Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Yosemite

We packed up and headed north to visit Yosemite for 4 days in August!


Car was loaded and ready

We stayed at the housekeeping camp.  Tent like camping but it had 3 concrete walls with a canvas to close at night and beds so there was no sleeping on the floor. A full size bed and bunk beds.  Dave and Sydney ended up in the full and Cole and I were in the bottom bunk. 

Outside our tent - tons of space... and dirt :) 

There was great shade and each tent had a picnic table and fire pit - the only place in Yosemite that still allows fires. 

Not much more room left!


When we arrived Cole was a bit under the weather. Had a high fever and was so sleepy.  We rested while daddy and Sydney unpacked.  Thankfully, after tylenol and a nap, he was a new boy!

Nap time

Nani and Poppa were in Mammoth for a few days but met us up in Yosemite :)  We had a tent right next to each other and were so thankful they were there with us!

Nani was very patient and did french braids in Sydney's hair

These tree stumps were so wonderful to have right outside our camp


Lots of jumping



See the deer???

Nani and kids looking at deer


Nani & Poppa with kiddos outside visitors center

Playing in the tee-pee

Snack break


Kids doing the balance beam with half-dome in the background.  

Spectacular!


Cole was done with pics by this point.  We had been biking for awhile and were almost back to our camp.  He was not happy about taking a picture!


Sydney was excited though :) 



Poppa had a great idea and put him on his head for a picture - all of a sudden, Cole was all about the photos.







Bike riding

River right by our campsite

Kiddos walking to our campsite


More deer :) 

Smores :) 


The second day we took the park shuttle a few stops and tried a hike to the only water that was still flowing in the park - Vernal Falls. 


Poppa giving Cole a ride to the trailhead



Daddy & Syd getting ready to hike

Love!


Poppa & Cole

Nani & Sydney skipping to the start

Cole found a good walking stick so we were off



Having fun on rocks


Rest stop



Sweet girl.

Sydney and Cole had the best rides

Boys

Poppa, Nani, Laura, Dave
Cole, Sydney

Almost done!

Finishing the vernal falls hike

He fell asleep on the shuttle ride home!

Happy hour and card playing

More Smores!


Hot cocoa by the river



Cole 
3 1/2


Fishing





The kids were fishing and all of a sudden we spotted 4 deer across the river eating and drinking!





wow!!!






Taken by Sydney!



"Whoa!  This is freezing!"




Cooling off


No zoom - this deer walked right in front of our campsite!


Playing cards


Happy & dirty boy

Dave and I snuck away for a bike ride one afternoon during rest time.  This was our view during the bike ride... 

Outside our camp when we got back - Poppa asleep and Nani was reading while kids were inside tent not sleeping :)

Sweet boy braving the cold water

Playing in the river


Cole looking at the little fish

Nani putting Syd in the tube

Crazy girl - this water was SO cold

Lounging in the FREEZING river with beautiful scenery

Half-dome - you don't disappoint


Yum!




Cole & Poppa trying to catch a big fish

Syd and Daddy

They had a ranger talk/toddler story time.

Each child got to make a ranger hat about something in the forest. Sydney drew herself pregnant with a baby in her belly.   Hahaha!

Thankfully the only black bear we saw the entire trip

Fun by the fire



Until next time, half-dome... 


Panoramic view while on our way out.





Such a great trip!


8 loads of laundry... but happy to be home!

Saturday, September 3, 2016

August

What a fun and full month of August we had!
The kiddos were biking to the library and passed lawn bowling.  They asked to stop and look so we watched for awhile.  Several nice players invited the kiddos in to try their hand at lawn bowling
Sydney received a letter in the mail from Ms. Aimee so she wrote a card back to her.  We had to bike to the post office to deliver it!
So beautiful
The kids attended a week long camp at a church in Coronado the first week in August.Cole's class color was pink and Sydney's was blue - go figure!
Bathing beauties 

Our friend Elsie recently moved to Italy, so we had her over one afternoon when the movers were at her house.
Having fun!

After the movers were gone, Elsie's parents and new baby sister came over for dinner. The kids were crazy over the baby!

Sydney and her friend Greyson at camp

The last day of camp (coincidentally Sydney's birthday) they had an inflatable waterslide for all of the kids. 

So much fun!

Concerts in the park is still a hit

Cole's belly was Sydney's drum

When daddy and Sydney went to Knott's Berry Farm for Sydney's birthday, I asked Cole what he wanted to do.  He chose the zoo!


It was such a fun day of spending time with just him and saying yes to whatever he wanted to do!



Ready to ride

Safari Park with the Ducotes

Cousin pic - impossible!

Almost...

Carousel time

Feeling baby girl kick


Water balloons at Nani & Poppa's


Beach bonfire with friends

Cole checking out his new backpack

Cole put on this shirt one morning and said he wanted to wear it because Daddy likes the gators and he wanted to think of Daddy when he was at work!!!

Our first strawberry from our garden!

This girl!  After her 5 year old checkup.  Ponytail on the side.  Clip on earrings.  Mis-matched socks.  Too much. 

About right :)

Love the giraffes

Fantastic trampoline show!


Fun stop at Tartine during a bike ride

Costco had their Halloween costumes out already so we grabbed them before they sold out.  Sneak preview :)