Reunions and Skating in North Carolina

This week, we tagged along with T to Greensboro for his business trip.  What a wonderful excuse to see family and friends in North Carolina!

T was in Greensboro to survey the medical coverage of the National Figure Skating Championship.  We were able to see the Women's Short Program Finals together as a family.  What a hit!  The athletes are so talented and our kids all loved watching the competition.

Since we were halfway between our old home of Winston-Salem and our cousins, we split our time between friends and family.  Fortunately for us, Nana came up, and we had several days with her as well!   We spent two nights with our cousins, and it was fantastic to see how hard it was to separate the kids at bedtime.  They played for hours.  Thanks to Aunt K and Uncle T for hosting our crazy crew! 

In Winston-Salem, we were able to visit with dear friends whom we have dearly missed.  We made time for meals from a few of our favorite restaurants.  Finally, we stopped by our old apartment, and the kids played on the playground that was once our stomping ground.  G-Bear and E-Bear remembered it when we arrived, but Buddy Bear was too young when we left to remember.  As for J-Bear, this was her first time to enjoy the swirly slide and bouncy duck!

I can't emphasize enough how blessed we were to have the chance to take the kids out of school to join Todd on this trip.  These are the days to do trips like this.  We were all close to tears as we said good-bye to our cousins and Nana.  We all agreed that we can't wait to come back.

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Kings Canyon

From Sequoia, we took the road into King's Canyon.

Views like this were not uncommon.

The mountains surrounded us on all sides, and at times seemed to block the very road on which we were driving.

The bottom of the canyon was beautiful.  We hiked the Zumwalt Meadow trail, a mostly-flat easy-going, 1.5 mile walk along the King's River.  Although it was quite the drive there, the walk itself was very family friendly and was full of lovely views and vistas.  The view from the bridge was one of our favorites:

If you look closely, you will see our hearty crew!

The hike was refreshing and relaxing in a number of ways.

 Ascending King's Canyon, we turned toward Yosemite.  

We were onto the next stage of our adventure!

Happily Ever,
Queen B

Sequoias in Sequoia

When we left DisneyLand, we were still at the beginning of our California adventure.  T and I had agreed that we couldn't possibly bring our whole crew out to California and not make an effort to see at least some of the spectacular natural sights.  So, from Anaheim, we embarked on the second stage of our epic journey and headed to Sequoia National Park.

The drive into Sequoia is twisted and surprising.  The mammoth forest appears as you rise out of a fairly arid landscape.  Giant trees greet you even as you arrive.

Spectacular views greeted us as well.  This was just one of many breathtaking sights through the trees on our drive into the mountains.

Our first stop in the park was to climb Moro Rock, which we could preview from the road, though we were still far off.

The hike up Moro was not for the faint of heart.  We made each of the kids hold an adult's hand, as the pathway was narrow and the drop off was steep.  E-Bear told T,  "Daddy, this is scarier than the scariest ride in DisneyLand."  

The kids loved the hike, both up and down.  

At the top, we were rewarded with the most spectacular view.  It was certainly worth the effort to make it to the top.

Breathtaking!

Some of us were quickly ready to head back down, however.  

I'm just keeping it real.

Don't worry, J-Bear settled right down as T the hike back to the car.  

You can be sure I was holding tight to Buddy Bear's hand as we made our way to down.

Our next stop was the short hike to the General Sherman tree, the largest living organism on earth.  One the way down to the tree, we passed through a gorgeous sequoia grove.

The trees grow in curious clusters in areas that harbor just-right conditions.  The trees were awe-inspiring for both the kids and the adults.

Suddenly, we arrived at the General Sherman tree.  I couldn't believe I was looking at a living tree that has been alive for over 2,000 years!

We spent the night in nearby Kings Canyon Park at the John Muir Lodge.  The lodge had simple, clean rooms and a restaurant, which was a blessing.  As you can see, we were a pretty tired group by the time we rolled in for dinner.

In the morning, after a good night sleep, we were ready to explore again.

The kids loved the huge sugar pine pinecones that they found along the hiking paths on our way to the restaurant for breakfast.

It was hard for us to leave them and not keep them!

We also took a moment to document that the giant sequoias aren't the only large pine trees to admire.

She may be small, folks, but I think she has a spirit as tall as that tree.

After breakfast, we hiked the General Grant Trail to see the General Grant Tree, the official Christmas Tree of the U.S.

Yet again, it was an awe-inspiring hike.

