Bear Lake Trip and Reunion

This year the Lake family reunion actually took place at, well, a lake :) Bear Lake to be exact.  It just so happened that our good friends from our newlywed days were also up there. Since they live in Texas I wanted to go up early and spend the day with them. Long story short, Luke was suppose to be in India that week so it wasn't in the plan for him to come to the reunion at all. However his visa came one day after he was suppose to go, so he ended up not going. Yet, he still had to work so he couldn't join us in Bear Lake until the next night.  

 Shannon and Richard Anderson

Day 2-- Beach day with the Lake Clan

 This is the rental home owned by Uncle Wade's in-laws. It was HUUUUUUUUUGE! and so nice! We were very lucky that Wade and Lisa shared their 1 peak season week with us.

 The views were amazing!

Day 3! Minnetonka Cave

Got a late start and had to wait 1.5 hours-- but I say it is well worth it! 

 Basically Linaya made me carry her. the whole way. 400+ steps each way.

After the cave, we drove another hour to see Bloomington Lake. It was incredibly gorgeous!

 Very cold though!

 So this is a rope swing, tied hiiiigh up in this tree. It's quite the rush coming off it and dropping into the glacier water.
Luke went off of a really high ledge. I was messing with the video camera, trying to film it, but missed as he let go of the rope, kicked his legs out in a V-shape, flip-flops went flying and he dropped skillfully into the water. The second time just wasn't the same. But that's the one that got recorded, go figure.
Finally I summoned enough courage to take the plunge (but not from the higher ledge, of course) It was exhilarating, but once was enough for me.
Then the girls started begging to try it.
Next Tianna got brave and went off the swing. Adelia kept begging to, and since she is so agile and rocks the monkey bars and other hanging things, I figured she'd be fine, as long as dad were there to help her swim back to shore. The first attempt didn't pan out. She didn't let go when she got out above the water but thankfully didn't let go too late, or she would have landed on rocks. She just held on until it swung back and we could grab her. Being determined, she gave it another go. Unfortunately Luke didn't understand that he needed to be OUT in the water ready to grab her as soon as she came up. She started panicking while he swam to her. Basically she is scarred for life and she said she'll never ever ever do that again. --not our best parenting moment :)

 LOVE! It was so nice Dad and Grandma Belinda could join us for Friday night- Sunday morning. It made the trip infinitely better!

 Such a GORGEOUS piece of Earth. 

The last day-- clean up and snap some more pictures of this enormous and beautiful cabin

 The 2nd kitchen! 

 Theater room

 game room and sleeping for at least 16 in this room alone! 

 I can't remember how many bedrooms-- at least 8 I think! 

 Steam shower/sauna/spa/totally awesome

 oh ya know, more beds. 

 and a nice yard and patio area. this place had everything! No wonder it's booked for the next 2 years already.

It was a really really fun mini vacation! Thanks Wade, Lisa, and all the Lake's for a wonderful reunion!