Yosemite has been on our bucket list since we've moved to Monterey.  We couldn't leave here and NOT visit one of the most beautiful national parks in the country!  So we finally carved out the time to go.

This was our maiden voyage camping with the girls so we played it safe and camped for just one night (at least that's my excuse).

My favorite thing about this trip is that it only cost $20 (if you don't count gas)!  Free entrance with military id, packed in all our own food, and spent $20 for the campsite.  Can't beat that!

I like to get shots of us as we first start out fresh... this is about 3 minutes into our drive

Yosemite or bust!

Our first stop was Mariposa Grove to visit the world famous sequoias.  We went on a .6 mile hike, I repeat .6 as in POINT 6.  It was the longest .6 miles of my life, as we quickly discovered what lousy hikers we had for daughters.  Seriously frustrating.  C absolutely refused to walk, and Em walked but at the pace of a snail whining and pouting the entire way.  As a former employee at Zion National Park and Philmont Scout Ranch, I could not claim them as my own!! 

Pretty amazing, eh?

So it turns out all they needed was some fruit snacks (or a downward slope).  Then ran almost the whole way back to the car. 

We stopped along the way and watched a chipmunk gather acorns for the winter.  The girls were absolutely fascinated, as I'm sure you are not.

This was the spectacular view as we drove into the valley... El Capitain on the left and Half Dome on the right:

Tent living:  thanks to our neighbors we had a ginormous tent.  The girls just wanted to be in here the entire time.  C was in heaven with her safe little haven.

Roasting smores.  This cracked me up because Em kept her marshmallows about 3 feet from the fire.  Yeah, it took quite awhile for those marshmallows to roast.

Reading Frog and Toad by flashlight.  Em was in heaven.

Bonafide French toast breakfast.  First time using the propane stove, pretty proud. 

We went for a bike ride after breakfast.  This was the funnest part of the trip, and the most scenic.  Yosemite Valley is very bike friendly, which we loved!

They love being pulled around in their "chariot."  You can imagine the state of C's blanket by the end of this trip. 

That's me!

Some of the sites we stopped at along the way:

Love that reflection

Stud Muffin

Pretty bone dry here in the fall: If you want the spectacular rivers and waterfalls you have to come in the spring and early summer. But the trade off is you have humungous crowds. We had no glorious waterfalls, but enjoyed the not so crowded feeling.

Coudln't resist putting this one in

Cooling off in the river near our campsite:

This was by far C's favorite part of the trip:

I came, I saw, I conquered

Picnic Lunch:

They loved climbing on the rocks:

And finally before going home we hiked a mile up hill to Vernal Falls.  A mile doesn't seem long at all, unless you have a 2 and 4 year old.  Luckily, Em redeemed herself on this hike.  She helped push Caroline in her stroller up the mountain.  She was tough!  

Hooray for Yosemite!

And I have to add my favorite quotes from the trip:

As we're sitting around the fire, C pointed to the neighboring campsite where a woman was eating by the light of a lantern  "Look!  There's Rapunzel's mother." 

Em as we're roasting marshmallows: "Why do marshmallows ALWAYS get in my hair?'

And Ben, the best for last:  After going on a huge rant about how evil crows are and how they are taking over Monterey, "And you know what else about the crows?  They're starting to rape the seagulls.  I've seen some pretty jacked up looking gray seagulls lately.  Have you seen them too?"

And another from Ben because I know my mom just loves the way Ben puts things.We were talking about step-mothers since the girls' favorite movie is Tangled. 

Ben:  Step-mothers are always mean, huh?
Me:  That's why you're never allowed to re-marry.
Ben: shoot, if the girls ever had a step-mother who was mean to them, I'd punch her in the face.  And that would end that marriage, RIGHT AWAY.


Good to know Ben's got their backs.