Bear Lake

This last weekend we went up to Bear Lake. My sister's father-in-law graciously let us stay at his beautiful cabin. The main reason we went up was so Dan could ride the Bike the Bear race around the lake. I wanted to tag along so we could have some fun. So we went up with my family and my sister Debbie's family on Friday. My sister Ann met us at the beach on Saturday.

We got there pretty late Friday night, but the kids had fun playing air hockey before we went to bed.



Dan and I had to wake up super early Saturday morning so I could take him to the race. We did see a beautiful sunrise:

Here is Dan before the race. He ended up finishing second out of the people doing 50 miles (once around the lake). There were some that did 100 and even 200 miles. I am not sure why his jacket is glowing, maybe he is Iron Man in disguise!

While Dan was doing his bike ride, the kids were a little slow to get up, then they wanted to color while I made breakfast.

My cute niece Abby:

And Jorgen is always ready to eat!

After breakfast we picked Dan up, then headed to the beach. It was the perfect day! Hot but not too hot, and sunny with just a small breeze. The water was still pretty cold though!



I think Jorgen is on the floaty with Dan.

Andrew spent most of the time buried in the sand. He was content to stay where he was.



We did a lot of wading. Because the water was too cold to put your head in! And we had a lot of little kids.



The water was chilly! Every few minutes we had to go lay out in the sun to warm up.



All six of the kids: Andrew, Lance, Jorgen, Abby, Bethany, and Nicole.

My sister Debbie:

My sister Annie:



That night we went outside to play games with the kids. Until the mosquitoes got really bad.

Ring around the Rosy:

Story time with Daddy/Uncle Dan:

Jorgen was too tired for stories.

On Sunday, Debbie and Adam watched all the kids so Dan and I and Annie could all go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication. We went to a little church in Laketown and luckily found a seat. It was a neat experience. My third temple dedication (I've also been to Bountiful and the Nauvoo broadcast). Dan's first.

It was raining Sunday, we were so glad it was beautiful on Saturday! We had a great time and maybe we'll have to go back sooner this time.

County Fair, Willow Park, and Camera Woes

So Friday evening we headed to the Davis County Fair, an annual tradition. I have gone to the fair since I was a kid, and I even remember entering 4-H entries in the fair years ago. I thought it was so cool that they would pay you for winning a ribbon (a whopping whole dollar! I don't know what they pay now) In fact I even remember when the fair was held at Lagoon, before they built the fairgrounds (I guess I'm getting old...) Now we just go for fun and to look around with the kids. So I made sure to pack lots of water and my camera....but I forgot to charge the battery so here are all the pictures of the fair:













Well, I didn't get any, but we enjoyed the petting zoo, the Sportsplex tent (Jorgen's favorite), the science discovery tent (Andrew's favorite - he even held a tarantula!), and the kiddie rides. We bought cotton candy and scones and ran out of time to see everything, but we still had fun. The kids even got to milk a cow, they thought that was pretty cool. And we snuck a short peek at the rodeo as we left. Maybe when they are older we will brave a rodeo.

On Saturday we went up to Logan to Willow Park to spend the day with Dan's family. It was raining that morning, but cleared up by the time we got there. Too cold to go swimming like we had planned though. We had a picnic lunch, then went to the little zoo they have in the park. They mostly have birds, and a few other small animals including a bobcat, deer, monkeys, and antelope.

I remembered to charge the battery before we left....












....but forgot to check the memory card! It filled up and I missed several cute pictures of the kids with their cousins, Bethany's sand turtles, Bethany and Andrew being buried in the sand, etc. I am feeling rather annoyed with myself for being so forgetful with my camera. Hopefully I will learn my lesson!

First Day of School

Monday was Bethany's first day of 2nd grade, and Andrew got to meet his teacher (class for him starts next week). They actually got ready early so we had time to take a few pictures.

Bethany is in a portable (along with most of the 2nd grade). It was really sunny.

She is sooooo glad that her friend Taylor is in her class! They first became friends way back in their first year of preschool (4 years ago!), but haven't been in the same class since. They have remained good friends, though. Especially since her best friend Nicole moved, I am so glad Bethany has a friend in her class.

Bethany at her desk. She has Mrs. Gunnell. I have heard good things about her, so I am hopeful for a good year. She seems really nice and cheerful and fun.

We got to meet Mrs. Adams and have a little meeting. Bethany had Mrs. Adams for Kindergarten too, so I already know she is an awesome teacher.

