California Adventure

Steve, Anna, and I spent the last two weeks in California.  Steve had a work conference in Santa Clara so we stayed with his parents, Virgina & Richard, in San Jose (just a 30 min drive).  While he was working, Anna and I spent time with Grandma and Grandpa shopping and eating good food.

Thursday, after Steve finished his conference, we headed up to the cabin between Mi-Wuk and Long Barn.  It's a long trip, but Anna did great.  We arrived and got settled on the second floor.

Friday, Steve had to work some more, so Grandma took Anna and I to a reconstructed old mining town named Columbia.  We spent all day there- looking at shops, talking to street performers, and having lunch in a cute tearoom called Columbia Kate's.  Later, Steve and I returned with Anna and took an old-time photograph.

Most of the other days at the cabin, were spent relaxing, taking walks and playing at the park.  Steve took me one day to see 'Steve's Falls'.  It's a waterfall that Steve 'found' when he was exploring the area almost 20 years ago.  They are beautiful and it was really peaceful to sit on the huge rock right above the falls.

The second week of our visit was incredibly busy.  We started out visiting Jeff & Gina in Rocklin.  We arrived Saturday night and spent Father's Day with them and Gina's parents, Sookie & Pete.  We had a lot of fun playing with cousins and had a wonderful meal prepared by Pete.  He grilled steak and lobster tails and Gina made peach pie and apple crisp.  Delicious!

 Monday was spent with Scott and Kim and their family.  We enjoyed talking and I think Steve played 4 games with the kids.

The highlight of the vacation was spent in Yosemite.  We spent two days there, Wednesday & Friday.  On Wednesday, Mom & Dad Wheeler came with us as we explored Yosemite Valley.  Our first official stop was at the Tunnel View just before you arrive to the valley from the south.  You can see Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Falls.  Next, we went to Bridalveil Falls.  Dad suggested we take a short-cut, but ended up wading in the mud.  Steve's shoes and the stroller wheels were covered with mud.  On the way up, we got it all washed off.  With the record snowpack, the water was raging over its banks and down the path.  We were up to our ankles as we walked to the look out.  Anna didn't like the spray in her face so we only had time to take a couple of pictures.  We then headed back to our car and had a picnic in the woods nearby while Anna slept.

Yosemite Falls was spectacular.  There's not a lot you can say to describe the beauty of it.  We took so many pictures.  Again, there was so much water!  Usually the falls are starting to dry up at the end of June.  Instead, there was more water than Grandpa and Grandma had ever seen!  Steve and I walked across the bridge at the base of the falls while Grandma and Grandpa stayed dry with Anna.

Friday was awesome.  We went to the southern end of the park.  First stop, Wawona.  Not a lot to see there.  We walked through a small pioneer village and talked to a blacksmith.  Then we headed to the centerpiece of the day- Mariposa Sequoia Grove.  The trees were beautiful!  We were going to take the tram ride- up until we discovered it was $26.50 a person!  Needless to say, we decided to walk.  It was so nice to be able to get up close to the trees, but it was uphill all the way- about a mile.  We saw the Fallen Monarch, the Bachelor and Three Graces, Grizzly Giant, and California Tunnel Tree.  There were others of course, but they didn't have names.

Our flight home was on Saturday.  We got home tired, but so grateful to everyone that we were able to stay with and visit.  Mom, Dad, Jeff, Gina, Scott and Kim- thank you all so much!