Yosemite

Arriving at Yosemite:

Our plan was to eat pizza right when we got to Yosemite.  It took a while to figure out parking and then we walked about .25 miles to get something to eat.  They didn't have pizza at the place we went to so we just ate some snacks until we got to our camp site.  I was really hungry and cranky so it didn't help that we walked all that way for no pizza.  

The kids ate sandwiches until our foil dinner was ready.

Then of course we had to make smores. 

We had a hard time keeping shoes on both Blair and Dyer.  Every time we turned around one or both of them had no shoes on.  So gross!

Sleeping arrangements didn't go as planned.  We had a full size bed and a bunk bed.  We thought Easton and Blair could share the top bunk, Dyer could have the bottom bunk, and Nate and I would have the full bed.  The kids were afraid to sleep alone and I was worried that Dyer would wake up in the middle of the night and go exploring.  Nathan slept with Easton and Blair on the bottom bunk and Dyer and I shared the full bed.  Nathan was supposed to move once the kids were asleep but that didn't end up happening.

Day 2:

Hiking Bridalveil falls.  We didn't stay very long because the kids didn't like getting sprayed by the waterfall. 

All the kids on the bridge.  If you look closely you can see my big belly behind the trees on the left.

Dyer kept making me nervous trying to climb the wall so I had to make sure he didn't fall in.

Easton and Blair

Dyer and I.

Another picture of Bridalveil falls. 

Hiking through Mariposa Grove (Sequoias-redwood trees)

Dyer found a walking stick.

Grizzly Giant

Easton was excited to finally get to the big trees.  He was complaining a lot of the time about how tired he was walking.

Walking through a Redwood tree.

Easton told Dyer no and this is what happened!

Nate with the kids inside the tree.  If you look closely between Dyer and Nate you can see Easton's face!

After the hike and bus ride the kids got Popsicles and we walked around the pioneer section.  Easton is pumping water. 

After the Redwoods we drove up to Glacier Point.  The higher up we drove the colder it got outside.  Right when we got there it started thundering.  Since Dyer was sleeping and it was cold out I decided to stay in the car.  Nathan took Blair with him but returned rather quickly because she was too cold.  Nathan went and took a few pictures before it started raining.

Nathan drove to another view point to get some pictures and while he was gone a storm started.  It was thundering and lightning with hail and tons of rain.  It was crazy!  Nathan got back in the car drenched!  Once we got back to our campsite our tent was flooded.  Luckily the beds are off the ground and the only things we had on the floor were the kids' sandles.  Easton had fun digging trenches with Nathan to get all the water out of our tent.

Blair slept with Dyer and I that night in the full bed and Nathan and Easton slept on the bottom bunk.

Day 3:  

Hiking Yosemite Falls.

Family picture at lower Yosemite falls.  As soon as we got to the falls Nathan's hat blew off and got soaking wet.  Luckily he was able to get it!

Upper and lower Yosemite Falls

Dyer and Easton checking out the river.

We rented some bikes and took the kids for a ride.  I forgot how much of a workout it is riding a bike.  I was definitely very sore the next day.

This was the load I pulled around but boy was it hard work!  We had fun though!  Dyer was so tired and feel asleep almost instantly.  Sad but funny story:  Dyer's head is so big and shaped differently that we couldn't find a helmet that would fit him correctly.  The poor boy was so miserable with that thing on his head.

It wasn't too long after we started biking that a tire blew on the bike trailer Nathan was pulling.  I waited on the side of the road with the kids while Nathan brought his bike and trailer back to exchange them.  

Blair chilling while we wait for daddy to return.

We biked to Mirror lake and let the kids play in the sand and water for a while.

Dyer had a blast throwing sand into the water.

Eventually the kids took their shoes and socks off and waded in the water.

Even Nathan joined the kids.

Surprisingly Easton ran and jumped into the water.  He was soaking wet.  He thought it was fun until he got really cold.

Dyer kept hiding his face when I was trying to take a picture.  Silly boy!

Once again our sleeping arrangements changed.  The boys slept in the full bed and the girls slept on the bottom bunk.  I wish that I would have slept on the bottom bunk the other two nights because it was a lot more comfortable than the full bed.  

We had a great time and Nathan is already planning his next trip when the kids are older and can do more things on their own.