Yosemite trip July '08

Top of Glacier Point before our hike!

Well I survived a week in the wild, most days it was thoroughly enjoyable, then there was the hike down Glacier Point; now that was 5 miles of HELL. But we'll get to that in a moment.

We stayed in the Housekeeping Camp, which are concrete and canvas tents with electricity, beds and the only fire pits allowed in the park, so it was pretty cool. We were able to meet all of our needs for the trip, Chan got the illusion of a tent and roasting smores and I got the ability to maintain cleanliness with concrete floors and not have to sleep on an air mattress, AND use my hair dryer!! Now you know, I still had major issues with public toilets and showers, but they were clean, though let me tell you how good it felt to get home and be able to lean on the shower wall, no actually be able to touch the shower wall or toilet seat and know that I was not going to contact tomaine poisoning or worse!!

We kept ourselves busy with physical activities (lets all say yeah together) and the constant need to clean up your campsite before you even walked away to pee, seriously. The rangers were all over you if you even left your food locker open while you walked back to get the rest of the items to store and you were only 3 feet away!! We spent more time cleaning up camp and storing food and such then you could believe, but I'm glad that we did. A couple of tents down the campers did not lock their food locker and the bears helped themselves one morning to all their offerings. What a mess, not too mention a hefty fine!

We took a 4-mile bike ride the 2nd day there, it was a lot of fun, though a lot of work for Rick with Cami attached to his bike with the new tandem bike that we bought for her. On day three we floated 3-miles down river via river rafting, it was fun, but again a lot of work for Rick and I. Chan tried to paddle, but he's not quite there with the technique yet (it's taken Rick and I almost two decades to be in sync and an unforgettable, comical kayak trip in Alaska one year to be able to paddle effectively, do I ever wish that we had that one on tape!!). Day five, well, let me put it in Cami's terms... " I'm never, ever, ever, never going to hike on that mountain again!!". When Rick mentioned hiking, I assumed he meant down in the meadows, then when he said Glacier Point, well, why wouldn't I assume that there would be a nice easy trail path, not 5miles of switch-backs from hell. If I realized, I would have packed my hiking boots, not my little 'ole Keds tennies. The path was so slippery at times that it was all you could do to keep from falling, which I did several times. Unfortunately the hike was murder on my knee and it took us twice as long as it normally would have, had I not had to hobble with a bum knee. Again, never, ever, ever, never again!! Or at least until my knee heals and I have the proper shoes, then again, never works.

The rest of our time/days were spent with the kids playing in the river, sightseeing, cleaning up camp (we are extremely clean campers, I'm a better housekeeper camping then at home), and some relaxing. We did celebrate our anniversary last week so we had dinner at the Awahnee hotel one night, which was a nice evening out (the duck was incredible, the prime rib unbelievable). We did see several deer, a couple of bears, though I never had a camera with me for them, and of course the dozens of squirrels that lived in our campsite and walked across our feet and table to see what we were eating.

All the tiredness and sore legs aside, it was a great trip (but my next trip come October will be all about pampering and no work) and we were sorry to have to leave so soon. Next year (Jiminy Christmas, did I just say next year??) we will plan on an extra 3-4 days up there as we just did not have enough time this year. Hopefully we can get our families to join us and make a group event out of it. For now, we are home, unpacked and starting to rest. Fortunately we left just before the recent fires got out of hand.

I hope that you enjoy the photos.
Stef

All packed up and heading into the tunnel to leave the valley

At the top of the trail

This is the actual trail that we hiked down.It was narrow and slippery, the width was probably only 18 inches, and the rocks on the left of the trail, well, they are the start of a long fall down the side of a mountain!!!