Along the way to the General Grant tree, we got to walk through a fallen sequoia that has served as a hotel and saloon in the distant past.  

The hollowed out, fallen giants feel like carefully carved tunnels.

We definitely left the park with a renewed appreciation for God's magnificent creation.  We also left with grateful hearts to the forefathers that foresaw the need to protect these wondrous trees and their habitat.  I hope my grandchildren and great-grandchildren are able to be inspired by these trees like we have been.

Happily Ever,
Queen B

California Adventure

Things have been rather quiet around here because we have been on an adventure:  a ten day California adventure.  

When I was younger, traveling was synonymous with vacation.  Now that I am older, traveling can take many forms: vacation, family trip, pilgrimage, business excursion, adventure.  Upon returning from California, we have been asked by many people, "how was the trip?"  I have responded in each case, this was an adventure.  Although the trip was not necessarily relaxing, it was a wonderful, rejuvenating, even exhilarating adventure.  We were all sad it was over.  We had looked forward to CA for so long.  We had enjoyed our adventures so much.

So just what was involved on this epic journey?  We enjoyed too much to cram it all into one blog post.  DisneyLand, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Carmel all made the trip.  I'll start at the very beginning, which is a very good place to start......

Happily Ever,

Queen B

June 2014 in Review

I can always tell when we've had a busy month because the number of blog posts dwindles.  This has been such a wonderful month, filled with wonderful adventures.

Week One: Chicago Land

Lincoln Park.  Yes, that is the John Hancock in the background.

We skipped G-Bear's last day of school to accompany T on the long drive to Chicago for a course he was teaching.  While he was busy in the labs, the kids and I ventured to the Lego Discovery Center (worthy of a post of its own) and built with Legos, 

First Lego car, and yes, Mom helped.

Legos,

Love that Millennium Falcon, E-Bear!

and more Legos in our hotel room.  

Surfs Up, with Legos, that is.

We also drank bottomless root beer with "Uncle" Tony at the Eleven City Diner and played with our friends at the Lincoln Park Zoo. We had a wonderful time. 

Weeks Two and Three: Swimming Lessons

Gertie the Guppie once again made an appearance in our lives for two weeks of swimming lessons.  Buddy Bear joined the Jellyfish group, E-Bear joined the Sunfish and G-Bear joined the Catfish.  The kids braved the 60 degree mornings like champions.  Everyone improved, both in following instructions and in their swimming skills.  I watched Buddy Bear come into his own singing to Gertie and even put his face into the water unprompted.  I watched E-Bear do under water bobs like a champ.  And I watched G-Bear backstroke across the pools and try a dive or two.   J-Bear spent her time toddling around the deck with me, holding my hand and trying her hardest to learn walk (thank goodness for those kneelers!).  She even learned the Gertie song too, and joined in by blowing bubbles with her lips just like the swimmers!

We celebrated at the end of the week by heading up to MoMo and Papa's cabin.  

MoMo was a champ and got the pontoon in the water.   

We all enjoyed our time on the water 

and in the forest. 

What a way to relax and revive.

Week Four: Catholic Kids Camp (Vacation Bible School)

When we got back, it was time for Catholic Kids Camp!  We all got to participate this year, G-Bear and E-Bear as campers, and Buddy Bear and J-Bear as un-official campers in a childcare class with me.  We did crafts, sang songs, enjoyed circle time and Bible stories and playground time each day.  All the kids were so proud of their hard work and had so much fun praising God with their friends.  Proud smiles abounded at the sing along at the end of the week.

I really must recommend Lacy Rabideau's Catholic Preschool Curriculum from Catholic Icing.  I used many of her ideas for Circle Time and for our crafts, all of which worked really well for our group of 1-4 year olds.  

In Between:  

In between our big events, we have had plenty of other little adventures.

We visit the visiting Handmaids nearly every evening. 

We even got to treat them to ice cream one evening.

We've played plenty of catch and ball.

We can't stay off our bikes. 

E-Bear asks to ride his two-wheeler every afternoon.

Day by day, we're growing a green, green garden,

From the front yard.

Our bouquet of front yard flowers.

The bouquet E-Bear picked for me.

and a new boulevard of green, green grass.

The kids have been a huge help to T, who reseeded our boulevard.  

It is hard to believe that only a few weeks ago it looked like a scraggly weed garden.

Everyday we make time for learning time, playtime and piano practice.

And each weekend you can still find us with MoMo, Papa and GG on the patio for brunch. 

These are sweet and wonderful summer days.  

Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful June!