Sunday, October 19, 2025

Moon Lake and Bear Lake

 We had heard such great things about Moon Lake from a couple different families and so we decided to try it out this year. It was fun but in some ways our hopes were higher than what delivered :). The place we stayed was kind of like a pioneer home- a small upgrade from camping. However they didn't have tables outside to eat so that was a big bummer because we didn't bring enough camp chairs and places to sit and eat. The beach was fun. At first the mud scared them, especially Benson because you sink deep in some places because the water was SO low. But after they got over the scariness of it, they ended up loving playing in the mud. 

Gma/Gpa and Taft got a Campsite fro their trailer and so we could hang out with them. That was fun to have them! Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling good most of the time and didn't have much energy to help or play so that was a bummer. Probably added to the let-down of the trip. Overall, we still made some good memories and had a good time together. 














Benson went fishing with Dad and Gpa one morning but was so sad he didn't catch anything!












An exciting moment was watching Gpa dig someone out of getting stuck in the mud. The kids thought that was fun. 



Proof that Gma Close got on a kayak!



Luckily for Bear lake I was not sick. We were all healthy and had a great time hanging out with Rachel Bagley and Sis. Mayne's at her house in Garden City. What a great lady. One of my favorite parts was early in the morning I open my bedroom blinds and see Reese driving the side-by-side with Sis. Maynes holding onto the garbage cans to take them way down the long driveway to the road. She let Emma dn Reese and Nora drive the side-by-side around. The also let Jane and Benson help garden and pick things from the garden. 

Of course we went to the lake one day (unfortunately it was SUPER windy and kind of cold) and we rented these group tandem bikes that we really hard to peddle and get around. 

We played games and ate good food and got ice cream. It was a quick but fun trip!














Cade Turns 43! Monster Truck Show.

 For Cade's and Benson and Gpa's birthdays we bought tickets for the Finals Monster Truck rally in SLC. They had a great time! Benson absolutely loved the monster trucks and Cade loved seeing the excitement.  







Throwback to when Benson was 2 and we visited Daddy at Fishbowl. The kids always like getting "Daddy beans" (jelly beans from Daddy). 



Gpa Close and Cade's birthdays are 2 days apart so we often celebrate together. He turned 70 this year. We put a fun fish sign in his yard so everyone would know. The funny thing is the balloon kept swaying back and forth and making their Ring doorbell go off every single minute of the day hahaha. I told them they could have taken it down right away! Hahaha. 


4th of July

 Cade was awesome and started saving us spots for the Provo Parade around 3:00 am! Stephanie has usually saved spots but she just had cute Richie a couple months earlier so Cade agreed to save this year. 

We had a great time. Most of the Bleak side was there except Gma/Gpa Bleak and Bryan and Jennie. Everyone else from the Bleak's came and we had Taft with us still so it was fun!










EFY Adventure!

 Emma, Reese, Ashur and Taft all went to Moab, UT for EFY Adventure. They had the BEST time. Their counselors were named Tristyn and Rhett and were engaged during EFY (now they are married as I am writing this). They made everything SO much fun and they all felt like they had the best group there. 

They did mountain biking, rock climbing, rapelling, canyoneering, water rafting and more. They had to wake up around 4:30 am and didn't get to sleep until 10:00 pm. They were completely exhausted but had the time of their life. 

I'm so glad the cousins got to go together and have a blast! Those kind of spiritual and fun experiences are worth all the money and time!















Benson Turns 4!

 Oh my baby is growing up! I want to freeze him so badly but I can't stop time unfortunately. 

For his birthday, we had half of the Young's here (Emma, Reese, Ashur and Taft were all at EFY that week) and we invited Faith, Cal and Ivy to come celebrate. Benson got a new kiddie pool for the backyard and some water toys so we celebrated in the backyard with some of his favorite foods and favorite people. It was great! 











After the older 4 grandkids got back we celebrated Benson's birthday by renting out the Swimming Hole and having popsicles and opening more gifts. Benson is one loved boy!!!




Some things about Benson:

1. He is a SLEEPY boy. He doesnt' take a consistent nap each day but LOVES to fall asleep in the car and does it quite fast. 

2. Benson could live off of fruit and yogurt (and maybe chicken nuggets and pizza). But he is also a very good veggie eater. He loves dipping veggies in hummus (just like mama). 

3. He loves watching construction trucks go to work. If we pass by construction going on we have to stop and watch for a while. Super fun!

4. He still loves to terrorize Bear and Bear has a great love/hate relationship with him :). Bear gets SO excited to see him every morning and licks him all over and jumps up on him, but then shortly after remembers that Benson can sit on him or wrestle him and hurt him!

5. Benson loves riding his bike with training wheels now and has gotten quite good at it! He is also my canyon buddy and loves throwing rocks in water and finding bugs and fun things in nature. 

WE love you Benson!!! You make life fun and give the BEST snuggles and hugs! I love you!!!