Kickin' Back at Bear Lake!

Ok. I've made it forward a month. Let's not mention that it really is October.  :)

Every August we take a trip up to Bear Lake. We all love it up there! Normally we can escape a bit of the heat, but with this record hot summer, it was hotter than normal up there as well. It was nice at night. It would cool off into the 50's. I would freeze everyone out of our cabin. I had all the windows wide open and all three boys would have to pull their sleeping bags up over their heads. It was great!

We like to stay on the Idaho side of the lake. Normally it is less crowded on that end, but I think people have caught on. It is a much nicer beach and for us it means easier access to real alcohol.  Hey, you've got to get the non-watered down, more affordable, liquor when you can.

 Our first night there we just hung around the cabin relaxing. The boys played in the river all day.  Parker is such a water rat. As long as he has water to get in he's happy. I have no idea what this little creek is called. It is right next to our cabin, and it keeps our campsite nice and cool. The water is freezing.

 

 Good morning big hair.

 This kid likes fire a bit too much. Scares the hell out of me!

 Roasting Burning Marshmallows!

  Water Rat found this in the river. I think it was maybe a craw fish. Not sure though. It only had half a body when we found it. Parker was totally amused by it. 

 The boys, all three of them, spent hours upon hours building in the sand.

Our little beach site. For some reason, after a record dry winter, the water was really high. It made for a great beach, but the walk to the beach sucked. Normally you can drive right on the beach, back your truck in and unload. You can see the cars at the top of the picture where we had to park this year. It is really not all that far, but when you are carrying multiple coolers, chairs, totes, the shade canopy, clothes, floaties, sand toys, etc. it made for a very long walk!

 Water Rat has a tote full of sand toys. He worried about them the entire time we were there. He kept thinking they were going to get stolen. Dude, your toys are fine. Get over it!

 Travis Kickin' back in the shade!

 Perfect water temperature & the sandy bottom makes for a perfect day to play!

 Got floatie?

 Peace, Love and Brothers!

 I love these boys!

 Travis drowning Preston and Parker is heading out to sea in his fish.

 They love spending time with their dad.

 Frisbee on the beach. Not a bad gig!

 I bought Parker this fish the first time we went to Bear Lake. He is way too big for it now, but he loves it. Unfortunately "Fishy" has seen his last trip to the lake. He got a hole in him on our last day there. Parker cried and cried and wanted me to run up to the store to see if they had another one. The store is about 45 minutes away, on the Utah side of the lake. Yea, I'll just "run" up.

 Dude, you are going to burn the top of that head.

 This is what I love about Bear Lake. As you can see we are clear out in the water. Standing here the water is about up to my waist. It is very shallow water very far out. It is so nice because you can walk out, or "go to sea" as the boys call it, and just walk around or float around. When we are hanging on the beach the boys can be out in the water, and quite a ways out, and you don't have to worry about them. They can go a long way with the water only up to their tummy. The bottom of the lake is all sand for as far out as you can walk. The shallow water also means it stays very warm.

On the last day we were there we surprised the boys and rented Wave Runners. It was a blast! I didn't have my camera with me though so you'll just have to take my word for it. Now the boys want Grandpa to buy them Waver Runners for Christmas. Come on Dad! 

Skippin' Back to the 4th of July!

Hi!

Long time to talk. I have had a few requests for our pictures from the 4th of July, Bear Lake, and our yard. No promises on how fast I'll get them up, but I'll try.

We always spend the 4th of July at my Mom and Dad's house. It is my favorite day of the year to go there. There is a lot of adult beverages, friends & family, adult beverages, food, adult beverages, fun, oh and yes, adult beverages. My dad's birthday is a few days before the 4th, and Jessa's a few days after, so we have one big bash.

Everyone this year was complaining that it was on a Wednesday, middle of the week, blah, blah. However, we loved it! Travis' day off is Wednesday so it was one of the rare times he got to come to a party on time. It was great. (Yes, he works all holiday's but Christmas and Thanksgiving unless they happen to fall on a Sunday or Wednesday. It sucks!)

So here you go...Happy 4th of July in October!

 Travis' right hand man for the day!

My nutcracker collecting mom even has a cracker for the 4th of July. Recently my parents were updating their will. I made my sister promise to take my mom's nutcracker collection! She was thrilled - not! Hey, I don't want to get stuck with them!

 My dad's beer birthday cake!

