We just got back last night from a long holiday weekend in Bear Lake, Utah. Kenny's parents and sister each have a home up there. Jill has the "party" house. It's a really nice model home right on the edge of the golf course with a big, bright kitchen and guests galore. There's always something going up there. Skip and Joan's house is higher up with an incredible view of the lake. It's a lot quieter but I find that peaceful. It was the perfect place to hang out and decompress.
We fly in so we can maximize the time off Kenny gets from work and then drive the three hours (sometimes less) to Bear Lake. The first time we flew with Grant over Memorial Day, Grant was a little angel on the plane. This time....not so much. It wasn't even that he cried or fussed or anything like that. It just seemed like a little wiggle worm took over his body and he had to get his hands or teeth on everything. He laughed and had a great time but he twisted like a spastic eel and drove his normally very patient father nearly crazy. We had to hold him into shifts and he never wore himself out. By the end of the plane ride we got him focused by playiing "boo" which makes him giggle like crazy. This set off most of the passengers around us, too. Grant's full belly laugh is pretty contagious.
We landed an drove to Bear Lake without incident and I woke to some obnoxiously loud crickets on Friday morning. Ever since those stupid things used to hide in my room and Riverside and taunt me just when I was about to go to sleep, I have had a sworn vendetta against them. But I couldn't find the culprits and I couldn't fall back asleep so I was up to enjoy the 4th of July about two hours too early. It turned out to be a beautiful day. It was warm and slightly overcast but it felt great. We puttered around in the morning watching the Grantycakes show, entertaining us with his huge smiles and excited chatter. We moseyed down to this place called Merlin's for burgers and raspberry shakes once Amy Lou got to town and then headed to the lake. We never actually made it because we got reports that the wind was blowing over the sun tents and the sand was kicking up so we scuttled back to the house to enjoy the rest of the day. We played cards and read books and then around dinner time, made our way down to Jill and Bob's to join their crew for some turkey tacos and apple crisp. Then Amy Lou and I snuck to the living room to read while the rest of the crew played a rowdy game of Life. Yes, a rowdy game of life. I was there. I heard it. Eventually the fireworks went off over the lake and we watched them for a while from the porch with the twins.
Saturday was equallly restful. I finished my book and decided to join civilization again. Joan and Amy Lou and I headed the thirty miles into Monpelier, Idaho for supplies (read: chocolate covered donuts, guacamole, diet root beer, Red Vines....you know: the basics. Oh, and some dinner fixings). Then we came home and Kenny helped Skip stain the deck and me, Amy Lou and Joan played a million hands of cards. Then we invaded Jill and Bob again, this time scarfing down super tasty brisket and twice baked potatoes. Then we went back to the quiet house and watched WIld Hogs. Sunday we attended an overflowing testimony meeting and heard testimonies both strange and wonderful. But the strange was pretty strange.
We spent the day hanging out, reading some more, and visiting the Minnetonka Cave. This is a really cool place with lots of fascinating stalagmites and stalactites. Kenny and I didn't get to go through the whole cave because Grant was tired and starting to fuss and we didn't want to distrub the other cave visitors. So we turned around and waited for the rest of our group, chatting with a pleasant ranger outside of the cave. Then we went home and found company waiting for us: Uncle Frank and Aunt Judy. Then I got roped into more Hand and Foot with Joan and Judy who are CARD BANDITS! But it's pretty fun. Dinner was pot roast with a side of Uncle Harvey's special corn and Joan's vegetable soup (yum!)
Monday was a work day. I spent a lot of time writng and getting caught up for the week before. Kenny worked on the deck some more with his dad. We decided to take a break and head out to the lake for the afternoon, enjoying the warm day and pleasant water. Kenny took Grant out several times and he loved it, of course. Such a water baby! Then we met up with the Peterson gang and ate at the Bear Lake pizza place where they have a huge 28" pizza called Old Ephraim. If your group finishes it, you get your picture on the wall. We had thirteen people in our group putting in a respectable effort and we still couldn't do it. It's HUGE. Then it was back to the house for more cards and a side of guacamole.
Tuesday morning we spent the morning visitng with Kenny's cousin John who drove up from Cali and then packed and headed out for the airport at noon. Our flight home had Grant acting just as crazy as the flight out and now we're dreading the flight to Alaska, but oh, well....the tickets are paid for and we're committed now! I sure wish James could have come with us because we had big fun but I think he had a good time celebrating with his family in San Fran. Three weeks til we get to go see him!