She is the best! My favorite teacher so far.

Andrew was SO SAD that he couldn't stay at school, he cried when it was time to go. So we went to Smith's and he picked out a treat (a Crunch bar). He gets the rest of the week off except for a test. We played at the park today instead of going to school. I think this will be the longest week of his whole life.

After we picked up Bethany we went to our new favorite place for a treat - Frozen Bliss. They have frozen yogurt with all the toppings you want, and at a pretty decent price. Very yummy! I forgot to take any pictures or any wet wipes, so we left with 3 sticky kids and no documentation.

I am feeling a little old with 2 kids now in school. Jorgen and I will get some one-on-one bonding time now.

Camp Cloud Rim

Bethany really wanted to go to Girl Scout Camp this summer. I was a little nervous sending her all by herself, and her friend that was going to go with her backed out. So we decided to go to the mother-daughter You and Me camp instead. This was a good chance to see what camp is like and get a good feel for it. Bethany had a great time and wants to go next year without mom.

Wednesday

Camp Cloud Rim is in the mountains above Park City. I took a wrong turn and ended up at Deer Valley Resort (oops!) so we had to backtrack and were a little late. Luckily check-in lasted an hour and a half so we were fine. We took our stuff to the cabin and then explored the camp until the activities started.

Our cute little cabin. The cabins were named after famous women. Ours was Harriet Tubman. Next to ours was Sacagawea and Anne Frank.

Lake Brimhall

They had tons of arts and crafts, which is what Bethany LOVES to do. So she had a great time. This is popsicle stick picture frames.

Items bought at the Trading Post.

Out on the lake on a paddle boat.

Later that night we had a "campfire" but it was raining, so we had it in the Lodge.

There were some beautiful wildflowers

It was really hard to sleep that night. It was super windy and the door would creak every time the wind gusted. And the beds all squeaked, so everytime someone moved - squeak! squeak! And my mattress was not very comfortable either. At around 4am there was a massive thunderstorm that woke me up again. It was a long night to say the least.

Thursday

Heading to breakfast

We didn't get ready fast enough and missed flag. Oops.

The Lodge

I thought the sun through the clouds was so pretty. My camera doesn't do it justice.

The girls in our cabin. Keautumn, Bethany, Taylor, and Renae

We went on a hike after breakfast and morning chores (we had to clean the bathrooms)

We hiked all the way around the lake, but it isn't a very big lake so it only took about 40 mintues.

Water break

Bridge over a dry stream

The Lodge across the lake

Beaver-chewed tree

Beaver Dam

Bethany and me on the hike

More crafts: Rock painting

And nose painting. This was hilarious. Bethany loved it. I just watched.

Bandana tying

Me time: she found a book in the cabin about Harriet Tubman. We forgot our own books.

One of the moms was doing face painting.

This is what she did on Bethany. Bethany wanted a surprise, and boy was she surprised!

The girls with their painted faces.

We went out on the lake in the "Jupiter" canoe but I didn't get a picture of us in the canoe. It was so windy that we could only steer right, not left because of the currents. It was really tricky to get back to shore.

Bethany wanted to swim, but she stuck her toes in and changed her mind. The water was sooooo cold! And at that same moment, it started to rain and they had to close the waterfront.

Paper plate masks:

My job with crafts was to make one for Andrew. I made him an Iron Man mask.

Thursday night after dinner we had an indoor "Beach Party" (because it was raining and windy). Here is Bethany doing the limbo.

Beach Volleyball. They also did a dance party and even threw in the Electric Slide for the moms. Fun times, I tell you...

Flower Leis

Thursday night was only slightly better sleep wise. It was quieter, but the mattress was still very uncomfortable. My back and neck hurt so bad by morning.

Friday

Since I couldn't really sleep much, I got up early and just walked around camp. The sun was so pretty so I took a few pictures, but again I need a better camera to do sunlight shots. Or maybe I just need to read the manual for my own camera?

There was a bird nest with a baby bird inside. If you zoom in close you can see the beak.

Bethany got a camp t-shirt from the trading post.

Water-balloon volleyball

This bell is the only thing that was left when the old Lodge burned down several years ago. The new Lodge was built in 1999.

Walking up these steps for the hundredth - and last - time to go home.

We had a lot of fun. It was good to spend some one-on-one time with Bethany and to get a break from my boys (who I love to pieces but they can wear me out!) Andrew now wants to go do something with me by himself. I'll have to get on that one!

Now back to reality, school starts tomorrow!