Shipp Family Reunion at Lake Powell 2013

The Shipp Family Reunion was, by popular demand, at Lake Powell again this year.  We reserved the biggest houseboat available at Wahweap Marina to accommodate all 29 of us and rented two wave runners, brought three ski boats from Boise and Henderson and lots of gas money!  While Grampa steered the houseboat down the channel for hours the ski boaters raced ahead to find us a beach spot up in Last Chance Canyon....the best spot we've ever had!  Ever!

 

 

The picture above is obviously of our darling bathing beauties lined up shortest to tallest...though it doesn't look like we got it quite right.  Our Sophie, who is the tallest, is our fourth grandchild.  Tall parents = tall daughter.  Left to right - Ava, Abby, Olivia (soon to be our granddaughter when Tara Newhouse and Michael are married in 12 days! Her sister, Kenna, did not come to Lake Powell this time), Lily, Kate, Sadie, Ellie, Hannah and Sophie. 

 

And our adorable grandsons sitting in one of several holes they dug in the sand that week.  How to identify them in this pose?  Well, oldest to youngest goes like this:  Miles, Mason, Tyler, William, Weston, Zachary, Parker, Henry, Austin and Charlie.  Love these boys!

Gramma brought games and crafts including the moustache and lips Tootsie Roll Pops, "We Are Family" tee shirts to decorate, friendship bracket supplies, braided fabric headbands and "Shipp Family Songbooks" and playlist. Mindy brought supplies for parachute rope bracelets (seen on boys) that were a hit!   We all took turns preparing meals which made it easy for all.  Smooth!

Tara snapped LOTS of pictures that I have not yet accessed to my computer, but here are a few  favorites from my camera.  Cutie pies Hannah and Sadie  (above)

 Will, Mason, Weston and Tyler (his baseball all-star team all bleached their hair for the tournament...growing out by school start)  awaiting crazy Uncle Adam giving them a good wave from the wave runner and trying to maintain their balance.

 

 

Lily, Ava, Abby and Livy working on one of the beach holes (hot tubs).

 Uncle Adam sending waves onto the beach...he can be crazy, the kids loved it!

A few cute pictures from Instagram...don't know how to crop off header without cropping off side people.  Edit later.

(Henry, Will, Parker, Miles and Zach)

(Kate, Ellie, Olivia, Sadie, Hannah, Abby, Ava and Sophie.

 



 

Mason jumps off a cliff while Gramma watches after jumping herself.

 

 

Have to include one of our Charlie with one of his cheesiest smiles.  So adorable and lovable.

 

 

On the last day we posed for family pictures, though by day six the guys were pretty scruffy, Grampa being the only one who shaved.  A timed entire family picture was taken on Ryan and Julie's camera and I'll include that when I receive it. 

 

Adam and Steph's beautiful family

(Hannah, Ellie, Kate, Zach and Abby)

 





 



 

 Mindy and David's adorable crew

(Sadie, Miles, William, Weston, Henry, Charlie)

 

 

Ryan and Julie's fabulous four

(Sophie, Tyler, Lily, Austin)

 

And Michael and Tara (soon to be wed on August 16th) with four of their five adorable children.

(Mason, Parker, Kenna [at home with Grandma], Olivia, Ava)

 

 

It was a great trip all around, though we all agreed it was an over the top expensive family vacation.  It's the first year that no "little people" under three were left home. Everyone had fun surfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, cliff jumping, swimming in the warm Lake Powell water, sleeping under the stars, laughing and more laughing, riding the wave runners,  exploring, playing Jeopardy, singing songs and chants, watching Tara's surprise nose waxing of Bill, playing games, Fernando's stories at bedtime, but best of all, being together!!!!!