Trial Lake Family Outing

For our family dinner night in August, Steve and I were in charge.  We thought instead of having a regular family dinner on Sunday night, we thought it would be fun to go up to Trial Lake in the Uintas.  We went last year on the spur of the moment w/ Dave/Joann and Jeff/Kim's family, and later heard the rest of the family wanted to go as well.  Steve said his family used to go camping up to Trial Lake for a week every year, so they all have fond memories going up there.  So we thought this would kill 2 birds with 1 stone, family dinner and great place to go visit as a family.  We planned a Saturday in August and went for it.  Here are some highlights.

That morning we let Nyles open one of his birthday presents before going.

He got his own hammock to use!

We left at 10am and got up there just after 11:30am.  Much to our surprise when we got to the lake, there wasn't much of a lake there!  We still aren't sure if they were draining the lake to work on the dam, or if they used the water to help w/ the fires.  Usually the lake is close to the trees on the right.  Unfortunately since the water wasn't up to the tree lines, we went down to the water's edge, and Nyles never got to use his hammock.

Nyles trying the kayak that Stacie/Phill borrowed from their neighbor.

Carter started playing in the mud just as soon as we got there.  

The mud didn't deter grandma though from getting a hug :)

We set up "camp" then had lunch.  Nyles wanted strawberries; his favorite.

 

We then sang Happy Birthday to Nyles and Conor (since we missed singing to the July birthday's last month).  I made cupcakes w/ "Popsicles" on top.

The kids thought the "Popsicles" were pretty fun, and tasty.  

Popsicles were made w/ Mike and Ikes and toothpicks.

Singing to the boys.

Enjoying the cupcakes and Dave getting ready to go fishing.

We had to take off Carter's shirt since it was so wet/muddy, but that didn't stop him from snuggling w/ Grandma.  Alexa also made Nyles a mud cake for his birthday.  Jeff and Kim were w/ Isaac at a football thing, so Dave brought up Alexa and Cameron to join the family outing.  Melanie's family was working on getting their house listed, so they didn't show up for a few hours after the rest of us.

Nyles going for a ride w/ London on the kayak.

Cute Carter playing the farting fishing game on Diane's phone.

Dave was anxious to get fishing so Steve got the boats out.

Beautiful view even w/ low water levels.

Dave fishing w/ London and Alexa.

Cameron trying the kayak now.

We went out as a family on the other boat.

 

Nyles is getting pretty brave standing up on the boats and sitting just about anywhere.

The kids taking turns on the kayak.

More rides in the kayak and Stacie and Phill on the boat. 

 

Nyles taking another spin on the kayak.

Dave w/ London and Alexa while fishing.

Lynsie trying the water out.  It was a little cold to swim in though.

We went back out w/ the kids and went fishing.  

Nyles caught a fish pretty quickly and reeled it in himself.  Good work Nyles!

We then let Lynsie take a pole and she caught one too!

Lynsie and I w/ the fish, Rainbow Trout.

Then Conor caught one.

Catching fish!

Dave w/ London and Cameron.

Alexa trying the kayak. 

Carter just enjoying his mud puddle.

More rides and fishing.  Aunt Diane going out now.

Diane caught a fish!

Sadly there was a lot of trash around the lake, so we all helped to pick it up.  Nyles took a grocery sack and walked around near our camp and picked up trash.  Carter just enjoying his mud puddle some more w/ Mt. Baldy in the background.

 

Mt Baldy and the lack of water.  I looked it up and it says it's only 22% full.

Cute Carter eating another cupcake w/ Aunt Diane as Nyles opens his birthday gifts from Aunt Diane and card from Grandma LuDean.

Joann finally got up the courage to go out on the boat as well.

Enjoying the ride.

Mt Baldy.

London and Lynsie on the kayak and Stacie and Phill in the boat.

Carrie taking Nyles and Lynsie out for a ride.

Nyles looking pretty comfortable on the front of the boat w/ Lynsie and Carrie.

London and Lynsie later on the kayak just getting a ride w/ Stacie and Phill.

Melanie showed up around 3pm w/ Ethan, Noah and Olivia.  

Dave taking Noah and Ethan out for aride.

Carter getting Cameron w/ the squirt gun.

Aunt Diane and Cameron helping Carter carry water over to his mud hole.

Steve and I at Trial Lake.

Carter checking out the dog Sandy w/ Ethan's help.

It became overcast and all of a sudden the wind picked up as well.  Luckily we were already cleaning up by this time.  Carter even helped a little to clean up.

After everything was packed up, we all loaded up and drove off.  Since the water levels were so low we were actually able to drive our cars down in the lake bed to load and unload our cars, which was nice, yet sad.  Steve led the caravan out w/ Phill's car behind us, then Joann, then Dave.   It was a fun day w/ the family!  We all had a great time and plan to go back next year, hopefully w/ a little more water this time :)  Until next year...

Bear Lake Trip 2018

We had a fun trip up to Bear Lake again this year w/ Dave and Melissa Thomas and their kids.  We got up there Sunday afternoon, unpacked, ate dinner, then went to the beach in Garden City for a little bit.  The weather was perfect the whole time up there and the kids did great playing together.  It was another successful trip to Bear Lake.  Thanks for the fun Thomas family!

Cute Carter on the way up, then passed out.

Steve holding Carter's hand walking out in the lake.

Dave Thomas w/ Piper and Calvin.

It was really muddy out there and ironically both Nyles and Piper lost one of their sandals in the mud.  So we spent some time looking for it but to no avail.  We never found them.

Cute Carter w/ my sunglasses on and playing in the sand.

 Beautiful view.

The next morning we went up to the North Beach on the Idaho side.  We set up our canopies, camp chairs, got the beach toys out and went out to play.  We also brought the boats again to ride in.

Nyles excited to dig in the sand.

Steve and the boys getting their feet wet.

Cute Carter saying hi and Steve taking the boat out.

Steve rowing in the back w/ Calvin and Carter.

Nyles and I in the front.  Carter pushing a dump truck through the water.

Cute Nyles and Carter getting some lunch/snacks.

The dump trucks were a hit among the boys.

Carter trying to find Steve's toe in the sand.  Steve and I.

 

Now all the kids looking at Steve's toe in the sand.  Steve was hiding it then wiggling it in the sand.  They thought it was pretty funny.

 Dave, Melissa and baby Tessa.

Lunch time!

Back in the water.

Playing w/ the loaders again.

The shallow water was quit warm too, which was nice.

Cute Carter loving life, playing at the beach.

Taking the boats out for another ride.  

Nyles thought it was fun to pull them in the last couple feet.

Piper digging in the sand.  We stayed until 3pm then packed up and left.  Carter fell asleep as soon as we left.  He played hard and usually takes a nap by noon.

Carter's cute cheeks w/ a blue Airhead on his lips and sand.  He was so tired Steve was actually able to get him out of his car seat and take him downstairs to his Pack and Play.  He stayed asleep until dinnertime; we actually had to wake him up.  Silly boy!

After dinner we went over to LaBeau's for some yummy raspberry shakes!

The kids then chased each other around the block.

Carter and Piper in front of the store sign.

Beautiful view from the condo.

Quick family picture before heading out.

Until next year Bear Lake.....