Many Trips to Bear Lake

We have so many trips to Bear Lake that we have lost count. Long, long ago....growing up, my mom, sister and I would trek and spend our summers at the beach, which I absolutely loved. One of the perks of growing up in Southern California. When we lived in Phoenix, we missed the beach so much it wasn't funny. Now we have Bear Lake which is not the same as the beach but let me tell you! It comes pretty close. Depending on how many speed boats, jet skis or the wind will bring waves. Not anything like the ocean but I don't mind. I love the water. AND....who knew that Utah had Seagulls. 

Yes! Seagulls.

 This is the only place we can stop working and just "be".

We barbeque, laugh, sleep, kayak, canoe, float, read.....

 Kirk kicking back!

If anyone needs a break more than me, it is this guy!

He keeps us afloat.

 While these guys are floating.....

 Daphne is taking cover from the sun. We call her Grandma sometimes.

She looks like my little dolly sometimes with her sun hat and white skin.

She is smart to cover up.

 She does go out and kayak. Kaleb always secretly heads out to keep her company. He is cautious if the wind picks up. Sometimes it is really hard getting back to shore if the wind kicks up.

 Last Saturday we had these guys hangiing out right next to us. So we got to watch them ALL day long. I don't think they ever stopped. This guy makes it look so easy too!

We usually bring Nana and Poppa with us too. Dad hangs out under his umbrella reading his latest magazine or book while the rest of us are in and out of the water floating, kayaking, or getting cooled off. One time the Sheriff stopped us in our kayaks way out there to make sure that we had a whistle. It is a rule in Idaho to have a whistle while kayaking so you can call for help. We always wear life jackets so he commented on that too. He gave us each an Idaho Wildlife and Boating t-shirt saying that you "got caught" doing right. They were all little kids sizes so Kaleb was positive that he could fit into the smallest one size Youth medium. He managed all right and then proceeded to act like a life guard on Baywatch. We never laughed so hard. My Dad kept shaking his head and egging him on at the same time. You never know what Kaleb will come up with next. He keeps us laughing.

We gave the shirts to our neighbors grandkids. I think they fit them better.

 It may be September but we aren't ready to pack up the tubes or towels just yet. 

There is always just ....one more time!!!

June Roadtrip

 We're going on a road trip with Poppa riding shotgun.

We have been so busy with projects that we decided to skeedadle out of town for the day.

It started out that we would head to Shoshone Falls in Idaho and then head back home.....but we took a detour.....a very long detour.....

 Shoshone Falls is the Little Niagra Falls.

The water level is so high right now from snow melt that there was mist showering down on us and the entire parking lot.

 We quickly became drenched....it was awesome!

Of course Kaleb and Jared brought rain gear. 

I guess all the years in Boy Scouts and learning to be prepared has paid off.

 We turned around and saw Mary Poppins with her umbrella.

 We weren't expecting the mist from the waterfall to tumble up through the air and onto us.

 My girls are always heckling Poppa. It brings back memories of the many,

 many years that I would heckle him.

 Next stop was the Shoshone Ice Caves just north of Twin Falls, Idaho.

This is a giant lava tube that once had a hot spot that is now in Yellowstone.

It is crazy thinking about it.

 Outside it was a warm 75 degrees....inside it was a chilly 30 degrees.

 Long ago, the government dynamited the entrance to make it larger than the 2 ftx 2ft entrance and changed the air flow causing the ice to melt. A veteran from WWI came along and spent 14 years reestablishing the air flow so that the ice would return. He was successful....obviously.

 Our guide was very well spoken at the young age of 18.

Very talkative young man. Loved his job.

 They had found a mother bear and two cubs preserved in the cave until the air flow changed when it deteriorated to bones. It is interesting how it all came to be, and sad for the bears too.

 While we were out gallivanting across the desert terrain of Idaho we stopped at Craters of the Moon.

Awesome place....very educational.

There is old lava flow everywhere and it literally looks like the moon.

 In the midst of all the volcanic rock were wildflowers.

 I would hate to be around when this lava was flowing.

 I took pictures of my peeps strolling up the walkway laid down between rock....

 Daphne and Nana were WAY back still taking pictures of flowers.

Nana is very patient with Daphne.

 And then there is Kaleb....

my crazy, weird, silly, goofy son.....

 Poppa was napping in the van....not for long though!

 Kaleb and Victoria talking about racing each other up this cinder cone.

 Muscle man palming a boulder....psst....remember....volcanic rock weighs nothing.....

 It is super windy making our eyes water

 Nap time for people who work for a living....

 More Caves

 Old lava tubes to explore

 Kirk turned around and saw Kaleb's head pop out of an old lava tube.

 We never know what he is going to do.

 We never expected to cover this much ground in one day but had so much fun and Nana and Poppa were gracious with taking naps while we explored caves and lava tubes.

 We passed through Arco, Idaho. Kaleb had actually been there with Scouts and told us about a submarine museum. Long story as to why it is way out in the middle of no where. He directed us to the site so Poppa could reminese(how do you spell that?) his old Navy Days.

 Read these bricks from supporters of the historical site.

I thought it was funny too.

We covered something like 500 miles and drove a total of 10 hours that day.

It didn't feel like it because we were all together and never tired of each others company.