Bear Lake- Take 2

Another fun weekend at Bear Lake- this time with 4 other families in our neighborhood.  We got there Thursday evening and upacked (we brought tons of food!) and relaxed.  Except for a rough night's sleep because my room was so incredibly hot, we were ready for the beach Friday!  

 The kids were excited- and went straight for the water.  It almost appears... to pee.  (I hope not)

 After finishing a nap, Tyce and Tom joined in the fun.

 Tom took the two older boys out on the Sea-doo... this is where the story gets interesting/awful.  

 After a little while, Tom took Ethan close to the shore because he didn't want to go fast and Eli did.  (The rest of us at the beach didn't see Tom come back or know he dropped Ethan off).  While going towards the beach, Ethan must have drifted a little too far south because we didn't see him come out of the water and he didn't see us.  He began walking south looking for our group.  When Tom came back with just Eli later, we finally discovered we had a problem- Ethan was missing!  The whole group formed a search party and checked the water, the bathrooms, the beach, parking lots, etc.  The Park Rangers were called and so many nice concerned people joined the search.  At first, I wasn't too concerned but the longer he went missing, the more frantic I became.  Especially because Ethan is my cautious kid and would have come straight out of the water to tell me about the sea-doo ride.  It felt like he disappeared into thin air and no one had seen or noticed him around the beach.
I was so impressed with how kind and helpful everyone was.  One nice lady grabbed me and her friend to say a prayer that we would find him.  I was praying in my head constantly, but it was nice to have someone say it out loud.  I know our group of friends prayed right at the beginning when I was out looking.  After the longest and worst hour of my life, I was beginning to lose hope we would find him.  I was just running around screaming his name.  I was trying to prepare myself for the worst, and that's when I heard good news!  They found him.
I guess Ethan just kept walking down the beach looking for us and ended up soooo far down- much farther than any of us had thought possible to look.  He was stressed and dehydrated and had a nosebleed, so he had stopped and was crying when I nice lady asked if she could help.  She gave him water and called the Park Rangers who came to get him.  I was so relieved when they finally brought him back, that I was almost hysterical.  Just remembering that day gets me choked up.
It definitely puts life in perspective.  We were all so happy to have good news!  I can't stop giving all 3 kids extra hugs and kisses cause I am just so happy they are all healthy and happy.

 Ethan and buddies Davis and Cade playing again after he was found.  

 It doesn't get any better than throwing mud!

The rest of the weekend felt quite relaxing and uneventful (thank goodness!)  We spent another day at the North Shore beach where the kids had a great time.  We prepared and ate delicious meals and stayed up talking and playing games.  The kids all played together fabulously without incidence and actually left the adults alone cause they were having so much fun.  And even though we all came home a little sleep deprived, we were safe, happy, and healthy.  Can't wait to do it again next year! (With Ethan in my sight at all times, of course)