Rick and I starting the trail
Rick and the kids leading the way (I ALWAYS trailed behind)
One of the beautiful falls
Cami and her new tandem bike



Enjoying the COLD river
Chan realizing just how cold it was
One of the deer just lying around the valley
Rick and Stef "resting" during our rafting trip
Down river from the raft



Night on the "town"
The outside of our tent
NOTE: these dirty drawers were not ours!! they were hanging all week from a neighboring camper and I couldn't resist the shot.
Rick, Chan and Cam
Rick, Chan and Cam

Fourth of July

It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Super-Chan

Mr and Misses Trouble

Chan & Rick (and Maggie)
Cami
Cami


Stef
Stef & Max


Jack-knived Chan
Cam & Chan
Cam & Chan

Well the 4th of July has come and gone yet again like a blink in the night. My Parents, Grammie, and Sister Shell and her family all were here to celebrate with us. The afternoon was pretty much spent in the pool or lazing around the house, it was a very low-key day, my favorite kind! The Laguna Niguel firework show is shot up off the lake, which is right at the end of our street, which is might convenient for us lazy folks who don't want to travel anywhere (i.e., me) on a holiday anylonger. But talk about a bust this year!! A few minutes into the display and there was a hillside fire and the fireworks ceased, several neighbors called into the city and were told that the show was over, so in came the chairs and blankies, and we were off to do the dishes. An hour later the show finale started back up, no warning, just boom! It's a good thing that we only had to walk outside to enjoy the show and not travel anywhere, nor pay for the inconvenience factor!

Not much else is happening around here, or atleast worth mentioning. Cambrie is in summer school and at the YMCA for the summer camp programs, keeping her active and fine-tuning her math and reading skills, getting her ready for 2nd grade in the Fall. Chan has been my lazy boy the past couple of weeks, though he is currently at my parents (with a quick layover at Shell's house) for a few days. Margo is getting ready for the first of her surgeries, right hip replacement, and has suffered through more pokes and prodding by the doctors than she planned on, but has received the green light for her medical clearance!

We are heading up to Yosemite for a week of camping (let's all say yeah together, since you all know how much I love dirty feet and public showers/toilets). Did I also mention that we would be there for our wedding anniversary...?? Nice planning on Ricks part, wouldn't you say? No worries, he will be making it up to me, BIG TIME, the weekend when we get home. As a concession to me (and my high-maintenance issues as he puts it), we will be staying in the House Keeping Camp which offers electricity (now this is a big whoo hoo, I can blow dry my hair!!), but still requires outdoor cooking and firepits. Needless to say, the kids are looking forward to it, so off I will go and be a good sport about it.

We haven't seen much of the guys lately. Brian and Rick have dinner a couple of times a month when they can fit it into to their schedules and Tony has been extremely busy with a recent move and studying for his brokers exam, but has a birthday this week so we are planning on seeing him soon. I wish I had better or recent pictures of them to post. I'll have to work on that this month.

As for Rick and I, well, he's busy as ever at work, with projects here at home and trying to fit in rounds of golf or atleast hitting a few buckets of balls everyweek. As for me, I'm keeping busy with the kids, Margo's appts, the house, etc. Being graceful as ever, I did manage to miss a few steps on the stairs last month and tear the tendons in my knee, which is one slow and painful healing process!

I'll post again with new photos as I take them. Stay safe and enjoy your summer.

Stef

Tony's Surf Trip

Tony recently returned from a surf trip with a group of friends from Samoa. The guys were fortunate to have along a professional photographer that captured some great shots of Tony.

June 2008

So we have officially made it through the longest baseball season ever as well as Cambrie's extended birthday celebration (which ran almost a week due to baseball). It's a happy-sad that the season is over as Chan loves to play as much as we love to watch him and this year we had an awesome team, with players, coaches and parent dynamics, but again the scrubbing of those blasted white pants and 4-5 days/week of baseball can just about kill you!!

As I mentioned, Cam's birthday ran the course of a week starting with her party last weekend, which had a great turnout, about 20 kids. With the exception of a couple couch jumpers, they were pretty well behaved and all got along great together. The karaoke machine was a big hit; so much I am considering buying one for the house (relax all, I know my limitations and inability to carry a tune!! this would be for the kids, now if it was just sitting there and not being used and no one was listening, I might be persuaded to try it out...). Her actual b-day fell on the same day as Chan's last TOC game so we just celebrated with her cake (which she was very specific on what she wanted for a cake: a heart shaped chocolate cake with pink whipped cream frosting, filled with whipped cream and fresh strawberries and bananas, decorated with flowers and ladybugs). Besides treats for school, we rounded out the weeklong event with dinner at Rainforest Cafe. Our household calendar unfolded with the monthly birthday run from April straight thru August (Brian, Margo, Rick, Cami, Tony then Chan), so I am ALMOST done....

