A Desert Rose: Yosemite Holiday

Eric and I recently went to Yosemite National Park in California for a real deal, take-1-paid-week-off-of-work vacation. We met my brother and his girlfriend Krisi and my parents and spent the week camping, climbing, and hiking. It was so much fun. This really is the first time Eric has taken a paid week of vacation, and the first time we have done that together. Unfortunately, we arrived in California just as the first of the current 1,000 forest fires started. we had one day of clear viewing of the yosemite valley and then the smoke rolled in so thick you couldn't see the huge monoliths of rock from almost right below them. that was a huge bummer, plus not being able to breathe very well with that sort of smoke. we made the best of it though. we spent a few days with my family in yosemite valley and then a couple of days in tuolemne meadows- which is still part of the national park but is higher in elevation, cooler, and not so smokey. we met up with our friend's mike and joy and camped a couple nights together. it was a great trip!

i also went to hawaii with my friend katie at the end of may/beginning of june. i'll post those pics when i am on my home computer. we went surfing, ate a lot of fruit and smoothies, snorkeling, and hung out with katie's sister. it was a great week in hawaii, but i must admit that after that week it was solidified that i am a mountain girl, not a beach girl. beaches are great and all somtimes, but i mean...just look at the pics below! how can you not want to spend always there?! :)