Bear Lake...... with friends

I don't know if I've mentioned it before (probably not because my blogging habits have been less than admirable), but Brook works in Colorado now.  Yes, he works and lives in Colorado and the rest of us work and live in Utah. He comes home on the weekends, but you can imagine, it's just not the same.  This all began back in October when the entire company did a complete overhaul (don't you just love corporate America?  They're so, so smart) and sent all their employees back to regional offices.  Because Caitlyn was a senior and I had a job, we finished out the school year here and played the game of wait-and-see (fun game to play with people's lives). We thought we'd have some answers by now of what to do with our situation (whether to move to Colorado or stay in Utah), but no answers have walked up and bonked us in the face,so we're still waiting and still seeing. 

ANYWAY, we knew we'd want to get away this summer but because of the aforementioned situation recognized that money is tight (running two households + Caitlyn starting college = strapped). Soooooo, thank goodness for Keith and Cheryl and Bear Yake (yes, yake, it's not a misspelling; it's what one of the grandchildren called it when they were little and it's just kind of stuck).  

Brook and I are past the point of fooling ourselves into thinking our kids still think of us as fun.  We've moved more into the vacation roles of  chaperons, meal makers, and tour guides.  Jokes on them, though, because Brook and I still have fun.  Brynn brought a friend, Emily.  Zach originally invited two friends, Eric and Hunter, but then last, last, last minute ended up inviting two neighborhood friends, Madison and Riley (best decision).  Because Caitlyn is all adulty now with having a full-time job and all was only able to come up for a day with her friend Chandler.  

It was a GREAT time.  The teenagers entertained themselves and laughed for four days straight.  Brynn and Emily hung out with us and had their own kind of fun.  And it was nice that Caitlyn was able to steal some time away and show up as well.  Obviously, we wish she'd been able to be up there more, but we'll take any time at all.

Here are some things we did:

We began with our traditional stop at Maddox in Perry, UT

We went four-wheeling a lot

We swam at the pool

We got milkshakes on a daily basis.

The girls went through Minnetonka Cave.  Cool!

The weather at the cave reminded the girls of vampires and Twilight.

We did the go-carts.

We did an afternoon at Bloomington Lake for cliff
jumping and the rope swing.  Super fun.

Zach, Eric, and Hunter

Madison and Riley. 

Chandler got highest points for his dives

from the rope swing.  He's crazy athletic.

They're always hungry.

We did a day at the lake.

They loved lying in the warm mud.  Ha.

They just had fun.

We're grateful to the parents who let their kids go with us.  It made for a fantastic getaway for our family.