Saturday Evening Ramblings

Well, yet again it has been a long time since I have posted. Guess I haven't thought I had anything to blog about. Thought I would do a little catch up for everyone!

Alex has started soccer. So now we have Thursday practices and Saturday games. Today was their 2nd game and so far they are 0-2. They play their little hearts out but haven't quite figured out how to win a game.

Cub Scouts have also started back up again. This year Dave and I are leading our own Webelos den. I think we have a good group of boys. Most in our den of 6 have known each other for a couple years and get along well. Should be an adventure to lead them for the next 18 months before they bridge into the Boy Scout troop.

Court of Honor tonight for Boy Scouts. Since Evan didn't go to camp this year he only received one merit badge, but it was a required one so that is good. He needs to get those done to move up in rank. He also received his patch for 25 nights of camping.

Today I received Evan's first progress report for junior high. WOW! I am soooo proud of him! He's taking quite the class load and doing very well! He has straight A's in all his classes. But I am most proud of his Algebra 1 grade...A+!!!! This is a class that is primarily 8th graders. Math has never been my strong point and I remember struggling in Algebra 1 in 9th and 10th grades (yep, I took it as 1a and 1b!). He is so determined to keep straight A's.....even told me to ground him the other day because he didn't do well on a couple quizes!

I am working...2 more weeks in the class I am teaching now. Then off for a month and back to another class in November!

Hope to get some of my scrapbooking creations up soon!

Wonderful Weekend

We spent the long holiday weekend up in Yosemite with Dave's family. Other than the HUGE crowds of people also wanting to visit one of the most amazing places on Earth, it was a GREAT weekend! The boys had fun with their cousins, Anthony and Tanya. Evan and Tanya (who is almost 5) were inseparable. Where ever he was...she wasn't far behind! They rode their bikes around the campground loop DOZENS of times.

On Saturday we took a hike to the top of Sentinal Dome....about 2.5 miles, the hardest being the last bit to the top of the dome. BUT, once up, the view was AMAZING! Beautiful 360* views of mountains and more mountains! Got this photo of the boys with Half Dome in the back! Climbing Half Dome is on Evan's list of MUST DO's!
Sunday, Dave, the boys and I got up early, and headed to the top of Nevada Falls. We had been to the top of Vernal Falls (on the way to Nevada Falls) but never to the top of Nevada so had NO idea what we were in for! Above is a photo of the trail to the top of Vernal Falls. Something like 600 granite steps up the side of the cliff! Talk about the ULTIMATE stair climber!!! LOL!
First good view of Nevada Falls (not flowing very fast this time of year).....kept asking myself if I REALLY wanted to go to the top! It's WAY up there! The hike between the top of Vernal and the top of Nevada is just over a mile but you climb 1000 ft in elevation!
We made it! Here are the boys at the top of Nevada Falls. Both did AMAZING! Evan has always been up for an adventure and lead us up the trails most of the time, never stopping to rest (unlike his mom who stopped every 5 steps!) except to WAIT for me! Alex though was a TROOPER! He kept going and never complained!!!! And finally admitted..."Mom, I kind of like hiking now".
Before leaving had to go get a photo of Yosemite Falls.....have dozens of photos of these waterfalls in all seasons...do you notice somethign MISSING in this photo of the waterfalls??? Yep...NO WATER! Yosemite Falls has all but dried up this summer. Kind of depressing but will make for a great scrapbook page where I can show the waterfall in the different seasons!

My legs are killing me, definitely NOT happy when I have to walk up and down the stairs, but getting to spend time in the most amazing place was well worth it. The hikes were hard but well worth the satisfaction of reaching the top! Now to climb the trail up Yosemite Falls and Half Dome!