Easter Weekend 2011 - Yosemite

The Clampetts.  All we were missing was Granny in her rocker!

We decided to mix things up a bit and do something completely different this Easter.  We went with a bunch of friends to Yosemite!  We left bright and early (like 5:30am!) on Maundy Thursday.  We arrived just inside Yosemite around lunch time.

Saraa wasted no time in eating up everyone else's Cheetos.

Auntie Kristina (or Nina as Saraa says) with Saraa

It was a little chilly and we noticed some patches of snow, but we are consummate optimists.  Who could be disappointed that the weather was a few degrees chillier than expected when you see views like this?!

 Good Friday.  Morning hike.

The Tribe, on a short hike to see Bridalveil Falls.

The Kims and The Juns

As we ate our lunch after seeing Bridalveil, it started to sprinkle.  The sprinkle turned into an actual rain.  And so we took a little refuge in the museum in Yosemite Village.

I always suspected that my kids were cavemen. 
I suspect it every day at dinner as I try to drill in some table manners.

And then we hiked in the rain.  The good part of that was that the trails were not too crowded.  :-)  Every time we passed a happy-go-lucky group riding bikes or hiking without proper jackets, they were not speaking English or were speaking English with a European accent!  I'm sure all the Californians were hiding in the coffee shop wondering what all that wet stuff coming from the sky was. 

 

Everyone needs a BFF.

 On the drive back to our campsite (which was about 40 minutes from Yosemite Village) it started to snow.  Yes, snow.  What were we to do for dinner?  Gana with great foresight had brought along an extension ladder.  (Seriously!)  And Jordan, with great foresight, had brought along an extra large tarp.  Thank the Lord for Harbor Freight.

And so between two engineers, a carpenter and a businessman, they devised a covering that kept our campfire and food completely dry.  I love men.

David Knifton, the engineer and Robert Fukui the businessman. 
Men of many talents.

 After a very wet night, (and the first night camping is always the most uncomfortable) some of our friends decided that they needed to head home.  Understandable, as none of us were really prepared for this COLD and WET weather.

Our kids, however, started making declarations.  Saturday the weather was going to be beautiful. 

We awoke to sun!  Beautiful sun!  So, we hopped on our bikes and went for a ride!  (Yes, even the pregnant lady!)

It was Junior Ranger Day.  So there were activities for the kids--and they earned their Junior Ranger badges.

A picnic lunch along with the birds and critters.

The fire rangers were there, letting the kids (and those who are kids at heart) try on their gear and use the fire hose.

Gana is one sexy fireman.

Belgee

Robert Fukui, lookin' tough!

I'm the one in the yellow rain jacket.

No Belgee did not wet his pants.  He was sitting in the snow!

One thing I love about our community of friends is how loving and understanding they are about having little children always around.  No one complains about the mess or the noise or the occasional baby falling asleep on them.  It isn't always easy to find a group of people so tolerant of the stage of life in which we live.




What the men fondly called "The Frig."

 On Saturday night, after a very full day, we had a potluck--our Easter Dinner.  Pulled Pork, Tri-tip, dumplings, cabbage salad and brownies.  And all of us huddled around the campfires.  When the kids went to bed, the grown-ups enjoyed some hot buttered rum.  (Well, all the grown-ups except me.  I enjoyed some apple cider.)

 On Easter morning, after the Daddies got the tents taken down and the cars packed, we had an Easter Egg Hunt!  Here are the kids, dividing up their loot.

 And then we had a time of worship and communion.  Where two or three are gathered, there He is in their midst.

Yes, it was cold and a bit rainy.  But, I don't think I'm seeing things through rose-colored glasses when I say it was a fantastic weekend!

I'm seeing the world through purple plastic Easter eggs.