Mammoth

One week in Mammoth and we did it a lot.  On our drive in, it was raining and we jumped out to take this. 

Views on our way to Devils Postpiles

Cathy and Duane and the Jennings joined us for the first part of the week

Yes, we coordinated our outfit- Not

The kids made the first part of the hike to Devils Postpile easily.  We heard from some hikers that Rainbow Falls was another 1 1/2 miles and beautiful so we headed onward

Not too many trees on this hike but still very scenic

Camps and Jennings hiking to the falls

Rainbow Falls did not disappoint.  At first we were just enjoying it from above.

Then we found a path down, so worth it

Katie and Adam having a moment

Hailey and Shane got as close to the falls as possible

My awesome sista’ in law

Can’t take too many pictures of this place

The girls, while they still had energy

The scene in our condo in the evenings- Minecraft party

We drove to an Obsidian Dome.  A huge mountain of broken up obsidian rock that was about a mile across.  We hiked to the top and it looked like another planet up there

Cathy, Duane and Katie took all the kids on a horseback ride around Convict Lake.  I guess the horses were a little spunky which made for a fun ride.  Not your typical rental horses

Hailey and her horse Frank.  She was in heaven, it was the highlight of her trip she said

Hailey is laughing at Eli’s horse who is taking care of business

Horseback ride break for the horses or the kids?

Afterwards, we meet up with everyone and Cathy rented some canoes and a pontoon boat to ride around on Convict Lake

Nicki and Liam joined us.  We maxed out the limit on this boat by a few bodies.  We tried fishing but still the Camps can’t catch a fish

The kids really wanted to try out the mini golf course.  These are no fair-weather golfers.   It rained on them and they never stopped!

We took the kids on a really fun bike ride called downtown.  Best part, it was all downhill and the kids didn’t crash

Jesse and I rode back up to get the car and I enjoyed that more than going downhill.  It was a great ride

 

Jesse and Chris went out the next day and did some serious riding

I took the Graves kids with us on the Downtown trail.  The boys were so fast I hardly saw them, just hoping to see them all in one piece at the bottom

Here is the spot that Hailey crashed and burned last year.  She was nervous but handled it like a Champ!  Hailey is funny, she talks the whole bike ride to me and I can’t hear a thing

Looking out over Twin Lakes.  We decided to hike straight down the mountain along the waterfall and blazed a new path to the lakes

It was a tough hike but because it was an adventure the kids were ampted

I’m not sure if Nicole enjoyed our hike as much as the kids did!

Took the kids bowling that night

John Wada knows all the ins and outs of Mammoth.  I told him we wanted to do whatever he does.  So he took us on a hike in Little Lakes Valley.  He said we would be back for lunch, so we brought hardly any food.  Rebecca and Tyler joined us too.  I can’t believe how much Hailey looks like Shane in this picture

The kids hiked up and down boulders the whole way

It was probably the prettiest hike I have ever been on.  Fairly flat, with meadows, streams and 6 lakes

Our group + Rebecca taking the picture

The kids kept saying they wanted to hike to the snow.  They were so motivated that they wouldn’t stop till they touched it.  We kept telling them that it’s a lot further than it looks. 

4 miles later their determination was rewarded. 

So here are Kyle and Shane 4 miles from the car and we had no snacks.  I thought it was going to be a disaster hiking back but they were the biggest troopers.  Not one kid whined and we didn’t get back to the car until 4pm.   Shane said that hike was his favorite thing about the trip.

A very well deserved jacuzzi.  The funny thing is, the Graves had been waiting for us since 1:30 to get back, we were a tad late

Our last morning, Hailey wanted to try one last time to catch a fish so we headed to Lake Mary.  Still nothing!

A slight detour on our way home.  This rock sums it up-  A Happy and Fun Trip

5th Grade Graduation

So proud of Shane.  Like his teacher told me the other day, he is so well rounded and capable.  He’s smart, calm, athletic, nice, works hard and truly enjoys learning.  An all-around great kid.  This picture was taken at school and he wrote the saying below it. 

Every kid gave a 3-4 line speech about their favorite memory in elementary school.  Shane told Jesse and I the morning of graduation that he was going to talk about being in the Talent Show and dressing up as a girl and strutting his stuff on stage.  We told him to maybe thing of something else.  So when he got up to the microphone I was nervous, but as he would say, he Nailed It!  He talked about 2nd grade and the celebrations they would have after achieving certain goals.

 

Mr MacDonald the principle has transformed the school.

A few of  Shane’s buddies- Liam, Dylan and Kyle

I wish I could arrange this marriage because Angelina and Shane have been friends since they were 8 months old and have a special bond.  Angelina and Shane are similar in so many ways it’s scary.   Timmy in the middle

Hailey and Cienna celebrated at Chipotle.  Graduating from 2nd grade just isn’t as exciting

All of 5th graders went to the Kramer Club to celebrate.  Shane was so excited to show me that he learned to do a back flip with his friend Charlie off the diving board.  As soon as we got home he tried it out on the trampoline and Bam, he did it.  It’s so easy he says

Shane wanted ribs for dinner and enjoyed every bite.  

 

I’m so proud of Shane, his friends look up to him and his teachers have nothing but nice things to say.  Good job Shane-o!

Fun Fun Fun

The past 2 weeks have been just pure fun for the kids.  End of the year just brings party after party, performances, shows and get togethers.   The kids have been staying up late at night, excited about everything.  I keep telling Hailey that I will let her sleep in and take her late to school.  She gets mad at me and says, “No, I want to be at  school on time’.

Hailey and Hudson got chosen to be partners and perform Miss Mary Mack for their music show

The coolest event in elementary is performed in 5th Grade, it’s called American Heritage Program.  The kids put on a musical about the history of the USA.  They have to learn 19 songs.  Shane tried out for the rap song and had a solo being a rapping colonist.  He said he Nailed It!

Will and Hailey have grown really close this past year.  Unfortunately he is moving to Germany.  He had all his friends at the park for a going away party but he played with Hailey exclusively for an hour.  He is the sweetest, nicest boy, we are going to miss him.

Our Annual Neighborhood Charity event at the Angels Game.  Georgie and Hailey

Shane’s  Beach Soocer Team- Coach Tommy couldn’t resist the zipline.  The zipline has been revived, kids are flocking to it again

5th Grade Talent Show.  Shane was in an act called Brain vs Brain.  He was the Vana White and said, he Nailed It!  Not sure that is a good thing.

Hailey and Nicolette before their double header futsal game

We headed to the grunion run at Cabrillo Beach.  The fish came up to shore around 11pm.  As soon as everyone went near the water the fish didn’t really come back.    Our group caught a couple of grunions

The long hair blonde kids- Hailey, Hudson and Will

USA vs Japan

1/2 of my tennis friends are Japanese and we are always joking with each other.  We have been getting together and trying out different sports.  We have had a ping pong tournament, bowling tournament and recently tried out Beach Tennis and Volleyball.  The beach tennis was surprisingly a lot of fun.  We usually pair up USA vs Japan and take them on.  I can say that we get more of a workout laughing than the sports we play.   We chant, dance and even bring USA flags

The reason why I like this group, we can all laugh at each other’s weaknesses and we do!  No feelings hurt here

Mixed up

Hailey will only wear tennis skirts.  The reason,  she doesn’t like underwear and the skirts have built in shorts.  She wears a skirt pretty much everyday.   Her look-  Tennis skirt, Indoor Soccer Shoes, and Stance Socks.  She’s got her own style for sure and I love it

Poem

Mother's Day Poem Shane wrote at school.

I love that he was so truthful in writing it........mostly cheerful