Navajo Lake

On our last full day in Utah, we decided to stay close to our cabin and visited Navajo Lake. I remember someone saying something about not "hauling this canoe down here for nothing", so I guess we needed an excuse to use it. A lake seemed like a good enough reason!

Cousin Michelle and Paul (Captian Paul to YOU) were brave enough to take M on her first canoe ride.

After she saw the water, no one could keep M from it.

The "launch"

The "I'm ready to go" thumbs up

This is about as far out as they went, at which point M declared that there were no fish  in the lake and therefor they could go back in. 

The canoe trip (that I watched from the banks, nice and dry, thankyouverymuch) was a total success as far as I'm concerned. M actually followed directions and sat in the middle the whole time and no one needed to use their life vests. Everyone made it back for a picnic, where we taught M to spit watermelon seeds.

Earlier in the day we had to say goodbye to our kin from the east. Paul and Aunt Vicki tried to do it in style by writing and performing a song to send them off with. I am demanding that this type of thing happen at every family gathering now. You're welcome.

And with that we started packing our bags for the long drive home!

We woke up early the next day and said our goodbyes. We stopped for coffee and snacks and made it home in about 13 hours including the time it took to rescue the precious "Sleepy Owl" we left in Ely days before. 

It was a great trip and built our confidence that we could do another "family" road trip in the future. 

Even if by "family" we mean Mimi and I and the kids, oh.. 

..and our parents... 

and... lots of snacks, LOTS of snacks..

and wet wipes...