We took our Nettesheim vacation over the 24th of July! We had never been to Bear Lake so we were excited to see what this place was all about. The Lake is a beautiful turquoise. The Beach was LONG and SHALLOW and seemed to go forever. The water was warm and the kids just played their hearts out all day long. It was a great vacation for us.

It was a 3 hour drive from our house to the home that we had rented in Idaho near the North Shore. We left Wednesday morning and stopped in Logan with Michelle and her kids. It was Pioneer Day in Utah so Logan park had a bunch of festivities going on. We watched a little of the parade, played at the park and watched a magician. Then we lunched at McDonald’s before heading to the vacation house.

kettle corn in Logan

The house we stayed at had 3 levels. It had 2 secret rooms and a huge kids bunk bed room. It had a lot of character and almost enough beds for all 35 of us. It was really close to the lake so that was great.

the front of the house

Girls getting ready for bed

We spent Thursday and Friday at the lake all day. We arrived around 10:30 and stayed until 5:ish both days. The first morning was over cast so the adults sat in chairs and wondered what the rest of the day would bring but the kids went straight to the water and sand and played. They did ask for towels and sweatshirts between playing but the sun eventually came out and we launched the boat and wave runners and had a great afternoon.

overcast but FUN

playing in the sand

Ben pulled Rose and Cali in this boat for quite a while. I think Packer and Mia took a turn as well and then Raymond went on his back so that we could get him to take a nap.

rain clouds?

sometimes we forget to change to a swim diaper – big booty

Our kids liked to ride in Grandpa’s boat but none of them would try tubing. Packer LOVED going for rides. Cali and Benji really enjoyed riding the wave runner. They actually let us go fast! Rose liked the wave runner in slow motion and I never put her on the boat.

whose turn on the boat?

Pack was to nervous to ride the wave runner but sure seems to enjoy it on dry land 🙂

The Rosie Girl! – she LOVES to play with cousins and LOVED driving.

lots of cousins!

It was fun to spend time on the beach with the kids and with family and just be out together enjoying the lake. I love days in the sun and sand and water toys are always a good idea. We were exhausted at the end of each day but it was totally worth it.

Ray and Packer enjoying the sand

Pack and Ray on top of the volcano!!

Rose taking a break in the shade

life on the beach. Over Cast Thursday was much less crowded than Sunny Friday.

Cali and cousins and their sand castle

Packer loving the shallow warm water

nap time – the only way to put him out is walking in the backpack!

We ate meals at the house. We went out for fresh raspberry shakes. We celebrated a few birthdays. I tried not to fall asleep at 8pm. We tried to get the kids to bed at a good time. We played a few games and just enjoyed being all together in the big house. We avoided any major sunburns and just had a great family vacation!

July birthdays – Sydney, Emily and Udine

we will be back

Nettesheim’s at Bear Lake 2013

We had to check out on Saturday morning. We wanted to hike to Bloomington Lake with Matt and Pete’s families but this pregnant mom wasn’t up for the 12 miles of winding roads to get to the trail. Our kids were a little bumbed so we made up for it by stopping at Chuck E Cheese on the way home!! Our kids loved it. We haven’t been in years and they had a blast. It was a good end to our weekend of FUN at Bear Lake!

crazy drivers

lack luster?? she didn’t care

Pizza Time

FRUIT NINJA!

getting our full value out of that token! Ray was afraid to ride ANY of them.