Lee Vining, Ca

This weekend we drove about six hours north of LA to visit Lee Vining, Ca.  Lee Vining is a small town just outside of Yosemite and where Aunt Jessie is spending about six weeks doing fieldwork.  We had a great time visiting with her, Emmet, Adam, and Grandma Mel while seeing some beautiful sites.  In these pictures we are up about 10,000 feet, at the field site.  Madeline loved seeing the snow, Sophie, let's just say, not so much.  She requested to go back to her car seat after it started to snow/sleet/rain.

More Sites

We spent some time at Ellery Lake. The kids loved throwing rocks into the water.




Aunt Jessie took us to this awesome campground with a waterfall. Next year, if we are able to make the trip again, we will definitely camp here with the kids.

Checking out the Tufas at Mono Lake

Beach Day!

Earlier this week the weather forecast for our area was close to 100, so Kent and I made plans to head to the beach.  And, brrrrrrrrrr, it was a good 30 degrees cooler at the coast.  I needed a sweater!  The girls didn't seem to mind and spent lots of time frolicking in the ocean with their Daddy.  When Sophie couldn't stop shivering and her lips had turned blue, we decided she had had enough.  But Sophie disagreed, and cried out her disappointment all the way back to our blanket.

Mother's Day 2009

We started our Mother's Day off with donuts for breakfast, flowers from Kent, and hand-made cards and crafts from the girls.  After a lazy morning, we visited a local farmer's market that advertised "Strawberry Season."  I mistakenly assumed they were pick your own, but that turned out not to be the case.  They did have some fun activities for the kids, though. 

I was unable to coax Sophie onto a horse.  Maybe someday. 

Madeline loves the Oriental Trading magazines that come in the mail.  She is, no joke, entertained by them for HOURS.  She didn't even put it down during the carousel ride.

Sophie was disappointed when we got in the car and was asking, "Where are our strawberries?  I want to pick strawberries."  So, I went back in and bought some waaaay overpriced berries to appease her. 

After that, we packed up and headed to Griffith Park for a picnic and play time.  The girls enjoyed playing on the playground and eating some ice-cream.  This evening,  Kent is going to grill some burgers for dinner, and we'll polish the day off roasting marshmallows.  

The only thing that could make this day better would be spending the day with our extended families . . . maybe next year . . . crossing our fingers . . . sending hugs and kisses to our mamas and step-mama on this special day.

I heart Mother's Day.  Love it, love it, love it.

Birthday Party

Saturday afternoon, Madeline and I attended the birthday party of a little girl in Madeline's class.  She had so much fun, I was sure she'd be in bed early. No luck.

Madeline and the birthday girl, Luanne.

All the kids lined up smallest to biggest for the pinata:

Pikes and Eels

Here are a couple of snippets from Madeline's swim class tonight.  She started out in the "Pike" class, which she loved.  There were 5 other girls to talk to, and she really liked her teacher.  Then on Madeline's third day of class, she was plucked out and taken to the "Eel" class, the next level up for kids under 6.  She didn't really like it at first, but this has turned out to be great because there is only ONE other kid in her class. And this one other kid is often late, has to leave early, or doesn't show at all, and Madeline gets a private 45 minute swim lesson, like she did tonight.