Weekend at Bear Lake 2020

Last week featured the annual family trip up to Bear Lake for a few days' worth of rest and relaxation. Mom again rented out a house for three days and three nights, this time in Garden City (the past two years were spent at a different house in nearby Laketown). It was a great location, featuring a nice breeze coming in from the lake and a good amount of shade in the afternoons and early evenings.

Day 1: We made the drive up through Sardine and Logan canyons just in time for check-in at 4:00 p.m. We had Papa Murphy's pizza for dinner and played a few games of cribbage (something JB and I recently started playing) that evening.

Day 2: Our first full day at the lake included boating for those who went out on the water and kayaking for those staying closer to the shore. I did some reading while watching the Jazz vs. Nuggets playoff game in the main gathering room. JB, Ben, Adi, and I prepared the fixings for tacos/nachos for dinner that evening.

Biz captured this candid shot of me cutting up black olives:

After a run downtown for raspberry shakes (when in Rome and all that), we also provided the ingredients for s'mores around the fire pit.

Four-month-old Sadie (not too surprisingly) was the object of many people's attention throughout our trip.

Day 3: I got outside a little more for some additional reading (Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary marathon---yes, really) to observe more of the fun had by those playing in the water. On this day, we had access to both jetskis and a water trampoline. JB and I made a run to Zipz for Dole whips and raspberry shakes.

Pulled pork sandwiches and corn on the cob were on the menu for dinner. Afterward, we posed for family photos in our matching green shirts Mom had printed up for the occasion.

Steve and Summer prepared a number of "Minute to Win It" challenges for the final group activity of the week. I enjoyed partnering up on a team with Biz, (sister-in-law) Jana, Jake, and Luke; we took second place out of four teams.

One of our favorite events was the sticky note challenge, during which we had a minute to place as many sticky notes as we could onto our faces. JB took first place with 17 sticky notes; I was second and was able to keep 13 on my face.

I had a bit of insomnia later on, but fortunately one of the TV channels was showing a "Parks and Recreation" marathon while I pored over more Beverly Cleary.

Day 4: After a breakfast of yogurt and fruit, we packed up and were on our way home before our 10:00 a.m. checkout time. We headed back through Logan Canyon into Logan, where some jumped up to Smithfield to visit Dad's grave, and others stopped at Gossner's for squeaky cheese and other goodies.

All in all, it was another enjoyable family summer vacation, and we look forward to Bear Lake again in 2021.