The one and only ride

We've started a new tradition when we go to Bear Lake.

We sucker someone to drive up the canyon with us and then drop us and the ATVs off near Tony Grove {only on the other side of the highway}. Then we four wheel up and over the mountains to Bear Lake.

It's typically fun. Except this time. 

I have never been on a worse ride in my entire life! Both kids whined and cried and screamed because at least one of them had to go with me. They both would rather ride with Jeff because apparently he is way more fun and way faster than their mother. I stopped at least five times with Pearl because I couldn't stand her complaining anymore. She hated the trail the boys picked. She hated riding with me. She hated being hot. She hated everything! We even went to the pee cliff and she still complained!

I wanted to leave them on the trail! And yes, I know I'm using exclamation points after every sentence! I was not pleased. I told Jeff this was the only ride I was taking them on the entire week. And I meant it.

Even when they looked up at me all cute-like and asked. No four wheeler rides from mom.

Fine. I'll give the kids one thing. Their dad is more adventurous on the ATVs. I wouldn't go over those jumps at that same speed.

Let's hope the next ride goes a little smoother.

Lightning Storm

I've said before that I really, really don't like lightning storms. 

They freak me out.

A lot.

Except when your little brother is teasing you that you're a wuss and to come back outside and take some pictures of one amazing lightning storm. And the storm is on the other side of the lake... that's the real reason I came back outside.

The clouds would erupt in flashes of white. Every once in awhile there would be a flash of blue in the clouds too. It was incredible! 

 

 

{These pictures could be even more amazing if I had a better lens or if my stupid Photoshop was working and would let me zoom and crop these pictures. And it might have helped if I would have brought my tripod. This is the best you get with a make shift tripod of a picnic table and a couple scraps of wood and not being able to see where your lens is actually pointing.}

Fam-dam-ly Allen Reunion

My Mom's side of the family never gets together. Even when I was a kid, it was rare that all of her siblings did anything together. Three of the four lived out of state for most of my childhood so we just never really hung out with them growing up. And truth be told, my Grandma Allen didn't really enjoy feeding a huge crowd... maybe that's were I get it from?

So when my Mom announced we were all going to Bear Lake I kind of brushed it aside thinking, yeah right. We had a bunch of scheduling problems and we weren't sure who was coming, if, and when. And then I thought, where are we all going to sleep? The "property" only holds one family at a time and it's basically camping style. Not really conducive for entertaining 40+ people let alone sleeping that many.

But my Grandpa rented the USU Training Center which is just three houses down from the "property" and it was AWESOME! Every family had their own room! With their own beds {bedding even supplied by USU}! And plenty of room to put our crap!

We had showers! Real, working showers! And more than one toilet! And sinks and mirrors! 

And a HUGE family room to watch movies in! Or a talent show... I will refrain from commenting. Let's just say I did not come up with the idea nor do I have any talents to share. But I did enjoy bonding with my cousin Natalee's husband Brock as we made fun of, er, I mean listened intently to our actually talented family members. It's jealously that I was a little distracted... I really do wish I had some talents to share. And couches! And a kitchen... which I didn't have to cook any meals in! 

And a huge deck! And a sand volleyball court! And horse shoes! 

And a fire pit to sit around and tell inappropriate scary ghost stories with my siblings! 

 

And a gorgeous view!

Despite all of the plush accommodations, I still walked back over to the property to sit on the beach. That's "home" to me at Bear Lake... plus it had the best beach access of the two spots. And when the evenings came, I felt lost being at the Training Center. I wanted to sit in my chair on the lawn and look at our beach.

I'm not sure what Jeff did for four days.... he sort of disappeared into our room {and I think showered multiple times a day just because he could} for hours on end while the kids and I went to the beach, went boating and tubing {Pearl did}, played with the big cousins, played beauty parlor with my cousin Jenny {we finally have a beautician in the family... fee hair cuts for all!}, played Zingo, painted our toenails {Blu's too}, and spent all of my money at the craft fair.

 

 

Oh, and while Jeff was napping the day away, I was enjoying a Famous Raspberry Milkshake from La Beau's. And it was free! Thanks to my awesome brother, Kurtis. Who fried himself in that picture above. Ouch!

I have to say, getting my Grandma to let me paint her toenails was a really big deal. My Grandma suffers from some pretty severe mental health issues and struggles to interact with us sometimes. I hate mental illness.... I feel like it stole my Grandma away from me. I want to just shake her and tell her come out Grandma, come out! She said it tickled and even smiled a bit when I finished. It made me happy.

Blu did fabulous! I was really nervous about taking her because I didn't know if my family would like having a big, floppy lab around. Plus, one of my cousins is allergic to dogs that shed and I was totally paranoid I'd send Lydia to the ER unable to breathe. But everyone was so impressed with Blu! She was so well behaved. She was calm and stayed right by us. She played nice with my cousin's dog and everyone had fun playing with her at the beach. Blu was such a good sport and boy was she wiped out after four days of heavenly dog bliss.

 

I'll admit, I had a bit of a bad attitude about this get together. I wasn't sure how it was going to work or if it would be any fun. But I'm glad we went. And I wouldn't mind getting the Training Center again next year. Showers at Bear Lake are a luxury item we need permanently!