One of the unexpected perks was pretty much NO cell phone reception. Occasionally calls could go through, and a text might pop up a few hours after it was originally sent, but it was so nice to just have that break. We spent as much time as we could outdoors (except for naps), and the weather was perfect. Warm, sunny, with the occasional clouds and drizzle.
We left our house a little after 3:00 am, and drove to the airport. Our direct flight to San Francisco left at 6:00 am, and we arrived ahead of schedule, local time, 8 am. We loaded the kids, and our stuff into a rental van and drove straight to Yosemite, stopping for lunch midway at In and Out burger. I've been wanting to try their burgers for years. They were decent... but I'm not sure what the fuss is about. To starving travelers, though, they hit the spot. :) And the customer service was very good! We stopped quickly at Target as well, because really, what parent can go on a trip without finding and needing something at Target, haha, and then finished up the drive. We met up with my BIL and his family shortly after we arrived, and found one of the aunts and uncles, and a cousin and had dinner. Overall, the kids did well on the flight (they both slept a little), and both slept pretty well (more sleep, yay!) on the drive. We all slept VERY well that night!
The second day (Thursday) we had a great walk around the area we were staying (Yosemite Lodge by the Falls), and took lots of pictures! The rehearsal was that night, and went well - C was the ringbearer, and I was playing along with my 2 BIL who were singing.
Friday was a good day for sight-seeing, so we took the Valley floor tour with my in-laws, and some of the cousins, and one aunt. It was nice to hear some of the history of the park - around 1000 people climb every year, and there really are very few accidents. My BIL and his now wife are hikers. After the tour - it was HOT - we went swimming. How beautiful to be in a pool surrounded by mountains! :) Friday evening was the rehearsal dinner and welcome reception. My new sis A, (BIL's wife seems too formal) is amazing - and her family equally so. They were all so sweet and welcoming and we really just had the best time talking with people we've heard about for years but had never gotten the chance to meet. C ended up taking a late nap and slept HARD throughout the entire rehearsal dinner, welcome reception and slide show. He woke up near the end and ate some fruit, and the most brie I've ever seen anyone eat. :) Fortunately, he did sleep some that night!
The day of the wedding was beautiful! DH & C headed off to hang out with the guys to get ready (DH was one of the groomsmen) and I put G down for her nap so I could get ready. We made it to the chapel, and the wedding, though short (it wasn't a full Mass - a deacon presided) was lovely. My 2 BIL sang the Panis Angelicus and Ave Verum as part of the prelude music, and one of them sang the Schubert Ave Maria. I just love to play when they are singing! :) And C made it up the aisle with the flower girl, though he did pause to say hi to some of the cousins when he was almost to the front. He ended up sitting with some of them during most of the ceremony. As long as he wasn't trying to play the piano (which he desperately wanted to do), I was fine with that! After posing for pictures (C wouldn't smile for me in any of the pictures I tried to take... so I hope the photographer got some!), we headed back to the room for a quick nap for the kids, and then to the reception.
I should also mention, that G, after months of refusing to eat anything but plain yogurt and the occasional applesauce, (and me thinking she would starve on the trip) decided that tri tip steak and filet mignon were the best. thing. ever. We have a definite meat-eater now, and she is adamant about trying the things she sees us eating, haha. :) Woo-hoo- progress!
Now, for the pictures!
He would have stayed here all day. :)
Fun with cousins!
hello insanity :)
Half dome
Yosemite valley
He wouldn't smile for me at all this trip. Little stinker. :)
The new Mr. and Mrs! They are so perfect for one another!
Pooped. I didn't care that he was flopping down,
but I was very nervous because it was near the cake!!
First dance
Father-daughter dance. Her dad was just the sweetest man!
Dancing with the flower girl
And with cousin X
The little cousins!
Last day at the park - lower falls
We can't wait to go back! :)
