Day 7- Guns, burgers and the Polar Plunge

All of this fun is starting to catch up with us. 

It looks like Aunt Ameli not only did the nails, but a pretty epic Elsa Braid, as well.

This is our last day at Bear Lake, so we hopped into the truck and went way the hay away so that we could shoot stuff up with guns. Uncle Mat gave us all a crash course in gun safety and we were off. I was feeling pretty reluctant, but my pride won out and I fired each one and took my turn. Turns out I'm a 9 mm girl!

When we had peppered every object we could find with bullets, we headed back down the mountain...and it started to snow! The boys were riding in the back of the truck and didn't seem to mind. That's a direct result of living in a state where June is usually humid volcano weather.


We stopped back into Merlin's for a burger. I can't resist a burger that combines jalepenos AND raspberry jam. No, ma'am.

I saved a few momentos from our little shooting party. It's who I am.

Another round of Mortal Pongbat!

So here's what happened next. We were all hanging about in the kitchen and the subject I'd been dreading all week came up again. The polar bear plunge. I swear to you, I had actually said prayers in my heart that they would forget about the whole thing.

That's okay! Because nobody can make me do it, right? And I know for sure that Lori and Shannon won't want to participate. I'm totally safe. I can disappear into the masses and no one will even ask me.

Oh but they did.

The did ask. And they stared with hopeful eyes. And I felt like I was a big ole party poop.

And I still said no.

Then...THEN!! Lori said, "I'll do it if Maren does it". WHAT???

So then this weird thing happened where I heard myself say, "Let's do it."

So there we were. At the dock. Do I need to remind you that I didn't get into the water during the day?


It looks cold because it is.

Ethan is thinking about that moment he hits the water...

There are FISH in there. Cold fish.

I thought we'd have a few minutes to contemplate the universe, but people just started hopping in! It was time to face the music.

This says it all.

But we did it. And it was crazy and now we feel awesome and I don't feel like a party poop!

Day 6 - Mathew turns 16!!!

Friday morning brought a deceptive sunshine. It was looking like a gorgeous day, the kind of day where people that aren't actually loco in the head might get onto a boat and let water touch their skin. 

The sun lied. 

It was still super chilly and so just the crazies when out on the water. 

 Don't mind me. I'll be curating tiny shells on the warm sand.

So itty bitty!

Ethan found his happiness in catching big-lipped carp and letting the swim away no worse for wear.

Lori was sporting this seasons most fashionable beach wear.

Pretty soon we were back to the cabin and celebrating Mathew's 16th birthday!!

Isn't he the cutest?

The rowdy crowd resumed their Mortal Pongbat in the basement and Aunt Ameli patiently did the girls nails.

and did girls nails. Aunt Ameli deserves a back massage. I know 6 Hufford ladies that would gladly pitch in their summer allowances to send her to a masseuse.

I was absolutely exhausted, but the hold outs stayed up late into the night playing Telestrations around the round table.

Day 5 - Bear Lake floating trampoline, freezing at the beach and Mortal Pongbat

I really don't know if it's possible to wake up in this beautiful place and NOT take a photo every single day. 

Is there anything better than a big pile of shoes in a home filled with people you love? I think not.

Mathew's running poker game goes strong with willing uncles and siblings.

The day promised to be pretty chilly, but that will never stop a Hufford brother from having fun with his other Hufford brothers.

Big Mat rented a floating trampoline for us to use and so we ferried the kids back and forth to jump. It was chilly and fun. and the fear of falling off of the paddle board into the water kept me off for most of the day.

My kids were certainly entertaining thoughts of how lame I was for just hanging out on the beach trying to wrap myself in any available towel, tablecloth or discarded t-shirt for warmth. If I made a little cocoon and laid myself perfectly flat on the beach, it was mostly bearable.

The marina is closer to the small grocery store, so I popped over to get a loaf of bread and a dozen eggs. I couldn't believe my eyes....Pistachio Yak! For sale! These Utahns and their Cafe Rio and their Grandma Sycamores and their commercially produced "salads". Such abundance.

Back to the beach to shiver and look for mini shells.

Megan and Otis in his baby bjorn

Mathew braving the cold air on the boat...he's always been adventurous on the water!

Me and m' baby

We eventually decided we'd head back to the cabin for some down time.

It didn't take long for the teenagers to claim their napping real estate.

John and Shannon made a huge pot of skyline for dinner. It was SOO delicious. I inhaled this plate in under 2 minutes.

This is the stuff.
Sunshine and pups and guitars and doing nothing in particular.

In this environment, genius has a chance to spread its wings.

Mortal Pongbat is born.

The loser "faces" the firing squad.

Nearby, Everly and Brooklyn tried to fuse these two water bottles with a wrench. They were determined to make it happen.

Lori made s'mores in the oven. Genius EVERYWHERE!

We took a break from Mortal Pongbat and s'mores to go in search of the legendary raspberry shakes of Bear Lake. Per Madison's recommendation, we settled on Merlin's.

They get immediate coolness points for their money ceiling.

And the raspberry shakes were definitely delishioso.

Oy. The mustache.

Full bellies, tired bodies, sun-burnt faces, new memories, mustache men. Burned into my memory.