Summer Break: Weeks Seven and Eight

Coming back from vacation this year was hard, partly because our flight was delayed two hours on the runway in Houston upon our return. We landed on time at 11 pm but then couldn't get off the plane until 1 am due to lightning, which meant we didn't get home until 2 am. Gene and I were still awake at 3 am.  And to top it all off, Ruby came home at 6 am! Fortunately, our pet sitter just put her in her crate and none of us were up until 9:30 am. Thank goodness the kitties also let us sleep in! Monday in Houston was a blur. We were so tired and there was so much to do! And Gene had to go back to work.

Weezie (who is now 16!!) helped us unpack. Or maybe she's guarding the suitcase to make sure we don't jet off again anytime soon!

This comic was in the paper upon our return. Our kids did great on the trip, but there was some moaning about the lack of WiFi in Sequoia!

My kids never ask for McDonald's, but they do like sushi (none to be found in the national parks), so we grabbed some during our first grocery shopping trip on Monday morning. Late lunch at 2pm!

We forgot some essentials at the store on Monday, so headed back on Tuesday. While we were there, we grabbed all the ingredients to make homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. It's a winner!

By the time Thursday rolled around, we needed to get out of the house (besides trips to the library and grocery store), so we visited the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston to check out their current exhibits. Below is Time for You and Joy to Get Acquainted by JooYoung Choi.

We also popped by the MFAH's Cullen Sculpture Garden.

Lunch and DubDubs at G&G's house.

On Saturday, Will and I visited The Holocaust Museum. Will read Number the Stars last year, so we thought a visit to the museum would be appropriate. Sad and hard, but important.

This is the Garden of Hope, honoring the million and a half children who died during the Holocaust. 

Danish fishing boat

During WWII, the Danish people evacuated nearly all the Jews in Denmark, hiding them in fishing boats and moving them to safety in Sweden. This is the story at the heart of Number the Stars.

Frozen yogurt and a trip to the library afterwards

Henry is still a bit young for the Holocaust Museum, so Gene took him to Hermann Park to ride the paddleboats instead!

It was hot, but Henry had a blast!

Lunch

Last week, our local library hosted a cardboard building event as part of the summer reading program. Henry, who loves to build, was in seventh heaven.

He called his creation "The Thing," and made a flag that said "In bananas we trust."

We also visited the dog show, which was fun and free.

One day, we had an afternoon adventure to get ice cream at The Chocolate Bar, followed by a visit to Half Price Books to turn in reading logs and get a stack of new books!

Another day, Henry decided that he absolutely needed a new dragon to add to his collection, so we headed to Fundamentally Toys so he could purchase one with his allowance money.

We also visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land. A highlight was the "Sweet" exhibit, which was all about sweets. We also got a free bag of candy for being some of the first visitors on a Friday morning.

Sea turtle made out of jellybeans -- who knew jellybean art was a thing? 

I hope your summer days have been sweet as well!

California: Then and Now

My sister and I were so lucky as kids to travel all over the country and abroad, but growing up on the West Coast, we obviously saw a whole lot of California. Even though we didn't have a ton of money growing up, travel was always a priority for my parents. We visited museums, national and state parks, and more, often camping as we traveled from place to place.

When I was at my parents' house last week, I went through some of our old photo albums and was thrilled to find "twin" photos of some from our recent trip to California. I only looked through two albums, so didn't find La Brea Tar Pits (which made a HUGE impression on me as a kid), but if I find those pics later, I'll add them. For now, here's a trip down memory lane, Southern California style.

Trip to the Getty Museum in 1987

Getty Villa (the museum has expanded now), 2017

Getty Fountain, 1987

and 2017

Getty fruit trees, 1987 

and 2017

Trip to Sequoia National Park, September 1984

and July 2017. Take a look at how much the pine tree to the left of General Sherman has grown!

I don't have a photo of this slab but couldn't resist including it.

1984

2017

Kings Canyon Natioanl Park

Big Stump Trail, 1984

and 2017

I have so many fond childhood memories of travel and exploring and am so very thankful to my parents for taking us so many places! Their love of exploring and adventuring clearly impacted who I am, and I hope my children grow up with such adventurous spirits as well.

California 2017: Days 11 and 12

We spent our last day (and a half) in Kings Canyon National Park. Kings Canyon and Sequoia are right next to each other and are jointly managed. Kings Canyon is actually split into two different areas -- the Grant Grove area and the canyon area further to the east, and these two areas are separated by the Sequoia National Forest.

The drive down into the canyon was full of twists and turns, and Henry got quite motion sick. We had to stop every 5-10 minutes to let him out to get a breath of fresh air!

Fortunately, the turnouts were everywhere, and we were greeted with beautiful wildflowers and stunning vistas.

Kings River down below -- that's where we had to go!

Kings River was moving so fast!

We couldn't resist a stop at Grizzly Falls, especially since the falls were literally steps from the road.

Gorgeous falls

A couple of deer crossed the road right in front of us.

After stopping by the Cedar Creek Visitors Center for maps, we headed out on the Zumwalt Meadow Trail. 

The river really did appear to be a deep turquoise-green. 

Crossing the river 

As soon as we got on the trail, everyone we passed warned us of a rattlesnake at trail marker 11. They all said he was coiled up and sleeping and that we would be fine if we walked by quietly. Of course, by the time we got to him, he was awake, rattling, and slithering away (fortunately into the rocks and away from the trail). That was some excitement!

Moving on past the snake with Gene in the lead to listen for other rattles.

Gorgeous views

The river was so full that part of the trail was washed out and underwater, so we had to turn back the way we came. The rattlesnake was long gone by the time we got back to trail marker 11.

This truck was parked next to us in the parking lot (SEKI stands for Sequoia-Kings Canyon).

After lunch at Cedar Creek, we drove back to the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon, stopping at vista points on the way. 

 

Back in the Grant Grove area, we checked in to the John Muir Lodge and walked down to the visitor center, where the boys earned their Junior Ranger badges. We all learned that three of the first four national parks formed were to protect the giant sequoias. Grant Grove was its own national park from 1890 until 1940, when it was joined with the newly formed Kings Canyon National Park.

We drove to the Grant Grove area, home to the General Grant Tree, which is the third largest sequoia in the world. 

General Grant Tree

Settler's cabin

After dinner, the boys found ice cream. It was quite warm that day, so it was a perfect end to a very full day.

On our last day, we were up and checked out of the lodge pretty early, so we had plenty of time for one last hike before heading to Fresno to catch our flight home. We chose the Big Stump Trail, which is about a mile loop right on our way out of the park.

Another sequoia bridge

Meadow -- no bear sightings!

This is the Mark Twain stump. In 1891, a slab from this tree was sent to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City so that all people could marvel at these incredible giants. Believe it or not, some people thought the giant sequoias were simply a tall tale!

Sad Henry -- so many of these giant trees were cut down for lumber.

 The end of our last hike! 

The quiet beauty of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are incredible and I am so glad I was able to visit again, this time with my family in tow!