Snow and Cloud Mist Makes It More Beautiful (Right?)

Last week we started talking with Dave's cousin Jodi, who lives in LA and who was hosting her mom, Dave's Auntie Carol. They expressed interest in visiting Yosemite, which was a substantial drive for them. We invited them to break up the drive, stay with us and take The VM Tour of our favorite National Park. We were SO excited when these plans worked out! Auntie Carol and Jodi arrived and visited with us Sunday evening. We ate dinner, showed them the church, observed the girls go absolutely nuts over them (Jodi is young and super cool-- a nanny by profession and a kid magnet!) and then watched the Amazing Race finale. Auntie Carol and Dave's mom used to get together every Sunday night to watch our family's #1 show, it was a blast to finish the season with Auntie Carol's company. If only those entertaining Cowboys could have won! On Monday, we took off for Yosemite...

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Though we had read scary weather reports, the first view of the valley was clear. Jodi and Auntie Carol were amazed at Yosemite's beauty. We've been there so many times, it's fun to take new people and remember that awe we first felt too. However, the sights never get old, no matter how many times you've seen them.

Most of what we saw were the waterfalls, which were the most robust we've ever witnessed. After a winter of mega-precipitation (that is still going into MAY), we had a feeling they'd be pretty incredible!

Upper Yosemite Falls (above) and Lower Yosemite Falls (below)



Bridalveil Falls

The falls are always incredible to see and we ate a nice picnic lunch, but the longer we stayed, the more our gloom-and-doom weather reports came true. A light mist turned to a full down-pour. Our plans to hike to Vernal Falls fell apart and our last stop at Tunnel View was really minus the view. (To remind yourself what it usually looks like, click here.) We said our goodbyes shivering and under the umbrella. As we climbed up out of the valley, the rain turned to snow and we felt okay about our decision to call it a day.

This was a wonderful little visit, though. We love everything about Auntie Carol and Jodi and were nothing but impressed as we reconnected and shared some laughs with them. Ella is already plotting a way to reunite with her 2 new favorite people!

The End of Zoo Days

As I mentioned, we tried to cheer Ella up during her Week of Sickness with the promise that a Weekend of Fun waited for her when she got better. We kicked it off with one last trip to the zoo before our membership expired. What was cool about this zoo outing was that we got to share it with Sara and Arend! Last summer, they won the bid on the family pass we donated to an auction and we'd been planning on visiting the zoo with them for some time now. These plans were set before the sickness hit, so this was a great starting point. We are especially excited to share family outings with Sara and Arend because their family will be growing in October! It's so fun to talk maternity clothes and sonograms and strollers with our expecting friends now!

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Our good friends are good people to share the the zoo with too! They also possess our awe and wonder for the animals and liked going at a nice slooow pace.

One animal highlight of this trip was the warthogs. They are usually hiding, but this time they were out and active! We laughed at Delia's own label for them-- "dinosaur dogs."

We've been to our Oakland Zoo about a dozen times now, but still keep finding new stuff. Here is a telescope you can use to view an actual fault line. A look through the pipe shows a real sight line of cracked rock, ground and trees.



Ella and Delia were all over our special friends and the snacks Sara kept hauling out of her bag to stave off that first-trimester nausea! As always, we enjoyed their company. We're glad our Year of Zoo could end on such a happy note and our Weekend of Fun could start on one!

Independent Little Fishy

Following the zoo, we drove to an Embassy Suites in the Bay Area. After racing around the hotel room, exploring each nook and hiding spot (this is why we keep doing this...the thrill of a hotel room just does not get old to the girls!), we put on the swim suites and headed down to the indoor pool. Delia is completely confident in independent swimming now. Yes, she still wears the life jacket, but it's a pretty big deal that she can paddle around the whole pool without someone holding on to her! Ella took some turns kicking around the pool without her life jacket on too. This summer we'll sign her up for swimming lessons. The video has no sound and seems long at 30 seconds, but it shows Delia just as happy as a little fish.

We had so much fun as a family! A fabulous dinner at California Pizza Kitchen finished off a great day.

Gilroy Gardens

After a night in the hotel and a gigantic breakfast as only Embassy Suites can do, we drove to the grand finale of our weekend celebrating health-- the coolest park we could find, Gilroy Gardens. How to describe this incredible place? Think Disneyland...aimed at kids under the age of 5...with an agricultural theme. So the parents don't go crazy watching the youngin's spin around kiddie rides all day, there are also amazing gardens, a rock maze, monarch greenhouse, waterfalls, shows and attractions the whole family can do together. Perhaps this will tell you what an excellent time we had: we stayed for every single minute of the 8 hours the park was open! And we had nothing but giggles and squeals of joy from the kids, not a single meltdown or whine!

