UPPER AND LOWER FALLS...This is the big known landmark that is on the VALLEY floor. It is truly AWESOME (as the word was meant to be used)
This is at the bridge of Lower Falls...Jay hiked up right to the bottom of the falls. I don't know if you can really tell but there are ICE CHUNKS in the water
This is at the beginning of the trail to hike up to the FALLS...I love seeing Britt taking pictures. It's fun to look at her pictures to see what fascinated her. She is also quickly becoming a pretty good little photographer! I LOVE IT!!!
My cute kiddos! It turned out to be a lot colder than we planned so Jay is sporting his pajama bottoms. (thanks Gramma Suzie--those fleece pants kept him warm and HAPPY)
This is on the trail crossing the MERCED river...it was SNOW packed! (we didn't expect that...but loved it)
I triple love this sign...it's hanging on the entrance to the sitting area at the historic Awahnee Hotel. It was amazing how quiet and respectful it was. (we need one of these at church)
The Awahnee Hotel was sooo cool...I loved the wall sized fireplaces that were on each side of the room. The whole place was just so GRAND...we all felt we had stepped back in time. It was fun to see all the old furniture, books and pictures of what used to take place here. LOTS of famous people and PRESIDENTS visited here. If you know me at all you know I love that kind of stuff! Wayne and I are dying to go back and eat at the restaurant...it was a little pricey to take the whole family, but doable for a couple!!!
One of the highlights of our trip was that as we were getting off the Valley Shuttle we saw a two year old BEAR. I was shocked at how unafraid we all were. We just stood there taking pictures and it was just as unphased by us...which should've been frightening to us!!!
The fam hiking up to Mirror Lake... a funny thing happened this morning; The kids were comfy-cozy in bed and I was ready to face the day. It was like 6:45 am...I decided to get up and go for a hike...I then noticed my husband was already up and gone. Our campsite was only a mile from Mirror Lake so I decided to go enjoy the peaceful, beautiful surroundings. I hiked up on the LEFT side of the trail (the main trail is on the right) It was an inspirational hike for me...I love hiking and taking in God's amazing creations. The spirit is very strong in the mountains, and I have always known this to be true. Being that I was the only person around I was struck, to head back and not go any farther up the trail(if I fell and got hurt no one knew where I was)...I hadn't made it to the lake yet so I really didn't want to turn around. I kept going (against everything I had been taught) just as I was about to head up some steep, rocky terrain, I could no longer ignore the voice that was now yelling at me to turn around. This time I listened. (bummed that I didn't make it to the lake and I knew I was close) I turned back eager to get my family and come back. As I came back down to where there is a bridge and the trail splits I noticed a sign (that I hadn't seen going up) and the trail that I was on was closed for the season due to flooding and rocky terrain...who knows what I was about to walk into with the rushing river literally only inches away from me. As I came back into our camp I noticed my husband not far behind me and he had the same thought I did and had hiked to Mirror Lake...how romantic would it have been if we had met each other there...I think the first time I ignored and kept walking I missed out on what could've been an awesome moment. DARN!!! We packed up camp, fed the kids and then hiked to Mirror Lake as a family. Words can't describe how beautiful it was. The kids loved it... and for me yet another lesson learned (I hope!!!) 
This was the view from our tent...looking at UpperFalls
We stayed right on the Valley floor at UPPER PINES campground. I loved it! We were really close to the shuttle and the river and all of the Valley floor attractions. I'm ready to go again!!!
Wayne and I were amused at how much the kids LOVED the shuttle...they loved waiting for it and riding it. It was one of those surprises you'd never have guessed! They really liked it when it was crowded and they got to stand!
View of the falls from Sentinal Bridge
We found a CANNON buried in the middle of Yosemite...our stake is doing a big Family History project for our youth and Britt will be researching this person. We were all touched to have found this. It was pretty cool...stay tuned to see if she's actually a relative
I loved the duck in the middle of the frozen river
Bridal Veil Falls...
If you've never gone and you live close...go go go!!! It's totally worth it!
One of the highlights of our trip was that as we were getting off the Valley Shuttle we saw a two year old BEAR. I was shocked at how unafraid we all were. We just stood there taking pictures and it was just as unphased by us...which should've been frightening to us!!!
The fam hiking up to Mirror Lake... a funny thing happened this morning; The kids were comfy-cozy in bed and I was ready to face the day. It was like 6:45 am...I decided to get up and go for a hike...I then noticed my husband was already up and gone. Our campsite was only a mile from Mirror Lake so I decided to go enjoy the peaceful, beautiful surroundings. I hiked up on the LEFT side of the trail (the main trail is on the right) It was an inspirational hike for me...I love hiking and taking in God's amazing creations. The spirit is very strong in the mountains, and I have always known this to be true. Being that I was the only person around I was struck, to head back and not go any farther up the trail(if I fell and got hurt no one knew where I was)...I hadn't made it to the lake yet so I really didn't want to turn around. I kept going (against everything I had been taught) just as I was about to head up some steep, rocky terrain, I could no longer ignore the voice that was now yelling at me to turn around. This time I listened. (bummed that I didn't make it to the lake and I knew I was close) I turned back eager to get my family and come back. As I came back down to where there is a bridge and the trail splits I noticed a sign (that I hadn't seen going up) and the trail that I was on was closed for the season due to flooding and rocky terrain...who knows what I was about to walk into with the rushing river literally only inches away from me. As I came back into our camp I noticed my husband not far behind me and he had the same thought I did and had hiked to Mirror Lake...how romantic would it have been if we had met each other there...I think the first time I ignored and kept walking I missed out on what could've been an awesome moment. DARN!!! We packed up camp, fed the kids and then hiked to Mirror Lake as a family. Words can't describe how beautiful it was. The kids loved it... and for me yet another lesson learned (I hope!!!) 
This was the view from our tent...looking at UpperFallsWe stayed right on the Valley floor at UPPER PINES campground. I loved it! We were really close to the shuttle and the river and all of the Valley floor attractions. I'm ready to go again!!!
Wayne and I were amused at how much the kids LOVED the shuttle...they loved waiting for it and riding it. It was one of those surprises you'd never have guessed! They really liked it when it was crowded and they got to stand! View of the falls from Sentinal Bridge
We found a CANNON buried in the middle of Yosemite...our stake is doing a big Family History project for our youth and Britt will be researching this person. We were all touched to have found this. It was pretty cool...stay tuned to see if she's actually a relative
I loved the duck in the middle of the frozen river
Bridal Veil Falls...
If you've never gone and you live close...go go go!!! It's totally worth it!
Easter morning...we did a scavenger hunt this year to capture all of the kids attentions...it turned out to be a lot of fun
