http://blog.madcookie.net/blog/2008/04/30/GanacheToppedBrownies.aspx

 

On our last day in the park, the older kids finished their requirements for the Junior Ranger program by talking to a park Ranger.


Final family photos


Overview of our hike

Click there for another awesome picture from Glacier Point (Wikipedia)

 

After our time at Happy Isles, Leslie's mom & dad took Joanna & Rachel & caught the shuttle bus back to our Lodge. Meanwhile, Mike & Leslie prepared to hike to Vernal Falls with the older kids.

You'll see that it's "only" 1.5 miles to the top of the falls; what that sign doesn't tell you is that the last 0.3 miles is ALL STAIRS!

And we're off! The trail is paved for the first mile or so.

This is a view back toward the Valley, of Upper Yosemite Falls.

We could see this waterfall (small white streak in the center of the photo) at different points along our hike, growing larger/closer each time. It's called Illilouette Falls. Say that 5 times fast!




We made it to the Vernal Falls footbridge! Though paved, the hike was steep, and we were pretty pooped by this point. However, when the kids saw the next part of the trail, they were pretty excited to continue on!

The Sonlight backpack takes us great places! (you can see Vernal Falls in the background)



Crying tears of blood? Naw, just a mishap with Gatorade!

As we headed up from the bridge, we saw familiar faces coming down! Cousins Tom & Kris gave us some good tips for the rest of the trail (beginning with STAY TO THE INSIDE!)

Up we go! Check out the stairs hewn from rock!

It's really wet from the mist of the waterfall
 
There's one spot where a rock overhangs the trail & we were able to dry off a little bit

This is a neat grotto, where water drips from the upper rocks

and AGAIN, up we go, right on the side of a precipitous cliff next to the falls! Elijah just kept saying over & over again how glad he was that we hadn't brought Rachel with us because it was so dangerous (Mike & Leslie completely agreed!).

We made it! The kids thought that the warning sign was pretty cool; Rebekah took it seriously though, and wouldn't go any farther!

At the edge of Vernal Falls

Rebekah parked it here & refused to go any closer to the edge

Thankfully there were other people up there to take our Victory Picture! (Unfortunately, one of those people was a bozo who tried to show off for his girlfriend by climbing through the fence & sitting at the edge of the falls. Every year, someone dies doing that--recipients of the Darwin Award, I'm sure!)

Headed back down the stairs. Check out the mist filling the canyon!

A gorgeous rainbow in the mist

Rebekah poses at a little view point on the way down

Down into the sunset - We did it!

 

We saw these deer out behind our Lodge rooms.

We saw these monkeys too. :)

The kids loved jumping from stone to stone, every time we passes this area between our rooms & the Lodge dining room. We'd have to carry them across the center to complete their jumping.

 

We went to Happy Isles with Leslie's mom & dad, to play, wander around, and have a picnic lunch.

It's hard to see the sign, but the white sign near the gauging station shows the flood level in 1997.

The girls are upset because Mike told them they had to stop throwing rocks in the water and continue walking with the rest of the family.

Rachel was always happy - she got to throw lots of rocks & sticks in the water!

Lunch break

Family time! Throw things into the water.



Hey, the older kids walked on the log, so why can't Rachel?



Everything in Yosemite is beautiful.

 

Fog in the morning shrouded the canyon walls.


More fog. Check out the tree in the middle


Zoomed in shot of the same tree from above


Yosemite Falls under the fog.

 

 

From our room, we walked through the valley to Sentinel picnic area. This is Swinging Bridge in the valley leading to the picnic area.

It was a wee bit chilly, so Jaime got inventive with her attire

Auntie Jaime keeping Rachel safe on the riverbank

Joanna doing some dancing

Sentinel Falls. Click to see it bigger.



Watch out for the tree!

Sentinel Beach. Definitely click to see it bigger. Les & Jaime are sitting on the edge with the little girls.

Yosemite Falls in the background at Sentinel Beach.

Auntie Jaime & Uncle Mark with their favorite nephew & nieces

Les loves to throw sticks in the river.

Rebekah the climber is at the top of the fallen tree.

Gummy Lifesavers are the best snack! Thanks Nana & Nano!

THE Family Dinner! This is everyone staying at Yosemite. Yup, 23 of us!

Hemphill, Pineda and Adams families.

 

The determined adventurers...

Rachel & Joanna


A REALLY cool pic of Rebekah

Some people get themselves in some tough spots.

Hiking to lower Yosemite falls. Here is Mark & Jaime with us.

Here is lower Yosemite Falls.