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I'll start with the rides. They were so cute! Some we could ride with the kids, some they could ride alone. Almost all had a fruit or vegetable theme. The favorites were ridden 2 or 3 times. These are just a few: above is the Flying Strawberry ride, below is the Garlic Twirl, next is the Artichoke Dip.

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The ferris wheel didn't have a food theme, but it did have purple "carriages." Ella took some time out from pretending she was Cinderella going to the ball to pose with Delia and take this great picture of her parents.

The hot air balloon ride was another favorite because we could ride as a whole family. It lifted us up and let us really take flight!

Delia said her favorite part of the day was the "vegetables singing." This Musical Market Show was performed by fruits and vegetables that sang songs about eating healthy to the tunes of oldies ("Keep Away from Runaround Fruit" and "Salad USA" for example). The best was the sunglasses-wearing, wise-guy Jack Nicholson tomato. Look at that smile from Delia!

Of course, the kids were all about the rides, but while walking the park's loop, we'd run into beautiful gardens and waterfalls every once in a while. Again, the theme of Horticulture in the Central Valley was really played up. We learned all sorts of cool things about the fruits, vegetables and flowers we are famous for exporting.
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There were a couple different water features and a variety of boat rides to take on them. On a fairy boat we floated and bumped around a rainbow garden's lazy river. On these duck paddle boats we were set free on the park's big central lake.

We could have never done this park last year when the kids were so timid about rides. Delia delighted us by getting on every one she was tall enough for and loving them. We nearly died when Ella announced one hour prior to closing that she was ready to try the roller coaster! This Timber Twister roller coaster was pretty tame, but still the highest and fastest thing she's ever ridden on. Once she discovered the thrill of sitting in the front by the rattlesnake's head and putting her hands in the air, that was it. Guess where we spent the last hour at the park?

This day was such a pleasure to share as a family. We laughed and smiled so much. The kids were sooo happy and Ella even announced that it was worth getting so sick to get to have that much fun. What a celebration of health, what a treat for all of us!

Just Like You! (by Dave)

Although the picutres might be a little bit old

I can see that what I've been told

is most definitely true -

I look just like you!

I find it fun to ride my bike

and there are some foods that I don't like.

A smile quickly comes from a present or two

Just like you.

And through your loving care each day

One thing I will always pray:

If I am ever blessed with kids too

I hope to be great mommy - Just like you!

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Happy Mother's Day Jen - you are the greatest mom, and always set a wonderful example to Ella and Delia.

Why We Love Grandma

By Ella and Delia

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-Because she is nice.

-She talks to me on the phone.

-She visited me when Daddy and Mommy went to Hawaii

-She took good care of us.

-She cooked good dinners.

-She played with us.

-She read me stories.

-She took me to school.

-She took me to all my favorite places: the mall, the zoo, the park and the birdie restaurant.

-Grandma laughs easily.

-Grandma always has treats and presents in her suitcase.

-She sends us stuff in the mail.

-She loves me so much.

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The girls loved making this butterfly picture for Grandma out of their hand prints, she got it in the mail a few days ago. Happy Mother's Day, Grandma! We love you!

So, You've Heard of Finger Paint?

We had a little more warm weather fun with some toe painting! This project was slippery and MESSY, though. Surely not one for the faint of heart, or for those without washable paints!

Water Fight!

So it seems we've skipped right into summer. Just last week it was still cold and rainy and now we're seeing highs in the upper 80's. Having endured the longest California winter ever, you know this calls for some popsicles and sprinklers!

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Feelin' Fine...

...And makin' up for lost time! In the past 3 days Ella has had a creative explosion! My sidewalk is covered with drawings. Loose leaf papers of her portraits are floating all around. Entire craft kits have been quickly completed (like these puppets she stitched). I even found her tracing Delia's hand and giving a hand animal lesson. We know Ella had a rough week-- perhaps the hardest part was having her inner artist stifled!

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Happy Birthday, Dorina!

I made this little photo collage for one of my best friend's birthdays. I thought you'd get a kick out of some of the 15 year old pictures! Dorina and I met freshman year, during one of the first days of college. We lived just a few doors down from each other in our dorm. I've always loved the way that God directly placed people around me that He wanted to become important in my life. Dorina and I ended up becoming roommates in future years at Calvin and remain close to this day. I am grateful that God has kept us "a few doors down from each other" with residence in the same state. We've shared about a million laughs, talks and memories-- some very serious, some very silly (as you can see in the pictures!). As our families have grown, so has our relationship. I totally love that one of Ella's best buddies is Meilani. God is good to give me such a dear friend!