Mammoth Vacation

Here is our family picture.

We drove for such a long time, I decided to just let the girls out of their seats. They were happy to ride in feedom. (j/k)

Cute picture.

Our first stop was my Grandpa Bill and Grandma Gerda's house in Maripossa. They have a beautiful view of the valley out the back of their house.

It has been a long time since I have seen my grandpa. And the first time he has ever seen my girls. I had never been to his house before, so it was so nice to have lunch with them and to have him show me around.

We had to drive through Yosemite National Park to get over to Mammoth. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen (asside from the helicopter ride on Hawaii).

So amazing. The pictures can't do this justice.

Half Dome was so big.

Many places still had snow in mid July.

FAMILY CAMP

We finally made it to Mammoth. And the next day, we went on a hike with a group from our church to Devil's Post Pile. It was a little difficult with four little ones. Then Dustin got sick. We were stranded, and praying for a bus to come pick us up. We got lucky.

We had to cross a raging river by walking over a fallen log. It was crazy.

When we got back to Mammoth Lodge, we let the kids go rock climbing.

Emma didn't really like it. She let go, swung around and hit her head on the side of the wall.

The next day we just wanted to relax and take it easy. We spent the day at the pool.

I think that one of my favorite memories was the night we had everyone over to play cranium and we made brownies. We laughed so hard.

Here is the big group of people playing games with us.

One morning the guys went fishing and Mollie and the kids came over and Stephen read a book to Emma. It was so cute. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear . . . "

Fishing

A stream going to Lake Mary

Me and Miley, naturally repelling mosquitoes (thanks Burt's Bees)

Emma, waiting for a bite.

Dustin with his Barbie tackle box at Rock Creek.

The kids horsing around the bear.

Dustin and Emma, fishing

Sometimes we would go relax in the jacuzzi in the evenings

We had worship on the lawn, but we would just sit on the balcony at Mollie and Steve's condo, so the kids could play inside and we could hear the worship.

Miley and me at the picnic on the last day.



Our trip was so much fun. We got to bond as a family, and we were able to bond with our church family too. Family Camp was a blast.

More Pictures of the Girls Playing

My friend Amanda made the girls these beautiful aprons. They are double sided and they are so sweet and girly. They look so perfect when Emma and Miley play in their Rose Petal Cottage.



She also made me this bookmark and this letter organizer

Emma's Swim Lessons

Look at my little swimmer!!! She loved it
Her and teacher Melissa learning how to scoop and kick
Here she goes
Look at the other teacher with the hat, that is Louie!!!

Family Pictures

We hadn't had a family portrait done since Emma was one, so we decided that now that Miley is almost one, we should have a new family picture taken.

I just LOVE it.

Dustin and Brandi

While we were there we took "couples pictures"
Ten years ago, Dustin and I took pictures together at JC Penny. Now that we've been married almost 10 years now we thought we should do it again.
Here is the collage (we didn't buy it)


Emma Lee

Emma took pictures with her guitar.
Before our sitting, she walked around the waiting room singing to everyone like a mariachi (sp?). She was singing "Jesus Loves Me."

She didn't want to take more pictures. She just wanted Wetzels Pretzels.Her sweet face

Miley Elizabeth

I LOVE her crying face!

She got tired too :(Here are some other really cute ones.
And . . . her sweet face

Then we went and got pretzels :)