Mirror Lake and More!

Some more things I wanted to remember from our trip.

Some of the other waterfalls:

Staircase Falls

We did the hike to Mirror Lake.  It wasn't the best day for pictures but Dan still got some good ones of the mirror effect:

It started raining at the end of the hike so people are huddled waiting for the shuttle bus:

There were Dogwood trees in bloom everywhere!

Our hotel room had a patio and this was our view:

Another thing to remember was how many people were there! 

 I was so surprised for a weekday in mid May how crowded it was.

I think lots of people wanted to see the waterfalls.
(A guide told us they are expecting 6 million visitors this season!)

I took this picture because it was literally the last parking spot to be found after checking several lots.  Dan wedged the car up on the dirt in between two trees.

And I wanted to remember all of the water everywhere!

And one more video!

Bridalveil Fall!

Another beautiful waterfall in Yosemite is Bridalveil Fall.

Here is a picture Dan took in August 2015: 

Super beautiful but no waterfall in sight.

Here is a picture from the same spot May 2017:

Waterfall and lots of water in the Merced River!

Here's another photo from August 2015 from the famous Tunnel View area:

And here we are last week at the same spot with Bridalveil falls on a rainy, cloudy day:

Same place but a zoom-in photo.

Bridalveil Fall is 620 feet high.

Caught this sign as we head up to the falls:

It's another spectacular one!

We hiked past this roaring water to get the falls:

Getting closer; notice some handrails to help you get up the slippery slope:

Made it to the viewing area!

Took this shot to show all of the spray!

And Dan got his one!

And another attempt at a video: Bridalveil Fall:

Waterfalls are amazing, powerful and beautiful!

Yosemite Falls!

Although we had some rain, we had lots of times to enjoy all of the waterfalls in Yosemite!  I believe there are 10 big ones right in the valley.

The most famous, highest and was really spectacular was Yosemite Falls.

This is a view of the upper part of the falls.

Note the beautiful dogwood tree in bloom!

Here is a view of the upper and lower part of the falls.  

The entire thing is 2,425 feet.

I chose this picture with the people in to show just how high and massive it is!

We did the hike to the lower falls and it was amazing: the roaring sound and the rushing water was a sight to see!

These next two photos are in the opposite direction of the picture above.

The amount of water was incredible!

The hike is a loop so after we were close to the falls we came back around to an area where we got this view!

We decided to splurge and stay right in Yosemite at the Yosemite Lodge.

We could see the upper falls just right near us!

The roaring sound could be heard all night long in our room--that's how 

loud it is. 

So glad we had this experience!

My attempt at posting a video.  Turn your volume all the way up and enjoy!

And this is just the lower part of the falls!

Gift Outing #5: Water Falls or Waterfalls?

We had been anticipating our trip to Yosemite for weeks.

The winter snow and rain would make for fabulous waterfalls in the spring!

We were there 1 1/2 years ago in August during the drought and there was not a waterfall in sight.  

We could hardly wait to get there.

It's a 3 1/2 hour drive.

We watched the weather predictions and saw that rain was forecast for the days we would be there:(

Here we are entering the park on Monday:

And here we are leaving the park on Tuesday afternoon:

Did we get to enjoy the waterfalls?  

Or did the water fall just too much?

Stay tuned...

What's Special About Your Mom?!

We hosted a new bishopric for dinner on Saturday evening the night before Mother's Day.   It is a chance for the stake presidency and their wives to get to know the bishopric and their wives.

Hmmm, I thought.  

How about a Mother's Day theme!

I had Dan look up each one of their mother's maiden names and then I put them on the place cards. 

As we were finishing dinner, we went around the table and each person shared some special things about their mother.  It was great!  

It is interesting how much you can learn about a person when they talk about their Mom!!

We have had around 20 of these dinners over the past 7 years and each time we go around and tell about ourselves.  I am sure I could introduce Dan's counselors and their wives as we say pretty much the same thing every time.

But this was a whole new experience!  

I learned new things about people I felt I knew very well.

Want to get to know someone better?

Ask them what is special about their Mom!

Sees candy was part of the table decorations and each Mom got to take one home!

Mother's Day 2017!

We were able to attend the Perrys ward for Sacrament meeting with great speakers and extra special music: Hannah, Joshua, David, Jacob and Lily singing with the Primary with their Mom as conductor!

Later that day we went to the Perry's home for dinner and a talent show:

Each one gave me a special card they had made:

 Joshua demonstrated some exploding craft stick bombs he had made...

 ...including a special one named after me!

 Hannah played the ukulele for us!

 She is in the ukulele club after school two days a week.

We were very impressed with how well she plays!

 David read a book with extra expression:

 I think he's ready for Hollywood--he was amazing!

 Jacob and Lily made us cards.  Later I saw them enjoying this pirate book together.  They had an argument discussion about whether the picture of the pirate on one of the pages was a bad pirate or a good pirate.  (Grandpa off to the side mused: Isn't that a given that all pirates are bad?)

 Loved spending part of Mother's Day with one of my daughters!

 Talked to my other children

Heidi: Celebrating her birthday; played the piano for Primary singers; heard all about Youth Conference from Courtney who is helping to plan it; big smiles from the other girls

Josh: Barbecued steak for dinner; 2 singers in Primary; he said it was a day of gifts, food and fun

Amanda: Wearing a pretty new blouse; Darryl was in charge of a luncheon for all the sisters during the 3rd hour: Michael told me all about the kindergarten Spa Day for the Moms last week

Jeff: Spoke in Sacrament meeting; heard all the summer plans including a trip to Nauvoo, kids were playing Creationary (Pictionary with Legos)

John: Aubrey still excited about losing her first tooth; she sang me a song about grandmothers; Bethany showed me all of her Mother's Day school artwork including a crown for Sara