Not too bad for the first 2 weeks of summer vacation.
While in California we went on a great hike in Yosemite National Park. The views were spectacular,
At about the half-way mark we made it to a footbridge where we got our first glimpse of Vernal Falls,
The entire hike was uphill, and considering this was the first time we've attempted something like this with our family, the kids did great! I asked them if they'd like to go hiking again when we get home and they all said yes. Yippee! This is something I have wanted to do with our family for ages and now it looks like everyone is checked out.
As we walked further the sound of the waterfall got louder, the air got breezier and colder, and soon a damp mist was in the air. We came around a corner and this was the view,
Isn't that gorgeous? This is also the point where Payton, my mom, Heidi, Carlee, Preston, and I turned around and headed back down. Too wet. The rest of the crew (Dad, Scott, Conner, Anna, and Sam) continued on to the top, yes the very tippy top of the water falls. As you can imagine, they got soaked. Anna and my dad didn't actually go to the very top. They turned around when the trail and steps started getting treacherous and very slippery. But Anna wanted to keep on going! They had to make her stop and turn around. For the return hike I called her "Anna the Brave." She quite liked that.
Other summer fun things we've done that are not on the list:
*The kids wore Nature Bracelets while on our nature walk to collect leaves, flowers, sticks, and even a lizard tail.
* I gave all the girls (mom, heidi, carlee, anna, and me) glitter toes one night. A sparkly red in honor of the upcoming holiday. I think Anna is going to get some blue glitter fingers this weekend as well.
*The kids painted t-shirts for the 4th of July, using stencils made from freezer paper. I got the idea from Family Fun. It worked great! I had no idea you could iron freezer paper on your shirt and it would stick. Definitely adding this one to my bag of tricks.
Okay, that's all the fun I have to share now. Hope you're having a fun summer as well!