Leslie iwth Joanna & Rachel, pointing out the chunks of ice that have come down the Falls & lodged in the rocks at the base. Wild.

It was rather cold and windy. Joanna found a safe place behind the rocks away from the wind.



Who put this rock on the trail?! Oh well, around it we go.

There was so much slush & snow from Yosemite Creek that it flowed over the trail.

The kids (big AND little) had a great time playing in the snow

BEAR!!!!

Not a real one - it is a cool toy bear in the gift shop.

Awesome 3-D diorama showing the whole park

Visitor center has this terrific museum of sorts.



I think we have a pic of Rebekah in this same pose at every Visitor Center we've ever visited!



This was a re-creation of a Miwok Village, and these are how they stored acorns

Rebekah trying out a metate

 

One of our neighbors left out cans of pop (soda) on the patio to take advantage of the cold evening air. Well, this raccoon helped himself.

 

Leslie made chicken tortilla soup (far left). There was also chicken & rice and beef vegetable (far right).



While we all enjoyed the soup & salad, the girls found a corner to read and color.

 

After spending the first night in Oakhurst with Jaime & Mark (when, apparently, neither of us happened to take any pics!), we headed to Yosemite.

We stopped for a bathroom break before getting to Yosemite Valley, and found a BIG tree & some snow--perfect for a fun break!

It was a wee bit chilly though! (in the low 40s)

Now THAT'S a big tree!

with BIG guys in the bushes!

the tunnel to enter Yosemite Valley

After the tunnel is a viewing area with AMAZING vistas


and really cute kids



Bridalveil Falls

cute parents-to-be

Joanna, in the base area of Bridalveil Falls (Elijah in the background). The smile on her face indicates that this pic was taken BEFORE she fell in

Rebekah, before SHE fell in

AFTER they fell in (click to enlarge this pic, and compare the looks on their faces--hilarious!)

looking up at Bridalveil Falls (the mist envelops the whole viewing area)



stopping in Yosemite Valley for pics (that's Upper Yosemite Falls in the background)

AWE

playing in front of the lodge

We took a night walk to Yosemite Falls; this is the map of the base area

 

Packing the van isn't the easiest thing when you are a family of 6. We have a lot of stuff is needed for a 7 day trip.

Pyramid Lake off I-5. Great rest area. It is a recreational boating area too.

The hills are alive with flowers.

 

On the way to Yosemite, we stopped in Fresno for lunch & supplies at Costco, and got to meet Sonlight friend Liz Ann & her family. We have new friends wherever we go, thanks to Sonlight! :)

The now-traditional picture of our backs!



The boys being silly & warming up on the sidewalk!

 

For Joanna's birthday party, she invited a bunch of her friends to the house for cake & ice cream, gift opening and beating up Barbie--I mean a pinata. Here are the kids from youngest to the oldest taking their best swings at the candy-filled cardboard container.

Now the swinging has taken a new turn. Look at the excitement in Elijah's eyes.

Uh-oh, Blake is up to bat!

U

After the two big boys hitting, you can see they caused some damage. Poor Barbie.

Back to the birthday girl for a few more hits.

Blake finished the pinata and Mike shook out the candy for the kids to pick up.

Happy Birthday Joanna!!

 

Leslie & the kids had a meetup with another Sonlight family at the San Diego Zoo. Tara/Samurai Mom came with her whole family, and we had a great time!

Here's the traditional picture of everyone's backs!

and a pic of everyone's fronts! :)

Tara & Leslie check out the macaw

We had a really good time!

 

 

Today was Joanna's 5th birthday! It was kinda fun that it fell on a Sunday (she was born on a Sunday).

She opened her gifts from us before church: dresses (her favorite--Lands' End!)

We had birthday cupcakes after church

and then went out to dinner at Chevy's (her choice) with friends

now THAT is a burrito!!

the birthday girl got serenaded & got a sombrero to take home

the kids stopped running around long enough for a picture! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOANNA!!

 

Aunt Jaime & Uncle Mark gave Joanna this beautiful princess set for her birthday. Of course she wore it wherever we went for a few days!

 

Out with the old and in with the new! We got a new Bosch dishwasher.

It's WONDERFUL! We don't have to wash the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, and it's so quiet you can't even tell that it's on unless you're standing right next to it!

 

Leslie & the kids met some new friends (from the Sonlight Forums) at the Reuben H Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. They had a great time!

It was a gorgeous day, and we enjoyed picnicking outside by the fountain


Leslie & her new friends Janet & Rachelle (and Jedidiah too!)