Wicked-ly Fun July!!!

July was definitely busy! I am okay with that because the busier I am the more fun I seem to have!

First, Pat and I went to Yosemite one day - just the two of us. It was a gorgeous day! While it was hot at home it was in the 70's and 80's in Yosemite. We left around 9 AM, drove up to Glacier Point and took these pictures around 11:30. Glacier Point is where they used to do the firefalls. They would make a huge bonfire then throw it over the side. Watching from below it was so cool to see! And, yes, I am 'old' in the respect that they stopped doing that in the late 60's... I feel privileged that I was one of the few that witnessed the firefalls!

Side view of Half Dome - one of my favorite sights in the world!

[because I have seen so much... ;) ]

Yosemite Falls - Upper and Lower

Another shot of Half Dome - beautiful.

After being there for a while we drove down to the valley
and stopped at the lookout where we took this picture:

It is just so amazingly beautiful... really.

If you have never been to Yosemite it is a MUST see!!!
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Sam, Linzi, Rylee and Sadie happily made a last minute decision to come and visit us for the 4th. So, we had to have fun while they were here! We decided to go to the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town (where the slides and everything are made up from fairytales... my kids used to love that place. I can't believe we are now taking their kids there!)

The size of wing span Rylee has. I can't remember what it was, but it wasn't big!

Sadie... enthralled.

Rylee pets a snake! So did Grandma... really? Yep! :)

Rylee at the entrance to Fairytale Town...
poor Humpty Dumpty... didn't stand a chance.

Rylee enjoying the Old Woman in a Shoe slide!

Daddy, Rylee, Grandpa and Sadie - taking in the sites.

After we finished at the zoo and fairytale town we went over to see Grandma Breed. She had never met Sadie before and hasn't seen Sam in 18 months! She really enjoyed seeing us all. :)

Sam with Sadie, Grandma Dell (me), Rylee and Grandma Great (Breed)

Four generations!

Rylee and Sadie playing dress up. Oh so cute!

It was so hot while they were here... so Rylee filled the 'pool' up with water!They had great fun in that little pool... mommy, daddy, Rylee and Sadie! Yay for water!

They were here from Thursday, the 2nd through Monday, the 6th. We really enjoyed our time with them. Very relaxing and fun!

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Then... on the 13th Rachel flew out and stayed for ten days! We had some fun, but it was relatively quiet too, since Pat became ill with the flu for five days... YES! Five Days!!

I would have to share 2 highlights of Rachel's visit with you...
The first (and favorite) was going to SF to see Wicked!!!!!! Amazingly wonderful!

Rachel all ready and excited to go!
We ate at Mimi's in Pleasanton just before catching BART.
She is really excited... :)

BART... I've only ridden BART a few times but people are sure friendly!
Sometimes almost too friendly!

The sign on the building... it was on both sides of the theater. So exciting!

Our next adventure was going to Girls... I mean, um, Young Women's Camp up at Clark's Fork. This is where Amy and Rachel attended camp for years, along with Pat, and even me once! Though I've been there many times since Pat was bishop and I would go on Friday afternoons and bring treats for the girls in our ward. It was a fun time!

The entrance to camp... so peaceful.

Singing for their supper... ah, the memories!

Will Gillingwater - he was in our bishopric when we moved to Ripon. We have fond memories of Will... "Goals and Dreams", Almond Blossom Festival/Parade at his house with savory snacks he would sneak us! :) Alas, he now lives in the DC area, but he makes the journey yearly to be the Head Cookie! We love Will!

The Dining Area

A Manteca Stake Tradition... the Bride and Groom.

Amanda & Jesse

Each year a former YW from our stake is selected to be the bride, and she brings along her groom! The bride had to have attended camp all six years and earned her tree. (that is another tradition) Amanda Hollingsworth ? was elected this year to be the bride. Her husband, Jesse, is not from this area, I believe he is from San Diego. I have known Amanda since she was 2, yes 2 years old, and now she is 19! Amazing. Her mom joined the church when Pat was ward mission leader; he was also their hometeacher for years. How we love the Hollingsworth family! I saw Amanda's mom and dad this week at Costco and found out that everyone in the family except Andrea (Amanda's mom) knew that this was happening. Imagine her surprise when she was sitting there waiting for the bride and groom and out walks her daughter! I love it! Pat also was honored to perform the ring ceremony for them following their sealing in the Oakland temple for their family members who are not LDS.

We enjoyed going to Young Women's camp, it was definitely a deja vu moment!

To top off July we enjoyed peaches from our peach tree... so much! I made peach cobbler and peach jam. We gave many, many peaches to our neighbors and friends. The nicest thing about that is that they give us back their produce and we LOVE it! California's produce is the best.


Rachel went home on the 23rd and things around here became quiet once again. I was talking to a friend of ours whose son just returned from his mission. She told me that his dad said, "I wish you were 10 again, so we could relive all those fun times." I feel much the same way... it is hard to have your kids grow up and move away. It's what you want for them, but how we miss those times. Fortunately, for us, Rach is coming home to live for awhile in a few weeks. We are happy to have her home with us for a little while. :)