Summer Vacation: Yosemite

So we went on an almost month long vacation and although I am so busy I am forcing myself to blog it all because I know I might forget the details and lose all drive to blog about it if I I don't do it now and I DON'T want to forget...So our first stop was Yosemite.

So on our drive it started snowing! Yes it was June 1st and it was snowing. The mountain pass we were supposed to take was closed do to heavy snow. So we took another road, it was the scenic route and it was snowy too but not too bad. It was so pretty though. I think just that drive was really one of my vacation high lights. It was a breathtaking drive, plus we were just so excited to get out of town.

We got to Yosemite later then we had hoped but it was so pretty. We rented this super cute yurt..totally recommend them, had a great dinner and then drove down to the valley floor. Well, first we stopped at the sequoia grove at the entrance to the park and started the hike but it started snowing and we were freezing and under dressed and so after a ways I made us turn back.

I have never been to Yosemite before so it was so exciting for me. We did the loop around the valley floor and then headed to the yurt for the night. The kids thought the yurt was the coolest thing ever. The next day we did a full day of adventuring. We did some little hikes with the kids which I can tell you is no small feat! The kids were tired by the end of the day and so were Stewart and I. But it was worth it. For me, being out in nature is pretty much my favorite thing...LOVED IT! We took a bunch of pictures and LOVED the scenery, if I were a really good photographer and if I had a really fancy camera these pictures would take your breath away! Honestly everywhere you looked you wanted to take a picture because the beauty was so picturesque and so strikingly beautiful. I can see how Yosemite inspired the National Forest program. The falls were huge because of the late snows that they had this year. The falls were awesome! You cant tell very well in the pictures but you couldn't get very close at all without the spray just covering you in mist. It was super fun.

We left late that evening and then drove to my parents house in Visalia and spent the night there with my dad who was there doing work in the central valley. I love their little Visalia house. It is their sanctuary from L.A. and its were they have their small orchard (24+ fruit trees) and my mom decorates to her hearts content in whites, yellows, and blues without the fear of it all getting stained and dirty from everyday life. :O)

After a good nights sleep and really long showers we headed to Burbank...which will be my next post. Enjoy some of our pictures! :O)

Three Little Cousins

Two of my sisters and I had little girls all within a three month period of each other. It was a sweet experience for us to go through that all together especially with it being the fourth and third children and all girls. Genevieve was grandchild number 40, Sabrina was number 41, and Liliana was number 42! My parents are so blessed! I wish we could all get together and take a picture of our babies together...they don't look related at all. All us five sisters hardly look related ourselves and then when you mix in the hubby's genetics our kids don't look much related! I get a kick out of it. All of them are the sweetest little girls ever.

When my sister Treva was pregnant they realized that her daughter had a serious heart defect and would need open heart surgery after she was born. We were all praying and fasting for her. Every two weeks they had to go two hours away to the major hospital in Tennessee and it was a struggle. When she was born they realized that she has Downs Syndrome. She was not thriving and with her heart defect and other issues they had to keep her in the hospital for over a month being two hours away from home for that long was really hard. The night she was born was when the major tornadoes swept through Alabama where they live...needless to say the past couple months have been a whirlwind...I admire my sister so much. She has always been such a strong kind person.

Liliana and Sabrina both have special places in my heart. I cant help but think they were all up in heaven together waiting their turns to come down encouraging each other and I like to think they are kindred spirits. I think it is interesting that up to the last month we were going to name Genevieve "Airianna Joy" but then we changed it to Genevieve and then my sister named her daughter Liliana Joy without knowing I was considering those names. This next month Liliana will have her open heart surgery. She has and will continue to be in our prayers. My sister had these beautiful pictures taken of her family and I couldn't help but show them off. She has such a lovely family.

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Genevieve Celeste at 5 months Old

Our little Genevieve Celeste is now five months old. She sure has been growing up fast. It is very clear now that she is going to be a busy little girl and that she is a outgoing, happy, energetic, sweet heart. She is content and super easy to take care of. She warms up to strangers easily but she is still a mommy's girl. She is chubby and healthy. She loves to eat and will hold her own bottle and everything. She is getting around really well with all her rolling and scooting. Her hair is growing in blond so I am interested to see if her hair will stay light brown or go all blond. She has really beautiful eyes and a very pretty little nose. Her eye lashes are long and curl up so lady like. She sparkles when you smile at her and lights up like a firefly. When you hold her she is always trying to move and crawl up you or turn outward or get you to go faster...she is going to be so busy! I love that she gives hugs and kisses. She reaches out for me and grabs me and then plants her mouth right on my face...cutest thing ever. Last night as I was typing on our laptop in bed she scooted in close to me and fell fast asleep right next to me. Oh, pure mommy heaven. We adore her and with such a sweet baby I am constantly telling Stewart I want at least 10 more babies! Bridger always tells me he wants us to have ten, fourteen, or sixteen babies. That wont happen but with all the joy she gives us we sure wish it could.