Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Bear Lake

We had a week at Bear Lake!  We got to be there with some of my amazing Wilcox cousins at the beginning of the week, just my parents for a day and then my Ellis cousins at the end of the week.  It was windy twice during the week, overcast twice, very rainy once and nice two days.  All of them were fun.  Our power went out twice.  It was fine except that we can't flush the toilets with the water pump isn't' working.  I filled up a 5 gallon bucket from the waterspout and we used that to flush with.
Pig sticks

Ada tried on my swimming suit and loved it, so as a surprise I bought her a matching one.  We have two different sizes.  She has a bigger top and I have a bigger bottom, so we did a mix and match.

Darlene, Marty and Carol

My sweet Daddy

Wind swept Sam after driving Rach's wave runners.


Ada figured out how to use the astral photo setting on her phone and she was trying to teach Jer and I.  These are the pictures that she and Jer took.


This was my night shot without the astral setting.

Burning the 36 inch pizza box.

We weren't supposed to have big fires, so we made a coal fire to cook hot dogs over.

Evelyn missed with the ketchup.

We were joking about a picture of Ada when she was little with a bunch of balloons down her swimming suit and so she grabbed one off the birthday table (it was Diane, Allysa and two other birthdays up there).  Uncle Marty was joking about her carrying really high.  (He's a retired OBGYN)

Windswept again.

Sisters.


Seth ran down to help me bring our stuff back up the beach.

Daniel with his kids having a "spa day".

Ada kayaking

I'm glad these guys live close by.

I'm happy that he can still sit on my lap.  Not too long and none of mine with be able to.


cabin chores!


Garden City day




Settlers of Catan game, lots of movies and games to go with the snacks.

It rained so much that it looked like the lake was filling up.


Jer took the kids to the ropes course while I visited with my cousins.










This was in a bag of barbie clothes that I took up for my nieces.  It was made by my Grandma.... I'm glad it still gets used.

This "pirate ship" was across the street.  We were joking that they should blast the pirates soundtrack as they zoom around the lake.




Sam lost his shoe and the employee had to go get it for him.  It fell 40 feet.






Amelia brought her horses.


We burned Ada's school work from the last 5 years.

And ate smores

And caught a frog that we named, "Gerald".





And caught a mermaid.




Amelia, Thea, Seth, Brenner, Vivien, Roman


I was missing my Grandma and this picture of her was hanging in the cabin.  My mom made the comment that she's two years older than her mom was when she died.  It doesn't seem fair.  I'm at peace with it, but I miss her very much.

Ada spent a lot of time up there trying to figure out college housing, classes and logistics.

Teamwork to put up the sun shade.

Seth going out to be a pirate.

We were trying to see who could sink farther into the mud.  Then Sam tried jumping out and it made us all laugh.
















Ada and Sam took turns taking Seth out on the jet skis.  They even all fell off and had to figure out how to get back on by themselves.



We started building a sandcastle with a moat.

Sonny, Dar, Mindy and Arrow came up too.

Marty, Diane, Roger, Moana, Beth Son, Dar and Sonny.



Brad, Sharon, me, Gian, Wendee, Whitney, Taylor, Courtney (missing Amber and Andrew)


 

The Heber camp Faith Walk

The youth group was going to the Heber Valley camp Faith Walk.  They went last year, but this year they didn't have enough leaders to go with them.  They invited Jer and I specifically.  We offered Ada a spot as a leader too and we all went.  It was a very long day.... We started the day by getting a filling for Evelyn at the dentist's office, then to get the cakes and gluten free pizza for Seth's birthday party.  Then off to clean the house and mow the lawn.... then over to Heber.  Seth was not excited and very tired.  But he held my hand and as soon as the headphones went on he felt the spirit and had a great time.  I asked him afterwards how his birthday was.  He told me that the best part was the faith walk. Ada was asked last minute to give a talk about it in church.  The things that she said that stuck with me was that your relationship with the savior is personal, that she is very loved (and she definitely is), and that Christ helps us with all our fears and struggles.





We all made it through Ada's talk and then fell asleep.... we are tired!


 

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We've been trying to go to the Utah temples together as a family.  Last week, we went to the Oquirrh Mt temple.  It was sweet, calm and empty.  There was only us and one other family.  We had to take a picture of the fountain while we were there.  Ada and the twins have a picture at this fountain when we came through for the openhouse.

Then we drove over to Red Maple to celebrate Sethie's birthday with our favorite Chinese food.


 

Birthdays and errands

Took Ada for a pre college hair cut.... She's looking nice and pretty!

This little guy kept me company while I got the van tires patched up.  

Jer is amazing and made these for his mom and for Cristina.  They turned out so pretty.

We got to celebrate Judy's birthday with some of the Hansens, Brashers and a Morisse.


Cute second cousins

Ada. my helper!

Syl likes to watch Jer's trains.

 

Robotics camp

Seth did a robotics camp this summer.  He had a blast.  Like everything that he does, he didn't think he'd like it and then proceeded to work hard, make friends and have a fun time.  Gabe was in his group and they made a robot that they named, Tank.  They sumo wrestled, did mazes, played soccer.  He learned about making the different pieces work not just thinking about the overwhelming finished project.








 

Rhees Family

This is such a fun family.  They're sweet and playful.  It's fun to get to know them and try not to freeze in the cold rain!  It was...