Family Vacation 2011: Bear Lake (part I)

This was our second annual Hardie Family Vacation that we started doing each summer with Joe's parents and siblings.  Coming from a family that never really did extended family vacations, I happen to think this is the best tradition ever!  Last summer we kicked it off in Branson, MO which is where Joe's parents spent their honeymoon and where they took a number of trips as a family growing up.  This year the location was Bear Lake, ID.  My sister in law Mandee's family has a cabin up there and we had SO MUCH FUN!  It was definitely one of the highlights of our summer.  Here are some photos to show you what we did.

There was a lot of time spent out on the lake.

I stayed in the boat and shot photos, most everyone else enjoyed wakeboarding.

worst photo-bomb ever!  Sorry I missed your big jump, honey.

Becca and Joe working it like models in the back of the boat.

Gracie had some solid runs on the wakeboard.

After capturing one wipe-out, I finally understood the real joy of photographing water sports.

Becca still managed to look decent, even in a life vest that was 10 times too big for her.

Then it was Carl's turn - and boy did he give us a good show!

Then Dave turn a spin on the slalom, but the rest of the time he was driving the boat.

Thanks Dave!

Hands down, my favorite person to watch was my brother Sean.

He had the best wipe-outs ever and his facial expressions were priceless.

Seriously, I've never seen someone biff it on a wakeboard the way he did.

These photos make me laugh every time I see them.

There's something so great about seeing your little brother like this.