School is out in three more days, weekdays that is. I'm not sure if I am looking forward to it or not. It is another one of those dual feelings, part glad that its over and the other dreading the constant boredom and whining that will no doubt rear its ugly head. We decided to be proactive and enroll Cam in summer school and we're considering something similar for Chan, maybe military school?? Did I mention that he is pushing 13?? He told me tonight that he wanted me to home school him, I almost peed my pants. My actual response was that it would be good for our relationship for him to remain in public school. Why you ask? He did as well. Well, its simple, one of us would not probably walk away from the experience alive. Did I mention that he's pushing 13??

Rick and I are plugging along, nothing of excitement to report. We're alive and well, happy and healthy, can't ask for more than that. Well, maybe a producing money tree in the back yard and lower gas prices, but we'll keep wishing on the falling star and see where it leads us...

Take care all,
Stef

Just the girls: Crystal, Shell, Grams, Mom & Stef

Cami with her Grammie Dollars and Chandler providing the running commentary

50's day at school

Cami with her Grandma, Grammie and Nana

Lauren

The official birthday cake

Birthday "hat" at Rainforest Cafe

What can I say, he's pushing 13...

Le Boo and her Daddy

Cam and Lindsay playing dress up

the self decorated cupcake & sparkler candles

Our guys: Steven, Chandler and Morgan

Our gals: Ashlyn, Lindsay, Lauren & Cambrie

Lindsay & Aunt Steffie (Uncle Jeff too)

Chan's Baseball

Chan safe at 2nd base

Chan playing shortstop with a great out at 2nd base during regular season.

This was a great at bat for Chan! An almost infield homerun that ended with a pickle at homeplate where Chan decided he was Superman and tried to jump over the catcher instead of bulldozing him down at the plate. Needless to say, he was out and lucky the umpire was so humored he just patted him on the back instead of tossing him from the game.

Late Spring 2008 Update

So it's been awhile since my last post, and let me tell you it's been crazy around here!! I'd say enough said, but those of you who know me know that that is just not my style! So here goes....


A couple of birthdays have come and gone (Rick, Brian, Margo and Cami is this next week), and I think that they are all recovering nicely for being a year older. We'll leave their actual ages alone for now (though Brian is barely hanging on to his 20's).


Margo has joined us here in the household last month and the transition is now moving along more smoothly. For those of you who have not met her, she is Rick's Mom. She is getting ready for a hip, then knee replacement surgeries and is counting down the days.


Previously I mentioned that baseball was 4 days a week, well, I jinxed myself. It had turned into a daily event. Seriously. Practice or a game everyday for awhile with playoffs, then Tournament of Champions (TOC). Yikes! We have our 3rd T.O.C game this afternoon with another on Cami's birthday next week. Chan rotates between pitching and fielding (he can play all positions except catcher, but prefers 3rd base or shortstop if he is not not on the mound). The schedule really puts a damper on a regular meal schedule. And please don't get me started on scrubbing the stains out of the blasted white pants that they have to wear because I refuse to let him wear dingy white pants to a game!


Cami's birthday party is tomorrow, we invited 39 kids. Yep, I'm nuts. I'll let you know how we fair with that later on. She is excited though. She will be turning 7 on the 11th this month.


My family had a medical scare with my uncle who had major surgery and fortunately pulled through, but it was a stressful time for me on top of everything else that I was dealing with. He seems to be doing much better though.


Quite frankly life is so busy that I find I can actually fall asleep at night, sometimes even in the afternoon if I sit down on the couch for a few minutes to rest. A surprising change for someone who has had insomnia for her whole life! I try not to sit on the couch in the afternoon very often though as it throws me off and makes for a very cranky mommy!!!


On a good note, we finally got the curtains up in both Chan's and the master bedrooms. Yeah! Baby steps. Its amazing how much has to be done and how little time there actually is to do it. Rick did rebuild the dog run area with a new deck, rock walk way, new sod and umbrella (I'll post a photo). And Cami's new built-in closet and shelves are almost done (not store units, all handmade by Rick). The downstairs bath mirror and plumbing are complete as well. Like I said, baby steps.


Today is a busy day for us; a game and my family will all be with us which is the best part as my sister Crystal and her girls and my Grams are all in town and will be staying here tonight as well as my parents so I am off to plan whatever....


Take Care. Love,

Stef