Beautiful Vacay

So, I suppose that when I tell you that I will be gone for "6" days, and then don't write on my blog for 12 days...one may start to wonder. The common response to this query should just be, "She's not that good at Math". But, to most of your surprise, I just haven't had a minute to blog about the trip that we got back from 6 days ago! (Sorry Meg, my loyal reader that commented TWICE to get me back on the blogosphere).

And, as always...if any of you are interested, there is a slide show below. I am just trying to post good pictures of me, because Brandon got ahold of a picture of me from 1994, and he thinks that I look like a Polygamist's wife. So, these pictures of Erica circa 2008 are in direct relation to me trying to prove something.

So, for a quick recap, I thought I would give you a list (I am starting to love lists) on "What I have Learned by spending a week in Whitefish, Montana":

- That when we tell Krista and Tim that we will be ready to leave Tuesday @ 12PM, it really means that we will be ready to leave OUR house (50 minutes away from them) Tuesday @ 12PM. And, we will not be "on our way" out until 2PM.

- Joni's Deli in SLC is actually delicious, despite the fact that it's themed sandwich is called a "Dagwood and Blondie" (seriously? I know).

- That 12 long hours driving in a Tahoe can be easily remedied by a built-in DVD player, and "Batman Begins"

- That I was the only one who knew what I was talking about when I said that we weren't sleeping in Grandma and Grandpa's bed because their room is "haunted". (wishing right now that I would've taken a picture of the creepy ghost-like picture that is still hanging in their room).

- When we have to park 1 mile from the lake-house because our car/boat won't fit through the narrow dirt road, and then WALK (at 1 AM) to the home....that I shouldn't have packed so many things.

- Sleeping in the attic/loft of Gma and Gpa's home is scary, creepy, dusty, and I am pretty sure I heard a bear outside in the middle of the night.

- That the life-size doll of Grandma, sitting in a rocking chair, holding a baby, is not as fun to play with anymore...compared to how much I LOVED to play with "her" when I was 7.

- Whitefish Lake really is the most beautiful place I have ever been. And Brandon felt the same way.

- That the new "queen sized" water-tube (which can hold 4 people comfortably) is only fun when I rode on it with my 10-and-7 year old neices (boat speed: 5 MPH)...and it is NOT fun when I am squished in between Brandon and Mike. (I still have scrapes and bruises to prove it).

- That crossing the wake on a wakeboard looks MUCH easier when I am watching someone do it.

- That the wake looks like it is 10 feet tall when I am the one wakeboarding.

- That Brandon can seriously do anything. And he almost landed a 'tantrum' after only trying it once...and luckily did NOT blow out his knee...but got close.

- That Krista and Tim are extremely generous.

-We shouldn't invite the neighbor girls over to learn how to wakeboard...because then it takes 3 hours, and they use all of the good, glass water.

- That we slept much more comfortably when the rest of the Rowles family showed up, which allowed us to move to a condo built in 2000...instead of 1953.

- That I love it when our family is together (but I missed Rebecca and Mom)

- That there really isn't a rope swing on the other side of the lake

- That I shouldn't tell my Aunts and Uncles that I am NOT voting for Barack Obama

- That I should not go running with Krista in the morning...because she actually LIKES to run

- That eating lunch in the "town" is fun with Rachelle and Danny, but that we should have just stayed at the River Pizza Restaurant. (We left because we hadn't even been talked to by a waiter for at least 15 minutes...but then ended up walking for 30 minutes finding another place to eat).

- That going to Dairy Queen with Lindsay and Mike feels like a double-date

- That my Dad, albeit that he's almost 58, is the coolest, most in-shape Dad ever (proven by the fact that he wakeboarded AND tubed).

- That Sophie is the cutest, most flexible, most lovable, 8 1/2 month old baby I know (and, trust me...I know a few).

- That Rachelle will only get in the lake when it is the "hottest" part of the day. And even then, she will only stay in for 3 minutes.

- That huckleberry shakes are better than I remember them when I was a kid

- That it MUCH more fun going to Whitefish with my husband, than it was when I was a kid and got made fun of for having "cleavage" at the age of 9.

- That when we watch home videos of us at the lake when I was 8, I am annoying, have a squeaky voice, and like to get in front of the camera.

- That the sun sets at 10PM, and they are absolutely gorgeous.

- That I am always sad to leave Whitefish, and look forward to going back every year.