Camping is fun!

Before our big trip to Oregon, we were able to squeeze in one quick camping trip to Yosemite. The real luck was in finding a night to book in Crane Flats, which is really pretty close to the valley floor. Apparently they start taking reservations in February and they fill up fast. Must have been a cancellation, or maybe it was just a sad, lonely Wednesday night; stuck between two long weekends. Lucky for it we snapped it up!

Aside from it being a very (very very very) long drive for one night (four hours each way) and the smoke from the forest fires making us all a bit wheezy, it was a wonderful trip. We got to go up to Glacier Point, which we missed last time, and the view of the entire valley floor -- Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls -- was breathtaking. The kids loved the huge boulders that they were able to "rock climb" on.

We were there just as the sun was beginning to set; its one of those moments when you really feel that all is right in the world and we are beyond fortunate to be alive to witness such amazing, natural beauty. If you've never been, you absolutely must start planning your own trip now. You and your family will forever cherish the memories!

Back at the camp we enjoyed cooking over the fire and making s'mores for dessert. We left the top rain fly off the tent, so we were able to watch the stars as we fell asleep. So amazing. During this time, C declared his love (over and over) for camping. His enthusiasm was infectious, and hilarious. He kept planning a trip for the following week, T would remind him that we would be in Oregon with his cousins, to which he would respond "Me cousins?! Me soooo lucky!" The whole thing was so fun and funny and full of love. One of those moments that remind you to slow down and take more moments with your children; because they are pretty spectacular beings.

The second day we packed up our camp site after breakfast (and more s'mores) and headed back to the valley floor to check out the river and hike up to the Lower Yosemite Falls. We picked a spot at random (more or less) to stop and play in the river. It was very shallow so we all waded in to the very cold water, which felt pretty good in the crazy heat of August. C somehow fell early on and we held our breath waiting for him to scream or cry (that water was icy) panicking about the clothing options we did or did not have for him back in the car (he had gotten the previous day's clothes filthy).

But to our surprise, and ultimately joy, he loved it. The fact that he no longer had to worry about getting his clothes wet (because he was soaked through) meant he could splash and play, wild and free. He and Rhys enjoyed themselves to no end, and we have the pictures to prove it. B did fall in just as we were leaving, so we had to change both their clothes (rather creatively).

The next stop was Yosemite Falls for a very easy hike. Well, it would be easy if you didn't have two tired preschoolers fighting you the whole way and if T weren't prone to heat induced migraines. We didn't get to spend much time at the falls, which is a bummer because it looked like fun. Note for future trips: pack swim suits! There is a cool little natural pool at the base of the falls.

These rocks were stacked in so many tiny towers at one point along the hike to the lower falls. We wondered if one person built them at one time, over multiple trips or if individuals continued to add towers of their own over time. It was pretty cool. C and Rhys were not exactly helpful to the installation...they were curious and a wee bit destructive. Oops! Who is charge of those two anyway?