YOSEMITE ADVENTURE

We haven't been to Yosemite since before the kids were born (kinda crazy, considering we're in California at least every other year), so our only big plan for this trip was a day at Yosemite (which we'd hoped to combine with snow play, but the weather changed last minute and we ended up needing to drive to higher elevation for that). Being November, the upper parts of the park were closed due to snow (with roads closed off long before the snow line, so we couldn't drive near enough to play), so we spent the day in the valley doing 3 little hikes to some of the waterfalls. Also being November though, the fall colors were in full effect and it was GORGEOUS! Jay had a lot of fun putting his new camera to use, Cora collected leaves everywhere we walked, and seeing the sunlight filtering through the treetops was a real treat. We had hoped to make it out to Mirror Lake too, but the road was closed about 2 miles from the trailhead and by the end of the day when we made it to the end of the valley, we knew the kids didn't have a 4+ mile hike left in them.

We started them off with a view of the Merced River (followed by a "hike" under our favorite bridge for a closer look at a waterfall) and they were immediately impressed with the "big rock mountains and BIG rocks":

 Can you spy Grambot and PawPaw up on the bridge?

 And can you spot Jay up among the boulders?

 It gives us an incredible amount of joy that our kids love nature, hiking, and national parks as much as we do. I think we need a big cross country road trip REALLY soon to hit some of our other favorites (as well as some we haven't seen yet!)

Next stop? Bridalveil Falls!

We stopped at the grocer and souvenir shop area for lunch, went through the museum and other exhibits, then hiked out to Lower Yosemite Falls. We saw quite a few deer along the path (both directions), which the kids loved (different type of deer than we have here in Mississippi, and seeing the "friendly" groups napping along the side of the trail was very exciting for them):

Since we couldn't got out to Mirror Lake, we went over to the Ahwahnee (now "The Majestic Yosemite Hotel" - sorry, but I hate that they changed it) for a look around (especially at the giant walk-in fireplaces), then went out for one more quick hike along the base of the mountains. Before that though, James had a chance to use his new knife (purchased in the Yosemite gift shop as a reward for earning his Whittling Chip - he chose a multi-tool with his name on it) to sharpen his sketching pencil. The concentration and pride was strong:

It's hard to see, but just below these words (it looks like sky, but it's rock, going straight up to the top of the photo) there's a climber heading up the rock face. The kids thought it was totally nuts that they were all the way up there attached to the wall with a few ropes...

It was such a fun day! I'm really glad we took the time to head to the park for an adventure, making memories that I hope the kids will hold onto for many, many years! Thank you PawPaw and Grambot for driving us over and being so patient with all the hiking and exploring (I know the kids were worrying you on all those giant rocks)!!

WEST COAST FAMILY TIME

After a late arrival last night, the plan for our first day in California was to just spend some much needed time with our west coast family. We slept in, went to a movie, dined alfresco in David and Taryn's new town (they moved to Lodi over the summer), then sent the kids home with Grambot and PawPaw to play while the rest of us went wine and cider tasting downtown. We ended the day with pizza delivery, puppy play, and The Walking Dead (while the kids played safely upstairs - it comes on a LOT earlier on the west coast).

We flew out of the Monroe airport for the first time and the experience was excellent. It's even smaller than the Jackson airport (and cheaper this time around), so everything from check in to security was almost ridiculously easy and fast. And parking was cheaper (and closer to the front door, even for long term). The only bummer was a complete lack of food options on site, but knowing that ahead of time, we grabbed lunch up the street before arriving. 

 Goodbye kiddos! (SOOO excited to be back to together!!)

Starting off at Jeremy's tasting room: 

After the tasting (and a bottle of wine that we enjoyed on the back patio while catching up on life), we walked over to Scotto's:

 After all that, I ended up needing a recovery nap, but not before I got some snuggles in with Falkor (the Bacon's new golden retriever puppy):

NIGHT READER

BOWMAR SPIRIT

(Dabbing for daddy on the security camera...)

RAFFLE EARLY BIRDS

The kids earned an extra recess / snack party for being Early Bird raffle ticket sellers. They were mighty pleased (and it cracked me up that they had kids of all ages to play with, yet chose to play together, as usual). Thank you grandparents for helping them sell enough tickets early on to be able to attend such an exclusive event ;-)

(And no, I was not in attendance. The teachers at Bowmar are very thoughtful and post pictures and/or video almost every day of the different activities that go on at school so that the parents can get a glimpse into their kids' days!)

LOOPS, PIN, PATCH, AND CHIP

James cleaned up at his Pack Meeting tonight! 5 new belt loops, a hanging patch, and archery pin, and the most coveted of all, the Whittling Chip he's been working so hard for!

GATES ESCAPE

James' 3rd Grade GATES class took a field trip to an Escape Room and had lunch afterward at a playground today, and he had the best time! He said they "almost" made it out of the room in time, but they all had fun even though they didn't win. (And yes, Cora was very jealous that the 2nd Grade GATES classes didn't get to go - we might have to make a family trip sometime!)

DAD AND ME CAMPOUT

Jay took Cora to the Girl Scout's "Dad and Me" overnight campout on Friday and they had the best time! The Girl Scout leaders planned a lot of really fun activities (for the girls AND the dads - including things we've not done at either of the Troop camps I've attended with Cora) and they gave the dads a lot more leeway than I've known them to give us moms... For example, he and Cora used their free time to hike all around the camp and lake (we were supposed to use our "Turtle Time" to rest, clean, or do Troop crafts) and were given free reign of the lake in their canoes (we had to stay within site of the dock and not go too near any other shoreline). I was a little jealous...

Arriving at Camp Iti Kana and exploring the cabins

They chose not to stay in that one...

The only other girl from our Troop that attended was Abby, and she and Cora latched onto each other for the weekend (though Jay says they did a great job of making new friends and participating in all the group activities - they even led some campfire singalongs outside their cabin for hours...)

Jay was so impressed with the organization and the ease of Girl Scout camp. Unlike the Cub Scouts, who seem to throw things together last minute and fly by the seat of their pants, the Girl Scouts have everything planned out down to the hour, with girls assigned to groups, and meals provided at designated times so that nobody has to pause activities to prep or cook. I think Jay felt pretty spoiled... (I'd told him ahead of time that he'd be surprised how easy Girl Scout camp is, but I don't think he believed me until he experienced it himself!) 

On Friday night the girls found a couple of spiders and created a makeshift terrarium so they could have a battle...

The campfire included lots of singing and dancing by the group of very excited girls!

(Yes, the daddies had brought their own color-change crystals for their campfire)

The next morning brought a slew of activities... slingshot paintball, a Christmas craft, an animal show, archery, a hike, and canoeing.

They were home before bedtime on Saturday, full of stories and excitement! They plan to do this again if the Scouts plan it - Jay said it was a great experience and Cora loved having so much time with her daddy all to herself!!

REC PLUS TRYOUTS

 (Everyone who tried out made the team because there was room for them all!)