Bear Lake Vacation: Campfires and S'mores

We built a fire and roasted marshmallows 4 of the 5 nights we were there. The kids loved gathering sticks to start the fire and most of all they loved eating several s'mores each night (don't worry we brushed their teeth really good before they would go to bed). It was so nice to relax with family around the fire and tell stories. Maddie especially loved making up stories that went on forever.

Bear Lake Vacation: Fun in the Tent

One night we set up the tent to enjoy the whole camping experience. Okay me and Sophie stayed in where it was warm and quiet and Andy got to sleep with the little crazies. Maddie and Garen loved the tent. This was Garen's first time sleeping outside. We all hung out in the tent playing games, making shadow puppets, telling stories, and most of all laughing. About 10:30 I came in to bed with Sophie and I'm not sure how long the other three stayed up laughing.

Bear Lake Vacation: Paris Tabernacle

Andy's grandparents also give tours at the Paris Tabernacle, so they were nice enough on their day off to take us through. Right before we had lunch at a little pizza place and Sophie's diaper leaked everywhere so Andy opted to take the naked tired baby home since he has spent countless hours at the tabernacle as a kid. I really enjoyed all the rich history and stories Roger had to share. I loved the picture frames made by the pioneers out of their own hair since they did not have a camera. It was a quick tour since the kids were running a bit crazy, but I'm glad we stopped there on our way back!

Garen-

Maddie-

Charles C. Rich Monument, this is Andy's great, great, great grandfather-
(And Brigham Young is my great, great, great grandfather so the kids have a very strong pioneer heritage)

Bear Lake Vacation: Visiting the Cemetery

We rode the 4 wheeler up to the St. Charles Cemetery where several of Andy's ancestors are buried. Grandpa Roger's brother died at 4 days old; this is who Garen is named after. Grandpa also lost his other brother at age 4 and his father at age 45 in a fire.
Garen thinks it's neat his name is written there, but doesn't get the concept of a grave. When he was sitting on the headstone I asked him to get off because that belongs to the other Garen and he said looking confused, "it's a rock."

Bear Lake Vacation: swimming at the Lake

We finally got a warm enough day to spend a few ours swimming in Bear Lake. The kids enjoyed every minute in the water. Andy and I enjoyed relaxing on the beach and laughing with the kids. Sophie loved the water but kept eating the sand. Maddie loved making little canals and lakes on the edge of the beach and Garen liked squirting his water gun the best. It was so beautiful, I could not stop taking pictures!

Bear Lake Vacation: The Oregon Trail Center

Andy's grandparents volunteer at the Trail Center in Montpelier, so we thought it would be fun to stop by and see them in action. We took a neat little tour where we learned what we would need to take with us and how much it would cost. We went a pretend bumpy wagon ride and learned a little song. The kids also enjoyed dancing to the live old country singer. I learned so much from our time in that museum and the kids enjoyed themselves to-they liked the playground outside best.

Maddie had to bring her binoculars in (the singer she was looking at was like 3 feet away, but I guess she wanted to see him closer)-