Holy epic summer trip.

It almost rivaled our trip to Michigan three years ago.  We were gone for 12 days, though we only traversed three other states besides our own.  It was the camping (and the planning, packing and overall inconvenience associated with it) that made it epic.  I was 17-18 weeks pregnant at the time, just coming off of being sick and tired and more sick.  Of course, when we booked our campsites in February(a remarkable achievement, if any of you can appreciate trying to reserve a campsite in Yosemite Valley), we had NO plans to be pregnant.  But yet here I was, trotting up and down mountains, ankles swelling to dangerous proportions all the while.  We saw so much beauty it was awe-inspiring.  What a wonderful world in which we live.

45 minutes after arriving at Lake Tahoe, we were forced to huddle under our beach umbrella to keep out of the downpour(and thunder and lightning).  Fortunately, the rain missed our campsite and we set up without incident.

Sunday was a different story.  Perfect weather.  We hit up morning church and then spent the day exploring.

Mono Lake - stinky but beautiful.

Tioga Pass

A room with a view.  Seriously - Half Dome, does it get any better than that?

Hike to Vernal Falls.  We read on a website that this was a moderate hike so we marched the kids up without reservation.  The "moderate" hike rating did not include the 1000 feet of vertical steps leading to the base of the falls.  Feel that burn.

Rachel and Tim went the extra mile up to the top of the falls.

Another view from our campsite.

On our way for a swim in the Merced River.  That constituted our shower for the week.

Biking around the valley.

Lower Yosemite Falls.  Somewhat underwhelming due to the severe drought but at least it was still running!

Tunnel View

Glacier Point

Climbing cousins.

Avenue of the Giants - a little gem just outside of Yosemite.  A contrast to the crowds of the park.

Kings Canyon National Park

So many big trees at Sequoia.  We almost got big-tree fatigue.

Tubing in Redding.

Aunt Julie and Uncle Wayne were good to us.  

Tim was almost convinced to buy a boat after our day on the lake.  Almost.

Crater Lake.

Our hike was spoiled by another thunderstorm.  Dang weather.  Doesn't it know we plan these vacations months in advance?

There are no words for the beauty (and the blue) of this lake.  It was spectacular.

Chris was nice enough to join us.  

I love family vacations...they seem to be the only time I can truly cut loose and just "be" with my loved ones.  We were blessed to have family members and friends join us for our time in Yosemite and Crater Lake and other family members and friends accommodate us as we passed through their territory.  Memories for a lifetime.