So, as we noted in an earlier posting, we decided to make a one day trip to Yosemite Valley, just to walk around the cheap showiness of nature, take some pictures, and buy some postcards. We managed to do all three.
Forgot how far away Yosemite is, but we were glad we could make it.
We told all the kids that we needed to get up REALLY early, like around 5 AM. These are the kids who have a hard enough time getting up for school. But tell them that we will be going to a National Park, and that there might be the possiblity of souvenirs, and they actually get up before the adults, and are dressed and ready to go right when we need to go!
Let's get to the Park.
Before even getting to the park, just after Mariposa, there appears to have been a rockslide, and the entire road is blocked. They have built two one lane bridges that go around the slide. You have to wait about 15 minutes according the sign at the stoplight, but we did not have to wait that long.
To all of our friends who like Yosemite and Hansen's Soda, this picture is for you!
Kids love playing in snow! Just like the Grand Canyon last year, we could have just taken them to play in snow, and they could have done it all day. "Hey kids, Yosemite Falls is right behind you!" "Good! Hey, more snow!"
Sun peeking out through the trees.
Snowball aimed at a sibling.
If only our world was
as beautiful as Pandora!
As a good friend of our said, "People, get out of your basement, and go walk around!"
Tree reflected in Merced River.
Greetings from the Valley floor.
Some Sun peeking through again.
Half Dome reflected in a puddle near Sentinel Bridge.
Yosemite Falls.
Half Dome again from Sentinal Bridge.
Yosemite Falls from the trail leading up to it.
At Lower Yosemite Falls. Getting wet from the Falls and from the sky.
Lower Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite Falls Bridge.
Kids wanted to take in a talk by a Park Ranger to get their Junior Ranger Badges. More on that later. The talk for today was about Bears, and the Ranger took us out to the middle of the Valley from Shuttle stop #6, so that we could get hailed on for an hour and a half! Thankfully, it was only small hail.
Anyways, Park Ranger Ben shows us what happens when a bear finds the Whipped Cream bottle, and then bites into it. the can blew apart, and killed the bear.
Bear Skull.
Bear Pelt.
So the girls finished their Jr. Park Ranger Books first, and so they got to be sworn in first. There were a couple of Rangers there, and there was a Lady who said that she loved to swear in Jr. Rangers, and that she even like to announce it to people. I thought she was kidding.
So the girls got sworn in.
Then the lady who liked to swear in kids swore the third kid in.
And then the lady did announce to everyone in the Visitors Centre, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have just sworn three new Junior Rangers; please give them a hand!" And people did!
A wider view. The kids were really happy.
Some Internet Terminals at the Deli. They cost 25 cents a minute, and we know some people who used them last year.
We hope to go again to Yosemite, and get some pictures form each season, and maybe visit some areas we have never been to, like the Hetch Hetchy area. maybe we can visit some other parks as well, like Death Valley or Sequioa National Parks.
Hope you like the photos! We enjoyed taking them!
To all of our friends who like Yosemite and Hansen's Soda, this picture is for you!
Kids love playing in snow! Just like the Grand Canyon last year, we could have just taken them to play in snow, and they could have done it all day. "Hey kids, Yosemite Falls is right behind you!" "Good! Hey, more snow!"
Sun peeking out through the trees.
Snowball aimed at a sibling.
If only our world was as beautiful as Pandora!
Tree reflected in Merced River.
Greetings from the Valley floor.
Some Sun peeking through again.
Half Dome reflected in a puddle near Sentinel Bridge.
Yosemite Falls.
Half Dome again from Sentinal Bridge.
Yosemite Falls from the trail leading up to it.
At Lower Yosemite Falls. Getting wet from the Falls and from the sky.
Lower Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite Falls Bridge.
Kids wanted to take in a talk by a Park Ranger to get their Junior Ranger Badges. More on that later. The talk for today was about Bears, and the Ranger took us out to the middle of the Valley from Shuttle stop #6, so that we could get hailed on for an hour and a half! Thankfully, it was only small hail.
Bear Skull.
Bear Pelt.
So the girls finished their Jr. Park Ranger Books first, and so they got to be sworn in first. There were a couple of Rangers there, and there was a Lady who said that she loved to swear in Jr. Rangers, and that she even like to announce it to people. I thought she was kidding.
So the girls got sworn in.
Then the lady who liked to swear in kids swore the third kid in.
And then the lady did announce to everyone in the Visitors Centre, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have just sworn three new Junior Rangers; please give them a hand!" And people did!
A wider view. The kids were really happy.
Some Internet Terminals at the Deli. They cost 25 cents a minute, and we know some people who used them last year.
The Programs artfully arranged.
Outside of St. Joseph's Hall, a market was set up where 'merchants' displayed and sold their wares. There was no actual selling going on here, it is just a re-enactment. Much of these items were things people had around the home.
Don't steal my precious cloth! Monica raided my moms's fabric collection to set up a cloth table.
Trebuchets R Us.
Jewelry for sale.
The kids dressed up in Medieval style clothing! Huzzah! If you look carefully at many of the costumes, you will see that they are partly custom made (the tops), and partly modern clothes in disguise (the pants and skirts).
One of our Knights. Sparkly material simulates chain mail.
Fair Damsels.
A Castle.
Flag Bearers. Notice here, that the medieval breeches are actually sweat pants with the elastic band turned under.
Entertainment by a real Bagpiper. 
"Hey, are you just gonna talk, or are you gonna buy something?"
More of the Marketplace.
A Falconer brought in a Falcon. Its eyes are covered so that the sudden motions of people would not bother it.
Demonstrations were also put on. Here is someone who is making Chainmail. I've got to find out where Kathy found these people.
Some of the children posing in their period clothes.
Huzzah! A group picture!
Tickets being collected for a Raffle.
Jousting is thirsty work, and our knights here enjoy a Beer. A Beer of Root. 
Of course our Castle had a King and Queen.
Brother Andrew awaits to give his Blessing to the meal.
One of the skits put on by the children. This is a Choir of Angels.
Another Skit, Mary visiting Elizabeth.
Jousting! I can't remember what the lances are made of. Something that involved cardboard, duct tape and spray paint, I think. If we are going to do this at the mission, perhaps we could cone off a section of parking lot, rather than trying to do it in the classrooms.
Minstrels entertain the Royal Couple.
A Spice Cake shaped like a Castle.
Respected Philospher and Theologian, Thaddeus Kozinski and Family enjoy the proceedings. In case anybody is wondering, he is in a Rainbow Poncho because in one of the skits, he played God, and he was the Rainbow that appeared to Noah, signifying his Covenant with him.
More entertainment.
Fencing! 
Brother Andrew gives the Final Blessing. In Latinae.
One of our lucky winners of the Raffle at the end.
A final salute to the King and Queen. A great time had by one and all! I hope this is inspiring. The kids could have a lot of fun with this. And the grown-ups too.
