California Adventure part 4

 We left Yosemite for Fresno on Thursday. It was about a three hour drive down on a super duper hot day. It was fun to hear Michael talk about the different places where he served, things he remembered. He amazingly remembered where a sister he reactivated, Sally Ziegler, lived, after twenty-three years! We didn't know if she would still even live there, but incredibly, she was home and it was so special for them to reconnect. She also gave Michael the address of her daughter, Corrie, whom Michael had baptized as a teenager. She isn't currently active, but who knows, maybe this experience will help rekindle her desire to attend church. It was a really special experience for us both.

We got in late back to the same Residence Inn where we were before Yosemite, and then the next day we headed out to Golden Gate Park, which is actually larger than Central Park in NYC. So many fun things to do there--unfortunately we could only a sample a few.

We rented bikes and headed out. It was more stressful than I anticipated riding bikes through the park, but we made it through. 

We went to Koret Children's Quarter, where they have these fun cement slides. There was a piece of cardboard to use to slide down, but our boys didn't mind going down on their heinies.

At first I thought this was a funny joke, but then I was sad when I realized that it was for children's safety. 

We rode on the carousel.

So fun!

This cutie balanced for a few seconds after Michael hopped off from behind him.

After a fun day riding bikes in Golden Gate Park, boating with paddle boats on Stow Lake, and eating ice cream while watching the rehearsal for some random outdoor concert, we went to a fun Japanese restaurant. Check out Benjy's giant bento box!

Some of our food was delivered on this fun bullet train. We all got a big kick out of this.

We were so grateful that the flights were uneventful (and thank goodness we got Clayton his own seat). 

We arrived home safely and were so happy to see Clara (Benjy kept saying, "I miss Clara.") She had a good time in our absence despite my worries, playing with her babysitter Madison's dog, Luna, getting Bruster's, getting hot chocolate from Starbucks, and enjoying a quiet house.

'Til next time!

California Adventure part 3

 The last two days we spent more time in Yosemite. Due to it being later in the season and most water having dried up, the waterfall hikes that Michael was hoping to see weren't worth it, unfortunately. However, we made the most of the park by exploring other areas besides Yosemite Valley. 

On Tuesday, we down to Mariposa Grove where the giant sequoias grow. 

It was a grueling upper 90-degree day and we had some serious complaints, but we pushed through. I was grateful for the help of the kiddos carrying the packs (even if it was just for a little bit). I really appreciated Henry's good attitude on this hot hike. 

The largest tree in Yosemite, the Grizzly Giant, grows there. I was excited to see it! It's over 1800 years old.

So cool!

The Tunnel Tree is still alive despite this giant passageway carved into it.

Clayton is almost walking!

The Fallen Monarch. No one knows how old it is, but wow, it's enormous.

On Wednesday (my 40th birthday!), we drove to Tuolumne Meadows, the alpine sierra region of Yosemite. It was much cooler there and very pleasant, especially with the breeze. Michael took the boys on a little hike up to the top of a dome and I hiked by myself for about half an hour with Clayton in the pack. It was so peaceful and lovely, and it was amazing being alone and hearing the breeze rustling through the trees, feeling it on my skin, and just walking in circles taking in the beauty. As I came out of the woods I turned to my right to see this gorgeous clearing, complete with a mule deer buck in the center. I felt like it was seriously a gift from my Heavenly Father, and I actually cried a little. I have been struggling with turning forty and feeling like I haven't made much of my life thus far. I felt like Heavenly Father was telling me He loved me through this sweet experience yesterday.

A close up.

The Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River is just amazing, After I returned back to the group, we hiked back to this spot again. 

Clayton fell asleep on our quiet hike. We also saw a doe and two fawns and a marmot!

The boys hiked this neat dome, and then we did the hike again with me and Clayton. 

Daddy and Robbie and Henry jumped off these rocks into the frigid water. Brrr! 

Can you believe we celebrated twenty years of marriage a couple of weeks ago?! I am so thankful for Michael and the things we are learning together.

Check out Cathedral Peak in the distance. Along with those adorable chunky thighs.

Gorgeous sunset over Yosemite.

California adventure part 2

This morning was our first day in Yosemite.  

Here's a view of our villa (there were four apartments in this one building). After a quick breakfast, Robbie and Michael went on a hike to Hetch Hetchy this morning while I stayed at the lodge with the other boys. 

So beautiful! They had a really nice hike together despite the 100-degree heat. 

At devotional in the car on the way home tonight, I asked the kids where they thought Heavenly Father would go if He wanted to meet us (we were talking about Isaiah 2:2-3, the mountain of the Lord being the temple), and after a long pause, he responded from the back of the Suburban, "Hetch Hetchy." 

Henry had gotten a cold and his asthma really was acting up due to the wildfire smoke blowing toward us in our part of the forest. So we stayed and played and rested and Clayton finally got a good nap (yay!). Other visitors at the lodge were impressed at Henry's and Benjy's fearlessness when it came to the ziplines here at the playground. After playing in the pool and having a quiet time, we headed into Yosemite Park proper.

