Yosemite 2009

Oh how i wish i was able to blog our trip the way i did last summer, but alas there is no electricity with tent camping and no electricity means no computer. So i am just going to write a few favorites so when i look back next year i can smile and hopefully my kids will read these someday! :)

Our perfect campsite. Our tent & bear locker were shaded. The only flaw was that our table had to sit on a slight angle. The crayons and pencils kept rolling off the table into the dirt.


Bears are no joke here. Anything that had a scent had to be locked in this metal cabinet. Kyle had to sign a form stating that we would not leave anything in our vehicles or tent. At one of the parking lots they would peer inside your car & issue you a 'Bear Ticket' if anything was seen.

We actually spotted a black bear, whom is really brown, on the side of the road. I felt like the Bear Paparazzi. That dark shade of brown is him. He was HUGE!

i found these stats posted at our campgrounds interesting.

We camped in Wawona, Yosemite National Forest. Initially, i was bummed we weren't able to get a spot in Yosemite Valley, but after seeing the campsites, i'm waaaaaay happier with where we stayed. We were right by the Merced River and so of course that made the fishing a lot better! At night i would tell the kids as we laid in the tent to listen to God's music while falling asleep. This included the sound on the small river waterfalls and a few crickets. It was so peaceful and calming.

We loved swimming in the Wawona waterhole & sliding down God's rocks. Kiera kept up with the 2 older ones never missing a beat.

This is the root of the Sequoia. AMAZING!

The "Grizzly Giant" is the largest living thing on earth. One of the tree branches is 7 feet in diameter. These sequoia trees are 2000 years old some of them in existence when Cleopatra ruled Egypt.


We adventured on an unplanned 4 mile hike through Mariposa Grove home of the sequoias. This included a 1000 foot inclination.

This was how kiera "hiked" on the way up.

It was the 2 miles downhill in crocs that i hiked with her like this. Well, i hiked 1 mile & kyle hiked 1 mile. Fantastic workout!

~We marveled at butterflies~

~We played together.~




~ After completing a well written Lil Cub Ranger Book & participating in a Ranger Hike, Kienan & Mackenzie were sworn in as Lil Cub Junior Rangers. They are now committed to preserving our earth :)~

Funny story: The Ranger was explaining to the kids that you can identify animals by their tracks and their scat. She brought out some bear scat to show the kids and then decided to eat it. Here's Mackenzie's face when she asked if anyone else wanted to try the "Bear Scat" aka chocolate covered peanuts. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

We fished rainbow and brown trout. Kienan and Kyle both caught some and then released them back in the river.

~ We cooked delicious meals without the conveniences of the kitchen.~

We all hiked to Yosemite Falls. Kienan and Kyle hiked though the boulders to get to the bottom of the falls. The kids journaled. I took some pictures of their drawings so i could remember them forever.

~ We realized more than once that we were the guest and not the host.~

~ We were reminded to breathe, cherish, ponder, unite, relax, listen & remember the world's a lot bigger than ourselves.~

Even though i don't have a picture, i want to remind my kids how we laid in the bed of dad's truck and gazed at the spectacular view of the night sky absolutely filled with stars. We saw satellites zooming through the sky & learned the importance of them in our modern world. We saw shooting stars and made wishes. We saw the Milky Way and then Kienan asked if there was A Chocolate Milky Way. Hahaha!!! Funny :)

One more memory was after the kids went to bed and kyle & i were sitting by the fire with the lantern on. I asked him if he could turn if off as to better enjoy the night atmosphere. Within seconds of him turning the lantern off and the world around us becoming pitch black we heard rustling in the bushes right behind us. We both jumped. I slightly panicked as the rustling continue telling him to hurry and turn the lantern back on. It wouldn't light and wouldn't light and wouldn't light. I used the flicker of the fire to run to the tent and grab a flashlight. As he continued to try and light the uncooperative lantern i lit up the bushes with my light. NOTHING! But we kept hearing the noises. Finally, he was able to light the lantern and the noise stopped! 10 minutes later we heard the rustling again and this time with the help of the flashlight we were able to spot the glowing eyes of a doe. Not bothered by us, she continued her midnight snacking.

