Bass Lake and Yosemite Vacation

This is the view from our cabin. It's right on the lake so perfect for just jumping in for a quick swim.

One day we drove up to Yosemite with my Dad and did a few little hikes. It was nice.

This is on the bridalveil trail.

Micah found this cool looking rock that looked just like an egg. He kept calling it his egg.

This is the lower falls hike. Pretty huh.

We took the easy trail and then we walked back and climbed up the rocks to look at the waterfall from the side and above. All the kids liked climbing up the rocks the best.

Morgan, Chris' daughter, climbed up really high. It was fun to have her with us.

After Yosemite we went back to the cabin and relaxed a little, swam a little, and visited with Chris' family before they headed back home. This little cutie is Chris' youngest, Par.

Jacen and Par

Chris and Par

Uno by lantern. The kids loved the lantern.

The next day we rented a boat and took it out on the lake all day. It was nice. The weather was perfect, the boat had a grill on which Jacen cooked a juicy steak. We innertubed. It was a fun day.
Albert drove.

Grama Shirley

Micah dozed for an hour or so.

Morgan, Linnea and Jacen

Gavin and Jace

Jacen
He got a little bored with the tube so he started making up tricks and stunts to do on it. I wish I could have gotten some good video clippage of it. It was fun to watch!

Gavin, Grama Shirley (who refuses to get old) and Jacen

I even had a go on the tube. We decided to save up for a boat. We also rented a wave runner but didn't get any pictures on it. We had a great time. We need to utilize the cabin more often. My kids were amazed at how warm the water was. They are used to the freezing Pacific Ocean water. I loved being able to go for my run in the morning and then jump right in the lake with my running clothes on even and swim out to the booey and back a few times. The kids also did some fishing...Jacen even got up before 6 a.m. to fish (unheard of on a non-seminary day). Great times. We were glad to get back to our own beds though when the trip was done.

Another Baptism Picture

This is late and I already posted pictures of the baptism but I wanted to post this one too that I just got today from Sister Fowkes. All the cousins there sang "I Will Follow God's Plan for Me." It was so sweet.

OJ or liquid Eggs?

So, last night Linnea and Micah and I were reading on my bed and Micah said he was thirsty and got up to go get a drink. Linnea and I were just waiting for him to come back to resume reading and remembering all these funny memories that we were laughing about. After a few minutes we got up to check on him. From all the clues, we pieced together what had happened. He had taken out the carton of reddi-eggs, thinking it was orange juice, and poured in his cup. Then upon drinking some decided that it was not orange juice. Imagine that surprise!! Yuck. Then he climbed onto the table and had poured the carton of reddi-eggs into the flower vase and this is how we found him! He keeps us laughing. One more funny memory to add to the mix.

Some of our June Goings-On

As long as we've lived here and loved driving down to Big Sur, we've never visited the Big Sur River Inn area. So on a recent Saturday we headed that way. It was a gorgeous day! We stopped at the general store at the River Inn for a nice little lunch ($68!! next time Subway on our way there) which we ate by and in the river.

There is also a heated pool right next to the river in which we swam. It was a lot of fun and since Albert was with us, I finally got to really swim and play with Linnea and Gavin.

Gavin braved the cold water...all the way. He got completely in the water from head to foot and it's COLD...as cold as the ocean!

Micah loved throwing in rocks. We all tried skipping rocks and all got at least a couple skipped.

We found some really cool looking rocks.

It was neat how we could actually put our chairs right in the water.

Back at home Gavin found some worms!

Micah did too...and with the funniest face ever!

We enjoyed an awesome 50's party for Nanette turning 50!! Linnea and Gavin both won a hoola hopping contest and won gift certificates for In n Out! Dallin is doing a great job here too!

There were obstacles bounce courses, a bounce house with a basketball hoop even, and this bungee cord bounce game. So fun! I even did it.

The decorations were amazing, the food was great, the company was fun. I tried dressing Micah up...see his slicked back hair?

Thanks Nanette for turning 50!

We've spent tons of days at the beach! I feel like I'm on vacation in between my laundry loads and cooking of meals.

I've enjoyed having some extra time to do things with the kids. We also have spent some time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, PG Museum, the dozens of great parks around here, the PG High Pool, the Carmel Valley pool, bike rides and walks to see the baby seals... so much fun to be had in our own backyard. I love it here!

Summer Bonfire

One of my favorite things about summer is having more time for summer bonfires. This time we went to Seal Rock beach. The Olsen family happened to be walking by and stopped for a bit. The Huston family came down and we played a fun game of football. I don't think any one scored though. It was fun. Hot dogs, s'mores, listening to the ocean waves...some of my favorite things.

We took along the Friend magazine and Linnea read a story to all of us. (I have to take teachings moments that I can and I won't hear any complaints when mouths are full of s'mores. :)

I'm learning to endure summer better and even enjoy it! I just need to be sure and get a run in every morning and get the kids out twice a day. The first week after school let out was tough but I am enjoying extra time for outings with the kids now.

Baptism Day

Two of my nieces were baptized. Above my sister, Tera's, daughter. Below is my brother, Leif's, daughter. So sweet. I got to play the piano for the baptism. The cousins all sang a pretty song. Too bad I have a serious shine factor in these pictures. I'm not used to the heat of Coalinga.

We didn't go to the derby rides because of the filth and digustingness but the parade was great. The kids loved it. Especially Micah!

Leif rode on a float with his class--they had their 20th class reunion.

That afternoon we had a water fight and barbeque. So much fun with the whole family!

Leif's family with Grampa N. and Grama Shirley.

Catch Up-Easter

I'm a bit behind still on posting my pictures.
We had a nice Easter Celebration in Coalinga.
At Grama and Grampa Zuniga's house we dyed Easter eggs.

We barbequed...

...and ate. Jacen is in heaven.

Jacen hid the eggs.

and all the cousins found them.

Micah was proud to show his Dad the egg he dyed.

He even put stickers on it.
It's nice when kids are excited about just the regular old fashioned egg dying. I see kits that enable one to create gorgeous eggs but I can hardly get incentive to do the regular ones. I'm just not that into egg dying. I guess because it makes such a big mess maybe? Not sure.

Then we ate the eggs. It was really funny to me that none of the kids in Albert's family eat hard boiled eggs. Maybe its not a Mexican thing.

We drove home Saturday night and were in our own house for Easter Sunday.
The Easter bunny came.
Linnea learned the truth about the Easter bunny. I think it was a bittersweet moment for her.

The next week, time to give the puppies shots. My first time. It was scary at first but then easy.