Our Summer Vacation at Bear Lake

Well, we have survived our first camping trip with Emma. Everyone is alive and well. We are only a little sunburned, but I seem to be the only one covered in misquito bites. No matter how much clothing I wore or how much repellant I put on the little buggers just loved me.

We made it through 5 days and 4 nights of sleeping in a tent with our darling little girl. By the last day however I was certainly ready for a real shower and my own bed. Emma did really well for being in a strange place and being outside in the sun and wind all day. She did have one freak out moment the first night when we went to put her to bed. She has been teething lately and was probably over stimulated and over tired. She decided to fuss, cry, and scream for two hours before finally falling alseep exhausted. I love my husband dearly but the silly boy was ready to get in the car and drive home that very minute. But we survived and she was really great the rest of the time. I think she just had to get used the sound the tent made and sleeping in her play-pen. The only other issue we had was that Emma woke up at 4:50 one morning and would not go back to sleep. We tried everything for about an hour. After that we gave up and decided to take her for a walk so we wouldn't disturb everyone around us. On the walking path we passed a nice older couple who just smiled at us and commented on how you never get to sleep in once you have kids and don't we know it. We must have looked tired.

Here she is with her Uncle Daniel already for bed.

We had a great time with our many activities up at the property which involved: eating, relaxing, eating, playing games, eating, reading, eating, watching Emma play and talk to herself and did I mention eating. (the diet was ignored for the week) Emma was so entertained by everyone that was there that life is probably really boring now with just Mom to play with. She learned how to say Ga-Ga and so she practiced it over and over again.




Playing Games!

Emma playing!

We also spent one day at the beach. Normally we would go at least twice during our stays at Bear Lake but it being the first week of July the water was still really cold and going to the beach with a baby is hard work. One day was enough for me. Emma was great though. She loved the water. I think we have a water baby on our hands and will have to watch her carefully. She also enjoyed her first boat ride. We timed it to coincide with her nap time. Quinn did not believe me that she would fall asleep but I was right. She was asleep with in minutes. On that ride I also proved to myself that I can still water-ski after having a baby. I wanted to try and wakeboard but the water was so cold and my body was only up for a few minutes of skiing, so maybe later this summer.

Our Water Baby!!

We also had a great time going for a bike ride down to the pizza place. We were also fortunate enough to find a bike trailer for Emma to ride in so she wasn't left behind. She slept most of the way which was great, she needed it. Our bike ride was not without incident however. At one point I noticed Emma's hat had fallen off so Quinn and I pulled over and stopped to put it back on like good parents to keep the sun off her. We were not good bikers however and did not signal that we were going to stop. My Grandparents were behind us a little ways. Grandma saw us and slowed to a stop just behind us. Grandpa however was playing with all his cool gagets on his bike (pedometer, speedometer, time, temp, ect.) He did not see Grandma until the last second and crashed into her sending her and her bike into the weeds and himself skidding across the bike path. Once we got Grandma untanled from her bike and on her feet again we were able to see she only had a few scraps and one small bleeding cut on her hand, she was sore the next day though. Grandpa was fine. We are very lucky also that neither one hit Emma, although she was strapped in she had no helmet. We liked the trailer so much I think we will get one for ourselves.










Our strong Dad and trusting sleeping baby girl!












This is just me showing off my ametuer photography skills!

The whole crew!

We also enjoyed exploring the Minnetonka Cave. Carly's boyfriend Jeff had never been. Our tour guide was great and really fun. Mom and Dad did the Grandparents thing and sat outside the entrance with Emma. We hiked all 444 stairs down and then back up all in a cool 40 degree temp.












The misquitos were horrible at the mouth of the cave!




On our last day at Bear Lake we played softball. Quinn, Me, Anne, and Dad won - ten to four. Sorry Jeff, Carly, Taylor and Mom. Good luck next time. Emma had to stay with her Great-Grandma and take a nap.

The Winning Team!

The Second Place Team!

Overall we had a great trip and hope Emma comes to love Bear Lake as much as we do.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Moore for letting us come up and thanks to my parents for doing all the food. We know its a lot of work and really appreciate it.