Bear Lake Hill Reunion 2015

The Hill Clan hit Bear Lake this year with a bang!  Every family was there except for JD's because he is busy fighting fires during the summer.  We had a great time, and of course amazing food. The Blake's hosted and made each day a relaxing and fun filled.  

The beach at Bear Lake is great for kids because the water is shallow for yards, and there are little sandbars to play on just off the water.  Shawn being the artist he is took advantage of one and he and Jack created Titanaboa, a prehistoric snake the size of a bus.  It was pretty awesome!

Chillin' at the Beach filled our mornings - but our afternoons and evenings were full of other adventures.  A sweet game of kick ball!

A family photo in our matching shirts!  It is crazy to see how big everyone is getting and how big our family is - this is even missing JD's six!

One afternoon we took a trip to Paris!  Paris, Idaho that is.  Our ancestors helped settle Paris and we visited the tabernacle and the Sleight cabin that still stands to this day.

After Paris, we headed to Bloomington Lake to have a swing on the rope swing.  This is a glacier melt off swimming hole so Sam was the only brave enough to enter the freezing cold water, but he did it in a big way:

Jack found a log to float on - nice plumbers crack!

The hike in was beautiful! Wild flowers every where.  It was gorgeous.

That night we celebrated Sam's 10th birthday with a birthday brownie!  He always seems to get to celebrate in Idaho as we are on vacation there at some point in July.

Our last day the final adventure was a photo scavenger hunt - that led us all around the Bear Lake area. Our group thought we had out smarted everyone, but we found out sadly we went way too far out the way trying to avoid everyone else…but we had a great time win or lose.

We had a great time with our family and are always sad to say goodbye, but we were excited to head back to our house and our own beds.

4th of July 2015

What a blast we had at the cabin this year!  The kids (minus Max) were all able to get out and enjoy the boat and water without any fear or reservation.  We played from sun up to sun down and soaked up the fun.  Shawn was deemed the boat master and ended up staying out on the lake nearly all day - but all the kids were able to knee board, tube, wake board and ski so it was worth it to get everyone up.  Even Jack!  Seriously this was the highlight of the trip - last year he wouldn't even get in the boat!  This year he was tubing, he was jet skiing and he knee boarding.  On our last day there he even got up on his knees on the knee board!!  I couldn't have been more excited for him.

Sam pulled some wicked moves on the knee board and tried his hardest to get outside the wake - he just couldn't keep his momentum going.  Hopefully next year!

This is picture of Jack when he first tried the knee board - he basically just got drug around behind the boat - but then he braved moving up to his knees - and we were able to get a picture!  He did awesome:)

Lyv's favorite part beside hanging out with the girls was Abbie's dog, Ellie!  Such a cute cute puppy - and she thinks we need one now. Lyv has a need for speed and loved the jet ski!

Max was a total weirdo this trip and refused to go in the water At ALL!  As frustrating as that was - it made me more relaxed and he contented himself with the sand and the puppy. Doesn't he have the most ornery face in the world?  

Shawn got out on the water when the other boats were finally gone at the end of the day, and figured out a great way to keep water out of his nose: snorkel mask!  He looked crazy, but it worked.  He is so fun to watch ski -  I never get sick of watching.

On the 4th of July we decorated for the boat regatta - we were as patriotic as a boat could be!

The weather was great and the company was even better!  We always love being up at the cabin and I think as the kids get older, it will be even more enjoyable.

Idaho Summer Vacation 2015

Our trip home was great this year.  We packed in so many fun activities and visited with our family and friends that the time flew by.  Our first visit was to Orem to see my nephew Nate before he left for his two year LDS mission to Forth, TX.  We were able to visit for a few hours and I am so grateful for this opportunity.  As the oldest nephew in our family, he became like one of my own at times  - and I am so proud of the young man he has become in spite of tremendous trial and difficulty.  He is a great guy!  We also had the chance to see the process on the Provo City Temple.  It is amazing!  I have always loved the tabernacle and love seeing it stay true to that design.  It will be a beautiful temple.

 Our next special visitor was Jax - the Hill families newest addition.  He is Katie's youngest and we snuggled and held him as much as possible on our trip.  Seriously there is nothing better than a new baby, and he is adorable.

 While in Idaho we couldn't help but drive up to the Rexburg Temple.  This is one you can spot from the freeway, but getting up close and seeing the amazing Idaho sky against it makes it even more beautiful.

 I wanted to take the kids to some of my favorite spots - so the Sand Bar was a must.  This place never disappoints… the kids love it, and I always get to visit with some friends from home who either still live here or are visiting.

 My mom and I took the kids hiking up to Mesa Falls and stopped at 511 Main in Ashton for some huckleberry ice-cream.  Notice Lyv stealing a lick from Max…little weasel.

 A trip home wouldn't be complete with at least a dozen trips to the sno - shack!  Delicious!!

 I  took the kids out to Ryan's grave and noticed the Superman key chain and couldn't resist a picture.

 Lyvie Jeanne with Great Grandma Jeanne.  Lyv calls Grandma Jeanne, "her" grandma since they share a name.  They have a special relationship and I am so glad that Olyvia will have memories of Grandma. She is a truly great woman.

 Finally we had to pick up Shawn from the airport in SLC so we took the opportunity to visit Temple Square with the kids.  I always enjoy seeing all the beautiful buildings and being reminded of my own heritage and ancestors that helped settle this valley.

 I am always inspired by the sight of the SLC temple - it reminds me again and again of the importance of my faith in my life and the opportunity I have to be with my family for eternity.

 The last stop was in Logan on our way to Bear Lake - the Logan Temple.  I had never been there so we quickly pulled over and walked around the grounds.  My grandma and grandpa Hill were sealed in this temple and it like all of the temples always brings a great feeling of peace.  At this point the kids where sick of taking pictures…so I am lucky to have convinced them to indulge me one more time:)