Tree planting

We helped to plant trees at a new local park last spring.  We planted 8 or 9 trees. 

Mourning Doves

Mourning Doves made their nest on my hanging bicycle last spring.  These are the babies.  It was so neat to watch the male build the nest while the mama sat there. 

Then later we watched the last bird leave the nest, slowly, hopping down off the nest to the bike, flying to the edge of our back porch, finally to this shed in the yard behind.

Lego faces

D made these faces out of legos. :)

Sectionals bring families together

Before getting our sectional couch, we had a regular sleeper sofa from Ikea and a recliner.  As our family grew, it became harder for all of us to fit on the couch.  We could squeeze five of us in while I read to them, but someone was always on the recliner.  Or worse, when we watched a movie together, someone would have to sit on the floor.  That's ok sometimes, but sometimes, especially in winter, it's nice to cuddle on the couch.  Now we all fit on our sectional!  And mommy and daddy get to recline, too!  Reading books is much easier, though it doesn't help the fact that I only have 2 sides! 

Pics of our hike to the falls

Drying off at the top of Vernal Falls.

Top of Vernal Falls

Nevada Falls....we made to the top up there!

 Rainbow at bottom of Nevada Falls.

Yosemite it so beautiful! God made this!View from the top.

We just kept on going

We went camping to Yosemite last week.  I had decided I wasn't going to torture myself by going on any crazy hikes.  I did it last year, and my two littles didn't have fun either, so we'd just do something else.  My dh took the two oldest to Half Dome.  They made it to the base, a good 15 mile hike!  So, middle guy wanted to do a hike, but dad was tired and  mommy was lazy.  On our last day, I decided I could at least go to the lower Vernal Falls with him.  So we  got our water and some snacks and headed out.  The one mile bike ride to the trailhead was slightly uphill, so we  (I) already needed a rest. It was right then that I realized, with just the two of us, we could stop and rest at any time, take our time, look around, and we might even try going all the way to Nevada Falls.  We made it to the top of Vernal Falls with lots of rests.  We put our feet in the freezing water (in a safe place).  We ate a little.   He got quite a bit wetter, so he had to lay on a rock and dry off for a bit.  We ended up being there for an hour so we were well rested.  My feet only hurt a little bit.  So we went on, just to the bridge, then to see the view of Nevada Falls.  There was still time in the day, we are so close, lets just do it!  So up we went, so many rock stairs!!  A few more rests.  Then we were there!  Oh, it was a great feeling!  About 3 miles to the top!  We took pictures and were there 30 minutes and headed back.  I was afraid my dh would be worried, they only expected us to go to the first falls...I had moaned so much about my lousy shoes, and feet!  So down we went, down the steep stairs.  This time, ds had to rest a couple of times.  Our legs were shaky.  About 15 minutes from the bottom my dh appeared!  Yep, he worried.  Thankfully, we had a ride to camp in a van, instead of on our bikes.  When I got out of the van, my legs were like jelly.  I was sore for several more days.  But I am so excited that I could do it!  Never in our years of going to Yosemite did I even want to try or think I could do it.  We did realize how out of shape we are, so I am hoping to get in more hiking in our nearby mountains this summer.  I hope to post some pics.

 

"That's Good"

I just love hearing those two beautiful words that I get after I tell yet another doctor that I homeschool  my 7yo special needs son.  I have never had any negative responses.  They mostly realize that he will get much more from school being at home with me instead of lost in a classroom full of kids.