Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Crater Lake N.P./Lassen N.P./Lake Tahoe/Yosemite N.P.

Below are pictures from our latest trip. Last Wednesday the 13th we drove from Palm Springs to Oregon, and camped near Crater Lake National Park. The 14th we drove around the park and then drove south to Lassen Volcanic National Park, and stayed in the national forest outside the park. The 15th we drove through Lassen and then went down to Yosemite National Park, where we stayed at a KOA for the next two nights. We finally returned home on the 17th. Enjoy the pics!

Stewart State Park in Oregon - we stayed here the first night.

The view from our campsite in Stewart park.

Looking into our campsite at Stewart park.

Shawn & Sarah in the shadows.

Sunset at Stewart park.

Leaving the park on the 16th.

Arriving at Crater Lake NP.

Crater Lake - deepest point is 1,932 feet.

Crater Lake.

Sign showing the volcano that formed the lake.

Mac playing in the snow - only half the roads were open because of the snow - the Crater Lake gets 500 inches of precipitation each year.

Arriving at Lassen Volcanic NP.

Mac diving for a stick at our campsite in Lassen Nat'l Forest.

Mt. Lassen - the snow follows the pathe of an avalanche in 1915 that left the ash we are standing on.

From here you can hike to the top of Mt. Lassen - no dogs allowed...

Mt. Shasta - the 2nd highest point in California. We had great views of the mountain for about half our drive.

Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe - Shawn was in the little house on the island on a prior trip.

On Pebble Hill overlooking a pretty lake - this used to be a popular ski area.

Sunset on Hwy 49 - the windiest road ever made - and we're still driving!

Our KOA campsite - kind of like camping in a hole.

Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite NP.

Yosemite Falls.

El Capitan.

Above - Yosemite Falls, Below - Yosemite Creek. Note the clear water!

Half Dome.

The Grizzly Giant Sequoia - named for it's huge arms. Can you see the people?


Sarah below the roots of a fallen Sequoia.

Leaving Half Dome behind on our way out of Yosemite NP.

Amazingly clear lake at about 9,000 feet.

You don't want to get in the way of dog pictures!

Tioga Pass - our way out of the park.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Lake Hemet & Idyllwild Tour

This past weekend we took a little trip into the mountains overlooking Palm Springs. We stopped at Lake Hemet first and let the dog go for a swim - you could tell he was bred to be a bird-hunter because he wanted to eat every duck he saw.

Then we drove the 5 miles to Idyllwild, a strangely spelled town about 5,000 feet above the desert. We checked out various cabins and campsites for the next time we're looking to escape the heat....

Mac chasing ducks


Lake Hemet

Overlooking the Banning Pass where there was a fire this spring

Monday, May 28, 2007

Jog-A-Thon

On Thursday May 24th my second grade class and I ran in our school jog-a-thon fundraiser. We set a class average goal of 10 laps each and we averaged 11! They did a great job!
It was about 100 degrees and the lap was about the size of a football field.
I was a very proud teacher. Many kids were surprised that I even ran 12 laps myself.
Overall we had a blast and raised money for our school.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Weekend Update



Big news - Sarah has a new little sister! No, Mom is not preggers with #4, Sarah joined Big Brothers Big Sisters and had her first hang-out session this past Thursday. It went really well; the girl she is mentoring is 13 and has been home schooled due to severe migraines she has been getting from a car accident. I'd add a picture but I'm not sure that's legal since she's 13.

Anyway, I'm extremely proud of Sarah for putting her empathy in action!

Since not much else is going on, below are a couple pictures of a 2003 trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. My Dad and I have taken trips up there about 15 times, and we are planning on going again this fall for the first time since I moved to CA...

Towards the end of the trip I was getting pretty fancy with my canoe maneuvers.

The view from one of our campsites on a perfectly still morning.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Wine Country/Bakersfield

This past weekend we hit the road again, going about 225 miles north to Bakersfield, where our friends Alex and Kristen live. They were nice enough to invite us and our hairy dog, who really made his presence known on their dark green carpet. On Saturday Kristen drove us up to the Paso Robles area, so we could do some wine-tasting right from the winery. Alex navigated us to six great places. Below are a few pictures from the trip...as you can see, it was a beautiful day!

