Oh Bear Lake...how I love thee

Since my family (my parents & siblings) is starting to grow my mom decided (with possibly a little prodding from me) a family reunion would be a good idea.  We planned to go somewhere as a family while Nathan, Miles & I were in Utah...and OBVIOUSLY  Bear Lake is the best choice.  We got a condo and spent three days just enjoying each other's company.  Having the opportunity to spend that much concentrated time together with my family was awesome...it's been probably 10 years since we had that much time together.  I could tell you more...but I'll let this plethora of pics do that: 

 View from our condo.  

 Our first night we went out to dinner at Cafe Sabor (SO excited that now Garden City has one too!)  Shanna got fajitas and Austin & Blaine had to go check it out...but not before donning appropriate protective gear.  

 Bryce got embarrassed (or reveled in the attention...jury is still out) by the obglitaory 'Happy Birthday singing by the waitstaff

 My nephew Austin helping me frost cupcakes.  

 Sarah (niece) had to help too. 

 We brought no matches so we made Bryce light his own b-day candles...boy scout style. 

 Brad was SO happy to be there.  

 While we were all together we took the opportunity to take some family pics...since it might be 3-4 years before we're all together again.  I can't wait to see the finished photos from the photographer!

 The crew in our beach shelter.  

 Me and squishy...and apparently the girls felt like they needed to be in the pic too (hey...I am blessed in that department...and it's hard to find good suits that will contain them)

 The kids...er, I mean boys, playing in the sand.  I think Mitch, Bryce, Brad and Nathan had more fun playing in the sand than the wee ones. 

 Brad actually changing a diaper.  Anyone who knows Brad knows what a big deal this is...seriously. 

 All tuckered out (plus he had HORRIBLE allergies in Utah so he was drugged...poor little guy)

 Family of three at Bear Lake.  I can't tell you how this just makes my heart swell.  I love Bear Lake and I was SO happy to share it with Miles.  :)

 Miles and grandpa napping.

 Grandma and some of the grandkids hanging out on the balcony. 

Nathan and his Dr Phil haircut.  (insert rolling eyes here)  He has begging me FOR YEARS to do this.  I told him he couldn't until after we got a baby...and then it was not until we have family pics.  As soon as we got back to the condo after taking family pics he and my brothers whipped out the buzzers and fashioned this beauty.  

Mom playing in the sand with the kids and some new found friends. 

 Bryce and Mitch blowing up all the floaties...leave it to my brothers to find the most interesting way to do anything.  

 Because of this bang-up job I have heretofore been fired from the post of sunscreen applicator.  I honestly have NO IDEA how this happened.  

 Miles in his other swimsuit.  I may or may not have purchased three suits in preparation for Bear Lake.  Hey.  No judging. 

Sarah likes cheetoes.

more Bear Lake

Kinda funky...but this is me with my marshmallow stick ... we tried the new Strawberry marshmallows...they make the BEST S'mores when you use chocolate graham crackers...mmmm




Marie is such a dork...she was trying to get in the tent and tripped...sound like anyone else you know?!?



Adam and Nathan making an excellent breakfast over the fire. There is just something about cooking over a fire that makes it taste better... :)mmmmm




This is a picture taken off the boat ramp...I couldn't believe the color of the lake that day...I mean, it is always a pretty teal-ish, aqua blue...but this was just incredible...now I know why they call it the Caribbean of the Rockies!




When we got to the lake the picnic table had spider webs on it and I HATE spiders so I made Nathan and Adam carry it out into the lake to rinse it off... They were awfully good sports about it. :)



Right before we left the lake we took a few photos...the pic of the four of us was taken then. This is a photo of me, Nathan and my brother Brad...or B-rad as he likes to be called...we are just a bunch of nerds.

Bear Lake...again :)

Our friends Adam and Marie moved from RI and stopped to see us on the way to their new destination. We went camping Friday night and spent Saturday at Bear Lake...I know, again...but I'm telling ya, Bear Lake is awesome and I LOVE it!

Aren't we so cute??

Bear Lake

Nathan has been wanting to buzz his head for a while...and I told him he could after the wedding (no funky hair-don'ts for permanent wedding photos...) so Brad helped him do it before we headed up to the lake.

Blaine in his cute little chair...He is not even a year but has already figured out to turn on the charm for the camera - what a ham...


Bryce - the 'master chef' cooking burgers on the grill



Shanna and Blaine - he is a momma's boy - cute little stink

Brad and Nathan playing in the water - you can't see it too well, but Brad is trying to surf on a little inflatable boat ...nerd - this isn't the best picture, but it show how pretty the lake is so I had to use it :)

ALERT THE PRESS!!!

We went to church today....and (at least by 10:40PM) Hell hasn't frozen over! hehehe

We spent yesterday at Bear Lake - one of my favorite places on earth - with my brother who just got married, his wife and baby, her sister and hubby and my other brother... We had SUCH a good time and Blaine (the baby) should be a fish, he was so stinkin cute playing in the water (which was FREEZING) and the sand.

After we left the lake they all came over to our place and we hung out in the gazebo and roasted marshmallows...I did pretty good in the burn department...only a bit pink on my legs and feet...my brother and poor Blaine got toasted.

But I got up this morning, well more like afternoon because it was around 12:15 when I joined the world of the living...and I thought about going to church, so we went and it was, well, honestly?? I didn't have that nice of a time...I tried with all my might to stay positive, but it just sucked too much. We'll have to try again in a week and see if it is better. I just hate the hypocrisy of people - the ones who spew religious sermons from their mouths and yet their daily actions are far from Christ-like... (not that I am perfect...far from it, mind you) People who think they are better than others JUST because of the church they go to on Sunday, THAT makes me nuts.

Anyway, enough of the vent...so we did get to see a couple that we hadn't seen since like Halloween....they adopted a little girl just a year ago (in fact she turned one this last week) and she is adorable and she sat on my lap for a bit and when I got home tonight Ann (the mommy) had sent me the links for some adoption agencies...there were 4 or 5 and I went through all of them and when I opened the link for the last one my heart started beating faster and my palms and feet got all sweaty and I got this anxious feeling in the middle of my tummy...all nervous/excited...

You know, I want a new car...I mean I really WANT a new car - and not just any car - a convertible...a Ford Mustang, Audi TT, or 325i BMW but I would take a baby over a new car in a heartbeat.