Yosemite! (day 5)

What a spectacular way to spend a Monday in California!  Doug's sister, Jenn, got the day off work to play with us in the National Park.  It was breathtakingly beautiful and the kids had a great time.  We could have used to spend more time there, but fit in most things we could do with two small children.  

Jenn found a great hike for us to a Vernal waterfall.  It was just steep enough to keep us winded and just long enough for the kids to enjoy. Again, the kids weren't too excited to be in the hiking backpacks, but it was much easier when they were!

The kids were excellent hikers.  Ethan took a good tumble enough where we needed a bandaid and antibiotic ointment, but just kept on going.

It's sad when you get a photo of everyone looking (at least) toward the camera, and I close my eyes...really?

 Jenn was so great with the kids.  They were in heaven.

We ate lunch at the top with the spray of the falls.  It was beautiful, but steep and made one mama a little nervous.

After that hike, we thought the kids would nap in the car but Ethan fell asleep with Jenn carrying him in the backpack.  So, we took a short half-mile hike to Yosemite falls.  Ethan and Sydney took a rest along the trail on the cement walking path. Nice.  :-)

Ethan was having so much fun that day and it showed on his little bum.

Yosemite falls was low enough that we scrambled down some rocks for the kids to play at the base in the water.  The water was freezing (so I hear...notice my shoes are on) but Ethan and Sydney seemed to barely notice.  Doug and Jenn couldn't keep their feet in the cold water very long but we had to pull E&S out of the water to go after they played for a half hour or so.

Their clothes were wet and I hadn't brought some not he short hike so Jenn let Ethan wear her jacket.  He began to dance (anything that feels like a dress sways so beautifully when you dance, you know?) and he looked like E.T. to me.

We let the kids nap while we drove to Glacier Point (45 minute drive along a windy road).  It was a gorgeous view of Half Dome and the rest of the park.

We could see the Vernal falls and the larger Nevada falls from Glacier Point as well.

As we were preparing the leave the park, we spotted this wolf nervously pacing by the edge of the road.

Although we spent several hours in the car that day, E&S had a great time!  Thanks Jenn for coming with us.