Dinkey Creek

It has been an epic year for water. Yosemite, which we just enjoyed a few weeks ago, has been rushing, lakes and rivers are full to their brim. But there was another on the list.... somewhere Seth has fond memories of as a child. Dinkey Creek. We packed a lunch and headed off for a new adventure! After a couple of miles hike in, we found the spot Seth remembered. The water was at the perfect height for sliding, jumping, and swimming. We were all a bit tentative at first, but it wasn't long before all inhibitions were lost and girls were sliding down slippery rocks and jumping off enormous waterfalls!!

Josiah, our try anything once girl, made a daring leap off a beautiful waterfall (8years old)

Adalie, always says "(sigh) oh fine!" and finds herself sliding over and over into her favorite pools (5years old).

First Day

First day of school again! As always the girls were so very excited! They looked adorable in their cutsie Justice outfits that Amma found for them! And this year we have the best of teachers again; Mrs. McPherson in 3rd grade for Josiah and Mrs. Lemmon in 1st grade for Adalie. And lucky for Adalie... the first day of school also happen to be her 6th birthday! You know what that means, cupcakes, birthday songs, and line leader!

Such a special day and Mommy didn't even cry until they were each safely in their new desks!

I am getting better... I promise!

Our Last Day

It's our last day of summer and we had a build-your-own ice cream sundae party to celebrate!

Who Knew??

So one day, shortly before Adalie's birthday, she is one of her shy moods. Which usually means she has something on her mind. So after some coaxing, because Adalie tends to keep her thoughts to herself, she starts to talk. She tells me, "Do you know what I would reeaallly would like for my birthday?" Of course now I'm all ears! "A transformer!.... I know they are boy's toys, but I would really like one!"

Of course I now feel about an inch tall.... but who knew??
I always thought toys were just toys.... not belonging strictly to boys or to girls. But somewhere along the way that message got through! So now, toys are just toys... not boy's or not girl's! And yes, she did get her transformer from Aunt Shelly and a crashing, noise making, automatic Bat Mobile from Mommy and Daddy!

Adalie Celebrates with a Splash

Our bestest celebration of Adalie ever! Warm weather, cool water, lots of friends and family, cute cake, fun presents, balloon hats, yummy food, toothless pictures, homemade ice cream, laughter and love!

Happy 6th Birthday Sweet Adalie!

Just a Week

Just 1 week left and the school blues are me hitting hard... so I'll hang on tight for 7 more days! We'll have as much fun as humanly possible ....

Mrs. G put a poem on Adalie's graduation program last June that read....

Children are like Kites

You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you are both breathless - they crash - you add a longer tail - they hit the rooftop - you pluck them out of the spout, you patch and comfort, adjust and teach. You watch them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they will fly! Finally they are airborne, but they need more string and you keep letting it out and with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with the joy because the kite becomes more distant and somehow you know that it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the life line that bound you together and soar as it was meant to soar!

Somehow in June the meaning was lost on me, but today it hits home. So today, I will savor .... and in 1 week I will let some string out again and enjoy watching them fly!

Josiah Masters the Single

I can still remember the Christmas that I got my very own EP single ski; black and red with a black cover. It was my own ski; not shared and not handed down, but my very own! Then I waited all winter long and some of the summer to gain enough courage to give it a try. I remember my Mom in the water with me near "ski beach" and my Dad driving our yellow jet boat. I don't remember how many tries it took me to get up, but I do remember my mom right next to me, my Dad's encouragement, and the first elated feeling of being on top of the water on 1 ski! I remember the pure excitement of mastering my very own single ski!

Now, 25 years later, my oldest daughter would attempt the same feat, on the same old ski I had learned on. With me in the water with her, and her Dad driving our blue Sanger. and her sister with the camera and an encouraging word, she gave it her all. I don't remember how many tries it took, but I do remember the flood of excitement, joy, pride, and blessing that flooded over me as I watched her rise out of the water with a few wobbles and ski away from me in a loop around the lake, all by herself, on her very own single ski. She had mastered it.... and it was fun to watch!

What incredible memories; both old and new, we have here on this old lake!

Adalie's Summer

Adalie has had a summer of many firsts. But our favorites have to be the losing of teeth and the gaining of bravery behind the boat!

Whatever drives our little topless summer girl to keep up with the pack, we will never know.... she has had that drive since she was a little pee wee!

But we do know that we love love love the new toothless smile!

Official Tooth Record: 1 lost on Uncle Jon's Bday, 2 lost at Mammoth, 3 lost while river rafting on Uncle Joel and Aunt Mariann's Bday and 4 lost today while swimming!

Swimming with Friends

A day at the Lake swimming with friends! How we love to swim, and be silly!

Birthdays on the Merced River

It seems to be fast becoming a summer tradition to float down the Merced River in Yosemite. This year, we floated to celebrate Uncle Joel and Aunt Mariann's Birthday. It was a day filled with swimming, paddling, splashing, picnicking, rope swinging, canoe flipping (Elias and Carrie flipped on a log, just like Amma once did as a kid!), boat snatching, water bailing, tooth loosing (yes, Adalie lost another tooth while rafting - how does that happen!!), and more.

But best of all, was the experience of seeing Yosemite in such a slow and peaceful way. To lay back on your raft and watch the mountains move by was really incredible!

Happy Birthday!