The last (and Sarah's favorite) winery we visited.

Alex and Kristen in front of their house in Bakersfield.

At the Tobin James winery.

This was the "wig" winery..


Flowers outside a winery.

Kristen, Alex, and Shawn at the Justin winery.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Dog-sitting weekend

Mac waiting for his play date....


Dog-sitting is hard work!


Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Spencer Flies To California Solo (our little traveler)

Spencer came out to California April 2 through April 10.
He flew out to Palm Springs alone
(WE ARE SO PROUD OF HIM!)


We had a very busy week, we started out with Knott's Berry Farm, spent a few days at school, hung out at the pool, saw "Meet the Robinsons", went up the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, hiked Joshua Tree National Park, enjoyed the ocean at Laguna Beach, and golfed 108 holes of mini golf at Boomers Park.

IT ALL BEGAN HERE...
We went to Knott's Berry Farm for a long crazy day of sick to your stomach rides!



Spencer came to school with me for a couple days,
even though he was on springs break.
He had a great time hiding Easter eggs and
hang'n with my cool 2nd graders.



We spent a lot of time at the dog park.
Spencer really enjoyed playing with his buddies Mac and Quincy.



It's Superman...I mean Spencer!
We enjoyed the 90 degree April weather in the backyard.



Shawn and Spencer spent Saturday evening at the golf course...NICE SWING!



EASTER...look at those amazing colored eggs...nice work buddy!



Joshua Tree National Park
Shawn and Spencer climbed to the top of Cyclopes Rock.
Can you see me in the distance walking next to the road with Mac?
We decided not to do the climb with those crazy boys.



Laguna Beach
Spencer spent the day in the water
while we waited for Auntie Pat to get off of work.
We enjoyed her hotel right on the beach
and later went to dinner with her.



The Laguna sunset was amazing. This was the view from Auntie Pat's hotel.



Spencer the Navigator...he highlighted the way home and we made it with no problems.
(he really is our little traveler)



Our last day in Palm Springs.
We spent it at Boomers where we golfed for 3 hours...followed by a couple hours of video games.




Before we got on the plane we had to make one last stop.
Spencer said good-bye to California by eating his favorite food...
IN-N-OUT BURGER

Saturday, April 28, 2007

End of tax season trip to Florida

Well, I made it through another busy tax season, so to relax & recharge, i booked a trip to see my friend matt's place in naples, florida. it was my first time in the southeast US, and i had time to do some golfing, meet matt's friends, spend a day at the beach, and watch about 5 movies.

the most surprising thing about florida was the screened-in backyards. the second most surprising thing was the alligators in nearly every water hazard on the golf course.

This is the alligator that hangs out in the pond below matt's place.

Can you spot the alligator? It looks like a log floating in the water.

On the beach in Naples, FL.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

We're really doing it Harry!

Our flight to Europe has been booked! August 2nd - August 16th! There's no backing out now! Get your souvenir requests in early for best results!

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Mountain Biking on a Real Mountain

I decided to give real mountain biking a try today. Our friend Jason and I went up in some nearby hills. It's really steep right away, and I thought I was going to throw up after only about 10 minutes. After settling my stomach I was able to make it up the first hill and some others, but needless to say, it helps to be in a lot better shape. Sitting in a chair all week doesn't prepare you very well for one day of exercise. But it was fun to get out and enjoy our perfect weather - 75 and sun.

Shawn pushing up the hill

Jason waiting for me again....

Token dog picture of Mac literally hanging out.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

busy season....

Not much time to post these days, but we hope you all had a great Valentine's Day. Mac enjoyed his rawhide heart.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Sam, Carl, Dave, and Sarah Visit Palm Springs

Sam (Sarah's sister) came to visit us the 2nd week of January with her boyfriend Carl and their friends Dave & Sarah. Below is a few pics from their time out here.

Dave, Sarah, Carl (with grapefruit), and Sam enjoying the hot tub on a cold nite.

Glasswork at the Palm Springs art museum.


Sam and Carl at the Pacific Ocean.

Sam and Sarah demonstrating the love between sisters.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Christmas pics 4

More presents waiting for us when we returned to PS.

Mac fighting for his present.


Air Force 1 in Palm Springs to pick up Gerald Ford.