Yosemite

Wow, its been a month since I've had a post. Some of that time has been getting ready for Jared's wedding this Saturday!! We're very excited for Jared and Maren and can't wait for their special day.

Russ and I were thinking it would be fun to go somewhere this winter where there was actually snow. We got a discount coupon for a lodge in Yosemite so decided to go there for 5 nights. We really had a nice relaxing trip and there was a lot of snow on the ground, but we had a lot of rain while we were there, so we didn't get out as much as we wanted to.

We flew to Fresno and had a beautiful view of Mt. Rainer on the way there.

We stayed at Tenaya Lodge in Fishcamp. Its a couple of miles from the South Gate Entrance of Yosemite National Park.

This is the view from our balcony.

This is the entrance to where our room was...lots of snow!!

Snow shoe rental. We took some with us one day, but the snow was so hard we didn't need them.

Dining room with a beautiful fireplace. Our stay included a nice buffet breakfast everyday.

 Our first day there we arrived late afternoon, so by the time we got into the park we only had one hour of daylight left.

 Thursday was rainy off and on so we drove to the small town of Mariposa. This courthouse was built in 1854 and is the oldest courthouse west of the Rockies still in operation. We went in and a trial was going on upstairs so we sat in on it for a few minutes.

 We toured the Mariposa Museum and History Center. The historic relics and buildings of the past make this museum one of the best small museums in America, according to the esteemed Smithsonian Institute. It really was VERY well put together and we really enjoyed it!

 You have to read about this "Pain Balm" especially the part about toothaches.

 Some prices have changed a lot...others are about the same. Look at egg prices!!

This was over 150 years ago.

 Friday the weather was horrible!! It poured and hailed all day. We did get to work out in the exercise room and I got to read and finish a good book, "The Rent Collector." It was nice to pretty much do nothing, but be together!!

Saturday the weather was gorgeous!! We spent the whole day in the park. We got the last reservation for lunch at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee Hotel). It was beautiful and the lunch was great.

 Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls

Half Dome behind us.

 Bridal Veil Falls

 We attended church in Oakhurst. It was a very large and friendly ward. When we arrived a young woman, Amanda Lee, that use to be in our Stake ran up to us and was so excited to see us. She is one of the General Managers of one of the Yosemite Hotels now.

Monday we flew home and left early so we could drive down to Wasco, a 2.5 hour drive south of Yosemite. Right before Wasco we stopped in McFarland, a small town 5 miles north of Wasco. We've seen the movie "McFarland" and really enjoyed it. Its based on true events about a cross-country team who were all Hispanics and take State for the first time. They've taken State several times since. 

 When I was 2 years old we moved to Wasco, Ca. where my dad got a teaching job at the High School. We lived there for 4 years. This is the first house we lived in. Needless to say, I don't have a lot of memories of this house. Somehow my sister Delina still remembered both address' of the 2 houses we lived in....who does that??

 509 E. Street

 1117 Rosewood

 I have a few memories of the house on Rosewood. I remembered how to get to this swimming pool we use to go to. It cost .10 to go swimming. I remember burning the bottom of my feet running to the pool from our house one time because the road was so hot.

 I remembered how to get to the school I attended Kindergarten in, but once I got there it didn't ring any bells.

This is where my dad taught Science for 4 years in Wasco, Ca.

I loved this little airport in Fresno. It was so clean and easy to get around in. The day we flew home it snowed in Seattle so our flight was delayed 3 1/2  hours. We made it home around 1:00 am, but had so much fun relaxing and being together.