The Eclipse as Seen From Sand Harbor

Last Sunday we spent a wonderful afternoon at Sand Harbor Beach on Lake Tahoe.  We ate a delicious picnic of fried chicken and cookies (and some other stuff too, but those were the most memorable).  Rob had gone to the store the day before to buy solar glasses for the eclipse but the line was out the door so he skipped it.  We got lucky though when some nice lady walked up and down the beach handing out free pairs.  We scored three and were able to enjoy the super cool eclipse.  It was a memorable event.

Donner Lake

Last weekend my parents came out for a quick visit.  On Saturday we drove up to Donner Lake.  Let me say something about California and beautiful natural settings:  too many people.  It could be so much lovelier without the ugly cabins and freeways.  Mucked up.  But we had a nice walk along the shore and our curiosity has been quenched.  I just feel like I want to donate lots of money to the nature conservancy.

Mother's Day Hike

After church, on Mother's Day, we drove up to the Upper Thomas Creek trail and went for a hike.  It is so nice to have such easy access to the mountains here.  

 Everyone found a log to cross:

 The kids doing their best Clara poses:

 A little rest on the hillside:

 One thing we have learned about hiking here: IT IS DIRTY!!!

After we went home and Rob and the kids made a delicious dinner while I napped!  Perfect.

Sleep

Sometimes waking up early is just cruel.  So sad to disturb such blissful sleep.

And sometimes tucking in kids can be pretty great.  I love sleep.

Therapy

A couple of weekends ago Jennifer and Jodi, 2 good friends from Utah, came to visit.  We had a great time and stayed in a hotel up at Tahoe.  We mostly talked and talked and talked and ate and ate, but we did get out a little to see the lake.  It was beautiful, as always.  Anyway, who needs therapy when you have girls weekends?  It was great.

Summer Kick Off

Since the day I saw my driveway for the first time, I've been wanting to host a big BBQ.  So last Saturday we did.  It was very fun and I look forward to doing it again.

This is the adorable B.  She has personality cram-packed inside of her like Clara does.  She is one of my sunbeams:

 Kimberly, Rachel, and Kelli, 3 wonderful ladies:

 A candid of Rob:

 Haley, Anna, Emily, Lucy, and some more adorable kids:

 Emily did s'mores with the kids.  Pretty awesome idea:

 The cubscout crew had a fire in an ingenious contraption the boy's good friend A. made:

 This is little J, another one of my adorable Sunbeams.  She is pretty awesome:

 Lucy and her pal J.

It was a blast and we have such a great set up for an outdoor party.  We have made so many wonderful friends here.  Everyone is so much fun, and so friendly and great.  I feel like I have a million people I could call if I ever need anything.  And all these families have such amazing kids.  It makes it easy to love it here.  Yay for summer BBQ's with friends.  And most of all, yay for for friends.