Yosemite: Hole in the Rock

Another favorite swimming hole is Hole in the Rock, called that because there used to be a huge boulder in the middle of the river with a hole in the top.  You could climb up, lower yourself into the hole, and swim out under the rock and into the river.  The boulder was cracked in half in a flood year in the late 90's, but we still call the general area "Hole in the Rock."  It's a perfect swimming hole, with natural slides, deep water with high rocks to jump off of, and an underwater tunnel for anyone brave enough.

Vic jumping with David, Brad, and Daniel looking on.  (The tunnel is under the rock Daniel's standing on.)

Every day, my mom and one of my sisters (usually Laura) would offer to watch our kids so Mike and I could have some relax-and-play time.  Much needed and so nice.

Elaine didn't fully appreciate being out in the open water.

She was content to play on shore.

And here's a picture from the Linford reunion, 1990.  Twenty years ago:

These are the water slides at Hole in the Rock.  (I'm in black and white on the right.)

Yosemite: The Valley

On Sunday, we went to Yosemite Valley to attend church.  There's a little red one-room-school-house style church, with meeting times for different denominations.  Latter-day Saints met at 1pm.  So, we packed a picnic lunch, ate before church, and then enjoyed Sacrament Meeting.

After church, we drove to Curry Village, hopped on a shuttle bus, and went to Yosemite Falls.  The Motts met us there.

In the church yard.  Behind us is Yosemite Falls.

On the shuttle bus:  Mike was standing up with our stroller.  Alone with my 3 little girls, I got lots of stares and hushed comments.

Yosemite Falls

While I fed Sally, Mike and the girls threw rocks and pine cones into the river.

My brothers, David and Victor.

On the way back to camp, we stopped at "Tunnel View."  In the background are El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridal Veil Fall.

Yosemite: Swinging Bridge

Ok.  Get ready for picture overload.  (I promise I was choosy.)

One of our favorite places to go in Yosemite is Swinging Bridge, above the Wawona Store.  The beach where we normally set up, right by the bridge, was mostly under water this year, so we moved downstream a bit.

In past years, I have always jumped off the bridge (usually several times).  But this year, just as I had made arrangements for my children, and Mike and I were heading up to jump (well, I was going to jump; Mike was undecided), Laura came back down from the bridge and said a ranger just busted them for jumping and said it was against park rules.  He said there was a sign at the entrance to the park (none of us saw it).  He also said we couldn't float our tubes down the water slide rapids:  "This is not an amusement park," he said.  Next time, we'd be hit with a $350 fine.  Luckily, most people in our group had already enjoyed the illegal activities.

The whole group at Swinging Bridge

Our Day Camp

Dad, the Pack Mule

Panning for gold?

Can you think of anywhere more breathtaking?

Elaine and Pace were often cohorts in crime.

Throwing rocks.

Tasting rocks.

This angel slept for 3 1/2 hours the first day at Swinging Bridge (not so the second day, or anytime since, for that matter).

This was the second day.

Elaine with Grandma Orva

Alice, Elaine, Orva

I had to include a picture of the bridge, even though I didn't jump this year.  This is my niece, Gwyneth.

And this is my brother-in-law, Loren, going down the illegal water slide rapids.  Shame.

I found some pictures of me jumping 20 years ago:

Roly Poly Bug

My little Sal Bug has been a roller since day 1 (actually, day 2).  I remember telling a midwife that she rolled over.  "Oh, she won't do it again," she said.  Well, she did . . . and again, and again.  She rolled over from her tummy to her back several times in her first couple months.  At 2 months, she started rolling consistently (almost every time I put her on her tummy).  And now, she has hit the stage where she rolls over in her sleep and wakes up.  Grrrr.  Not fun for her mom.

This is a rare sight (unless she's sleeping) . . . relaxed on her tummy.

This lasts for a couple minutes max.

And then, over she goes.

(And, yes, a white onesie is common baby attire around here.  Sorry.  At least she's wearing something.)

Big Sister

I love these pictures of Mariah with Sally: