A journey that includes lakes

So we actually went on two family vacations this summer and let me tell you, travelling with a toddler is more adventurous than any other kind of travelling I've ever done (minus the one time in India where I was stuck on a train for 22 hours and then almost kicked off in the middle of nowhere and got in a yelling match with a dude who kept demanding I pay him more-if you know what I mean-to stay on the train).  We started out the summer with Matt's family in BEAR LAKE.  Which holds a special place in my heart as it is so near Logan and all the goodness therein.  Van dug it, big time.  Literally and figurately. 

He was not one bit afraid of anything.  In fact, he just took off down the beach of the North Shore and was all, 'See ya sucker' so I had to catch up.  See why this gets the old heart racing?  Here is my video proof of Van running away from us.

Our next stop for summertime fun was Lake Powell. We resurrected an old Baltazar tradition:  Lake Powell with the Wintertons. We used to go with them every summer growing up and it was a bit nostalgic headed down there with our multiplied families.   PS I am going to start keeping track of how often Matt has stuff in his beard in pictures that we take.

Jude and Van looking very guilty in my dad's boat.
And this is one of my favs of all 3 babies dressed how all of us really wanted to be dressed.  Just in case anyone was wondering Lake Powell is NOT, I repeat, NOT relaxing with a toddler.

One thing that Van loved was eating the rocks.  I'm not sure why. I guess I need to find out what minerals are in sandstone to see what he needs.  Most of his clothes came back stained in red rock.  Cheap souvenir I guess.  Some of my favorite memories are of Lake Powell and this trip did not disappoint.  I just had to enjoy it in a whole new, panicked, life-jacket-on-Van-at-all-times kind of way.