Shelly's new ride

After enduring my former company car, a Ford Taurus, for several years, I finally let Shelly pick a car that suited her better. After months of research, she selected a sandy beach 2010 Prius. Toyota began to distribute these cars in late May but so far none of the 2010 models that arrived in Boise had the desired color or option package. The day before we left on our vacation to California, I decided to check the Reno and Sacramento markets. As luck would have it, the exact car we wanted had just arrived at a dealer in south Lake Tahoe. After a few phone calls back and forth, a deal was reached and we returned from our trip with a souvenir that should provide us with many years of satisfaction and usefulness.

Family reunion in CA & camping in Yosemite

Our first vacation in 2009 was a fun filled week that started with a 3 day Denio (my mom's side) family reunion in Ripon, CA. We had been unable to attend the last few reunions, so it was special to see so many after so long. The Community Center proved to be the perfect location for the ~125+ family members that attended and there was plenty of room to play games, visit, eat, etc. Highlights included a talent show, softball games, great meals and a fellowship meeting Sunday morning with around 80 people.

So many people were taking pictures that we decided not to. So, if you were there and got some great shots, feel free to email them to Shelly or I and I will add them to this post.

Tuolumne Meadows - Yosemite

After arriving at Yosemite late Sunday afternoon and setting up camp in Tuolumne Meadows, we spent our first full day on Monday exploring our nearby surroundings. First, we went to the Tuolumne lodge and the cascading waterfalls and pristine pools.

Pictures do not come close to capturing the natural beauty of this place.

Looking down stream, we could see Lembert Dome, our next destination

The girls taking a rest on the trail to Lempert Dome.

Out of the trees now at around 9,000ft and starting to climb the solid granit dome.

The final push to the summit.

We made it!

B & E on the summit! Standing on the edge of a 1,000 ft cliff and the meadows below.

Tuolumne Meadows

Playing games on the dome.

Heading back down.

After a great hike, we decided to cool off and spend the afternoon relaxing at Tenaya Lake.

Sheer granite cliffs rising from the blue water to the even bluer skies.

Yosemite Valley & Mariposa Grove

Our second day in Yosemite took us from the cool air of the high elevation Tuolumne Meadows to the valley floor almost 3,000ft below. The 40 mile drive took over an hour due to the windy mtn road and countles scenic view points.

Our first view of the valley and the north side of half dome.

Yosemite Valley - El Capitan,(left), Half Dome, (center) and Bridalveil Falls, (right)

Yosemite Falls

The halfway point of hiking to the top of Vernal Falls

Hundreds of steps but each one taking us closier to our goal.

Vernal Falls

Bryce climbing through the mist.

The view from the top.

The Ahwahnee Lodge where we recovered after the great hike and celebrated Erica's birthday, (11).

The birthday girl!

Rested and refreshed, we next went to the visitor center and then another hr drive to the south entrance of the park to the Mariposa Grove, which is home to several hundred giant sequoias. Again, pictures do not give you the true prespective of these monster trees that are 18ft across and up to 300' tall.

The root ball of a fallen sequoia.

A giant in the mist of full size cedars and firs.

The base of another sequoia that had been cut out to all carriages to drive through in the early 1900's. This tree was still very much alive, towering heaven-ward and seemed unphased by man's efforts to entertain himself.