Yosemite- Mariposa Grove

You have to go see the big trees when you’re in Yosemite.  We spent a morning walking around Mariposa Grove.  The trees are so big and tall. 

B-Man

 

Brian, me, Mom, B-Man, Matthias, J, and Becca

Yosemite- The Waterfall

A few miles above the swinging bridge is a beautiful waterfall that we hike to.  As a teenager this was my favorite part of Yosemite.  This was Brian’s favorite part as well!  I wish we had gone more often during our week there. 

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures of either of us jumping.  Brian jumped so many times.  I jumped twice.  I was fearless as a teenager, but have gotten more and more afraid of heights the older I get.  Finally, Brian held my hand and jumped with me.  The next time I was able to do it by myself. 

Samuel, Randy, Debra, Mom, Ray, and Brian (where am I?  I still haven’t jumped)

I finally jumped and made it into a picture.

Yosemite- The Bridge

Ever since I was a very little girl my family has gone camping in Yosemite for a week during the Summer.  My mom grew up going every year with her family.  It’s a tradition I hope our little family will continue! 

Back in August Brian and I drove to Fairfield.  We packed everything up in my parent’s cars and drove with them and Samuel to Yosemite.  Matthias, Rebecca, and their 2 boys met us there.  My aunt and uncle, Ray and Diane, and their entire family happened to be there that week too.  They were staying in a cabin just 4 doors down from ours.  Such great timing to be there at the same week as them!

We spent most of our time at the swinging bridge:

This picture of the bridge is being taken from where we did most of our relaxing.  In years past, I have jumped out of this multiple times.  Now the rangers don’t let us (but to be honest, I wouldn’t have done it even if I could have).  Some people got in jumps before hearing the new rule.

This is where we set up camp each day—sitting, relaxing, playing games, talking, eating, and an occasional dip in the river.

Brian swam a lot more than I did.  The water was quite cold.

 

Papa and B-Man

Me, Brian, Matthias

J & Samuel

Becca, J, B-Man, and Matthias

Catching up.

I haven’t blogged in a very long time.  I’m hoping to change that.  I have a lot to post on, and some thing go back almost a year!  Yikes!  But I have to start somewhere, so here I go…get excited!

Late night cravings.

This is what happened last night when Brian and I realized that we were both thinking about icecream sandwiches at the same time.  We convinced each other that even though it was 11 p.m. we should probably head to Albertsons right away to satisfy our cravings.  After all, I am pregnant, I don’t have cravings very often, and when I do I think I should probably do something about them!  And besides, June (my midwife) told us that we should take advantage of our next few months together alone, because it’s the last time it will be just us for a long time.  Yum! 

Thanksgiving 2010.

I love Thanksgiving!  It has always been my favorite holiday.  I love the food, the family, the focus on gratitude and the lack of commercialization.  It’s a perfect holiday!  Brian and I think we will try to go to Fairfield every Thanksgiving and stay here in Troutdale every Christmas.  We’ll see how that works. 

This year was great!  My brother was home from traveling through Egypt and Europe for the good part of 2010 and I was just starting to feel a little better.  I ate most of the weight back I had lost during the first part of my pregnancy.

One of the days we went on a fun excursion to the outskirts of San Francisco to see the light house at Point Bonita.  It was a nice walk up to the bridge that crosses over to the lighthouse.  The bridge was closed for repairs, but we could still see a good view of the lighthouse.

 

David, Mom, me

Brian, me, David

David and Brian near some batteries we happened upon while exploring.

Such a fun day! 

Another day we went to the Jelly Belly Factory—actually we went twice.  We like that place!

Postcard wall.

A while ago Brian and I saw something like this on a blog and thought it would be the perfect way to display the postcards my dad sends us.  Ever since I was a little girl my dad has given me postcards.  During college he sent them to me each week.  Now he sends 2-3 postcards a week.  I have quite the collection now, and love them!  And now, thanks to Brian’s hard work, we can show them off!

I was amazed at how Brian could see this idea on a blog and duplicate it so well.  We got 6 foot long 1 x 2 inch pieces of wood from Home Depot.  Then Brian routed a notch the length of the board for the postcards to sit in.  He drilled pilot holes on the short side so he could mount them directly into the beams on the wall without splitting the wood in half when he screwed through it.  He sanded them, painted them white, and screwed them in.  I love it! 

The finished product (living room)