Griffin Family : July 2008

7/10/2008 BIG BEAR LAKE TRIP

Relaxing after the mountain hike!

We left on Bryce's birthday - Thursday, June 26 about 9:30 a.m. We traveled to Las Vegas and stopped and had a breakfast buffet. The kids stuffed themselves silly and with full bellies we continued on happily to California. Everybody behaved pretty good and about 3 in the afternoon we arrived at our condo. We checked in and went swimming and checked out the area. We found a close grocery store and got some beef for grilling. Andy made delicious steaks for us and we enjoyed a quiet evening at the condo.

Dallas, Shelly, Aj, Holly, Katie & Bryce

Selfie - family portrait outside our Condo

Friday morning we declared it to be "Mountain Day." We started off early to a ski lift that took us to the top of the mountain. We had a spectacular view and proceeded to hike down the side of the mountain. Took awhile...we weren't really keeping track of time...maybe 90 minutes or more. It was hot but everybody enjoyed the hike and the scenery. Our muscles were screaming at us later...it is no fun to get old!

Big Bear had lots of Big bears!!!

Holly & Katie

Aj, Dallas, Bryce, Katie & Holly

Another selfie of the family!

We were tired and hungry after our hike and found the Famous Nate's hot dog stand and some 7-11 slurpees to make everybody happy. We took our grub back to the condo for accessories and relaxed a little.

In the afternoon we went to the alpine slide, water slide, mini golf and go-cart place and we all did a little of this and that. By evening we were pretty tired-- but not too tired to make Andy grill again and go swimming in the pool.

Andy and Katie at the end of the mountain hike

Holly & Kate

Katie and Holly on our boat ride

Katie and Andy on the boat

Saturday was declared "Lake Day." We tried to catch a 10 a.m. boat but missed it and had to kill time until the noon sailing. We got to wander around the town in their little shopping district. Everybody got t-shirts and tired out from all the walking. Then at noon we caught a 90 minute boat tour that took us all the way around the lake and told us interesting tid-bits about the lake and homes surrounding it. The voice of Bugs Bunny owns one of the house and he came out and talked to us through the mega phone..."what's up doc?" It was cute and kinda cool.

Boys enjoying the Lake!

Katie thinking it's a lil cold!

Holly..not so sure about this!

Oh yea...now she's sure!

Sand castles!

We found a local pizza joint that people had told us to try and had a late lunch. It wasn't as good as God Father's or Pizza Factory but it was decent.

Condo pool time!

Katie and Shelly

Shelly and Katie

We went back and took a little swim and rest again before venturing out for a road trip around the lake. At the end of our tour we stopped and most of us got in and swam in the lake. (I stayed out to take pictures!!)

While we went for yet another swim at the condo after the lake AJ warmed up all the leftovers and we enjoyed another patio meal. It was so fun to have all the fixtures of home and room for everybody to stay.

Sunday morning some of us went for a walk down to the lake and out onto the "boardwalk". Not what I think of as a boardwalk but beautiful all the same. We enjoyed the quiet peaceful morning and the scenery before heading back and packing for home.

No trip would be complete without a freeway blowout -- and ours did not disappoint. We got a blowout on 3:30 in the afternoon south of Mesquite in 110 degree heat. Luckily I married a stud and have 3 somewhat helpful boys and we were able to put the spare tire on. We thought we would have to stay over in Mesquite for the night but turns out Walmart is open on Sundays...so 2 hours later we were on our way home with 2 new tires.

(this was almost exactly what happened on the way back from Hawaii if you hadn't heard...'course w/o the intense Nevada heat!)

So things are back to normal and we made some great family memories together.