Yosemite and more Miner Fun

We started this week with Yosemite! Michael had Monday off, so it was so fun to hike all together with the Miners. We did the Vernal Falls trail, which was pretty steep and close to 3 miles round trip, and the kids did great. Bennett cried and cried on our break until we realized it was because he still wanted to be in his backpack even if no one was wearing the backpack. That kid. The falls in Yosemite were incredible!! So much snowmelt right now. It was the best we've ever seen the park, and the crowds weren't bad at all. 

The Miners stayed two nights in the canvas tents up there but our little family headed back to Fresno Monday night so Michael could get back to work and my body could get back to being pain free. I'm grateful I can still do a full day of fun, but I couldn't do three Yosemite days in a row. I was sad to not be up there with them but happy we had Monday up there together.

They got home on Wednesday night right in time for National Chocolate Chip Cookie day. You know we didn't miss that! Then Thursday we had the BEST surprise. Michael got a text right when he got to work that said "Our patient list is so small that we don't need so many providers scheduled -- Dr. Daetwyler, do you have any objection to taking the day off?"

We did not have any objection :) :) So Michael went right back home and was able to spend the last day of our Miner family visit with everybody. We spent the morning walking around the fish hatchery and feeding the fish. The kiddos loved that and could have been happy there for hours! Then we came home and got Westin to preschool, then Jenny and I gave Lydia an at-home spa day for her birthday. She really wanted bangs and Jenny was fine with me cutting them for her, and she loved it so much that she wanted me to cut inches off all her hair too. Then we painted her nails and she was all ready to turn 10 the next day!

Thursday was kind of rainy but the forecast showed a clear afternoon and evening, so we chanced it and loaded up both our kayaks and headed to Millerton Lake. Annnnnnd it was a freezing rainy bust! I was sad for Michael to not have his kayak night, he loves those! We had packed up dinner and the boats and everything for a fire, but ended up just making two quick and cold kayak runs while most of the kiddos and dinner stayed packed in the car. Then we came home, unloaded, got warmed up, and had indoor s'mores for Lydia's birthday. Their family hit the road by 4:30 the next morning and had a smooth drive back to Utah. We miss them!!!

Friday was a catch up day and Westin was happy to be back with his friends for our at-home preschool rotation. Then that afternoon we watched THE WORST DOGS we've ever, ever watched. One was such a beast, straight out of the Sandlot, that could not be contained. And the other was an 8-month old puppy that wasn't potty trained. Neither of these details were clear when they booked the weekend visit... so, after many fiascos later, we are happy they left early on Sunday afternoon. We typically fence dogs off from our main areas so that they are only in our backyard and kitchen. This dog just would not have it -- that 60-pound beast even jumped over our counter ledge into our living room in one clear leap multiple times when he wasn't happy with his arrangement. Lots of chewed toys, Kitty run-ins, a miserable walk, and escape attempts later, we're happy to see them out of here. Seriously the hardest $100 we've probably ever earned. And $25 of it was spent on Chipotle delivery Saturday night because we were all dyyyying from all the madness.

BUT. We won't let that overshadow the week! And my Sunday morning was smooth and productive, the boys were good at church, and Michael is already home for the day, so we are happy to have an easygoing Sunday before another week. This spring has felt so busy and crazy and fun and exhausting.

Julia was not super into the backpack life!

Batman hats forever

I love all the Miner kiddos so much

Westin was anti-picture so we took one without him,
which then made him want to at least be in it.
But definitely not smile for it.

Miner crew at Vernal Falls Bridge

Daetwyler crew at Vernal Falls Bridge, with another frowny-faced Westy boy, 

Bennett's preferred snack break situation.
We did not understand what his uncharacteristically long and dramatic fit was about.
Then finally got him back in here and all was well.

The Mist Trail is significantly misty right now with all the water in the park,
so we only went this far on the trail before it became way wet. It was a great view though!

Vernal Falls

The whole crew! Logan talked to someone from Denmark in the park that day,
it was fun to hear him speak Danish. I love all the languages you hear on National Park trips.

No fear from the deer

Bennett and his buddy just peeking at each other

We loved these yellow flowers on our walk!

Mr. T is a favorite backyard attraction around here when cousins come over.

Fish Hatchery Fun

Bangs!

Bangs and her long curly hair...

...until it became bangs and medium curly hair!

Cutest little niece. She's so sweet and helpful.

Books before our kayak adventure

The two littlest, serious sharing skills! Not always... but at least here :) They actually did really great together.

Rainy day at the lake.

We had to park somewhere else in the park because a ranger got mad at us, so we made two kayak trips to get them closer to our cars.
Michael and Jaren made the cold voyages, with Westin the first time and Bennett the second time. Both my boys bawled and bawled when the other one was having their turn. They loooove being on daddy's kayak with him.

This was the first voyage of the kayak that Michael repaired himself after the company sent us a replacement for free.
So we now officially have two working kayaks! Before we had one working kayak and a maybe-working kayak.
Good work Michael :)

This will be our balance bike summer! They've both got it down.
Good thing we got them for Christmas. In 2017. :)

We shared one of our lunch grapes with Mr. T and he was loving it.

We played with the Hintons at the park on Saturday morning and the five of them play so well together.
Colt and Westin are so funny, and I love that Bennett and Shea are so similar in their own ways.

Chipotle delivery and Monsters Inc. Quite the weekend, you guys.
Beast dog and crazy puppy not pictured. But know that they're there,
and that they are why we are here.