 I handed my sister my camera and asked her to take our picture. I don't think that photography skills run in the family. I also don't think she realized she would have to actually stand up to do it.

 My mom, a.k.a. Chickie, and my dad.

 Sonny

Cindy, Jessa & Sonny

 Jessa & Parker

Chickie and Cindy

Me & Preston

Stephanie, Dan & Bea (yes I know Steph's eyes are closed but it's the only one I took)

Debbie, Dottie, Mary, my Dad & Boyd

Travis and his mom, Pat a.k.a. Grandma Kitty. When Travis invited her I was nervous. My side of the family is the complete opposite of his side of the family. However she was just fine. She had a good time and sat and chatted with everyone.

 Sundee & Jessa. For Jessa's 21st birthday we both bought her a bottle of wine to celebrate. About 1/2 way through the day we were running out of yummy Sangria so Sundee stole her present back to use it in the drinks! Jessa didn't want to give it up!

Preston learning to play badminton

Parker thinks he already knows how to play.

Water balloon baseball time! Each year my sister and Sonny spend hours upon hours filling these little balloons. Luckily, I've never masted tying them so I'm never invited to their water balloon filling party. Damn! Everyone loves it though! It starts out as a very organized baseball game, then all hell breaks loose!

All day, my dad's comment to my sister, "do you need me to get you a turtleneck to put on?" Same comment year after year.

Are we white trash or what? Sipping beverages in the pool!

My dad has one pair of these safety headphone things. Every year at firework time, the boys fight over them. You think he'd get two more pair, but he never does.

Let the homework begin!

The first day of school was on Monday. Preston was really excited to be back in class and see his friends. That excitement was dashed a bit when he brought home two hours of homework that night. Parker is lukewarm on the entire thing. Last year he had the best teacher and he is feeling it's downhill from here. We'll see how it all goes. At least this year I remembered to bring bring my camera AND the battery and didn't have to borrow one.

Before school and ready to go. Parker was pretty nervous and had his binkey with him.

Preston happy to be in his classroom.

Parker also happy to be in his classroom. Hmmm.........

Dirty Air!

There is one good thing that comes from all of the smoky, hot, dirty, unhealthy air that we have right now...beautiful sunsets. My photography skills do not even come close to capturing how pretty they really are.

As you may have noticed I've been MIA for a while. My header still says "July" for hell's sake! As I have said before, I am losing interest in my blog and it feels like work lately. I have not had the time to update it at all. I have had emails from people checking on me (thanks!), nothing is wrong just busy. We will see how things go when the kids are back in school. I am usually beyond bored after they've been back for a week. Maybe the blog bug will hit me then!

Our Little Book Worm!

This summer the boys have to read and go up to the school once a week or so to take comprehension tests. Preston takes it very serious, and of course, Parker is blowing it off. Preston is always looking for some peace and quiet to read. Tonight I looked out the kitchen widow and saw him out by one of the many dirt piles, sitting on a bench that fit him when he was 3, reading away. Good kid that one.

An Awesome Night Sky!

The night of the 4th of July was a beautiful night. When we got home about 10:30 p.m. the sky was lit up by fireworks, a beautiful almost full moon, and forest fires. Yes, forest fires. I know that sounds wrong to say a forest fire looks cool, but being close enough you can see the flames is a pretty awesome sight.

I am not a great night photographer so the actual night was much prettier than my pictures. The fires are on the mountain across the valley, they look closer than they actually are. During the day you can see them a bit, but at night you can clearly see the fire line. It is pretty cool.

Slippery Sunday!

I AM SO SICK OF THE HEAT!!!!

For those of you outside of Utah, I have to tell you that it is so damn hot here! It is at least 99-100 everyday, high winds and smoky air from all of the forest fires that are burning. It sucks!! It has not rained for something like 40 days and everything is so dry. Looking outside it looks like it is late August. Plants and grasses are struggling, and weeds are brown and dried up. For a girl who only likes when it's cloudy & cool and absolutely loves rain and snow, it has been a crappy summer so far!

Yesterday Travis rented a big trencher to dig the sprinkler trenches in the back yard (poor guy in the heat), and the boys decided to get their Slip and Slide out to attempt to cool off. We are total white trash and do everything in our front yard. It is quite a site! It is especially funny when we BBQ out there. Picture it now, BBQ the driveway, Travis sitting in a lawn chair with a beer in hand cooking. We are pure class all the way! I'll snap a picture of that next time he's out there. It's great!