The Morning After

Ryan with his VBS class

The morning after Vacation Bible School...tired, but happy we had another successful year! It really was an incredible week. And well worth all the hours of work when kids tell you they can't wait for next year. Next year?! Maybe I'll start to tackle that one after a nap!

Discovery Canyon Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School is rapidly approaching! If you have a 3 year old - sixth grader, you are welcome to join us! Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 12227 Balboa Bl., Granada Hills, Sunday, July 26 - Thursday, July 30th, 5:45 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided. Log on to http://toolkit.thevbsplace.org/BethlehemLutheran to register!

Rainbow Pools

Our final day of vacation, we took the kids to the Rainbow Pools. There is an upper section, which is where we were at, and a lower section with a larger waterfall. In the lower section, big kids love to jump from the rocks into the lower pool. It made for good entertainment while eating our lunch. The water here was not as cold as Mirror Lake, but still a little chilly.

Tour of the Yosemite Valley

Our final day in Yosemite, we decided to take a tour around the entire Valley floor. It was an open air tour, and we had some spectacular views because a great deal of the smoke had cleared.

Our open air tram

Yosemite Falls

El Capitan

Tunnel view - El Capitan (left); Cathedral Spires, Bridalveil Falls, Sentinel Rock (right);

Half Dome (faint center)

Natalie - the Poser

Our View from Our Cabin

Yosemite Vacation - II: Bridalveil Falls and Mirror Lake

Last Monday, we headed for a second day in Yosemite. It was quite a fun day. On the way to the Valley, we stopped and took the short hike to Bridalveil Falls. After we ate lunch in the Village, we then headed on the bus to the Mirror Lake stop. It was about a mile hike to the Lake, and along the path we saw our first deer of the trip. The kids were so excited to see a nature animal other than a squirrel! They played for about a half an hour in Mirror Lake. The water was cold, but the kids didn't seem to mind!

Bridalveil Falls

We finally spotted a deer!

Mirror Lake

July 4th

On the 4th of July, we traveled to a little town about 30 miles from Groveland (where the RV park was) to Columbia. Columbia is a little town that is set like the old west with merchantile shops, prairie clothes stores and a stagecoach. I had read that they would be having a parade through the middle of town. Imagine, a parade with no entertainers or stars! Just kids with their familes, on their bikes or walking with their dog. They also had activities for kids like finding a needle in a haystack and a pie eating contest. We spend a few hours there and had a great time! I just love these old Americana towns!

The town of Columbia

Waiting for the parade to start

Happy Birthday America!