Rodeo Weekend Fun!

Last weekend Hannah and I traveled to Humboldt for Rodeo Weekend in Fortuna. Although we really missed Josh, we had such a fun time with all of the rodeo week events and spending time with family and friends. I have such fond memories of rodeo week while growing up and it was fun to see Hannah enjoy some of the things I used to love so much. She can be pretty shy at times, so I was shocked when she said she wanted to do the stick horse race. My mom had just given her a new cowgirl hat and stick horse earlier that day so that might have had something to do with it. :)  Once the race started she took about 5 steps and just stood there, I had to guide her down and back. It was pretty funny! The penny scramble however was another story...once she observed a few kids grabbing up pennies she was on a mission to pick up every penny she could (which she meticulously put into her piggy bank upon returning home Sunday). She was also a little unsure about some of the carnival rides, but her buddy Michael was very sweet and encouraged her to go on some rides with him.

Ready for her first stick horse race

not quite sure what to do

intently watching the other kids race

penny scramble time!!!

Dinner at Round Table pizza afterwards...Nonne trying to win Hannah and Brody a toy :)

Silly Uncle Sean and Auntie Cole

Cousins :)

Visit to Aunt Karen and Uncle Dan's house

Mom, Hannah and Aunt Karen

Hannah and Michael watching the fireman's games...Michael was so sweet holding Hannah's hand
because she was a little nervous

stomping in puddles

carnival rides :)

holding on for their roller coaster ride!

LOVE my family!!

During the parade she was very excited to collect candy (a treat she's had maybe twice), yet did not like the loud sirens at the start of the parade. By the time the candy throwers came by she wasn't so sure she wanted it anymore until she saw Michael hurrying out into the street to collect some. After a few minutes she finally decided she wanted to collect some, however did not want to step out into the street (kinda made me happy because we really stress to her not going into the street without holding a hand), so Michael collected up candy and threw it onto the grass for Hannah. It was too cute!


Wearing her new cowgirl boots from Auntie Cole...ready for the parade to start



With Michael eager to collect candy during the parade

The rodeo was very fascinating to Hannah. She enjoyed just watching, which was nice because we all just wanted to watch too. :) She did however, get a little concerned when a horse or bull was roped. I had to reassure her that they weren't getting hurt.

watching the rodeo with Nonne and Auntie

Thanks to Nonnie and Nonne watching Hannah both Friday and Saturday nights, I was able to enjoy both nights out with my sis, Sean and friends. Friday night we enjoyed watching all the nightly entertainment at the rodeo grounds and then met up with more friends for drinks afterwards. Saturday night Amy bribed us into going to the rodeo dance with free tickets (have I mentioned I really dislike country music?!?). It ended up being a really fun night though! 

With Faith and Nicole ready to head down to the rodeo dance & out for the night

It was hard to leave Sunday, but we were also really excited to get home to see Josh. It was so cute to see Hannah yell "Daddy! Daddy" as she saw Josh through the window coming up to the front door.  :) The three of us enjoyed the afternoon together before I headed to book club with the girls for a bit.

Yosemite

A week and a half ago we traveled to Yosemite with friends. The last time I was in Yosemite National Park was back in the fall of 2003. Josh and I were dating and decided to make take a last minute road trip.   :)  I am so glad I was able to experience Yosemite this time in the summer. It was a different, yet equally beautiful time of year to visit the park. When we traveled in the fall of 2003 it was very lush and green, however many of the waterfalls were not flowing. At that time we were able to hike right into the lip of Upper Yosemite Falls, because there was no water flowing. This enabled us to walk wherever we pleased. I remember it feeling so surreal because I knew that at some point during the year water flowed with incredible force over the rocks I was hiking on. Well for this trip because we had Hannah & two other little ones we couldn't do any extremely difficult hikes, like Upper Yosemite or Half Dome. We were however, able to see so many more waterfalls, go on many hikes and did a more intense hike to the top of  Vernal Falls (thank goodness Josh was carrying Hannah!)

During part of our stay in the Yosemite Valley area we stayed at the Chuckchansi Resort and Casino, which was awesome. We do a lot of tent camping over the summer, so to have the accommodations of a resort was a nice break from the dirt. We also stayed within Yosemite Park for part of our trip. When Josh and I first went to Yosemite we tent camped. This time we all stayed in Curry Village which was a really fun experience. At night we walked to the main village for pizza and beer and watched an outdoor video on the bears found in the park......while enjoying some ice cream!  :) 

The group ready for our first hike up to Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Our view as we sat and picnicked for lunch

Our beautiful girl dipping her toes in the stream

With Annie and Carter

Our Family :)

Josh and Ian with their kiddos

The beautiful Ahwahnee Lodge

Enjoying an afternoon cocktail with Tracey and Kara in the gardens behind the lodge

We thought these seats were pretty neat

Love him!

Hannah ready for her first game of "Duck Duck Goose"

Beginning our hike to Lower Yosemite Falls

Lower and Upper Yosemite Falls....crazy to think that last time I was standing in the lip of the Upper Falls where all the water is now flowing from!

At the base of Lower Yosemite Falls....this picture makes laugh (Hannah did not want to look in the direction of the camera, so we told her there was a mountain lion on the hill in front of us, she turned to look at it and click went the camera capturing this expression on her face LOL!)

Half Dome

Hike to Vernal Falls (Our more intense hike of the trip)

At the base of Vernal Falls, ready to hike to the top

on the hike up
(in the top/center portion of the picture you can just barely see Vernal Falls)

Looking back down part of what we had just hiked up

Almost to the top! The falls were flowing with such force that we were totally soaked by the time we got to the top! 

Lunch at the Top

Hannah and Carter dancing :)

Looking back down to a section of what we hiked up

Hannah enjoying a drink from my camel pack at the edge of the waterfall

Looking over the waterfall (check out the rainbow!)



Water flowing from Nevada Falls to Vernal Falls (if you look to the far left you can see people which gives you an idea of how big this body of water is)



Hannah and Carter still asleep in the backpacks after the hike back down

LOVE Yosemite!

Swimming at our hotel

In the hot tub with dad

playing in the pool

swimming under the water with dad

Diving to the bottom of the pool with mom for a ring
(too bad the picture is more of me!! I hate opening my eyes under water Lol!)