by, that's for sure!

Clara found my longboard the other day and was in heaven scooting herself along the sidewalk.

Little boys in tank tops. My favorite.

Summer is here!

The Lewis Twin Piano Show

Obviously all kids love pianos - it's a loud and big piece of furniture and they can bang their little hearts out. Lately, however, they have both been loving sitting on the bench together and I'll hear them giggling and playing their little hearts out. It makes me so, so so happy. My dream is to have two little piano players that still love sitting together on the piano bench 10, 20 or 30 years down the road.

A mom can dream, right? 

This might be the silliest little face I've ever seen.