Bear Lake

Left to right: Danny, Jake, Marina, Esaias, Isaac, Ryan, Owen, Rhonda, Mike
(missing Justin who is standing in the sun on the beach to get dry)

This is most of the clan that met in Bear Lake for the 4th of July (minus the older boys & Rhonda taking the picture). We had a lot of fun meeting our good friends and having a relaxing weekend. We met the Miner's, Rhonda & Mike, when we moved to Grand Junction in 2001. We met them for the first time on our moving in day, as they came to help unload our moving truck and welcome us to the Grove Creek neighborhood. They had just 2 boys at the time, Jacob who was 3 years old and Ryan 1 years old (just 2 months older than Isaac). We hit it off well. And Rhonda took on watching Isaac for me while I went to school. Isaac and Ryan have been close friends ever since. It's amazing thinking that we now have 7 children between the 2 families. We've grown and our friendship has stayed strong. We are extremely lucky for such great friends.
Esaias and Owen are about 5 months apart. They were really good together. Esaias liked Owen and was soft with him for the most part. Of course the hugging sometimes gets to be a little much. But I can't wait to watch them grow up and be friends just like Isaac and Ryan. Too fun and too cute!

Our view of Bear Lake from the cabin

We did get to watch fireworks from the deck. (right to left: Jake 13, Ryan 11, Justin 4, Isaac 11, Marina 7)

Go Karts were part of Isaac's weekend.
Thanks Mike for letting him tag along!

Danny & Mike have always been able to talk more than Rhonda & I.

Esaias was soooo tired, and decided to finally fall asleep when we went to play at the beach. He still enjoyed being outside, but was kind of "out of it."

The bigger boys got to ride their own "trikes" on our 1 hour trike and surry rental. It was fun, but the boys got a little carried away...took off with out their parents, and of course Isaac eventually crashed. You'll see the picture below.

Esaias and Justin in front, and Marina in back waiting for the ride to begin.

He tore his knee up pretty good. Natural consequences can be so rough. Danny & I did not have much sympathy for the lack of brain power involved in that decision.

Chillin' on the lake in their own boat.

Jake, Justin, Ryan, Isaac & Mina agree to take a picture!

Marina the only girl out of 7 kids, enjoyed hanging with Justin and holding baby Owen. She is good big sister, even if she thinks she hates being the only girl. She sure liked Mike too! Talked his ear off!

Two eleven year olds can mean for trouble! They are both almost exactly the same height and size. Isaac used to dwarf Ryan when they were 1 yr. But now they can both feel the pain of being almost the smallest boys in their classes at school. They spent the entire weekend together. Inseparable!

Rhonda and I are not in the pictures because we are either taking them or moving around taking care of kids! I am really glad to have such a good friend. We are both terrible at keeping in touch. But every time we talk or get together, we don't miss a beat. It's like we have just seen or talked yesterday!
Thanks Rhonda for sharing your camera and pictures of this weekend. I think we are going to have to invest in a new camera. Gymnastics meets and soccer games require a camera with a little more power than my dinky Nikon.