California Trip

First of all, I can't believe it has almost been a full month since I last posted. We have been busy getting as much out of the summer that we can until Maddie starts Kindergarten. Maddie has learned to swim over the summer and does a pretty good job of it. Nathan starts swimming lessons on Monday and I hope he does well. Also, we are completely into potty-training now and he is getting better and better each day.

Last Saturday, Tucker and I went on a couples trip to California with his sister and husband and another couple. We had a great trip and it was fun to get away for a few days. We flew into San Francisco and spent the day there on Saturday. On Sunday, we went to Muir Woods to see the beautiful Redwoods and then on to Napa Valley. Monday, we drove up to Lake Tahoe for the day. Tuesday was spent in Yosemite and Wednesday we went on a whitewater rafting trip down the Middle Fork of the American River. The rafting trip consisted of Class IV and V rapids, pretty scaring but so much fun. Then on Thursday, we flew back home.

I was so glad to get home to see Maddie and Nathan! I can't believe how much I missed them. We are so thankful for our family that helped us out by keeping our kids, they are GREAT!!!!

Enjoy some of the pictures and beautiful scenery of California!

The Rocky Mountains from the airplane as we were flying over Colorado. A beautiful flower garden in San Francisco and the houses that are all lined up on the hills, just like the movies!

Alcatraz - too bad we didn't get to tour this prison. I think it would have been pretty neat to learn some of the history behind this building.

Kara, David, Selena, and Gary on a cable car in San Francisco

The Bay Area Bridge in San Francisco

The historic Golden Gate Bridge surrounded by thick fog David, Tucker, and Gary at Muir Woods - home of the mighty Redwoods
Tucker and I posing in front of a Redwood tree

The beautiful forest of Redwoods
The girls
The guys
The Pacific Ocean
A gorgeous lake in the Stanislaus Forest on the way to Lake Tahoe
Me, Kara, and Selena
Tucker, Gary, and David being "men"

Lake Tahoe

A beautiful view from the top of Lake Tahoe

Yosemite National Park - the gang

Selena and Gary
Kara and David
Tucker and I in Yosemite
The Lower Yosemite Waterfall

We climbed to the bottom of the waterfall. It was very cold water due to the snow and glaciers melting. They say by August the waterfall is dried up, so glad we got to see it.

The Sequoias in Yosemite

The tunnel made in a Sequoia Tree

Two massive Sequoias side by side. The Sequoias are smaller than the Redwoods, but larger in diameter.