Wow, are we tired. We just can't hold our fun. We partied like it was 2009 and now we're paying the price! Here's our account of our vacation, and there aren't many pictures of me here because I'm a little afraid that my camping bangs make me look the teensiest bit like Donald Trump.
Anyway, last week we decided it was time for a little family togetherness so James, Bethany and I hit the dusty road. The plan was to camp overnight in Logan Canyon, then wake up the next day and spend the day playing at Bear Lake. So we executed the plan, and then the plan executed us. (No, it was fun, really it was. I just have that day-after-the-vacation hangover where the sunburn, laundry and unpacking has made me a little loopy. But we did have a GREAT time!)
On Friday, after a little trouble finding an available campsite (the down side to not planning ahead) we managed to find a beautiful spot at the Bridger Campground in Logan Canyon. It's right by Zanavoo--not too far up the canyon, which was nice since we were heading up after James got home from work and we didn't want a long drive before digging into dinner. Anyway, we arrived at the spot, set up camp and cooked our tin foil dinners. Bethany LOVED her dinner--yum yum! (Why does everything taste so much better over a campfire? Is it the ash?)
She was also a big fan of the tent. Let's face it, tents are fun--I don't care who you are, tents are fun! After dinner, and after a lot of persuading by James and calming of my fears about Bethany and campfires and the dangers thereof, James taught Bethie the finer points of marshmallow toasting:
And she had her first s'more!
Mmmmmm, those s'mores were sure good! But you know, after the first bite Bethany preferred just eating marshmallows straight from the bag. I, however, had no problem eating three of those bad boys. I love s'mores made with Fudge Stripe cookies! Yum!
The rest of the evening passed pleasantly by, and as it got dark we looked forward to sleeping peacefully under the stars, rocked to sleep by the gentle breeze wafting through our tent and the sounds of the crickets and the distant river soothing our souls.
WELL HA HA HA THAT WAS A DREAM SHATTERED, THANKS TO THE JERKAZOIDS AROUND THE CORNER!
I'm not bitter. Really. Truly. I'm working on repenting from all of my angry thoughts. But just as we were all tucked up snuggly in our beds (bags), our nice little camping neighbors decided to crank up the party. And they partied. And they partied. And they partied. And they blared their music and their laughter grew raucous. And then they switched from their annoying rap to Garth Brooks, and because I happened to know all of the words to "Friends in Low Places" (my family sometimes sang that before church on Sundays, don't ask) I couldn't even pretend the music was white noise, as I was now singing along in my head. Grrrrrr!
And then, in the campsite on our right, one of the guys decided to start playing a bongo drum. (Who brings bongo drums camping? I mean, a nice guitar is one thing but bongo drums?) Thankfully, though, the bongo didn't last too long.
So somewhere in there, while gazing up at the stars in the middle of the night, I'm thinking, "Get me out of this stinkin' fresh air!" We did eventually fall asleep, however--me with one eye open in case one of those partiers was thinking of slashing our tent and stealing our daughter (I don't think too straight at that point of exhaustion). And, to make a full confession, I was thinking pretty horrible thoughts about our neighbors and wishing them all terrible deaths from alcohol poisoning. In the morning, however, I did repent of my thoughts and my revenge simmered to wishing them terrible hangovers.
Here's Bethany the next day after our long night--I think this look says it all:
But after a GREAT breakfast that James cooked over the fire again (James is one great camp cook!) our adrenaline kicked in and we were once again happy campers. After striking camp, we headed for Bear Lake. And let me just say how much I love Bear Lake: I really, really, really love it. It's beautiful and the water is nice and cool and I have so many memories of family reunions there that a big piece of my heart resides in the turquoise blue water of Bear Lake forever! Okay, enough of waxing sentimental!
We had a BLAST. We really did. Bethany loved the lake. She loved digging in the sand with her little bucket and shovel, looking for and collecting shells, and spending lots and lots of time in the water. She talked to the seagulls and talked to the sailboats. For example, "Hi Seagull! I'm going swimming, Seagull! In the lake, Seagull!" and "Hi, Sailboat! I'm swimming with Mommy, Sailboat! See you later, Sailboat!" I love how she talks to animals and objects!
Here are a few pics (mock my pearly white legs and die):
Playing in the Sand:
Ready to Get In:
Lunch Break:
Little Sand Princess:
We really had a ball, as reflected in this picture taken just five minutes after getting in the car to come home:
And I'm proud to report that the only person who is sunburned is me, and only on my back in one spot that I failed to remember when applying sunscreen. (To truly appreciate how unscathed this is, you must be very familiar with Bear Lake, a.k.a. Sunburn Trap of the World.) So we're hobbling around a little today, and we were all a bit glassy-eyed at church, but the memories were worth it!