i also want to make note for the record so there are no future discrepancies: kyle and i were only able to play 2 games of cribbage. We are tied one to one. Although i beat him so badly that mine should count as two wins ;)

And the sticking MOSQUITOES!!! We were eaten alive even though we were practically bathing in OFF. Let's not forget how we were covered in bites!

i could post a million more pictures, but that's what shutterfly is for! i recommend to anyone that loves to camp to pack up the family and head out to yosemite. it's an amazing place to be~

What I Really Want To Do Is....

...have a complete Summer Curriculum... i was even thinking having a theme each week. I'm working on it! Today the kids and i sat down and went through all the magazine ideas i have saved (i tear them out of the magazine and then keep them in clear plastic sheets in three ringed binders) and then went and bought big, white poster board. I plan to draw out the 8 weeks of summer (seems so super short!) and write in the activity for each day. I do have to work in the mornings a few days during the week, but we will have the afternoons to play together! i am hoping that if we all know what to expect each day there will be less time spent trying to manage 3 bored kiddos.

Here are just some preliminary ideas:

* Geocaching or Letterboxing- It's like a modern day treasure hunt and they are EVERYWHERE! Here are some good links:

http://www.letterboxing.org/

http://www.geocaching.com/

*Make a movie! I wanted to do this last year and just never got to it. I think it may be easier with the kids a year older. I am hoping to use some props and kiera can hold signs :) And then i know a really good home movie editor whose services i could pay for with homemade chocolate chip cookies..... josh.

* The Great American Backyard Campout on June 27th- This is us the past couple of years.

Our first year was on the balcony of our apartment (we made glow in the dark shirts) , the second year i was too pregnant to even walk into the backyard let alone set up camp, but last year the kids were excited to camp in the backyard. Check out the official website: http://www.nwf.org/BackyardCampout/

We are also camping in Yosemite & Laughlin this summer. :) Perhaps a favorite of mine!

Hoping to tie in Star-gazing/identifying while lying on a blanket in the backyard. If you can't find a Star Wheel to purchase you can print one out here.

Flashlight Tag. SUPER FUN! Everyone hides and the seeker runs around with a flashlight looking for all the hiders in the backyard :)

SMORES of course! Here are some pics of my kids post-smores. How can you resist this activity?

Mackenzie 2006

Kiera 2009

* Make our own ice cream. Yes, i am going to Wal-Mart to get an ice cream machine!!!! We already have a snow cone machine which is great to share with the neighborhood kids, parties at our house, & just a fun treat. We use it all summer! I'm thinking i know some friends and family that might enjoy an ice cream delivery from the donovan clan!

* I would like to leave our 4 walls every monday or whatever day works & just spend the day gallivanting around southern california. Here are some of my hopes & wishes:

http://www.childrensnatureinstitute.org/ - i think it would be fun to do a moonlight hike

http://www.rhythmchild.net/ - hope too see them at the descanso gardens. we absolutely LOVE THEIR CD. If you like to see your kids dance around to music other than "Wheels on the Bus" then you must purchase! You can hear them if you click on their website. LOVE IT!!!!!!

http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx - FREE FAMILY MOVIES!!! Yep. Free. It's just first come first serve and they are doing it in all the states.... i think.

http://daytrippingmom.blogspot.com/ - i will follow her blog and all the amazing ideas she has already researched!

k, so i still have tons more i wanted to share, but the pillow is calling my name. i hope to be better at blogging over the summer and maybe even add in the so many, many events i missed!

Check back for MORE SUMMER IDEAS! Also, don't hesititate to post under the comments some of your tried and true activities :)

Baby is growing up...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MY KIERAAAAAAAA,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
LOVE, MAMA

there are so many wonderful things to LOVE about YOU, KIERA JUNE!