This spot is called Tunnel View because you look through the corridor of the park to see El Capitan on the left and Half Dome on the right far in the distance. Pictures just can't capture the majesty of these mountains. Can you believe we celebrated twenty years of marriage last week?! I am so thankful for him.

El Capitan.

We stopped and got some groceries from Yosemite Village so we didn't continue paying an arm and a leg at the lodge for dinner and picnicked on the side of the Merced River.

Playing in the river.

Picnic time--fun minus the bees!

After we got home, we walked down to the lodge for s'mores. Benjy was just such a sweetheart, running down the path and so happy to be on his way to roast s'mores. Despite the craziness, he has been a good traveler. Today at the river as he stuffed his pockets with rocks he told me, "I'm going to keep these rocks and I'm going to take care of them. I'm going to wash them, and I'm going to dry them in the shower. . . Is that okay, Mommy?" He was also proud of himself for going #2 in the woods today, haha.

S'more time!

Clayton loved his first s'more and even let me steal a bite or two. Gosh what a cutie this boy is!

Travel Tip of the Day: Try super hard to ignore your kids fighting in the back of the car. When you're despairing and feel like they're becoming total reprobates, they can surprise you with a thoughtful and spiritual insight. 

California Adventure part 1

Last December, we found some relatively inexpensive nonstop flights to San Francisco and decided to make a trip of it this September. Clara didn't want to come, so despite my anxiety, we left her with a fabulous babysitter and friend, Madison Copeland, and flew the five hours to SF for a family adventure (note this is not a family "vacation" ;-)). The boys were so excited about the trip with Benjy counting down  and announcing each morning, "Only three more sleeps!" "Only two more sleeps!" and "I'm so excited to go to California!" The plane trip was the first adventure, and we were grateful that despite some difficulties with Clayton's ticket itinerary being separated from the rest of ours and some waiting with getting the rental Suburban (so enormous!), it was mostly uneventful. The boys enjoyed watching shows on the flight, chowing down on snacks we brought, and Clayton (for whom we wisely had purchased his own seat) slept for some of the time, which was awesome. It seems that gone are the days that you'll get a complimentary meal when you're flying over mealtime. Waahh!

We arrived at the Residence Inn and hit the hay around 2am EST (11pm PST) and tried to get on PST time as quickly as possible. The kids have been champs dealing with the time changes (Michael and I keep getting up early, although this is just the third day of the trip so maybe we'll figure it out right before we leave, haha).

We first got groceries for the week and then headed to Mill Valley, a charming town near Muir Woods where the same coastal redwoods are grown (but without the hassle of parking and crowds that Muir Woods boasts).

Matt and Melody were so great to drive down to meet up with us! Melody is expecting a baby boy in December. They were so great with the kids.

Cuties!

And Joseph and Jenna also drove two hours to meet up with us, too! The park was shady and beautiful with so many tall trees. The kids loved playing in the super dusty dirt which coated their shoes, legs, arms, faces, and even necks. I had the boys wash in the bathroom before we left but by the time we walked to the car again it was basically pointless, haha.

Some members of our family were not thrilled to be in this picture.

Then we drove to Battery Spencer (along with hundreds of other people as we crawled to get to the view) for a spectacular shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was so cool driving over this iconic architectural masterpiece.

Two cuties.

We squeezed in a brief visit to Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.

These three characters were busy busy busy.

Check out Lombard Street, known as the windiest street in America. It's hard to appreciate the crazy turns from this view. We were going to drive down it but opted not to given the long, slow line of cars (and the fatigue of our party). 

After an eventful night's sleep (see end of blog), we made it to church the following morning. The San Francisco ward where we visited was so wonderfully friend, and after Michael chose to bear his testimony (after introducing himself saying, "I always appreciate it when a random stranger comes and bears their testimony. Kind of mixes things up"), others also referenced his testimony as "Brother Stranger" and everyone was super welcoming. The kids enjoyed Primary despite initial weeping and wailing, and I was proud of their change of attitude.

We then drove to the Oakland temple on our way to Yosemite for the next leg of our trip. Despite killer high temps, we loved walking on the grounds and enjoyed the rooftop gardens. So beautiful and peaceful. 

Hurrah for the temple! 

We loved the Visitor's Center as well, where a very kind senior missionary, Elder Brunt, spent time with our family and the kids explored the different exhibits. It was very peaceful and felt good to be there with the boys. (We missed you, Clara!!)

Travel Tip of the Day:

Make sure you don't accidentally deadbolt the hotel room when your husband is out on a run at night. He might get locked out and try to pound on the door, but you could be dead asleep since you're still adjusting to the time zone. And your phone might be charging away from you so you don't hear his call. Then he might have to buy another hotel room right below you just so he can get a good night's sleep. (insert face palm)