Bear Lake and Corban's Prayer

So we had a great week at Bear Lake even though I had a sprained ankle and Amber busted up her knee within the first day or two of being there.
First observation was that it was really nice to have a family vacation.
Second observation is that no matter how much sunscreen you put on at Bear Lake you will get roasted as my upper body can currently attest to.
Just a couple of memories... First we went most of Saturday and Tuesday and all of Sunday and Monday without our boys and we never want to have to do that again. We missed them desperately. As fun as some people might think it is top have some quiet time we just missed them.
Next was seeing the boys on Tuesday evening and having all four confirm that they really didn't miss us. Apparently a beach, cousins, a boat and grandparents make great replacements for parents.
I also just wanted to note how kind Amber's parents are. They voluntarily took the boys so the boys could have more time on the beach and in the water. They helped out a ton while Amber and I were gimpy. It is more than lovely top have such kind in-laws.
On Thursday we went four wheeling and the boys had an absolute blast. Trey and Trenton learned how to drive and I am afraid that Trey got his mother's crazy sense of adventure since the only speed he knew was full throttle;-)
I thoroughly enjoyed teaching them how to ride. We had some sacred experiences as i had am opportunity to talk with them about being safe and keeping their eye on the road. I told them that keeping their eye on the road while four wheeling was similar to keeping their eyes on Heavenly Father and Jesus in their lives. Trenton proceeded to repeat" keep your eye on the road" multiple times as he drove. I hope they remember that little lesson as I hope we all do!
Then Friday my ankle started to feel reasonably better so we went out in the boat. The three older boys all took a turn in the tube and had a blast. That afternoon I spent about two hours with just me and Trey out in the water on the water trampoline that Amber's aunt and uncle brought. I will cherish that time forever. It was so much fun to just play with him and spend time with him away from the cares of the world that so often encumber me and hamper my ability to be a good parent. Then Taft came out too and it made it double the fun.
Corban was sweet the whole time and since riding bikes was easier for me then walking he and I spent hours on the bike together. He would talk to me from back in his bike trailer about everything from the dog that he apparently wants now to everything else under the sun. Audrey came with us one day and fell asleep. Sweet Corban played with his sister's hair the whole ride! There was a speed bump on the road by the cabin that we would go over every time we rode that he and i called "the laughing bump" because he would laugh every time we would go over it. So cute! I might add that Corban is quite the wild man on the four wheelers as well. He laughed and screamed with pure delight whenever the speeds would increase.
Audrey enjoyed everything. Loved the water, the boat, the beach, the bike rides, the four wheelers and especially dancing to Uncle Eric's ukulele music! She was quite the ham! She also enjoyed sneezing for everyone which is apparently a trick she learned at her pictures last week.
Finally we finish off with Corban's prayer after we got home on Saturday. He prayed that "we wouldn't go to bear lake anymore and be in the car forever". They were in the car for thirty or forty minutes while we finished packing (had to pack around them because we didn't have tons of room). Then the drive home took longer because we had to stop by Amber's parents house to get the boys' Sunday clothes. Anyway...I am sure based on the amount of fun he had he really didn't mean that, but it sure was funny all the same!
The week has enhanced and increased my gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father and His plan of happiness for us that includes as its basic unit the family. His plan is perfect and I am so grateful for the atonement of the Savior that made it all possible!