The drive up was about 6-7 hours, and as soon as we drove through the national park gates, we saw a group of deer eating grass off the side of the road. Instant amazement and "ohh's!" were coming from our car alone! Then James saw it. SNOW!
"Hey mom, what's that WIPE stuff?"-James
"That's snow buddy!"-me
"Oh yeah, cool! Let's make a snowman!"-James
We checked in at Curry Village, got all of our stuff into our tent cabin, and had dinner (snacks + peanut butter sandwiches). Then we walked around for a bit star gazing and getting acquainted with our living quarters for the weekend. It was all so good. Mitch took James to the bathroom where he said, "Look daddy, a BIG mouse!" which actually ended up being a BIG raccoon! We had a great laugh over that! Totally one of those stories we will be telling his future wife and children someday.
As we got into bed and everyone had on their warmest jammies, we all laid there listening to the other campers as they laughed and talked, it was one of my favorite things this weekend---hearing the voices loud with excitement, but then slowly quiet down as the night went on. Then the wind came. The wind in the treetops reminded me of "traffic", a humming that I thought was coming from the road near the campsite, but then I looked up and realized it was the wind in the treetops! Total city slicker moment! But something I would catch myself doing a lot this weekend, just listening to the wind, you know, when the boys were actually quiet long enough for me to listen to it :) . The cabin we stayed in was nice and warm, the heater worked great and it was pretty clean inside! I highly recommend them! We were close enough to the bathrooms/showers too.
The next morning we woke up at 645am and yes, we were that LOUD tent with toddler boys begging for milk! We got dressed, packed up our breakfast and lunch and headed to the food hall to begin our only full day in the park!
The boys didn't want to eat their oatmeal, and Mitch and I had 2 helpings of french pressed coffee, so the morning started out rocky since everyone was a little grumpy and not eating their breakfast. But that was all behind us once we biked a little over a mile to Yosemite Falls. On the way there we had to stop for another group of deer making their way right in front of the bike trail we were on. The boys were SILENT as they watched the deer make their way across, and Mitch and I threw each other the happiest of smiles. I loved the look of excitement in my husband's eyes as we stood feet away from such beautiful, graceful creatures. It was heavenly. And a little terrifying because Bambi is GIGANTIC in real life.
When we got to the falls, James hopped out of the bike trailer, found a trusty stick and started hiking by Mitch's side. Henry was snuggled in the trailer and I pushed him up to the falls- I'm sure he was okay with having it all to himself for a bit as he sat back and enjoyed the ride. Multiple strangers commented on how envious they were of him! We got to the lower falls and snapped a few photos, took in the mist falling from the falls and watched the boys reactions to it all. They LOVED it. We LOVED it. Sigh. It was all so good!
We checked out the visitor center afterward, stamped our national parks passport, had lunch outside on a bench and watched squirrels play and blue jays fly by. Then it was NAP TIME. Not only for Henry, but for mama too. As we slept for an hour at the silent campground, James and dad went exploring on their own. An hour later Henry and I were ready to bike to Mirror Lake with Mitch + James! Naps are so glorious that way.
Ahhh, Mirror Lake. Absolute majestic spot. That's my definition for it. As I took photos, I had a surge of excitement and wonder in my chest. That's the best I can express what it was like to snap away. Pure happiness. So much GOD all around you!
...full of God's thoughts, a place of peace and safety amid the most exalted grandeur and enthusiastic action, a new song, a place of beginnings abounding in first lessons of life, mountain building, eternal, invincible, unbreakable order; with sermons in stone, storms, trees, flowers, and animals brimful with humanity. - John Muir
It was all so good.
After our trek to Mirror Lake, we rode around the valley for a bit, and stopped to walk in the meadows. The boys ran full force on the boardwalk, and off in the distance was another group of deer eating. Mitch and I both took some photos, chased after the boys, and made our way to eat dinner on the pizza patio! Dinner consisted of pizza, beer, and chocolate cake! Yup. Carb nation.
After dinner we showered and got back into our warmest jammies. Everyone was fast asleep at 8pm. We originally planned on making some coffee and sitting on the steps to talk and look at the stars again after the babes fell asleep, but that never happened-ha!
The next morning we woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, moseyed around and took some snapshots, and finally packed up the car. It was time to leave Yosemite.
I cried a little as we drove away from the valley. It was all so good.
But on the way out, we had one last hurrah and stopped at Mariposa Grove and did another short hike up to the giant sequoias, and JAMES HIKED IT ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN. I was so proud of him! We will definitely be taking him on more hikes, he absolutely loved it. And Henry? Well, once again, he had the best spot attached to mama in the Ergo carrier on my back. Quiet all the way up, and most of the way back down to the car :)
I was having the post Yosemite blues on Sunday evening and some of yesterday, but today I just can't wait to get back. I hope you get a chance to experience it for the first time, or again and again. It's simply that amazing. And all I could think about on the way home was that It was all so good.
***And here's a list of parenthood lifesavers that we took with us, just in case you were curious***
- Snacks. A BUNCH of snacks: a variety of crackers, craisins, beef jerky, apples, bananas, trail mix, banana chips, etc.
- A pack and play: Henry slept in this, played in this, sat in this. A MUST for anyone camping with a baby/toddler.
- A movie(s) on the iPad. I know, I know. But it really comes in handy when you're on the road for hours, or right before bedtime and the littles need some down time. We only had 1 movie on the iPad, but I can officially quote "The Incredibles" from beginning to end now.
- Only 1-2 sippy cups and DISH SOAP so you can wash them!
- WIPES. Like, 2 packs. FULL packs. You will use all of them, believe me.
- 2 pairs of shoes per child. Yes.
- A baby/toddler carrier
- Did I mention snacks?
And so, I am ending this post with some snaps from the weekend to inspire you to visit Yosemite!
until next time.
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