Labor Day @ Bear Lake: Beach Bums

It seems like more and more of our beach adventures end with scenes like this.

 

Wait. Not like that. Like this. 

Cole - in his all to stubborn I don't need to listen to my mom three-year-old self - refuses to put his swimming suit on to go to the beach. Instead he opts for clothing and tells me he doesn't want to actually get wet or play in the sand, just "come wiff you, Mom."

And then we, well, end up in our undies.

But man is that little super hero bum cute!

Labor Day @ Bear Lake: Moose Hunting

Jeff always teases the kids that we aren't going to Bear Lake, but Moose Lake. He does have a point. We've never seen a bear there before {thank heavens!}.

And after this last time, I think he's right. It really should be called Moose Lake.

We should have known we'd be in for a moose hunting treat when we woke up to fresh poop all over our lawn and beach. 

Our moose hunting typically involves the 4 wheelers and winding up and down the roads where all the nice cabins are. Sigh. To dream. 

We usually find the moose like this. Look really close. There's a momma moose and her baby. They've run right in front of our ATVs before this year. It was super cool! And despite how far away they look, they were close enough that I was a bit nervous thinking about how I was going to get Ruby and Cole to sit back down while I raced away if she got mad and started charging toward us. 

It's not just mommas that we find either. Jeff is an expert moose hunter. For the last two years, he's found at least one moose every time we've gone to Bear Lake. This time, on a ATV ride with Cole, they found two bull moose.

And then one of those bull moose decided to hunt us!!!! This has to be the CRAZIEST thing I have ever seen at Bear Lake before! Everyone was sitting around waiting for dinner to cook, including all the neighbors, dogs were out, and then all of the sudden I look down at the willows at the end of our property and there is this huge, dark thing walking up to our lawn!

{This guy in the blue shirt with the mohawk. My brother. Who encouraged his precious daughter to come down closer to the moose so she could see it better.}

I was more than shocked and slightly panicked. All the kids were running around down there, the neighbors were on their lawn, I was totally paranoid Blu would start barking and make that thing charge us. It was surreal! And yet totally mesmerizing, breathtaking, and incredible to watch. He just waltzed right up to the lawn and headed over to the neighbor's willow tree for a pre-dinner snack. With all of us staring at him.

 

And then there was one of the idiot neighbors, strapping on his GoPro and walking right up to him. I really thought I was going to witness a man dying by moose attack. He was only about 5-8 feet away from that bull moose! Idiot. 

Because I was still in freak-out that my children/husband/brothers/idiot neighbor guy was going to die mood, I handed my brother, Kurtis, my camera and told him to go down and take some pictures. I figured Kurt was faster than most of them and wouldn't get trampled to death if Mr. Moose decided to charge.

Best moose hunting yet!!!

Labor Day @ Bear Lake: Beach Perfect

My favorite time to go down to the beach is in the morning, about 9 or 10 a.m. If breakfast runs on Jewkes family time, meaning it's more of a brunch, then I'll take the evening about 4 or 5ish. The waters are calm and clear with hints of Bear Lake's distinctive turquoise color, it's not windy, it's not too hot yet, the water is warm, and it's just picture perfect.

I could sit on the beach all day with views like this. 

Blu loves Bear Lake. It's a dog paradise, especially if you have a real dog, not one of those yippy lap dogs who doesn't like to get their paws wet, who loves to swim, fetch sticks, dig in the sand, catch crawdads, and explore. 

The kids especially love when mom/Aunt Jenny declares, "Get your swimming suits on! We're going to the beach!" and then drags her chair, a giant bag of towels and sunscreen, cameras, sand toys, and dog toys all the way down to the water. This summer the water has gotten lower and lower each time we visit, going from a patch of sand on the old rock pier in between the willows, to a soggy island, to a bigger island, and finally a ton of sand all the way at the end of the old rock pier. 

Sometimes we can convince Uncle Kurtis to come down with us and work on his tan. 

And sometimes my beach view includes well, a little bum. Cole was playing happily in the sand and water and teasing me as I tried to take his picture. I told him to look at me and what did he do? He mooned me. Shook his little, sand-covered bum at me, and laughed. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I have no idea where he gets this from.... except to say it's a good thing I don't have my camera with me when Jeff wandered down to the beach for his swim. 

Labor Day @ Bear Lake: Family

Before the beach, four wheeler rides, and moose hunting, one must eat.

And eat well we did! I convinced Jeff to cook dutch oven potatoes, chicken, and cobbler for his Dad's birthday. It's become a fun tradition to invite his parents up a day.

Blu was the first one up every morning. Really, really early. We slept in the "old" trailer this time and Blu didn't really like it. She whined and licked our faces all night long. It's really narrow and I'm not sure she knew where she was supposed to sleep, let alone stretch out her legs. So Cole and I graciously decided to share our already squished bed with her. Even though I couldn't move AT ALL, not having Blu wake up all night long whining and trying to get my attention was much better. She was so happy to be on a real bed... hopefully she doesn't get any ideas about this when we get home.

Getting up early with Blu {my brother typically joined me with their ding dong dogs} did have one advantage though....

Good morning Bear Lake!

Labor Day @ Bear Lake: Uncles

Uncles {and brothers} are the coolest.

Especially if you're a little boy.

They take you golfing.

They throw you up in the air until you can't tell if your squeals are from having fun or being so scared you think you might pee your pants. 

And they build teepees on the beach.

I'm so glad my brothers are the cool ones and will play with my kids. It means a lot to me and I know to Cole. He absolutely worships the ground they walk on, especially Uncle Kurtis.