~ your smile is infectious

~ the way you smack your lips for kisses

~ the way you waddle when you walk with that diaper butt

~ how good it feels when you wrap your pudgy little arms around my neck

~ the way you say "dis" for "this" with such purpose

~ your determination

~ how you giggle with your 4 front teeth showing

~ your social skills are amazing

~ your interest in cell phones, music, dancing, spaghetti, your lil car, and following your brother & sister

~ when you garden with me

~you are PERFECT to me!~

Your party was tons of fun! A water slide, and water balloon fights, and water bottle fights, and water bucket fights, and snow cones, and cake all over and presents, and some silliness and lots of happy birthday wishes just for you!

THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT CAME AND CELEBRATED AND THREW A WATER BALLOON OR TWO! THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE THOUGHTFUL GIFTS!

*******PARTY SUMMARY*******

~this was your personal birthday cake~

~and you ate it with EVERY part of your body including your cute TOES~

~this is kienan getting minna wet and minna trying to get him back~

~this is dianna filling lots n lots n lots of water balloon for all the little ones~

thank goodness for her as many more people were able to get wet :)

~this is papa playing water games too :)

and papa got soaked by suzzi and mommy~

~this is daddy, uncle meel, and eric trying to be sly from the other side~

~these are your relatives~

~great grandma june & great grandpa lloyd came too!~

~this is our FAMILY picture for the day~

...and then you got really tired and couldn't resist a nap with Curious George :)

~i am excited to watch you grow for the next 365 days and i hope to capture in writing & photography as much as possible for you!

Thank you for enriching my life. I'm so lucky that God chose you for me :)

i love you kiera june!

mommy xoxo

Last Days of Summer

11 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP

OH IT WAS SOOOO SOOOO SOOO GREAT TO SPEND TIME WITH MY TEXAS FRIEND KRISTIN AND HER 3 GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some of you might remember little baylie may who was in our wedding :) She's all growed up! (yes, i typed growed not grown). We just hung out and all 6 kids played together. Yes, kristin, between the 2 of us there are 6 kids. It used to just be 1. One cutey patootee in which my world revolved around. i was baylie's preschool teacher when she was 2 years old. That is her at my wedding. Her and i were the best of friends. we played and danced and giggled and rode in jeeps and imagined together.... and it just so happened that i loved her mommy too :) and then we all moved to arizona and got married and played as couples (that's when joe and kyle came along). Camping and peeing in the bushes or falling over in the bushes while peeing, kid rock of course and the broken glass that i was reminded about, swimming, our bachelorette parties (yours was definitely more crazy than mine), your wedding and my wedding, the honeymoon suite (please forgive us), and all the times you let me lean on your shoulder.... thank you, my friend.... i miss you all the way over in texas :( but i would rather miss you than to have never known you...xoxo

SUMMER LOVIN' WITH GREASE

The last summer event was going to the musical Grease at the local community college with my mom and Mackenzie. I thought kenzie would enjoy the singing and dancing which she did for the most part. But, she REALLY liked the idea of going on a date with Minna & mommy. I think that my mom enjoyed the musical the most as she reminisced about the days back when (shhh, don't tell her but that's why i invited her as i knew she'd be tappin' her foot to the music). She had to explain a few of the references to me since i didn't understand all the jokes. I'm not that old. So here we are the 3 girls dressed up a bit on a sunday afternoon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NADIA!!!!!!!!!!

And then we were fortunate enough to see my beautiful cousins and celebrate Nadia's 35th birthday... oh, wait i mean 33rd... JUST KIDDING! Unfortunately the time was WAY to short, but better something than nothing at all. Happy Birthday SS!

THANKS AUNTIE GAMILLA!

My aunt brought back jelabias from her month long stay in Egypt. Here is the crew in authentic Egyptian wear. Kienan wore his "robe" 3 days straight. I was finally able to nab it and throw it in the washing machine.

SWIMMING

And we swam at my moms one last time. I definitely have 3 water kids. I had to bribe them outta the water after 2 1/2 hours. And i'm pretty sure that i NEVER tortured my mom with, "Mom, watch this. Mom, watch this. Mom, watch this. Mom, watch this!" WOW!

UP NEXT: THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL..............................